Chapter 25
Faithful Goodbyes
The morning seem to come too quick and Mirielle found herself waking up still on top of him and still with her shirt off though his arm was far under her strap now on her back. Mirielle was surprise when she felt this but smiled and tried to sit up without waking Gaius up right away. It was a tricky maneuver as he still had her in his loving caress, though it wasn't tight. Mirielle continued to smile as she carefully worked herself free though she enjoyed being this close to Gaius. Eventually she was free and able to sit up freely though she was still lying across him under the covers. Mirielle smiled again and carefully moved to get off of Gaius and out from under the blankets without disturbing him. He stirred a bit as she moved but she was able to get up without him waking up. Mirielle got her shirt back on and began to brush her hair out and braided it once more so that it will be off her neck. She then got ready to leave the tent. Gaius woke up as she was brushing her hair. "You ok?" He asked. "Yeah just getting ready to go to the zoo for the final time right now so I can say goodbye," Mirielle said softly. "I wish it didn't have to be this way" Gaius said. "It can't be helped," Mirielle answered. "I know" Gaius said and then he smiled "How did you manage to get up with me having my hands where they were? I think I was under your...strap" Mirielle smiled and nodded before she said, "I had to be very careful. I was surprised by it but I didn't mind it at all," Mirielle answered smiling softly at Gaius.
"That's good" Gaius said ready to get out of the tent now. "You want to come with me again or what Gaius," Mirielle said smiling and looking at him softly and lovingly. "Of course" Gaius said "I am going to stay with you as much as I can now" Mirielle smiled softly and said; "Really now." "Yup" Gaius said smiling and standing up. Mirielle smiled and waited for Gaius to be fully ready to go. "Let's go" He said smiling again. "Okay," Mirielle said leading the way out of their tent. The two then left to find the others up and doing their normal rituals. Mirielle looked around for Lel to make sure he is staying out of trouble and to see if he wanted to come with them. She found Lel still with Flora and he was sleeping. "At least he's behaving," Mirielle said smiling she then looked at her other two friends and told them that she was about to go. The two then stopped and looked at them. "Have fun" Tyson said smiling. Mirielle smiled a bit at Tyson before she went over to Flora. Flora snorted a greeting when she walked to her. Lel also looked up at her. "Hey you two," Mirielle said smiling at them as she gently gave Flora a pat. Flora snorted again and eyed Lel above her. "Lel come here boy," Mirielle called to her lemur friend. Lel came down to greet her when she called. Mirielle smiled softly and gently petted him. "Would you like to come Lel," she asked him. Lel turned his head to the side and seemed to ask where she is going. "We're going to the zoo in Ba Sing Se so I can say goodbye to everyone there," Mirielle said. He seemed to be ok with that idea, he would like the ride. "Flora you ready to take us again," Mirielle asked the bison. Flora snorted an answer and placed her tail on the ground. Mirielle smiled and moved to get on Flora. Gaius followed, climbing up with them.
Once they were at the zoo Mirielle smiled sadly but looked around to see if she could find Kenji. He will be the first one she tells. Kenji was just coming in when she landed. Mirielle smiled sadly and move to get off of Flora. She then went to tell Kenji what is going to happen. "So how are you doing today?" Kenji asked. "I'm doing fine," Mirielle said. "So what are your plans today?" He asked. Mirielle just shrugged and said, "I'll just see everyone and go speak to Brave Heart." "Have fun" He said "That is unless this is going to be your last day?" Mirielle smiled sadly and nodded before she walked away towards the pens of the animals she had cared for. Kenji smiled and let her do so. "It's ok." Gaius said trying to comfort her "You will be back" "I know but I'm worried about how Brave Heart will react," Mirielle said. "I know that" Gaius said "He will probably understand" "I hope so," Mirielle said. They soon made it to his pen finding him in his pool. "Brave Heart," Mirielle called to him softly. He came right up and began to slowly make his way towards her. Mirielle smiled softly and got into Brave Heart's pen to wait for him. He was soon up and near her has he always went to her. Gaius was right there with her. Mirielle wrapped her arms around Brave Heart and hugged as she gently told him what she was going to do and that she has come to say goodbye for a while. Brave Heart wrapped his tail around her again and nuzzled her with his whiskers as best he could as if to say that he would miss her. "I'll miss you too Brave Heart. You won't forget me will you," Mirielle whispered to him. He nuzzled her again in answer. Mirielle smiled softly and gave a kiss to Brave Heart's snout as she said, "I won't forget you either. I believe our bond is strong that we will still feel like we are near each other."
He seemed to agree with her and tickled her again with his whiskers. Mirielle smiled, laughed, and hugged him again. Gaius smiled and went down to hug Brave Heart himself. Mirielle smiled softly and continued to pet and hug Brave Heart for a while longer. Gaius smiled at her and Brave Heart. He didn't know how they could have gotten close but it was obvious that they did. Mirielle smiled back at Gaius not sure on what else to do now. "Do you want to say goodbye to the others too?" He asked softly. "Yeah," Mirielle said before she gave Brave Heart a final tight hug, "You take care while I'm gone Brave Heart." He almost seemed to nod in response to that. "Alright then goodbye for now Brave Heart but I promise we will see each other again," Mirielle said to him. Unknown to the group in the pen Lel had gotten away and was exploring the zoo and the town on his own again. He didn't go into the lower ring this time, he knew better. Instead he went around the zoo and accidentally loosed the latch to the Armadillo Lion pen. One of the smaller but still adult lions had prowled out and was now in stealth mode around the zoo. He had found Brave Heart's pen following the scent that Lel had left as he made his way back. As they walked out of Brave Heart's pen Lel came up to the group and jumped onto Mirielle's head. It was then that she noticed the Armadillo Lion that was starting to come up slowly. Mirielle was about to smile at Lel but when she saw the Armadillo Lion her eyes widen with shock and a bit of fright. This animal was huge and she hasn't learn to deal with these creatures yet. She back up back into Brave Heart's pen.
Gaius didn't notice it until she backed up into him pushing him back as well. "Uh-oh" He said softly the two saw it coming for them now but as it got closer Mirielle heard a growl from inside the pen. She saw that Brave Heart was in attack mode now. Mirielle heard Brave Heart's growl and turned to him. She wasn't sure what he was going to do but she hope that, that armadillo lion won't come in the pen so that she would find out. Brave Heart went closer to the edge of the pen baring his teeth. The Lion stopped and looked at the catgator for a moment and then began to back away. Mirielle watched this and knelt down waiting. The lion almost seemed like it wanted to charge but with another growl from Brave Heart it thought different and turned around to head back. Only to be caught in a rock wall that Gaius had made while the animal was distracted. Mirielle watched to see what Gaius will do as she stayed where she was trying to calm herself down. Gaius then brought the ground up bringing the lion high off the ground and placing it back in its pen which then Kenji shut the door to. Mirielle took a bit to calm herself down but when she was able she looked at everyone and smiled softly. "Are you ok?" Gaius asked and even Brave Heart came close to check on her. "Yeah I'm alright," Mirielle said softly, "Thanks to you both." Mirielle smiled softly at both of them and hugged Brave Heart. Brave Heart tickled her again before he made his way back to his pen. Mirielle smiled and began to stand back up. Gaius was right there to help her up if she needed it. Mirielle accepted Gaius help and once she was standing she gave him a kiss. Gaius smiled and kissed her back. Mirielle let the kiss last a while before she gently broke it and looked at him softly. "So now what?" He asked gently. "I'm going to check that fawn once more and then say goodbye to Playful," Mirielle said.
"Alright" Gaius said. Mirielle led the way to the pen that held the antelope herds to check on the fawn. She had to sift through the herd again to get to them. Mirielle entered the pen and began to sing her song as she search for the mother and her fawn. It didn't take long the two came right to her. Mirielle smiled and moved to check the fawn's ankle once more. Everything seemed to be doing well now. Mirielle smiled and gave both the mother and her fawn a petting. "You are going to be fine little guy," she said to the fawn. He seemed happy with that and bounded away. Mirielle smiled and moved to get out of the pen petting any of the antelope she comes across. Gaius did the same however he did it timidly every now and then with the bull antelope. Mirielle smiled and said, "They won't hurt you Gaius." She then went up to the very same bull antelope and gently pets it. "Those horns do look sharp though" Gaius said smiling. "They are but they won't attack unless threatened," Mirielle said as she gave the bull antelope a gentle hug to show. "Oh ok" Gaius said smiling "In that case they are pretty cool looking" "Yeah they are," Mirielle said moving back some when she was done with her hug to the bull antelope so he could go wherever he wanted to go. The bull then decided to just bound away. "So are we heading to the monkeys next?" Gaius asked. "Yeah," Mirielle said. The two then made their way out of the pen and over to the monkeys. Once inside Playful instantly came down to greet them. Mirielle smiled and gently pet him.
He seemed to be able to tell that something was on her mind. Mirielle smiled at Playful and then told him exactly what she had told Brave Heart earlier. He seemed sad that she was leaving but at the same time happy that she was going on an adventure. "I'll see you again Playful I promise. You won't forget about me will you," Mirielle asked him softly smiling at him. He shook his head and snorted at her as if to say of course not and bounded away. Mirielle smiled and laughed softly before she moved to stand beside Gaius. "I see why you like that little guy" Gaius said smiling, "He's funny" "Yeah he is," Mirielle said smiling. Gaius smiled at her again and gave her a surprise kiss on the cheek. Mirielle was surprised by the kiss but she smiled and gave Gaius a kiss as well. He didn't want to leave anymore then she did and she could see it in his eyes. Mirielle smiled and lovingly touched Gaius cheek before she gave him a full kiss on the lips. Gaius took it and returned it just as much. Mirielle wrapped her arms around Gaius' neck so that the kiss could deepen and to let it last a little longer. Gaius let it and still gave her all the control. After a while Mirielle remembered where they were though it really didn't matter to her and gently broke the kiss. Gaius just looked into her eyes still holding her as he had been during the kiss. Mirielle smiled and laid her head against his shoulder just letting him hold her. "I love you Gaius," she said softly. "I love you too" He said softly. Mirielle just stayed like that for a while not sure on what else they can do. "We should head back to the others soon" Gaius said "Before Lel gets into anymore trouble" "Yeah your right let's go," Mirielle said softly though she didn't want this moment to end.
Gaius then led her out of the pen and back towards Flora. And towards Kenji who was waiting nearby. Mirielle smiled when she saw Kenji. "You heading out for a few days now aren't you?" Kenji asked. "Yeah," Mirielle said. "Just be careful out there ok?" He asked. "We will and I'll be back sometime okay Kenji," Mirielle said to him. "I know you will" He said smiling. Mirielle smiled and did something new. She went over and gave Kenji a hug. He was surprised but hugged her back. "And don't worry no one here will forget you," he said. "Okay," Mirielle said gently ending the hug and moving back to stand beside Gaius. "You ready?" Gaius asked softly. "Yeah let's go," Mirielle said smiling softly at Gaius. Gaius then led her over to Flora who instantly put down her tail for them. Mirielle climbed onto Flora remembering were Lel was she gently took him off her head. The group then headed on back to camp where they found the others waiting. Mirielle got Flora to land and moved to get off of her. Gaius was right there with her and Lel had already made a dashing flight for Solana's head now. Mirielle smiled at everyone and just stayed near Gaius. "So what's the plan now?" Tyson asked. Mirielle wasn't sure so she just shrugged. "Do we want to see what more of the Earth Kingdom is like?" Gaius asked. "I suppose so since there really isn't anywhere else to look at right now," Mirielle said. "We will have to cross this desert first" Tyson said "Maybe we can even see that trading area place that my dad went to" "Yeah that will be nice," Mirielle said. "We don't want to walk all the way there do we?" Solana asked "I am sure all of us including Flora will be much better off flying. Plus we could soar over the area and not have to worry about the Buzzard Wasps" "True," Mirielle said. Flora snorted and laid her tail down in the sand for everyone to climb up. Mirielle moved and got in the saddle on Flora's back making sure Lel was with her. "Everyone ready?" Solana asked as she grasped the reins. "Yeah," Mirielle said looking at everyone else. Everyone was ready, "Alright then Flora Yip, Yip" Solana said