"Hello, Naru. I've come to deliver a troublemaker." Ario arrives at Swallows Nest's Den carrying Ori shackled on his shoulders.

"Oh, back here so soon?" Naru asked. "Is Ku with you?"

Ario places Ori on his nest still bound in ropes and unable to move or talk. He writhes angrily for falling on a trap during their duel. Once again he had fallen for an immobilizing trap that cost his victory. If only he had paid more attention to the ground! Ori gave Ario his most piercing gaze after laying on his bed.

"You sit here, angry face." Ario pats him with an amused smile. "It will dissipate in a few minutes like previous times."

Ario turns to Naru. "Ku is on the ship. I will bring her here soon."

"Ah, it's okay." Naru patiently said. "I've heard that you're almost all ready to depart. I'm glad for you."

"Yeah, we just had good results on our latest testing. We will remain here for a little longer, however."

Ori squirms less after listening to that last statement.

"Making sure everything is up and running?" Naru asked.

"That too, it is important to ascertain the whole ship before setting sail. But I'll stay to witness Ku soar. I feel she will be ready soon."

Ori ceases his struggling movement and stares at Ario with wide eyes, anger nowhere to be found in his face. Ario looks back over the shoulder giving Ori a kind smile and refocuses on Naru.

"Oh, wonderful!" Naru confessed contentedly. "I have good news, Gumo made a new platform that can give Ku enough height to embrace the winds."

"Enough height?" Ario asked nervously.

"And he already went to take Ku to try it out." She added.

Naru keeps her motherly smile not sharing the same thoughts from both spirits. Ori restarts his struggles and he feels worried for Ku. She shouldn't jump from anywhere too high!

"I see." Ario proceeds to pick Ori upon his shoulder and walking out. "We will be monitoring it personally, right, Ori?"

Ori grunts and speaks something unfathomable through his gagged form.

"I'll be coming too!" Naru informs.

"Then let's get moving." They set out to the nearby cliff. A place with great altitude.

Arriving at the cliff, Ku was already positioned and friends behind. Ori finally is free from his bindings and dashes ahead, stopping Ku from advancing.

"Ku, what you're doing!?" He asked in a rush, alarmed with the proposal of their flight.

"I will fly! I want to fly!" She replied. "I am tired of waiting for my feathers to grow!"

Ku must not jump, not like this. She'll just fail like all previous times, faith and persistence is not going to help here. They argue, discussing as Ori tries to relax the owlet from her mistaken desire to jump from such altitude.

"But you need feathers to ride the winds… Ride the winds..." Ori muses and dives in his own mind, he is struck with a sudden realization.

RIde the winds… He remembers his adventure at the wind storm of the Forlorn Ruins, how Sein had ordered him to escape the threats of the broken city, how he navigated out of that place. He had a feather, one he used to glide with.

"I don't care!" Ku exclaimed, opening her wings and preparing herself. "I will do it! I will!"

Meanwhile, Ario speaks with Layla, trying to understand the unexpected urge coming from the owlet.

"Layla, why is she so inspired? She seemed calm half an hour ago."

"Well, she has been stressed, that we all know. It began with Gumo inviting her to make this jump. Her yearning is out of control, she will try anything, any possibility, and we can't bring ourselves to deny her. She won't hear. You mustn't worry though, I was ready to catch her down the cliff."

"Please, wait just a moment!" Ori pleads with an idea in mind.

Ku seems to give good ears to his request. She tucks her wings to her sides and awaits.

"Ku, listen, I maybe have a solution! Just give me a moment, I'll be right back!"

Ori rushes away, going back to their den, leaving Ku with compelled eyes towards Ori's behest. What would he be planning? Ori arrives at their home, giving attention to a special chest guarded. He grabs the chest and pulls it to open space. Opening it, he searches for his item. It had diverse fruit baskets; he tossed them out. A few building tools Gumo usually doesn't use; also tossed. Crayons gifted by Ario; tossed all the same. At least the family painting was complete so not to worry! Finally, he finds what he wants. There, a feather of a dark owl! Kuro's feather! It was still in good shape thankfully. This should allow Ku to attend to her wish.

This feather was large enough to probably cover her entire wing, it was worth a try!

He goes back to everyone awaiting, he wastes no time and presents the feather to Ku, which gets surprised for its length. This feather had the same color pattern as hers, dark indigo across the entirety of it, it easily rouses her interest.

"Ku, let me measure your wing with the feather."

She obeys, spreading her right wing while Ori positioned the feather right next to it to analyze. It was a good fit, a bit bigger than desired but it would definitely suffice. Ori smiles in rapture and it shares the good news to Ku.

"Ori, will I be able to fly?" She puffed in anticipation, eagerly awaiting a welcoming response.

"Let's try it out!" He replied.

Ori and Ku go to Gumo who was nearby with the rest.

"Uncle Gumo, do you think you can tie this feather to her wing?"

Gumo had grown accustomed to hear the common tongue and comprehend it, although he could not speak a language other than his own.

"Gumoo Gumo. GuMo GUmo? (I think I can. Will this be enough?)"

"Yes, we pray that it will be."

Gumo thinks for a moment. "Gumo. GumO gUMo. (Right. Let's get to my hoard.)"

The hoard was a private space Gumo had close to their den where he spent time building random stuff or relaxing on a hammock. Ori and Ku had already messed a lot there, so the term "private" was as good as nonexistent. Yet it was a place Gumo cherished, all considered it his workshop.

Naru and others stayed behind while the trio went to the Gumo's office, once there, he had his own crate of things. He messes in its contents, trying to find something that can attend to their objective.

Quickly Gumo finds it, a strap long enough to meet the length of the feather and her wing. Smiling, he approaches Ku ready to begin. All he needed was Ku to spread her right wing. She hesitates, feeling tense as she believed it could work. Her hopes are raised, and she checks on Ori to see if that was the right thing to do. He shares her confidence, giving her the courage to allow Gumo to help.

Ku complies and Gumo gets right to work, making sure the tie wasn't too tight or too loose for them. Be it to avoid it hurting Ku or for the feather to slip out accidentally. He double-checks and triple checks its firmness and before annoying Ku, he finishes the deed.

"Gumo! gUmO Gumo! (There! It ain't much, but is honest work!)"

Ku inspects her newly "crafted" wing, spreading it to see how the feather covered all portions of her limb. She flaps it a few times, tucks, and spreads it a bit more. She seems intrigued, it wasn't uncomfortable and it hyped her up. Anticipation grew, she had to test it!

"How do you feel, Ku?" Ori asked, noticing her eagerness clear as day.

The afternoon had arrived by the time they got to the hoard. They had to get to work before nightfall, just to not risk getting in trouble by any possible accidents.

"I can fly…" She still was processing the possibility before her eyes. Her dream could come true.

"I can fly. Right?"

"There is only one way to discover." Ori replied with the best words possible to fuel her desire and lose any fears. She was craving to test it, so they positioned themselves back to the cliff where the others awaited.

They barely have the chance to speak as Ku ignores them all. She gazed high, to the skies and the clouds, so far from her reach. That was about to change.

Ori reunited with the others as well as Gumo. They inform that Ku maybe was on the verge of discovery.

"Really? That big feather was yours, right?" Naru asked.

"Yes, I used it a lot to glide myself. A shame it took me so long to realize this option."

"It might work." Ario commented. "However, it will have double the negative impact in the other way around."

"Let us pray and cheer for her in any outcome." Daruk said hopefully. "The Earth Mother is ever generous to those seeking new paths. She will fly."

Ario still recommends for Layla to keep watch and catch her if anything happens, she stays at the ready to sprint. Naru shares a surprising suggestion, one that gets everyone out of the blue.

"Ori, hop on her back and go with her! Let both of you bask in such glory!"

Ori takes but a small moment and others don't seem to object. Could he ride Ku? In a way, she was big enough for him to mount her. It would be new, but possible!

"This should prove even better for ourselves." Ario observed. "Since you're going with her, it puts us at ease that she may not fly out and away. Make sure you two don't go too far."

"Not to worry, it's her first flight. She isn't capable of traveling long distances." Daruk observed.

"Well, if you put it that way, I can agree." Replied the Errant Archer. "Ori, we're counting on you."

It was settled, he too felt hyped up to see it done. To fly with her. To soar with an avian. He goes to Ku and rapidly explains to her that he would come along. She replied with uncertainty for they never had done it before, but her worries were not long-lived. With his company, Ku could feel an assurance for herself that everything will be alright. She accepts the proposal and allows Ori to climb to her back.

Spirits are that light? Ku could barely feel any additional weight. A welcomed surprise and now she could focus on the objective at hand. It was time to take flight!

"Are you ready, Ku?" Ori asked.

"Yeah." She replied. "Are you comfortable there?"

"I am, don't worry about me."

Comfortability was never a problem since nature ensured their bodies were fluffy. Ku advances towards the ramp of the cliff, running as fast as she can, and jumps off the edge! Layla assumes a runner pose, channeling her ignition as they see Ku struggling to gain altitude. Ku was too clumsy, she wasn't falling as fast but lacked coordination. Desperation arose, but Ori would intervene, correcting her nervous behavior to not meet the ground.

"Be calm, Ku. Breathe. Flap both wings together. You can do this."

She calms down, thinking more clearly with the experience of countless times she fell. She gets an idea. She went down with wings guarded, falling quickly. Layla dashed and descended the cliff in a blink of an eye, arriving at the bottom before them. As she thought the owlet would swoop head-first, she maneuvered by catching a wind current. Ku spread her wings wide and rode the winds wherever she wanted to. The impulse of the fall now took her upwards, allowing her to fly. Ku begins a rhythmical momentum of wing beats, experiencing how it is to truly fly for the first time.

"You did it, sweetie. Congrats!" Layla smiled, appreciating the opportunity to witness it before departure.

Ku soars back up the cliff, leaving everyone impressed.

"You sly cat, all you needed was a little push to see the solution. Well done." Ario watched them taking off.

"I want a feather like that too!" Franz was ever so jealous. "Two even!"

Naru and Gumo hug and hop in place. All cheer excited for her the owlet's achievement!

Mere words could not express the joy Ku felt. She went so high up spinning and flying in any direction she would want. It was easier than she could expect. Never before has such a difficult task been so manageable for her. Flying is as simple as walking for a bird.

"You're flying!" Ori still burst in happiness. The air resistance blowing against them as proof they were high above the ground.

"We are flying." Ku corrected him.

He kept himself firmly hugged onto Ku. He had a pinch of anxiety about falling, but slowly this fear went away. The flight was calm and smooth, he raised his head to see the great landscapes of Nibel in the afternoon. It was incredible, his eyes feasted in the scenery.

Ku flew to the first area of their excursion. They visited Mount Horu, the great dormant volcano of Nibel, house of the element of warmth, now green as grass. The once burned fields were now evergreen, flourishing ever so gloriously.

"Oh, Mount Horu!" Ori revealed to Ku the place's name.

"Mount Horu?" She asked, curiously.

"It's the name of this mountain." He pointed, lowering his voice tone to speak to himself. "It looks much better now. Yali did a fantastic job healing its heart."

They quickly traverse to a new area, the Forlorn Ruins.

"Oh, check it out, Ku, this is the Forlorn Ruins. Once the home of the Gumon."

The ruined city still endured, covered in green moss and leaves. Life took property it so seemed, not even all the unnatural cold were able to doom this land.

"How can this be a home? It's just a bunch of rocks and pillars." Ku commented, catching a graceful current of chilly wind.

"Ah… yeah. This place used to be a city, a place where others lived in self-constructed houses, not on trees or caves. Gumon loved to craft, just like our Uncle!"

"Is this where he learned how to talk the weird language? Gumo gumo gumo gumo!"

Ori laughs. "Yeah! Gumo GuMo Gumo!

"Can't get it!" Ku laughed.

Their tour went on. Now heading to the Thornfelt Swamp to meet the big Ginso Tree. A pumping heart of Nibel that grants all clean waters to bathe and drink. Flowing evermore.

"It's been long since I saw the Ginso Tree from such height!" Ori said while gazing at its waterfalls."

"You've been here before?" Ku asked, circling the tree.

"Yes, Sein and I were about everywhere in the forest before. You know, Nibel was in serious trouble years ago."

"Really? What happened?"

Ori takes a moment.

"It's a long history. Let's not bore your first flight now. Let's go to the Spirit Tree!"

"Ahn… I don't want…" Ku disliked the idea.

"Don't be afraid, you don't have to get too close. I just want to show Sein your accomplishment!"

"Okay, if you say so."

Ku went to the Spirit Tree. The tree of life shining in the center of the forest. Where the main consciousness of the Light of Peace resided. They arrived at a certain proximity because Ku did not want to get much closer. Ori lets out his voice:

"Sein! We did it!" He shouts.

Unfortunately, Sein could not get near, but she did hear him. The best manner she had to communicate was with a showoff. She released her light like missiles up, blasting beautiful fireworks to show her enthusiasm.

"This is pretty!" Ku enjoyed the fireworks show.

"Indeed it is. Sein is one to know beauty." Ori replied, wishing she would be less occupied.

"You like this bright light that much? Who is Sein exactly?"

"Oh, Sein is the source of all light in our forest. She shines from the top of this great tree, which…" Ori interrupts himself.

"Which?" Ku asked.

"...Which allows her to watch over all of us! She's very busy but is also a heroine. She is a great friend, joyful, and a cinnamon roll that deserves only the best."

Even now, after the quick years that went by, Ori never stopped to ponder about how much emotional suffering Sein had gone through so far. It was unspeakable and yet impressive that even after all she must have endured, she still smiles and shines for the safety of all, unchanged to this day. If Ori could, he would heal her too, just as she heals others. Ori tries to live the best life possible for her, for he knew for as long as he is well, so shall she be. From time to time, he visits her and tries to alleviate her duty however he can.

Ku stays silent briefly. "I see. When I grow up, you must introduce me to her! I feel I would like her once I can get accustomed to the brightness."

"You bet!" Ori rejoiced. "I can't wait to introduce both of you properly. Sein will love to know you. This is a promise!"

"Okay!" Ku replied.

There is not much left for them to see, they could visit the Misty Woods or go high to the Sorrow Pass, both locations that were far from their position. Ori began to wonder something about Ku. Nightfall was arriving, the sunset almost passing.

"Hey, Ku, aren't you feeling tired? We've been flying for quite some time."

"No, I am not tired!" She exclaimed, catching sight of something she longed for: A flock of birds migrating to distant lands.

Ku was always watching these groups flying until vanishing in the skies. This time, she could fly like them. She goes even higher after them.

"Ori, look!" She divulges her interests, allowing Ori to know what she wants next.

"Oh, I never thought I would see them so close. You used to watch these birds..."

They approach the winged flight, joining them in their trajectory evenly. Now so high… It felt good to be touching the clouds, flying so freely… It was amazing. Absolutely amazing. The glee upon Ku was so incredible, that Ori wanted it to last forever. So much, that he allows Ku to fly a little more. She deserves it. After all the stress of her many attempts, she could relish this moment of glory a little more.

A couple of minutes go by and he starts to worry about their current position. Being so high in the clouds makes it difficult for him to see the forest of Nibel below. They followed the group of migrating birds ignorantly of their intents.

Ori could swear he had heard a low crash at some point but paid nor regard to it, must have been his imagination. Nighttime darkened the skies, the winds were becoming mightier. Ori feels restless, alarmed by their reckless trip for some time already. He should not have allowed things to stretch this far. He brought himself to calm down, there was nothing to fear, Ori just had to see where in Nibel they currently are to find a way back home.

"Ku, let's go back. We flew enough for today. Come on."

Truth be told, even Ku could concur. For her first flight, she did splendidly, but she too had to rest at some point.

"Okay, I think I am feeling hungry too."

"Right? Let's go down. Mom will get worried if we take too long."

They descend, going through the clouds they pierced and removing themselves from the flock, but a shocking realization hits them immediately as the darkened environment they found themselves in forces a chill down their spine. Ori's fears proved true.

They find themselves in the open ocean. The huge mass of saltwater reached as far as their eyes could see and nothing else. They get scared. Which is the way home? It's so dark that not even a silhouette of nearby land could be seen! The winds were getting harsher, the clouds blackened as the night skies. Thunder echoing in the distance, turning everything more dreadful for the duo. A storm is approaching!

"Ori, where are we!? Where is our home?" Ku asked in clear panic.

"Calm down." He tried to analyze, they were on a straight line after those birds, if they turned around and headed the opposite way they should find Nibel again. But first, they must evade the storm, they should head back above the clouds!

"Ku, fly up! Lets-"

A violent gust strikes them, disrupting Ku's rhythm to continue flying. She fights the winds, readjusting her control. Ku managed to turn around and tried to ascend, but the heavy winds were pushing them the other way, bringing them down.

"You can do it! Just keep focus!"

The owlet fought fiercely the hazardous weather. Weariness began inflicting her small, unprepared body for such circumstances. As if it weren't enough, rain began to fall; large, cold drops hit them relentlessly. Their bodies quickly get soaked wet, gaining additional and unwanted weight.

Thunder roared as loud as ever before, lightning shining the environment for brief moments. Their efforts were fruitless, they could not fight the storm that caught them. Adrenaline made Ori think about something to get them out of such a situation, but nothing practicable comes to his mind. Ku cannot swim and Ori can't fly. Could he at least impulse them to navigate around with Light Burst blasts? What if it hurts Ku accidentally? What if he just exhausts himself before even seeing a haven? Was their fate to be swallowed by the raging tides? He had to do something! Anything!

The storm took away any chances of action from them. New lightning strikes far too close to them, the loudest thunder plus the intense wind-storm were too much for Ku, she relents far too scared and tired, unable to fight the air current.

"Ku, please hold on! Ku!" Ori shouts as they are taken away, swirling in many directions; blowing far, far away.

The turbulence guided them. It felt like hours traveling as they just prayed it would end soon. The winds were too strong and luckily it didn't bring them to the ocean. Instead, they were taken to a distant land, painted in a ruinous and malicious atmosphere. Barely they could study the new landscape they were brought to when the feather tied to Ku was slipping away. Without it, she can't fly!

"The feather! No!" Ori made an effort to catch the feather almost escaping, sacrificing the strap that tied it to her. Gladly the feather is saved, but his effort made him vulnerable. The winds pushed Ori away from Ku in the delicate moment, mercilessly separating the siblings.

"Ori!" Ku calls in despair, trying hard to hold his hand as Ori did the same.

Tried as they might, a final gust crushes their hopes. Ori is pulled away, forced apart from his sister, and thrown into the chaotic storm.

"KUUUU!" Ori cried out as the distance between them increased with each instant. Ori is slammed down to the unknown land below, ultimately blacking out due to the impact.

...

Separated by the storm, a desperate race began.

...