Disclaimer: I happily disclaim EVERYTHING except the characters and plot! And the prophecy! If you steal them, I will be velly, velly annoyed!pp

:colons: are Mindspeech, as you all know, and [brackets] are Alettea's thoughts...I would use italics, but they don't work too well...how do you work them? *puppy eyes*

Or I'll leave you on the cliffhanger FOREVER! Mwahahahaha-oh, wait, since I'm revealing in this chappie, I'm going to shut up.

Muse responsible: Chaesa

Still revamping!

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I ran and flapped, going ever faster-

Namyata was clinging fast to my back, her hair whipped back by the wind.

"Go, Alettea! Fly!" she shouted.

And my hooves lifted from the ground.

I was skimming ever faster over the trail, faster and higher and faster-did I mention faster?

I was going faster than even the fastest Companion can run, which is saying a lot.

I pumped my wings and soared upwards.

The village was out-of-sight, luckily. I had no idea what the reaction to a flying Companion would be.

I could hear Namyata on my back shouting something.

It sounded like, "WHEEEEEEE!"

I snicker-whickered. I couldn't help it.

There was warm air rising from the ground. It hit me, and pushed me higher.

I slowed my wings, beating only every few seconds.

Now I glided lazily, soaring with the eagles.

And speaking of eagles...

I flapped and rose higher, and an eagle searching for prey squawked and nearly fell out of the sky.

Namyata laughed, her pain lifted. Immediately, I was glad I had revealed my wings to her-the unadulterated joy in her tone was the best thing I had heard in my life.

The wind was blowing back my mane and my tail. It was exhilarating!

I firmly decided that I liked flying.

I made two days travel at a Companion's pace in a few candlemarks, with the help of a tailwind that blew me hard.

And seeing how Herald-Couriers sleep and eat in the saddle while delivering, that's saying a lot.

At last, I glided lower. A new worry came to mind. [How do I LAND?]

I saw a nice, clear field.

I stopped flapping and glided towards the field, angling my wings in a dive.

It was hard to angle them just right.

I glided downwards, down, down. The air blew underneath me.

Down, down, down.

At last, I touched grass.

Namyata cheered. "That was so fun! Can we do that again?"

:Not today, dearling,: I sent. :Your transportation is tired.: [And perhaps we should get straps on the saddle...]

Now that I was on the ground, I was half-regretting the flight. What if Namyata had fallen from my back?

I reared and pulled in my wings in.

Now I was plain Alettea again, just another Companion.

My shoulders trembled with exhaustion. No wonder-I had flown candlemarks!

And I'd never flown before. [Silly Alettea, running-ah, flying-before you knew you could glide. No stamina. Silly horse.]

I headed for the Waystation near this field. Now that I was on the ground, I fervently hoped no one I knew would be there. Preferably, no one at all would be there...especially not my mother.

No such luck. It wasn't my mother, but...

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Short chappie, sorry!

Hope you liked anyway!

As to who's at the Waystation, it's a Companion on Search..ehehe, no more here!

Who gets Dutch chocolate tart today?

Cerulean Sky: Good question! Hope you liked!

Fergiaj: You know, this is also sorta a metaphor too...learning to fly and all, I mean.

Etcetera-cat: NOO! NO DUMBO! He scared me as a child. *shiver*

And get that hat OFF your head!

Kierseth: You Irish Dance? Me too! (I'm up to the first hard-shoe jig! I'm so proud of me!)

Kalyra Shadowdancer: Hmmm. Is it just me, or is your first name a play off "Kalira?" Hope you still like!

Emerald Flame: Aaah! You scared me! Here's your update! *backs away* Niiicee Emerald Flame...does Emerald Flame want a cookie? *throws cookie at her and runs*

You know, I almost put "tosses cookie," but that could be read wrong...

Thankees!

And this is NOT finished! There's still Rolan to contend with...heehee!

~Fireblade