Hmm… well… This chapter… is pretty long, but nowhere as long as chapter 7 (I believe). I really have nothing interesting to say right now so on with the story!

Oh, and we're not aloud to get up for anything during exams, so the Zelda Company will have to wait!

……………...

The Birdie Man

Chapter 10

Helmoroc Hell

Komali watched in horror as the smaller of the two Kargorocs passed Mido over to the giant Helmoroc. The Helmoroc took Mido, who was struggling to get away, in his talons. People started yelling, some even trying to get Mido back, but to no avail. The Helmoroc spread its giant wings, and took off. It started circling the island again, and Komali could hear Mido yelling for help.

The dragon spoke, in a language that Komali couldn't understand, and Quill looked up at him.

"No, you cannot attack the Helmoroc at the moment, you might hurt the child." Quill looked at the Chieftain. "What should we do? We cannot attack him while he is holding the boy hostage." The Chieftain looked at the Helmoroc, who gave another shriek.

"We have to save him…"

"But how? We cannot allow Valoo to attack him, it's too risky."

"Yes, and I cannot go either. My wings are getting too old for stuff like this, and Prince Komali is too young to become chieftain if something happens to me!" Komali looked up at his father.

"So are you telling me that I have to save him on my own?" Quill looked up the Helmoroc. "That's impossible!"

The Chieftain shuffled his feathers, thinking.

"Dad?" Komali tugged at his father's robes. The Chieftain looked down at him.

"Yes?"

"I could go…"

The Chieftain's eyes widened.

"Komali…"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" Komali looked at Valoo. "I just have to get my wings, and then I'll help Quill save Mido!"

"But my son, what if something happens to you?"

"Nothing's going to happen!"

"But Komali… You might get hurt!"

"Please?" Komali begged. "Nothing's going to happen! Trust me! Quill will protect me!" The Chieftain looked at Quill, who nodded.

He sighed.

"Very well then…" He looked up at Valoo. "Valoo, please let my son receive his wings early… We need to save that child."

Valoo nodded, and looked down at Komali. Komali looked up at him, and Valoo spoke once again in his language.

Suddenly, a great flash of light lit up the beach, and disappeared as suddenly as it had come. Komali looked up at the spot where the light had come from, and floating there was a red sphere. Inside the sphere was a shining scale. It floated down in front of Komali, and he looked over to his father, who nodded.

Komali took the scale. It stayed shining in his hand for a moment, then disappeared in another flash of light. This red light surrounded Komali, lifting him off the ground, but slowly faded away. Arill looked on curiously, and walked over to Quill.

Komali opened his eyes after the light was gone, and looked down at his wings. Feathers had sprouted where his arms once were, and they felt really light. This was cool.

Komali looked up to Valoo, and bowed.

"Thank you Valoo."

Valoo nodded.

Komali ran over to his father.

"I'm ready!"

"Okay, here is what we are going to do…"

A few minutes later, Komali looked over to Quill

"So, um, flying is easy, right?"

"No, but you will learn quickly." Quill spread his wings. "Now come on, we have to be swift!" Quill took off, and Komali, after a moment's hesitation, took off after him.

Flying was easier then he had expected, he didn't have to do much except let the wind carry him. It was keeping up with Quill that Komali found difficult. Quill was the postman, and he had years of experience flying fast. Komali was struggling just so he wouldn't fall behind.

Valoo flew behind them, waiting for his chance to attack the giant bird.

The Helmoroc King looked up, and shrieked. Komali gritted his teeth, trying not to cover his ears. Seeing Valoo coming made the Helmoroc stop circling the island, and take off out to sea.

Mido stared down at the waves down beneath him, and tried not to be sick. He looked over at the Ritos following him. So Komali had gotten his wings and was coming to save him… Mido groaned. Komali wasn't big enough to carry him.

"Come on Komali! We have to hurry!" Quill shouted back. He flew up on top of the giant bird, landing on its back. Komali flapped harder, trying to keep up with the Helmoroc, and flew down to Mido.

"Mido, are you okay?" Komali asked. Mido looked over.

"Yeah, sure, except I'm being carried in the claws of a giant BIRD!" Komali rolled his eyes.

"We're gonna save you okay?" Komali looked back at Windfall, just a shadow in the distance. "Quill and Valoo are going to get the Helmoroc to drop you, and I'll carry you back to Windfall."

"No!"

"… What?" Komali looked over to Mido.

"You're not going to save me; you're going to drop me in the ocean!"

"No I'm not!"

"I don't trust you!" Mido pointed at Komali. "You're going to drop me, and make it look like an accident!"

"No I'm not!"

"You hate me! You all hate me! The only reason you're 'saving me' is you your dragon can get a decent meal!"

"Listen, you can trust me, ad have a chance at getting back to Windfall Island safely, or I can leave, and you can be fed to a bunch of Kargorocs. You decide!"

Mido bit his lip.

"Fine, but if you drop me, noone will ever forgive you!"

Komali nodded.

"Okay."

He flew under Mido, ready to catch him.

Quill climbed onto the Helmoroc King's head, wind whipping at his feathers. He grabbed onto the feathers right above the Helmoroc's eyes. Since the Helmoroc wore armor on his face, Quill couldn't hurt him, but Valoo could!

With a sharp jerk, Quill steered the Helmoroc so he was facing Valoo, who took a deep breath. Quill quickly flew off the Helmoroc just as Valoo sent a whirling torrent of fire at the giant bird's face.

The Helmoroc gave another loud shriek as the fire hit him, and dropped Mido. He almost strangled Komali trying to hold on, but Komali didn't want to waste anytime complaining. He started back to Windfall.

Quill stayed behind with Valoo as he and the Helmoroc fought. Komali struggled to stay in the air. He was flying against the wind now, and Mido's weight didn't help.

"I'm gonna die!" Mido shouted. "This is the end!"

"You're not gonna die…" Komali said. He concentrated on getting back to Windfall.

He was almost there, now barely able to keep flying. A group of people was waiting for him on the beach. Komali flew down, stumbled onto the beach, and Mido jumped off. Komali's wings disappeared, and he fell to the ground, exhausted.

The Rito Chieftain ran over, shoving through the crowd. He picked his son up and hugged him. Komali opened his eyes sleepily.

"Dad… I did it…" Komali smiled. His father did too.

"I'm proud of you!"

Valoo finished off the Helmoroc, who disappeared in a cloud of dust and feathers, and landed back on the beach with Quill.

Everybody in Windfall, despite the ruined village, was gathered around the beach, trying to get a better look at the Ritos and the dragon. Valoo let out a loud victory roar, and the crowd cheered.

The Chieftain put his son down, and stood up to greet the happy villagers. Komali stumbled over to Arill.

Arill hugged him.

"Komali! You're all right!" Komali smiled.

"Yeah, I am…"

Arill let go of him. "Oh, Komali, I was so worried! When you left and- but Valoo he- and Mido is safe too!"

"Aww, it was nothing…" He looked over to Mido, who was sitting on a rock away from the crowd.

"So you can fly now Komali! how was it?" Arill asked. Komali scratched his head.

"It's, uh… it's exhausting…"

Suddenly Mido got up and walked over to him.

"So, um…" He fiddled with his hands. "Uh, thanks for saving me I guess…"

He looked away.

"You're welcome." Komali replied.

"I guess being able to fly is pretty cool…"

"Yeah, it's cool."

"And Valoo is okay, I guess…"

Komali nodded.

"So um…" Mido continued. "See you around I guess…"

"See ya around."

Mido walked away. Komali smiled. Arill frowned.

"Geez! After all that he didn't even say he was sorry!"

"No, he said it…"

Later, Komali stood on the beach in front of his dad, Arill standing close by. The Chieftain cleared his throat., and looked down at Komali.

"Komali, me and Quill have discussed it, and we have decided that you are aloud to come home today if you'd like." Komali grinned.

"Really?" His father nodded.

"Yes."

Komali was just about to accept the offer, when he looked over to Arill. She wasn't looking at him; rather, she was looking sadly out to the silhouette of Dragon Roost. Komali bit his lip in thought. He looked up at his dad.

"No, I think I'll stay here."

"Are you sure?"

"… Yes. I'm sure."

Arill looked at him, surprised.

"Very well. Goodbye then!" The Chieftain gave a small nod, and turned around.

"I'll write!" Komali said. His father waved, spread his wings, and flew back towards Dragon Roost, Quill close behind him. Valoo gave one last loud roar, and flew after them. Komali turned to Arill.

"Why did you stay?" she asked. Komali shrugged.

"I still have school, don't I?"

Arill smiled. "Okay." She said.

Komali picked up his bag, took Arill's hand, and the walked home together in the light of the setting sun.

………………..

…Wow, two chapters in one day… I think I should stop typing now (sweatdrops). Well, I am nearing the end of my story now, as you can probably see… I hope you liked that chapter! It took awhile to write, I'm not too great at writing anything even remotely exciting, but I think that turned out okay… Yeah, there's only going to be a few more chapters after this one, 3 at the most, but most likely 2.

Please review! I'll put up chapter 11 within the week (I have a 5 and a half day weekend after the exams!).