Harry sometimes wondered how it was that Fred and George were so far ahead of him in their Demon lessons. Considering he had become a Demon first, and had lived in the Realm longer than they had. And then he remembered who his Guide was...
Said Guide was currently doing acrobatics high above his head. Something about a 'warm up' before teaching him how to fly. Even if he had never had the brand suppressing his Fire magics, he was sure that as flighty as Ash was, he'd still be behind compared to the methodical teachings the Warriors were giving Fred and George.
It was like she just taught him in whatever order things appealed to her. Or things she could no longer put off teaching, in order to get to the next 'fun' bits. Which, was totally in line with the impulsive Air Demon she was. He had wondered before, but would most likely never find out, just how she managed to go through all the training Guides had to have.
The quiet humm of his Courtship bonds in the back of his mind made him smile. He was still a little surprised at how lucky he had gotten. Not one but two mates who didn't seem to care at all how screwed up his life could get. It had to be Potter Luck somehow, but he wasn't going to focus too deeply in case it decided to switch. Sometimes he thought if it weren't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all. And then...
Fionn was lounging in the shade under a tree, on top of a soft throw blanket. His golden eyes locked on Ash's tiny figure high above them. The golden-haired Fae radiated a quiet contentment and a bit of awed longing through their bonds. Laric was elsewhere, teaching George and Fred with Gideon, but the long-suffering exasperation, tinged with a slight fondness, would have told him that even if the quiet Warrior hadn't.
Just as Ash finally touched lightly down in front of him, there was a kind of muted thrilled excitement that almost wavered through the bonds. Before Harry could focus to see why, Ash was already talking a mile a minute.
"And that, is what you might be able to do one day! But today, we are going to start with the boring beginner stuff." Bouncing happily on her toes, she made shooing motions until Harry was right in the middle of the open area of her small yard.
"Now, first things first. Open your wings to their full extent, and kinda, stretch them. Then flap the lightly to warm them up a bit. You have been doing the wing exercises I told you to do, haven't you?"
"Yes Ash, when you actually give me time to do them." He concentrated on feeling out the muscles in his back that were still kinda new to him. He admittedly hadn't given a lot of thought to having wings, even after this much time in the Realm. Mostly because there always seemed to be some crisis, to worry about. Or the fact he wasn't allowed to actually do anything with them previously, since Ash was adamant that he build up the muscles a bit first.
It felt a little strange extending his wings out and then back as he flapped them. The muscles in his back that controlled the wings, were not ones he had previous to his inheritance. The thin membranes, more like a bats wing than anything else, caught the air each time he flapped. The blood red blotches on the smokey charcoal base flashing like a mockingbirds white patches as he started moving them faster.
"Good! Just like that! Now, as you start to move them quicker, you are going to kinda shove the air towards the ground. Instead of blowing it past yourself, make it go down. Then hover in place once you get a few feet above the ground. Don't go anywhere, just hover! I want to be sure your wings are up to it before we go too high." She shook a finger at him in mock sternness.
Tilting his wings slightly, Harry started to pump them in earnest. Loose bits of grass and some dirt wafted through the air as the breeze from his wings picked up. He bent his knees a bit, and jumped upwards hoping that would help him lift off. And it worked! He gave a loud whoop! He was flying! He was flying without a broom or a plane or anything but his own power!
Totally forgetting Ash's words about hovering, he shot up higher and higher. As he cleared the treetops, he started a slow circling glide, just staring at everything. There was the path that lead to the Healing Quarter, and in that direction was the park they liked to hang out in. A little farther still, he thought he saw some of the Festival grounds. But before he could move that direction, Ash was suddenly hovering in front of him with her arms crossed.
"What happened to hover and wait? Do you even know how to land? No! Because I didn't have time to tell you yet! And gliding? How exactly did you figure that one out?"
"Er... Sorry? But flying is amazing Ash! Look at all the stuff you can see from up here!"
As he whirled in place, gesturing out at the world below them, her questions actually caught up with his brain. And suddenly, what had been instinct, was suddenly being thought about. He missed the next wingbeat, wobbled in the air, and as he desperately started flapping again he just caught a glance at Ash's suddenly white face as the thermal he had been gliding on was no longer holding him up. He dropped rapidly, the treetops suddenly even with and then over his head.
He didn't see Ash's yard, but the street he did see, was swiftly getting closer and closer. People were starting to look up, and then scattered to get out from under the falling Fire Demon. Harry squeezed his eyes closed, and braced for impact. Only to be jerked out of free fall and briefly choked, as someone grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him into their arms. With a loud snap! their descent slowed, and Harry looked up to see Laric had him cradled close to the Storm Demon's chest, his black and white marbled wings having snapped out to slow their fall. As the Warrior lightly touched down on the street, his wings folded back and he strode quickly in the direction of Ash's house.
Said Air Demon was nearly frantic as she flitted about around them trying to see if Harry was alright. By the time they reached the house again, Fionn was out front waiting for them and everyone moved inside.
"What exactly happened milady? How did Harry end up nearly smashing into the street?" Laric was sitting on the couch with Harry in his lap, and Fionn leaning against, and holding onto both of them.
"I told him to hover! And instead he decided to go flying, and then suddenly realized he didn't know how I guess? And then he was falling! And you just popped out of Storm in the middle of the air and caught him! I've never seen anybody do that before! How did you even know where to travel to?" Ash went from freaking out about how Harry almost killed himself, to being in awe of the timing and travel the Warrior had used.
"Warriors do not always have exact coordinates to travel to. Sometimes we must focus on what or whom rather than where. I felt Harry's fear, as it grew worse rather than better, knowing what you had planned for today, I traveled by Storm to where I felt him to be." Looking down at Harry who was still clinging to his shirt with one hand, he settled him a little more comfortably.
"Perhaps I should teach him how to fly. If he is going to be taking such risks, he may flatten you the next time as you are of a size. That way I can at least grab him before he decides to let instinct guide."
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! It just felt so amazing, and it was easy once I got off the ground. I wasn't thinking, and suddenly I was so high up and I could see so many things. And then Ash appeared and reminded me I didn't know how to land and suddenly the air was gone and I couldn't get back on top of it." Harry shuddered slightly as he remembered how wrong it had suddenly gone.
"Shhh... You are safe. Next time you will remember to listen and not let your instincts take over. And I shall be there with you to catch you if you need it." Laric gently kissed Harry's forehead before rubbing his free hand along Fionn's back and gathering the Fae closer into what was turning out to be a cuddle pile.
"I think this calls for popcorn! Harry is safe, I have lost years off my life, and you left Gideon with the Demon Twins so I'm sure there will be mayhem!" Ash bounced off cackling into the kitchen as Laric sighed.