Chapter 39

Fire

I had woken up about an hour ago by a sudden cold. The others were still sleeping away, but the fire was out. I had endured the cold for a while, unwilling to get up and fix the fire, but I decided to get up and fix it.

Walking as slowly as I could I collected some firewood and got out the matches. My fire probably wouldn't be as effective as Gazzy's had been, but it would have to do until the others got up.

I sensed Star wake up but did not turn and look, keeping my concentration on the growing fire instead of thinking about our missing friend.

'Your up early.' she commented.

'So are you.' I replied simply.

'Thanks for fixing the fire, the others would have been grouchy if the woke up to the cold.'

'Look's like their waking up now…' I sighed, standing up.

"Morning guys." Nudge said with false cheerfulness.

"Morn." I replied grumpily. I was already planning another scavenger hunt for Nova.

"My fire didn't go out!" Gazzy exclaimed.

"Umm, sure. Lets just say that." I lied.

I packed up my sleeping bag as Nudge and Gazzy went off in the direction of our oddly out of place bathroom. Total headed to the lake and for some reason, I had a nagging suspicion that he was going to chase squirrels again.

Sighing, I shook my wings out and turned around to let them warm by the fire. I was starving, but I didn't want to go out into the cold forest to find food at the moment. Besides, Igg would wake up soon.

'I could go look for food.' Star offered, 'I didn't fly all day yesterday, and I don't have a whole day of flying to look forward to.'

I winced, remembering Star's wingless state. I was surprised to hear her talking so naturally about it, as if she never had wings in the first place. 'Sure, knock yourself out.' I resigned as I became all to conscious about my aching wings.

I heard Iggy's breathing pace change as he woke up to the cold. He had slept the furthest away from the fire. He groaned as he got up and stretched. "My wings are killing me."

"The joys of being avian-human." I laughed.

"How long have you been up?" he asked taking not that I was already changed and ready for the day with my sleeping bag packed. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"I've been up for a few hours. The others woke up about 10 minutes ago." I explained, "I didn't wake you because you look so darn peaceful when you're sleeping."

He laughed at my reasoning and walked over to me, "You think it's worth it do go looking for Nova again?"

I sighed at his obvious reluctance, "Why, you're too weak to go another day of flying, this is cake compared to what we usually do."

"Ha ha." he fake laughed. "No seriously though."

"Of course it's worth it." I sighed.

He groaned at my response and shook his head, "Knowing him this is probably just another trick to get you way from the others."

"He could actually be hurt Igg."

"Sure, sure, and dogs fly."

"Glad we have reached and understanding." I smirked as he mentally kicked himself for forgetting that Total could fly.

"There was tons of food today, enough to feed an army, literally. I guess you guys could pack some so you don't starve." Star said, stepping into the clearing. "I did not want to go to the trouble of bringing it all here so I guess you'll have to follow me if you want to eat. It's not far."

"Thanks." I said as I hurried over to her, dragging Iggy with me. 'I'm starving."

"When are you not Shadow?" she asked in response to my thought.

Star wasn't kidding when she said the walk wasn't far. She lead us to a smaller clearing about 10 feet from camp. In the center of this clearing was a huge rock, piled with food.

Gazzy, Nudge, and Total were already there, stuffing their faces with food. I wondered quietly how long me and Iggy were sitting by the fire, and was surprised when Star didn't answer my thought.

One second I was standing next to Iggy, a good 20 feet from the food. The next I'm at the table stuffing my face, with Iggy only 1 foot from where I left him.

"Slow down Shadow, where's the fire?" Nudge exclaimed as I stuffed my third sandwich down my throat.

Ignoring her I reached for my next sandwich, but I frose, mid-reach.

"Shadow? Are you ok?" Iggy asked concerned.

"N- Nova." I breathed.

'Nova! Where are you? Are you ok?' Star thought very loudly.

'I'm okaym and I'm on my way over.' he thought back, but I could tell that he was thinking other things without us hearing… How odd.

'You scared us all half to death with worry, where have you been!' I thought franticly.

'You were worried about me?' he thought smugly.

'Of course I was worried, now where have you been!' I mentally screamed.

'Umm, I honestly don't know…' he thought carefully.

"Shadow, whats going on?" Iggy asked shaking my shoulders.

"N- Nova is back, I think." I replied.

"Where is he?" Nudge squiled.

"H- he's on his way."

Iggy pulled me into his arms, it wasn't until that moment that I realized that I was shaking. I guess I was more startled by Nova's sudden appearance than I thought.

After a moment of silence my stomach growled even thought I had already had enough food to feed the flock for a week. Iggy laughed and handed me a sandwich, which I ate down before his hand was even halfway towards the next one. My appetite hasn't changed much.

(end of chapter 39)