Chapter 5
Over the next several days, Tenor noticed that Serenity was a lot happier. Her crops finally grew with some help from Aurora, along with her flowers. Edelweiss was very excited to see the flower she was named after. She had to fight the urge to pick them. The whole side yard of the house was covered in a rainbow of flowers. Serenity brought in her harvest. She was eating and sleeping again, and had gotten her strength back. The hang glider was long forgotten. Tenor, along with everyone else, was pleased that she was looking better.
Tenor looked at the flowers in the yard. The air around them was filled with a sweet aroma. This gave Tenor an idea. He went to look for Windwalker. He found her getting a drink from the lakeside.
"Hey, Windwalker," he said, very excitedly. She looked up at him.
"What are you so excited about?" she asked curiously.
"I want to show you something," he said. Without waiting for a response he took off. He looked over his wings, and say Windwalker speeding after him.
They left the lake and headed east. They flew low over the hills and trees. Windwalker was about to ask how much farther it was, when Tenor landed in a small clearing in the middle of the forest.
"What's so special about this place?" Windwalker asked.
"We haven't gotten to the place yet," said Tenor "From here we walk, I want to keep it a surprise." With that he headed off into the forest, Windwalker followed. It was a fairly easy hike. They went through the forest until light appeared ahead. Tenor stopped and grinned mischievously.
"Now what?" Windwalker asked.
"Now, you close your eyes," said Tenor. Windwalker just looked at him, doubtfully. Tenor sat on his haunches and waited. Finally Windwalker shut her eyes.
"Walk straight a head until I say, your way is clear," Tenor said. Windwalker walked forward, cautiously. She could hear Tenor walk beside her.
After what felt like ages, Tenor told her to stop and open her eyes. She did and saw tall, rolling hills covered in millions and millions of different colored wildflowers. Windwalker and Tenor were standing on a small bluff, up to their knees in wildflowers. Windwalker looked around at the hills, which looked like they'd been painted in vibrant colors. Not only did it all look pretty, but it also smelled very sweet. Windwalker was speechless.
"What is this place?" she asked, when she found her voice again.
"It's called Rainbow Hills," said Tenor. "I was hunting one night in this area. When dawn was approaching I was too tired to fly back to the castle, so I landed in a dark clearing and fell asleep. When I woke up, this is what I saw. It's my favorite place in the country."
"This is quite something to wake up to," said Windwalker.
"Indeed," Tenor agreed. He laid down in the soft grass and flowers. Windwalker laid beside him and nibbled his neck.
"It's good that Serenity's finally happy again," she said.
"Yeah, I plan to keep her that way," said Tenor.
"Have you shown her this place? asked Windwalker.
"I have," said Tenor. "But she now has a little piece of it in her yard."
"When's the last time you took her flying?" asked Windwalker. Tenor thought back.
"Ages ago," he said. "I have a job to do, I no longer have time to take her flying." He seemed sad by the thought.
"You were Prime Minister before she became your rider," said Windwalker.
"Not that job," said Tenor.
"Oh, I see," said Windwalker.
"Now a days Serenity doesn't fly unless she has a patient to get to," Tenor said. "It's a shame, she loves to travel."
"Where did the two of you go?" asked Windwalker.
"All over Europe," said Tenor. "The Himalayan mountain range, Egypt, Rome, Greece, the Indian jungle, the African savanna, the middle east, we've even been as far as Australia and met the Megalania dragon."
"Some life," said Windwalker. "She must miss it." Tenor nodded.
"She loved it," he said. "There's still places she wants to go. South America, Antarctica, and the islands of the Pacific. Places where we don't have to worry about advanced weaponry." Windwalker nuzzled him again.
"When the dragonets have unlocked their titan wing, you're be able to take her anywhere you want," she said. "There maybe a place out there that's as lovely as this." She gestured towards the colored hills.
"Perhaps," said Tenor.
"That was pretty impressive what she did," said Windwalker. "Standing up to a dragon king." Tenor beamed with pride.
"Yup, we've rubbed off on her," he said. "I'm happy that she's part of the family."
"So am I," said Windwalker. "Serenity seems to be there precisely when you need her. Several of my friends were fatally injured during the Song war. I was so sure I was going to have to watch them die in agony, but she came and saved them."
"Yup," Tenor agreed. "I once got a bad case of dragon flu, she was at my side in a flash. She's a real angel. Everyone's in good heath when she's around." Windwalker murmured in agreement. She then laid her head on Tenor's shoulder and looked out at the colorful hills. She entwined her tail around his. They looked at the Rainbow Hills until it got too dark to see them. Then they took off and headed out hunting.
Back inside the little blue house, Chris and Serenity got into bed. Chris wrapped his arm around her, and she snuggled close to him. She couldn't have been happier. The little house and the lake felt more like home. She made herself comfortable, kissed Chris on the cheek, and fell asleep.