Tuan was trying to explain to Acquila what exactly Falon had told him, but still couldn't make sense of it himself. Kaoru flying seemed impossible in his mind. In no way had Kaoru shown any sign of taking flight. Eventually, Tuan ended up confusing himself and lapsed into silence, trying to work out everything in his mind.
"How long do you think we have to get her out of here before something big happens?" Acquila asked him.
Tuan looked across the lake at the group of people gathered around Peaches. Most of them were listening to what Peaches was saying, others seemed content with glaring at Tuan and Acquila, and a fair few were flying away from the group and hovering around Kaoru's head. They seemed to be taunting her. Peaches glanced at the taunters and then looked at Taun, smirking.
Tuan suddenly knew exactly what Peaches was thinking and realized just how soon they needed to escort Kaoru out of the Chao garden. They weren't going to get the extra year that they wanted so Kaoru could learn to walk.
When he turned to tell Acquila this information, he realized Acquila had left to chase off Kaoru's taunters and that he was already walking her towards a group of playing young Chao. As of late, Peaches's group had left Kaoru alone if she were playing with the young chao or chao that were fond of her. It was when she was alone that they descended upon her and she had been staying alone quite a lot lately. It was smart of Acquila to bring her with the young chao, where she was safe from the bullies.
As Acquila flew away from her, Kaoru waved at his unseeing back and then walked a short distance away from the younger chao. She wasn't alone long, one of the chao followed her and started to show Kaoru how to make a sand castle.
Tuan smiled and when Acquila returned, he thanked him.
"A lot of people have gotten close to her, including me," Acquila said in response. "It kills me a little when I see how many people hate her." Tuan nodded silently as he watched Kaoru play in the sand. "Sorry, now what were you saying before I left."
"I think I know what Falon meant but teaching Kaoru to fly. He may have said 'In the meantime,' but I think he meant 'instead of.' Instead of waiting for her to learn to walk, we should teach her how to fly. It'll be faster, and the reality is that we just don't have the time to have her learn how to walk. Flying will also lower have stamina more slowly. We won't have to rest as much, so we'll be able to get farther away in a shorter amount of time." Tuan nodded to himself. It was perfect. Why hadn't he figured it out sooner. He must have needed that smirk from Peaches to snap it all into place. "Falon knows he is losing influence around the garden. He also knows that something bigger is coming, and he probably knows how soon. He just wanted me to figure it out myself so I'd be more likely to believe it," Tuan was mumbling.
"Do you think he wants to come with us?" Acquila asked.
"Come with us?" Tuan had never really considered the idea to ask Falon to come, but it did make sense. "I don't think he'd do it. He may want to, but I think he feels a responsibility to the garden the same way that we feel a responsibility toward Kaoru. As long as their are the innocent chao, he won't go. He knows they need someone to stay by them. He knows that if he leaves, Peaches's group with take over everything. Right now they just like rebellers, but if he were to leave they might become anarchists." Tuan looked sadly into Acquila's eyes. "He's not going anywhere, even though we know it may be dangerous for him to stay here."
Acquila suddenly felt conflicted. Falon was someone to be respected, someone who needs protection. A part of Acquila felt like he should stay and make sure nothing happens to Falon.
"Don't even think about it, Acquila," Tuan said, knowing what he friend was feeling. "He'll never hear of it. He's getting old and Kaoru needs more protection than he does right now. She has her whole life ahead of her."
Acquila scanned the garden for a sign of Falon but couldn't find him. Instead, his eyes landed on Kaoru who was now standing on the outside of the young group of chao, her ears twitching as she listened to what they were saying. He knew that Tuan was right. "How long do you think we have to get her out of here?" he asked Tuan.
"Two weeks."
A.N.
I know I haven't updated in forever, but truthfully it's kind of hard to update this story because I don't know if people actually like it, or the characters, enough to actually continue on. I know where I'm going with the story, but I'm focusing more on the stories that I know people like. This one will continue to be updated though, so no worries.
Also, in case some of you read New Girl In Town, don't worry, Kaoru learning to fly in this story will not create at continuity issue with that one. I know what I'm doing with that issue and it may seem weird now, but in the end I know how to tie up the loose bits.
Have a nice evening and Please review.
