7. Flying Lessons
After Van and Hitomi opened their eyes they saw Kyria on her knees panting. Hitomi went over to her and knelt down.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. Just exhausted. I've never done that for so long and certainly not for an hour."
"We were in my mind for an hour!"
"You two better get going. It's probably time for the ball. I think I'll just go to bed. I'm too tired to do anything."
Van and Hitomi said goodnight, then walked out and closed the door.
"I'll try to take the morning off. I know this great place we can go to get your wings out," Van said enthusiastically as they went to their room to change.
Hitomi's eyes were fairly dancing. She was so excited she could hardly wait.
. . . . The Next Morning . . . .
Kyria woke up the next morning to find a note on her bedside table.
'Kyria,
Van and I are going somewhere private to try to get my wings out. If you want to come, meet us at the stables before 9. You will get to fly and stretch out your wings.
Hitomi'
Kyria smiled. To fly and stretch her wings sounded wonderful. She quickly changed, fed Jake, and ran to the stables. She found Van and Hitomi getting ready to leave. They had a horse all ready for her. A few minutes later they left. As they neared the top of the cliff Kyria went faster, then she stopped and tied her horse to a tree. She took a running jump off the cliff. Her wings burst from her back as she soared out over the trees. When she came back up she saw that the other two had reached the top and were now watching her. They saw how happy she was. She landed in front of them and folded her wings a little. She had a huge smile on her face.
"Thank you for inviting me."
"Your welcome," Hitomi answered. "I thought you might like to be able to fly again."
"I love it! I haven't flown for three weeks! I was starting to miss it. Thank you."
With that she took off again. Van took off his shirt, handed it to Hitomi, and let his own wings out. Then he turned to Hitomi.
"Are you ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"First let's see if you can get them out yourself. Just close your eyes and imagine them growing out of your back. If it doesn't work I'll have to teach you the way that my mother taught me. Go ahead and try it."
Hitomi closed her eyes and concentrated. She imagined wings growing from her back. After a minute of nothing she opened her eyes.
"Nothing."
"Then we'll try the other way. Now what I want you to do is to jump off the cliff and imagine your wings coming out. And don't worry, if it doesn't work I'll catch you. OK?"
"Are you sure there's no other way?"
Van laughed. He could feel Hitomi's anxiety. He looked at her smiling.
"Be glad I'm telling you. My mother just pushed me with no warning. It worked of course, but I thought to let you do it a little differently."
Van was smiling. Hitomi was still anxious.
"I don't want to do this, but I trust you," She said.
Van jumped off the cliff to wait, hoping that this would work. Hitomi closed her eyes and kept telling herself not to looked down or scream. She started imagining her wings coming out then took a running jump off the cliff so she wouldn't hit the cliff wall. She kept imagining, hoping with all her might that this would work. A few seconds later she felt a tingling sensation in her back. With a scream her wings burst forth. Then her descent stopped. She slowly opened her eyes and noticed that she was still in midair. She looked behind her and saw wings, HER wings!
'It worked,' she thought triumphantly.
There was what sounded like a whoop coming from below her. She looked down to see Van flying to her with a huge smile on his face. Minding her wings, he grabbed her into a hug and spun her around.
"You did it!!"
He was positively jubilant! The only other time that she'd seen him this happy was when she agreed to marry him. He took her back up to the cliff top and set her down. Her wings were sagging slightly from the effort of keeping her up. Her wings after all were new and therefore weak.
"I can't believe I actually did it," Hitomi said softly as she sat down.
"We believe it," Kyria said as she and Van sat down next to her. "After all we saw you do it. And the proof is on your back. Also take a look at your wings. You have the markings too."
"Now lets get you practicing on how to call your wings whenever you need them," Van said. It won't be easy. Since this is your first time you'll get worn out quickly. But you'll get used to it as time goes on. Then if you want we can practice flying. One of us will come up here every day so you can practice. But only in the morning. You do have duties now and I'd like to spend time with you."
He was looking lovingly at Hitomi, who was smiling.
"Now then are you ready to start," Van asked standing up.
Kyria stood up too, then went off flying again. Hitomi watched her happy.
"She really enjoys flying," Hitomi said as she took Van's offered hand to stand up.
"Yeah she does. Now to get your wings in, exactly the same as letting them out except you imagine them going back into your body like you've seen mine."
Hitomi did as she was told and after a few seconds felt the tingling again. She concentrated on it and felt her wings disappear.
"Good job," Van praised her. "Now let's try again. Let them out then pull them back in. It'll get easier the more you do it. Eventually you'll be able to get them out just by willing it. Now go ahead, let them out."
She did so and discovered that it was easier now. Then she pulled them back in. Van praised her again. She practiced for another hour then they started on flying. Van stayed with her through most of it, but at times let her do it herself. After several more hours she pulled in her wings one last time. Then she collapsed on top of the cliff panting, but she was smiling. It was nearly lunch time so they got on their horses and started off. Hitomi was riding with Van in case she fell asleep, which she did. With her asleep on him they rode back to the palace.