Chapter Six: Finding Your Tomorrow Through Blurred Vision

Dawn. Through night and day Chinook continued to fly, chasing after the sun, but somehow it was always several steps ahead of him. Sometimes he wondered why he was putting so much effort into this. What would he find when he reached the sun? Tomorrow. Yes. Maybe he could find his tomorrow.

To Shade's confusion, he found himself constantly following him rather than returning to Marina's roost to see how his mate and his son were doing. But deep inside him, he knew why. There wasn't much to see there. Griffin grew cold and distant as Marina grew silent, fading away into something of the past.

It fascinated him why Chinook was trying so hard to reach something that could not be reached. But it was strange because Shade couldn't figure out whether this vain endeavor was out of stubbornness, desperation or just plain stupidity. It was impossible to reach the sun without burning into ashes. The heat of the sun in the middle of summer was searing hot and sticky with humidity to say the least, so he couldn't even begin to imagine the unbearable pain when you even got a bit too close. But what surprised him the most was how Chinook wasn't blind by now. After days upon days of squinting into the sun he didn't show one single sign of blindness. It was a miracle.

"I know you're here," Chinook spoke suddenly.

Shade jumped, toppling over, however wind could. Chinook was looking directly at him, directly into his eyes.

But he was now a floating spirit of the air, invisible and in an immaterial form. How could Chinook possibly see him at all…? It was impossible.

"Who said anything about seeing you? Being able to sense your presence isn't that hard. All I have to do is concentrate and I feel that whenever you're around, it's cooler, and not as painfully hot as before. It makes me think of shade and then I know it's you,"

"Can you hear me?" Shade asked quietly, partly to himself, knowing that Chinook probably couldn't. Being able to sense a spirit was astounding enough, being able to communicate…Maybe the world really didn't have limits.

"Yes. I can hear you, Shade. I'm not deaf," Chinook said, frustrated and clearly offended.

"No, that-that's not what I meant, Chinook, h-how can you see me?" Shade asked, growing more confused and fascinated by the second.

"You're clear as day to me. But I can't say the same for anything else. I'm almost blind. All I see are distant points of light and the rest lies in my mind's eye. But I see you crystal clear,"

Shade couldn't speak. He was amazed beyond words. The sun blinded Chinook but gave him the ability to see him even though he was an invisible spirit. Not to mention that Chinook had changed. He was no longer the young, proud, boastful bat who looked down at those smaller than he was. He was calmer, more reserved, quiet, intelligent, and he seemed…to…really have grown… Something about the new Chinook made Shade miss the old one, and the other half of Shade wished he had seen this side of him before he had to die. That made him sad.

"Why won't you go back to Marina and Griffin? Have you forgotten them…?" Chinook asked, hurt, even though this wasn't even his problem.

"No, Chinook, I-

Shade tried to protest, but Chinook wasn't as patient as Marina.

"Then why won't you visit them…?"

"I can't,"

"Why…?" Chinook whispered angrily. Here was Shade in perfect condition and Marina and Griffin were worried sick, that they even left their home to find him and Shade wouldn't even visit them to tell them he was okay. Who did he think he was?

"Because- because…I'm dead…"

Chinook laughed. But it was cold, harsh with no sign that it could actually be laughter. He had a disgusted look on his face and he just shook his head.

"No, Shade. Don't you dare lie to me about something like this. You can lie if you didn't think we were ever friends. You can lie if you never felt the slightest bit of sympathy for me. You can lie if you hated me when Marina and I began to become friends. I know that feeling of envy, when she chose you. But don't lie about the fact that you are dead. How can you possibly be dead if I can see you?"

"Well, you have the ability to sense spirits; it's really the only explanation that I can think of-

"Shut up, Shade! Quit messing with my head! I-I know…I know…"

Chinook trailed off, believing himself, less and less.

"Don't tell me I'm crazy, Shade. I-I know what I'm seeing…"

"You're not, Chinook. You just have the astounding ability to sense spirits like me. Now, please tell me where Marina and Griffin is,"

"I don't know,"

Shade's ears twitched in annoyance.

"I'm serious. I need to know where they are,"

"So am I. I really don't know. They just disappeared,"

"Then please help me find them. Please, Chinook, you're the only one who can see me, well, know that I'm actually here, anyways…"

"But, but I'm looking for…"

"What are you looking for?" Shade asked softly.

It wasn't often Chinook wanted to find anything, to discover things, because he'd thought Chinook had no sense of adventure. It made Shade quite curious.

"My…my…tomorrow…" He whispered, flushing red, embarrassed, knowing Shade would probably laugh at his inability to describe it with better intelligence.

"Hmmm…?"

But Shade did understand, deep inside him. He just wanted to test him to see if Chinook really meant what he said.

"I-it doesn't really make sense…I know…"

It felt strange being the one embarrassed, when he had been the one ridiculing Shade for most of his life. Or the life that he knew, anyways.

But Shade smiled a knowing smile.

"I am too. Let's find our tomorrow together,"

And no more was said, as they both flew away, leaving their prejudices behind them, so they could begin their journey with a fresh start, and more importantly, so they could simply enjoy each other's company, for once in their lives.

Hey, guys I know this is a bit off topic, but I'm going to write a fanfic on Airborn too, soon, so, be sure to check it out when I post it! Bye, for now. :)

P.S. I'm going to be away for a few days, so I apologize, but you'll have to wait a bit for the next chapter.I'll be back soon!;)