Here's Chapter 8!

Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Faba

"Alright, breakfast is OVER!" Aiistia yelled, as she did every morning. "Let's get to work! We have three weeks and one day until we leave, and three weeks and three days until the march! Let's get cracking!" Only Aiistia's loud, commanding voice could compel everyone to drop whatever they were doing and listen.

Faba threw away her trash and went into the adjoining room to work with Lukas. Today they would be in charge of the mass production of a sign that would read: "EQUAL JOB OPPORTUNITY, EQUAL PAY". Making signs was a more arduous job than Faba thought it would be, but it was for the Animals, for justice.

"Hey, Faba!" Lukas greeted her cheerfully. "Ready to show off your mad paint skills?"

Faba snorted. "I have no idea what you're talking about! In preschool, I was one of those kids who didn't even try to draw something coherent! But yes, I'm ready to fail at making signs." It was a routine, Faba making fun of herself and Lukas being sarcastic about it. It was how they functioned as a couple. Were they a couple? Faba honestly didn't know.

"Let's get started then." Lukas picked up about a hundred sheets of poster paper and put them all on the table in front of them. He divided them into two fairly equal sections. "Half and half! Let's do it!"

Faba watched as Lukas held the paintbrush between his paws, dipped it in the paint bucket, and started on the E. She smiled in admiration as she started working on her own sign, naturally at a much faster rate. "Wanna get coffee during our lunch break?" she asked Lukas.

"Sure," he replied, concentrating. "That'd be awesome." They worked together in silence for a time until something occurred to Lukas. "You know, by the time we get to the EC, your friend Glinda might be there."

Faba sighed. "I know. I'll try to avoid her. Seeing her would only damage both of our souls and her reputation."

Lukas grinned. "You speak so eloquently." Faba smiled and blushed; he sure knew how to distract her. They stood smiling stupidly at each other until …

"Yo! Lukas! Faba! Don't see much work getting done over here!" Aiistia came over to them with a teasing glint in her eye. She chuckled at their embarrassed expressions. "Faba, I need to talk to you about flying logistics. You got a minute?"

"Sure," Faba said, dropping her brush. "Lukas, do you mind doing a few of mine while I'm gone?"

Lukas raised his eyebrows jokingly. "What, are you slacking off on me now?"

She gently hit him. "Do it! It's for the cause!" Faba could not stop smiling until she was outside the inn with Aiistia.

"You two are impossible together!" Aiistia exclaimed, pretending to be exasperated. "Now, flying. Here's my fantasy: I want to fly with you on your broomstick. Is … that possible … in any way?"

Faba, intrigued by the idea, sadly shook her head. "I don't think so. I mean, I like the idea, but in the end, it is just a flimsy piece of wood."

"Mm." Aiistia was pensive for a moment. "Maybe you could magic it up a little more. Or maybe you could magic me!"

Faba cringed at the thought. "You wouldn't want that. The last time I tried to levitate someone, they grew wings."

Aiistia chuckled. "A winged Tigress! What an idea!" But Faba grew indignant at that.

"You don't want that, Aiistia! The Monkey I enchanted was screeching in immense pain! That's how I became a wicked witch! Just ask Lukas!" She realized she was breathing heavily.

"Okay, chill. I understand." Aiistia became serious. "Maybe we could try flying together."

"You really want this, don't you?"

Aiistia nodded solemnly.

Faba thought about it for a moment. She didn't want to put Aiistia in any danger, but it would be a cool statement to make … "Alright. Let's try it."

Aiistia squealed excitedly. "Yes! Oh, the Wizard will be terrified when he sees us, flying together, like nobody else's business!"

But the Wizard surely would not have been terrified if he had seen Faba and Aiistia flying together for the first time. The broom jerked and bucked, as if protesting the added weight, and it flew so low that Aiistia's tail dragged on the ground, and Faba thought that if she were to stretch out her leg, it too would touch the grass below. "Come on, you stupid thing!" she chided it. "It's just another 300 pounds; what's it to you?"

"It's okay, Faba," Aiistia said calmly. "We don't have to …"

"No, you want this!" She addressed the broomstick again. "Come ON, you motherfucker!" Strangely, the broom seemed to respond to Faba's strong language, and it suddenly shot upward into the sky.

Aiistia's stomach dropped. "Whoa! I think I'm gonna be sick!" Faba tried desperately to bring the broom back down, but it still was staging a rebellion of its own as it thrust like a frightened horse. More colorful language escaped Faba's lips as the broom descended sharply. Her own instincts kicking in, Aiistia leapt over Faba and landed on her feet. Faba, on the other hand, was not that fortunate. All she saw was the grass quickly coming up to meet her before the world went black.

Now for some sad news (as if Faba falling off her broom wasn't bad enough). I will not be posting for a while. I've got some tough exams ahead, but around the 20th I should be back in the fanfiction saddle.

See you then!

Cheers,

Elle Dottore