Chapter 6: Protecting Me
That night, Pterano laid next to his beloved as if to protect her from the outside world but he didn't fall asleep easily because he was afraid that if he did he'd wake up with her gone or worse so instead he gazed at the stars and watched them twinkle merrily. He then looked at Tara and saw her dozing peacefully with a half-grin on her beak. His clawed hand found hers and they twined together. Pterano looked back to see his sister sleeping with her young ones but he couldn't help but feel uneasy. What would happen now?
Just as Pterano was about to fall asleep, he heard a whisper near him and he woke up, looking around in the dark. Seeing as there was nothing in the nest, he hopped down from his perch and looked around in the valley. A familiar shape moved toward him, clutching its tail, and he knew only one person who did that. It was Rinkus, but what did he want? Quietly, Pterano walked up to him and stared at him expressionlessly.
"Pterano," hissed Rinkus lightly, "I need to talk to you." His eyes were harmless and it looked like he meant no harm but Pterano didn't let his guard down.
"What is it, Rinkus?" demanded Pterano, itching to grab him by the beak like he used to in the past.
Rinkus played with his tail for a bit and shuffled his feet as he tried to find the words to say. "Sierra," he whispered, "will stop at nothing to claim the life of your Tara. I don't mind Tara; really she sounds like a nice flyer. I don't want to hurt her because she's done nothing wrong. I tried to tell Sierra that she had nothing to do with our plans but he won't listen. He won't stop until you're alone."
These revelations surprised Pterano. "Why did you risk your tail to tell me this?" he asked stonily, crossing his wings over his chest and glaring at him.
Rinkus fidgeted a bit before answering, "Because I don't want to do this anymore. I'm tired of listening to others. I want to be my own flyer. I've long forgotten the stone but it's hard to live a life of vengeance." His eyes were truthful and he looked truly contrite for what he had done in the past.
Suddenly an idea crossed Pterano's mind. "I have an idea, Rinkus," he said shrewdly, rubbing his hands together. "Now, are you willing to listen?"
Rinkus nodded eagerly as he played with his tail some more.
Pterano pulled him in so they could whisper without others hearing them.
…
By morning, Tara was strong enough to wander around but since her wings and tailbone were bruised she couldn't fly for a while. Pterano held her hand as they walked around the valley and they took in the beauty of the area. The trees were as green as emeralds and the waters were beautiful blue. The sky and sun were radiant and the air was warm. The flowers were in full bloom and were the colors of the rainbow. If Tara could choose any place to be heaven, this would be it.
"You look tired," she remarked, staring at Pterano's tired eyes.
Pterano smiled warmly and said, "I was preoccupied with other things. One of them was keeping guard of you so no one would hurt you. The second was catching up with an old friend I used to know."
"Who?" asked Tara suspiciously, staring at him gently.
"Rinkus," answered Pterano quietly. "He came to tell me about Sierra's little plan of revenge."
"How petty," remarked Tara, shaking her head irritably.
"That's what I said," replied Pterano, giggling a bit at her remark. "Great minds think alike."
She smiled at him slightly and gazed out at the sun, yearning to be in the air again. Why did she have to be injured now? It wasn't fair.
"Pterano?" she said, getting his attention.
"Hmm," he mumbled. "What is it?" He turned towards her anxiously like he feared she would collapse or something.
She opened her beak and a song came from her heart:
"You, you're always there for me,
When I need you most,
Day and night, you're by my side,
Protecting me.
When I feel like crashing down,
You seem to be around,
There you are,
You're not that far cuz…
(Chorus)
Whenever, wherever, baby,
You'll protect me, no matter what,
Hold me tight with all your might and,
You'll never let me go,
Protecting me…"
The two took hands and walked on more but Tara kept singing at the top of her lungs because she wanted everyone to know how happy she was.
"You, you listen to me when,
I speak out loud and you
You know right when my heart's been bent
When my life's tumbling around
You take me off the ground
You tell me everything's ok…
(Chorus)
Whenever, wherever baby,
You'll protect me, no matter what,
Hold me tight with all your might and,
You'll never let me go,
You'll never let me go,
You'll never let me go,
You'll never let me go…"
Pterano stared at his mate, feeling more in love with her than he did before, if that were possible. He had never been more proud or more happier to be with someone and he was glad that it was her.
"When it's my turn,
To help you out,
I'll gladly lift you up without a doubt…
(Chorus)
Whenever, wherever baby,
You'll protect me no matter what,
Hold me tight with all your might and,
You'll never let me go…"
This time, she turned to him and gazed in his eyes truthfully. She took his hands in hers and smiled widely.
"Whenever, wherever baby,
I'll protect you, no matter what,
Hold you tight with all my might and,
I'll never let you go…
You, you're always there for me,
When I need you most,
Day and night, you're by my side,
Protecting me,
Protecting me."
When she finished singing, she wrapped him in a tight hug and tears of joy welled up in her eyes. He cautiously returned her hug but then smiled and held her in a protective embrace.