Twilight Night Chapter 25: Forgiving
Shade's POV
"Ash!" I yelled to see her black out in my arms.
"What happened?" Orestes asked, look afraid to see her like this. I didn't answer him but instead, I check to see she's still alive by listening to her heart with my ear. She was still beating, thank Nocturna.
Marina came over by me. "Is she breathing?" She looked at me worried but I reassured her.
"She is," She sighed in relieved and looked down at her. "Come on, we need to find shelter until the rain stops." I nod and with that Marina helped me lift Ashlie up on Orestes back and I notice her back has a terrible hole that I can see the skin on her. I bite my lips and felt my throat turn to silent growl. We manage to put her on his back securely and we all took off into the grey sky. Marina used her echolocation to see if she can find any hollow tree empty. She manages to find one that is close and we head for it. When we finally reach there the hole was small that Orestes can't fit through so he gently slid Ashley off and I catch her, Marina helped me carry her inside the hollow and lay her down on a moss we found.
When she was settled I turn to Orestes." Thanks, we own you one." The owl forms a smile on his back.
"Your welcome and thanks for freeing me out of the net, and not you know.." I sighed understanding what he was meaning, giving him a slight nod. He spread his wings to take a flight but turns his head a little.
"You know your human friend is very lucky."
"Lucky of what?" I blinked.
"To have both of you as her friend." He answered. My eyes lit up and looked down at her sleeping and looked at Marina but she only sighed heavily. With that Orestes left us I glance down once more at Ashlie and Marina closes her eyes.
"..I'm not a good friend to her." I turn to see her and her face was filled with sadness and sat beside her. "I shouldn't ask Zephyr about the band in the first place instead of asking her more questions. " I sat beside her and she continues. "I-I never knew she was like that, how she has nobody to be with, treat her like she's was different. Like she can be wearing her own band.."
Marina," I gently touch her shoulder. "She might forgive you if you talk to her...
"She won't Shade. You see how she acted."
"Not until you try," I said, "Just..give this a chance." Marina let out another sigh and flew up to roost. Before I do the same I looked down at Ashlie, I watch her shivered and see part of her leaf hooked at the end of her neck. Thinking that it helps her head to be warm I gently lift her head up and put it over her head. She breathed in her sleep and look back at her torn leaf on her back. I shut my eyes, trying not to let my anger consume me. I was happy that Goth is dead and now I hope Throbb dies out in this weather of what they had done. That involves almost kill her. I shook it off after hearing her moan and look at her last time.
All of sudden the way Orestes spoke about her was right, she was lucky that she has us. Without us she's wouldn't survive through this harsh forest. And I own her of saving me from the net and been my close friend without mocking my size. I never knew humans can be this vulnerable if they were this size as her and I wonder if they still are while being giants. I shook my fur and fly to my roost by Marina and wrap my wings tightly around before I settle myself to sleep, letting the calm rain sooth me.
Ashlie's POV
(Dream)
I find myself waking up in a dark space. I blinked in puzzled and manage to get up without using my broken arm. I held it close to my side and look around.
"Hello?" I called, "Shade? Marina?" I heard someone scribbling and I turn my head and saw it was Zephyr, and my surrounding was morphed into the attic.
"Zephyr!" I walk to him, feeling relief to see someone again and he turns his head after he was done scribbling, smiling.
"Ah hello, Ashlie! It's good to see you again,"
"Why am I back here?" I asked, and went by him.
"Its because you have a couple of questions about your amulet yes?" He said, went back to his work.
"Why..yes. Yes, I do." I looked down at my amulet, with a confusing look on my face.
He laughed. "Oh dear, I should've told you this amulet contains goddess power.
"What what?" I raise my eyebrow unsure what he was saying.
You remember I told you this amulet was made from Nocturna herself?" He asked. I nodded, still unsure.
"I believe she pours all her great powers in this amulet and it glows brightly than the stars." He explained. "You see when you feel someone's life is in danger the amulet response. And it only works for a creature with their heart pure enough."
"Whoa," That's all I can say and look at my amulet in amazed.
"Why don't you try healing your broken arm, I can hear your bones cracking." He added, pointing at my broken arm.
I blinked in surprised that he even knows my arm is broken."Okay, seriously how you do that?" He only laughed and my amulet glowed. I took a deep breath and did as before, thinking one thing and concentrate, I even hummed a bit hoping it'll go faster. Then my body came tingling as I remember and my broken arm was beginning to heal itself slowly. When I finally open my eyes my arm that was broken was now healed up.
I stare at my arm and move it a bit and it was a hundred percent not broken anymore."
"Holy shit," I breathed. "I -I did it." Zephyr I did it..!" I grinned and perk my head up but I realized he was gone, and I was back in my black space. Then I hear his voice.
"Remember dear, never use too much of the power, it'll weaken your strength. Oh and one more thing, I expected you to take my bag, you need it on your journey and tell Shade if his wings are torn again, just give him healing portus no matter how much he complains." I couldn't help to chuckle at the last part and he chuckles until he faded which made me uncomfortable and don't want to be alone.
"No, wait! Zephyr don't go! I ..I have more questions.. Zephyr!" I felt footsteps coming towards me and I sighed, was happy he came back.
"I'm sorry I just need someone to be here with me, I hope you don't mind Zephyr if you stay longer…?
"Zephyr?" My blood froze when I hear another voice speaking. I gasp when I saw instead the blind bat, it was Goth coming out of the shadow, smirking his canine teeth. I gripped my amulet in fright and he chuckled.
"Are you lonely señorita?" He asked, with his dark eyes glowed. He begins to stalk towards me and I back further from the steps he makes.
"Stay away." I threaten. He only tsks still coming at me.
"Oh señorita, I hear your crying of want someone to be with you, I'm here now." I swallowed want to back further but somehow I felt myself hit against the wall, not having anywhere to go. I wimped when he came close to me that I turn my head away. He chuckled darkly that made my entire body shivered.
"Now now there's no need to be afraid."
"I said stay away from me!" I blurted. Now I felt terrified he'll eat me right on this spot and waited to be devoured in his mouth. And then I thought my heart escaped through my ribs when his hand grips my arm and his lips were inches away from my ear.
"I'm glad you decided not to murder me…"
I gasp and snap up from my sleep, panting heavily. I swallowed, having some sweats running down my back and look at my surroundings. I was in a hollow tree and outside it was a clear night.
"It was just a dream," I muttered to myself. I use my free hand to rub my face. But something became odd, I wasn't using my other arm for support, I was using my broken arm one. I gasped and looked at my arm, it was all healed up! Just like my dream.
"Incredible," I gasped. I move my arm a bit to make sure it's okay, it was like my arm has never gotten broken it was a miracle. I looked around and see Shade and Marina not here. They might be hunting. I thought. I sat up and looked at my amulet hanging around my neck.
"I knew you were glowing!" I said to it. "Why didn't you glow when I want to? I mean like when my friend and I are in danger with owls a while ago?" Now I felt foolish of talking to the amulet like it was a person. I moan tiredly and rub my face. "These nights are just killing me.." I heard wings flapping and I turn lazily and saw Marina coming back with something in her foot. I turn my body a bit and she landed and grabbed something from her foot she was carrying. It was a small blackberry and she smiles a little.
"Hey sleepyhead, I thought you could be hungry I brought you this." She came over but I didn't speak. When she got on her knees she places a blackberry in front of me. "I know you don't eat bugs as we do, Shade tells me you humans like to eat these kinds of berries, hope their right ones." I can tell she wants my forgiveness but I'm still not sure I can accept it. I took the berry as my tummy begins to rumble and took the bite out of it.
"Thanks," I said, with glum in my tone. I heard her sighed heavily.
"Look, I know you mad at me still and I don't blame you. I deserved it." I didn't speak and let her continue. "I..never knew you are just like me, being all alone after what they treat you, like.. you already been banished." My eyes lit up from her words, was surprised I didn't think that about me. "I know how you feel of no one wants you because of your a human and your alone like how I am when my colony wants me to be gone after I got banned." She low her head. "And I should've known sooner, what kind of friend am I?" I felt my heart grown to soften the more she speaks and I close my eyes.
"I'm sorry Ashlie. You have no idea how I am. I should've asked you more about my band, and why you humans do it for a purpose. And maybe telling me positive things about what you guys do…"
"Marina," I interrupted her. She stops and let me talk. "I forgive you,"
She breathed. "Really?" I nodded and look at my blackberry.
"The reason why I was upset is that I thought you didn't trust me enough." I put the half-eaten blackberry down and wrap my arm around my legs" And you'll leave me, and Shade will follow you. I'm afraid of being alone in your world, with no one to help me get through this." I bury my face in my arms and finished. "I'll have nobody."
"Ash," She gently touches my shoulder and I peek my head a little to her. "You won't be alone, you got us. We won't let that happen to you," I watch her form a small smile and I couldn't help but smile back a little.
"Thank you, Marina," I then shivered a bit like I can feel something cold touching my back. She sees how I was shivering and look for any sign to see what was causing it.
"Oh," She said.
"What?" I chatted.
"You have a hole in your back, I can see your skin." She answered.
"Ah great," I muttered, looking irritated still rubbing my arms together. "Now how can I journey on with you and Shade without freezing myself?"
"Hey, how about these?" I turn to see where she was pointing at and saw some cotton and I looked down at the moss bed I'm laying.
"I think you're on to something,"
It didn't take us many minutes to fix my hole as Marina helped me getting a bunch of cotton on my back. And we use some mosses to press them together and the final touch we stick them together with spider web string.
"There now let's go find Shade and get out of here, who knows where Throbb is he might be near," I grabbed my bag and nodded.
"Yes, and the dawn is coming fast we need to find another shelter to stay in for the day." She lifts herself so I can grab her hands and we both took off to find Shade. We manage to find him and we begin our mission to find Shade's colony.
"Hey Shade, did Orestes scared your colony away?" I asked. He turns to me and nods.
"Yeah, while Goth was chasing me he screeches loudly for the silverwings to go another way."
"Thank God," I sighed in relief.
"Yeah, I owe him." He smiled.
I chuckled."You see what happens after not underestimate the power act of kindness?" Shade rolls his eyes remember his way of act towards Orestes and I give him my smirk.
"Okay okay, I get it! I've learned my lesson." Marina and I both laughed at how he's was giving us his pouty look. Then my eyes lit up realizing I fogot something.
Crap! I left my bag back at the fire towers.
Author's Note: Here's another chapter! :D Hope you like where this is going but if not don't read and review it! I don't own any silverwing characters except OC's enjoy!