Cinnamon, Part 20 - Wool

The feeling of flying on a griffin is something that can never be replicated. It was even more scary and cool than when Celer had galloped through the forest. The wind in my hair was crazy and I had to hold on to my hat so it wouldn't fall off. Min seemed to know exactly where he was going, and surprisingly quickly I noticed a river up ahead, and on it's bank several familiar tents. When we got closer, I heard shouting from down on the ground as they started to notice us. When Min first touched ground, several guards circled around him, some of whom had weapons drawn. Min seemed unimpressed. I slid down from his back just as Azer pushed through and when he noticed me he let out a happy roar.

"Cinnamon! I am so glad you are safe," he bellowed. Then he turned to Min, giving him a bow, and he returned the favor.

"Good luck," he said and gave me one last glance, before flapping his wings and setting flight. We all watched him disappear behind the trees in silence. I was a bit sad I didn't have more time to get to know him, but I knew there were more important things at hand. I turned to Azer, who put his paw on my shoulder.

"Come, let's go to my tent. You need to tell me everything."

~x~

I did tell him everything. How me and Celer escaped to the forest and found the Babylon candle. About the will-o'-the-wisps, that had apparently lead us to the foot of the mountain and how Lucifer found us there. About what he'd told us and how Celer had stayed behind, temporarily of course, so that Min could bring me back. When I noticed Lucifer for the first time, everyone seemed surprised, and after I finished Azer let out a low hum.

"I have heard rumors that Stars walk among us, but I never had hoped that you might cross paths with one. This is quite a serendipity! Stars are indeed powerful beings and it is a great benefit to us if even one is on our side." He stood up from behind his table and walked to my side. "But mostly I'm just glad you are unharmed," he said, and placed his paws on my shoulders. I believe he really did mean it, and not just because I was useful as a tool to end a tyranny. It put a smile on my lips. He smiled as well, and said: "It is almost time for lunch, why don't you go relax for a bit. This war is far from over, and you need all the strength you have."

I was glad to comply. Even if I had slept incredibly well the previous night, I still could use some peace for a moment. I left the tent and wondered around camp for a while, before I found Pessi and Hizi sitting in front of our tent, talking. As I walked closer, Pessi turned to me with wide eyes and suddenly I found myself with an armful of troll. I chuckled lightly and hugged him back. Then he pulled away and looked at me sternly.

"We have been so worried, what happened?!" he demanded with a fake angry voice, but the enthusiastic swishing of his tail kinda ruined the illusion.

"I'll tell you over lunch," I said and he looked overly scandalized. "Now I need a break." My eyes fell on Hizi, who had not moved. He looked sad, and suddenly it all came back to me. I had been a real jerk, and I needed to apologize, even if he wouldn't accept it. Next to me Pessi's tail stopped swaying and the world seemed to quiet down. "Hizi, I'm..." I started, but the words broke in my throat. Just 'I'm sorry' wouldn't cut it. But how could I make him understand how sorry I really was for what I had said? How terrible I felt? I was scared. When he stood up, I actually flinched. He would leave, I was sure of it, but instead he walked in front of me and stopped. I swallowed.

Hizi's face broke into the biggest relieved smile I have ever seen. He tugged my hand and I fell on my knees, so I was on his level, and he wrapped his arms around my neck.

"I am so glad you are alright," he whispered and I let out a sob.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I bawled.

"I know."

"I didn't mean- I didn't know-"

"I know."

"I'm so so sorry....."

"Cinnamon," he hushed, "I know."

~x~

Lu's cookings were delicious, as usual. During lunch I told everyone who had gathered around the fire what had happened to me and Celer, though I did leave out what Lucifer had whispered to me. Everyone was so excited when I told them I had met an actual Star and many voiced their jealousy. I also asked what had happened here after we left. There hadn't been many casualties, six in total. But Folius's men hadn't been prepared for so many people, and had been outnumbered and easily overpowered. After that they had continued to the rendezvous site and had been waiting there from the previous morning. Em joined me after lunch at the range (she had been training when I had arrived, and was very excited to chat with me while I practiced) and I spent most of the day shooting targets. They were already really far away, and Narada said that in a few days I could be able to perform a kill shot from a hundred meters. That sounded very impressive, but I didn't really know for sure. We called it an early evening and I returned to the tent. After changing my clothes, I was asleep in a matter of minutes.

~x~

That night I had a dream. In it, I was walking on a meadow when I came across a ram. First I didn't think much of it, but then I noticed that is shined like gold in the sunlight. And that it had wings. It baad at me and turned around and I chased it across the meadow to the edge of a forest. It stopped there and I walked next to it. There was a small chest there and inside the chest were blade shears. I picked them up and the ram baad again. I looked at it. And then at the shears. And then back at it. Then I started shearing. Soon I had a pile of golden wool on the ground and ram smiled. I hadn't known sheep could smile, but it did and it said to me:

"This is my gift to you. Use it well."

Then it plucked a feather from its wings, added it to the pile of wool and flew off. I just stared after it, shears still in hand.

When I woke in the morning, I found a pile of golden wool and a feather on my bed.

_______________________________________________________________

Haha, I don't even know. Magic flying sheep giving out magic golden wool in dreams. Perfectly normal. But I think shit will need to start happening in the next part (the topic of which is: Map). Four more parts left, ooooooh.

Aah, now I can't stop imagining Celer and Lucifer taking care of little baby griffins together and Celer being all awkward around them and Luci being naturally charming and they love him and climb on him and play with him and Celer will be surprised by Lucifer, because he's always held Stars in high respect like all centaurs and Lucifer is nothing like he imagined, but not in a bad way and they bond a little and when Min comes back, Celer let's Lucifer ride him and they join the Freedom Fighters together for the final battle aaaaaaaasdfgsdf

Krhm. Sorry. I'll go now.

Pie out.

P.S. There's this cool schedule thing on the sidebar, which allows me to set the time this gets posted so you don't need to. Awesome, huh.

P.P.S. I totally wanna illustrate this thing. Is that a bad idea?