Chapter Text
Pygmy mantas and white birds coalesced from all directions, flying toward the horizon.
Egret couldn’t help but press a hand to their chest.
Of course flocks of birds and mantas were a common sight here, especially in the Bird’s Nest. But the longing and dull ache that swirled in avis heart was replaced with a soaring wonder.
“Where are you going?” They had intended to whisper, but words flew off their lips, loud and clear.
Fly, The flock sang back, their calls echoing through the sky. Fly with us. Fly to us.
Egret leaped off the cliff, letting herself be carried by the blanket of white creatures. Ori flew up, higher and higher, until ori was among the clouds….
There. She needed to go there.
They outstretched their hand to the nearing archway, with runes glowing bright and chimes hanging between the pillars, ringing in welcome of the flock.
Only to be pushed back by rough wind currents beating into their body.
No..! No!! Let me go with them! Egret pleaded wordlessly as avi fell back-
And they jolted awake in the caves under a floating island. Blinking, they slowly sat up, running their fingers against the rocky bricks to ground themself.
Even now, sitting against the inner walls of the Bird's Nest towers, avi could still feel birds under avis cape, the adrenaline from soaring with part of such a large flock. It made warmth sing in their chest, something they knew did not come from their flame core.
The bells chimed softly, signaling the birth of a new day .
But that vision and that feeling lasted.