After Nicholas gives us treatment for our wings, we feel as good as new. We fly towards the training area with metal tipped gloves, perfect for one on one combat.

Me and Linton start sparring, while Ethan goes into the forest to practice his agility.

“You know…” he says, puffing after an intense one on one which ended with many injuries, “You are quite good at fighting. That swerve really caught me off guard.”

I laugh. “I’m more of a flier and more agile than strong. You're the buff one, large, tall and one of your kicks could send me flying!”

We smile at each other.

“Sorry to break the moment, I was wondering if any of you could help fight me. There aren’t many frogs nearby right now.”

“Oh.”

We break our gaze at each other.

“Sure!”

Nicholas swoops down from his perch.

“Aye, I was watching you fight. And you are all exemplary.”

“Nicholas, sir, I..”

“I know. I saw the bodies.”

Ethan looked around. Grabbing his sword, he replied, “Maybe we should keep going to that island.”

“Right. You two, Linton and Amelia, get swords and helmets from the armoury. I’ll lead. Linton behind. Amelia in the middle. I am a frog riding on an owl. Have your projectiles at the ready.”

He gazes up at the clear night sky.

“We might need them.”

After a few hours of packing, he says to us all, “You all ready?”

“Yes!” we all replied back.

And silently, we take to the sky.

We continue flying in silence for sometime, before Ethan says to us all, “Hey who wants to hear a song?”

Linton replied, “Sure.”

“Is he good?” I ask Linton, fearing for my ears.

“Surprisingly, yes.”

Ethan took this answer as a yes, and he began, “It's just a matter of time before you learn how to fly-y-y-y.”

“Shut up, singing could attract attention!” said Nicholas, but he too sounded gleeful. Stretching my wings for the first time in hours, I feel the wind in between every feather, rippling against my body. Linton does the same, although his feathers don’t ripple. Ethan just looks plain terrified and holds on for dear life and Linton swerves and tumbles.

“Enough...effing….spins!” Ethan screams, as his face turns greener than usual.

“Oops. Sorry.” Linton replied with a smirk, while continuing to spin.

“Enough chit chat back there, hm? I think it’s better to remain silent in our current company.” Nicholas called back to us.

“Hey, do you know Nicholas?”

“Obviously.” Linton replies.

“No, like, where does he come from? How does he know so much about combat? He says he knows my father.”

“I would presume he was your dad. Or his superior.” Ethan adds.

“The only person above my father was Holenic.”

“Eyes out owls and frogs, we're nearing the mountains. Watch out for Southern Owls will you. Go into that cave, we’ll rest for the night.”

“Ok!” I called back.

Me and Linton, who was carrying our resident frog, glided down into a cave that Nicholas had indicated and we started a fire.

Immediately upon landing, Ethan hops out of the cave and jumps from tree to tree, so fast, he's a blur. Between jumps he says, “Thank god I’m on the ground.”

Nicholas swoops down.

“I heard you. I know you are wondering who I am. I am an Arboc Owl Warrior. I am Holenic.”

I gasp. “Ethan came here!’

But, as he hops inside, an ice shard whizzes next to him, as he jumps over it. Our eyes search for the source of the shard, but we fail to find it. Ethan pulls out his sword and mask and hops out.

“Come out! We are ar..” but the rest of his speech is cut short as a swarm of mice come out, far too many to count and swarm Ethan. Forced down on two legs, he calls out to us, “Run and get Nicholas! R-” but his speech is cut short as a giant Owl swoops in, taking out mice.

“Run!” Nicholas calls out to us.

We get back into the cave, barricading it up and trying to find a way out. However, our ears are transfixed to the battle outside.

The owl kicks, bites and slashes at the mice, killing nearly all of them and forcing the rest to retreat. But it looks as though his wing is broken. As if things could not get worse, a massive owl comes in. A southern owl.

“Lucidious.”

“Nicholas.”

“So, you got your servants to weaken me?”

“I’m here to give you two choices. The children can live. However, you're coming with us.”

Nicholas looks down at his wing.

“Kids! Run!” and as he says that, he kicks Lucidous. “Keep heading into the Sun's death!”

Me and Linton, carrying Ethan, come out and fly as fast as we can, swooping in through the trees. Behind, I hear 3 screeches and Lascivious yelling, “Kill those owls and that frog! Nicholas is coming with me.” and he flies away carrying a limp body.

Ethan pulls out his ice shurikens, and, with perfect aim, throws them out in a spread, nailing all three pursuers, and we race off to the sunset.