Chapter Sixteen: "LIKE LIKE"

Ora walked towards Ottaotta cave. Her back legs gripped the rocks, the sharp talons digging in. She looked around cautiously, being as quiet as she could possibly be. During the middle of the night in the Salt Flats, the night was bright and cold. The lovely, pearlescent moon shone in the sky, burning through any thought of ugliness and replacing it with wonder and beauty. A small roar was heard near her ear slit. Ora followed the sounds into the cave, going deeper each time it roared.

"Hello," the voice said. His voice without the crackling of glitch and electricity was actually quite nice and charming.

"Hey." Ora responded. She went over and sat down next to him. Regini carefully put his big wing around her. She blushed and leaned her head on his shoulder. The two had been meeting in this cave for about a month now and were close friends. Ora liked him a lot. He was really nice and caring and didn't bother her at all. He also never told a lie and answered every question Ora ever asked him.

"Amazing, isn't it?" he said softly, pointing at the star-speckled sky. The sky was blue with thousands of brilliant, glowing white dots. It was a stunning, beautiful sight.

"Yes. Amazing indeed," she sighed. Regini chuckled. The two stared at the sky for a while. They then got into a long, serious conversation on war, battle plans, allies, warriors, who they can trust and not trust, and anything in between.

After a bit, Ora began to doze off. Regini yawned and softly pushed her down. He laid down next to her, wrapping his wings around Ora in a sort of blanket. He lightly licked her cheek, then nestled his head between her shoulder and neck.

Ora woke up very warm. She realized she was in the wings of Regini. She looked at him and noticed he was asleep. She quietly got up and cuffed him on the head with her wing. His eyes immediately opened in shock. He jumped up quickly as Ora churred. "Wake up, sleepyhead!" she yelled at him. "Ok, OK! I am definitely awake now, no thanks to you." Regini scowled and then turned his head to the entrance.

The sun was just beginning to rise, and this was the best time for flying. Regini smiled and asked her, "Would you like to go flying with me?" She nodded expectantly. The two held hands, laughing as they flew into the pink sky. The sun warmed their bodies as they looped and flew in acrobatic maneuvers. The air whistled past them as they caught on to an air current. They flipped and even glided upside-down for a while. Finally, the two landed in another cave.

Ora lay on her back, panting. Her chest heaved as she breathed in and out. Regini was on his side, gasping for air. The Ghibli laughed as she watched him look like a dying Yenyasha.

"P-parahexilians are n-not...meant to...fly long... d-distances." He puffed out. She smiled and laid down next to him, grooming her tail. She licked her paws and looked at him. They then went off to have more fun, barreling in the sky, climbing palm trees, taking salty baths, swimming in the steaming water and more. The rest of the Zofs were looking all over for Ora. The thought that she might be hiding in a cave occurred to Zela, and they hurried off to check every cave.

Later, they paused at Ottaotta cave. "Well, she has got to be here, unless she isn't even in the Salt Flats." They entered and walked in.

The gasped at the sight they saw. Ora was sitting next to a Parahexilian, resting her head on his shoulder. The two looked at each other fondly. "Oh, my Wardens!" SunDrop exclaimed. The three stood in shock with their mouths wide open. "Does she really?"and "I can't believe it!" and "A Parahexilian?" among other shocked expressions ran through the cave.

Regini looked in surprise at the three creatures. He looked at Ora and them with wide open eyes, and slowly backed away in awkwardness.

Ora walked over to them. "Hey uh guys! This is...um...Regini and uh...he's, my friend," she said with a sheepish smile. The four looked at her. "We know," they spoke. "O-oh you uh...you do? I can't possibly think what you must 'know'!" Ora said, putting her hand behind her head and looking back. "You like him. You like like him." Ora blushed. "It's um...yes, I'll admit it is a minor crush..." They looked at her with slit eyes. "Ok, a major crush." Flower raised her eyebrow at Ora. "Ok I 'like like' him!" Ora yelled, then bent down and covered her face with her wings in embarrassment.

"Well then Ora...we must test to see if he is truly good!" Zela exclaimed.

Next Chapter: Chapter Seventeen: "RED"

Previous Chapter: Chapter Fifteen: "NIGHTTIME FALLS"