Chapter Eight

Chiara’s squinted. In the distance she could see a green rim of tall trees. It was past midday. She and the patrol were approaching the edge of Leothra territory. *Already? I’d rather fly forever even with my aching and sore muscles than possibly face dragons.* Chiara shook herself. *I can’t. I* have *to find Cephas.*

          She had fallen to the back of the patrol out of exhaustion, allowing Aeolus to take the lead for a moment. It was unspoken, but everyone understood that he was sort of the second command of their mission. Aeolus had been Chiara’s first choice. *He always takes the leadership role in anything, whether it’s wanted or not. Maybe if he tries to snatch it from me I can complain to Chief Warrick that it wasn’t my fault and I had no way to keep a hold of the patrol. Even if he doesn't know what Aeolus is like, I could still use it as an excuse.* She didn’t want to think that knowing Chief Warrick that he would most likely not approve if she were to try that. *Still ...*

          She sighed as she figured that now that they were almost to their destination that she should take back the position of leader. Chiara had procrastinated enough. She knew that she could hide behind her patrol forever. *I would never hear the end of it from my father if word got back to him.*

          After a while she was neck and neck with Aeolus, who flew in a calm and determined manner.

          She felt like she should say something, but she didn't know what. Chiara commented, “We’re just about here.”

          Aeolus didn’t look at her but responded, “Oh, I didn’t know. We are?” His voice was drowned in sarcasm and Chiara couldn’t stop herself from shooting him a glare. *Not the time,* she thought. *Not in the mood.*

          “Yes,” Chiara said through gritted teeth. Aeolus was getting on her nerves. She didn’t want to have to deal with his annoyances while she was busy thinking of what in all of Aeroterra she was going to do once they arrived.

          The patrol continued on until they reached the edge where the trees of the jungle cleared into the meadow below them. She led them past a few trees and settled on a large sequoia that was big enough to support all ten of the Leothra.

          “Why’d we stop?” Aeolus asked. His question, at least to Chiara, sounded more like a sneer.

          She fluffed her feathers. “Oh, just...figured we could all use a moment’s rest for a little,” Chiara responded in a light voice. She didn’t want to tell them the truth. *That I have no idea what to do now.*

          “Uh huh,” Aeolus said, stretching his wings out wide and forcing Aeroo who was below him to duck. “Well I’m-we all are-rested plenty now. We can go now. We Leothra don’t need to *rest.*”

          Chiara almost said that even if they didn't, that she needed a break. She stopped herself, knowing it wasn’t very Leothra of her to say that. She growled, “Fine,” and glanced around. “We uh...we will head out in a second. I have to do something first.” Chiara had to decide where to go.

          Chiara leapt off the tree and spread her wings to catch herself before she could hit the ground. She looked around, trying to think while she dodged trees. Chiara was used to flying in the jungle-she had done so all her life. She was able to glide effortlessly without having to worry about crashing into objects while being busy doing other things. *It’s practically second nature for me.* She shook her head. *You’re getting off topic, Chiara. Focus. The-my patrol can’t wait forever. Where do I go? Where? Where?*

          She came across a small clearing and Chiara landed into it. She looked up at the sky, squinting as the light from the setting sun splotched on her pelt and shadowed her eyes.

          *We might as well head on to the Grand Platform...but do I know the exact way there? I know it would be more up north...what if I miss it?* She pondered while sitting. Chiara got up and flew back to the others. *I’ll just have to wing it I guess.*

          As Chiara headed towards the others she thought she heard roaring in the distance. It was so faint that she shrugged it off. She figured her paranoia about being back in the jungle not that long after everything had happened was causing her to imagine things.

          “You’re back,” Eniro remarked.

          “Hmph. And I thought you wouldn’t,” Aeolus said. He stood up straight on the tree. If Chiara had been just a random Leothra happening to come across the patrol, she would’ve thought Aeolus to be the leader.

          “Well I did,” Chiara said, lifting her muzzle. “We’re going to the Grand Pavilion. Now.” She looked from Aero and Aeolus-who of which Aeroo sat awkwardly on the tree branch below Aeolus-to Wrisn and Unako who sat quietly, saying nothing.

          Without waiting for Aeolus to make a snarky comment, Chiara spread her wings. She lifted off the branch she perched on. She didn’t need to turn around to know by the sounds of the tree swaying that her patrol followed her.

          Chiara lead the Leothra through the jungle until it began to grow dark. With no warning, she dove down and landed. Nightfall was coming on fast, and Chiara didn’t want to be flying all night. *We need to rest anyways, so we might as well do it at night.*

          Wrisn and Tal came down first. Aeolus, Eniro, Aero, Triyah and Fani had to make a wide turn to come back to them. Aeolus stalked up to Chiara. “What are you doing?” he asked. She thought she could detect a snarl in his tone.

          “It’s late,” Chiara answered. She tried her best to keep her voice calm. *Why did I choose him? Sure Aeolus is a great fighter and I could use him as an excuse but he really is agrevating!* “Even though we are *mighty* Leothra, we need to sleep sometime. Might as well do that when we can’t see as well.” Chiara, like other Leothra, had night vision. She still wasn’t as trusting of it than her normal sight during the daytime.

          Aeolus opened his mouth to say something but she stopped him. “*I’m* leader of this patrol, and *I* say we rest here for the night.” *That’s what father would’ve wanted me to say right? It sounds right but it feels wrong.* Chiara didn’t enjoy ordering around her patrol. She knew she was supposed to but she felt as if she wasn’t worthy to do so. *I’m not a proper leader.*

          Aeolus glared yet he laid down. He spread his wings over him to hide himself from the others. Chiara collapsed beside Wrisn and Tiyrah. After a while of her trying to go to sleep, she heard Tal pad up and lay down next to her. She made room and waited for her dreams to come.

**...**

          Chiara groaned and opened her eyes. Aeolus stood over her. “Wake up!” he demanded. “You’ve been sleeping here forever! I didn’t come on this mission to sit around doing nothing! There is a limited amount of time we have to try to rescue any Leothra that may still be alive and you are worried about your beauty sleep.”

          She glared at him. “We can’t *not* sleep. Do you think I don’t care? I lost my brother if you’ve forgotten-your prince!” Chiara snapped, already grouchy from the way he had woken her up.

          Chiara thought that her words would shock him, or at least make him angry or leave her to lead alone. But it didn’t faze him. Aeolus looked at her and replied, “I do think you care. I don’t think you care enough.”

          Chiara shook her head and turned away from him. *There’s no point in arguing with him. Aeolus’s too stubborn. He just thinks we can’t rest or get any sleep until we rescue the survivors because it’s the Leothra way. As much as I would never say it outloud, the Leothra way is wrong. You can’t rescue others when you are about to die from exhaustion!*

          Sure, Chiara knew it wasn’t that dramatic. They wouldn’t die from exhaustion. Yet, the patrol and herself would need to be strong and healthy to help and to make sure the mission wasn’t a failure.

          *Why do I even have to be arguing with him? It’s so early!* Chiara growled under her breath and flicked her tail as she rose. She lifted her head and spread her wings, ready to wake up the rest of the patrol. To her surprise, they were all already up. Loud enough so that they could all hear, Chiara commanded, “Alright, we’re headed out. Follow me.” She spread her wings and lifted off into the air, narrowly dodging some vines.

          They headed north. On the way, Chiara would occasionally call out for Cephas. She figured it would be worth a shot. The others of her patrol joined in, calling for their lost loved ones who they had left behind.

          It was to no avail. Chiara assumed it was not long past noon by the time they reached the Grand Pavilion. She stared at it, hovering in the air with the rest of the small leap in the air next to her. Shafts of sunlight from the gaping holes in the burnt trees illuminated the charred wood and foliage of what she had once known to be her home. *I can’t even recognize it!* She thought with horror.

          “Wh-what? It's all ... gone. All of it-destroyed,” Chiara choked out.

          Aeolus growled, “It’s too late. It’s not like we can fix it all right now. What we *can* do is take revenge on the dragons. Scout out the area, go and come back with all of the Leothra to attack them and show them to never mess with us again!”

          Chiara glanced at him. Part of her also wished for revenge and justice. But she also feared fighting back against the dragons. She remembered how huge and powerful they were. Chiara shook her head and said, “It would be too risky. Let’s just-”

          A shriek bCephase through the silence of the gray ash covered jungle. A deep and threatening roar followed.

          Chiara’s eyes widened as she heard crashing coming closer. *What trouble have I gotten us into?*