Xenith felt boxed in, the walls were moving in on him. Weird for him to suddenly feel this way so he decided to go for a long walk to get some fresh air and exercise.
Once he stepped outside, he took a deep breath. The cold air stung his nose with its sharp bite, the breeze ruffled over her back sending a shiver along it, and the smell that hung in the air was of rain that would be coming.
Shaking his head, he decided her walk would be a short one instead of the long. leisurely one he had envisioned.
Taking another breath, taking in the cool, refreshing air he trotted off. The weather change had come on suddenly, one day it was nice, the next was cold! Each day was a surprise in what the weather was going to do. To be honest he was tired of the back and forth, either be nice or cold. No in between was her preference. He had all the provisions he would need if the cold continued. He had gone into town and got what he would need and tripled that to make sure he didn't have to venture in again for a long while.
As he walked her mind began to wander. A small sound caught his attention interrupting his thoughts. Turning he saw a small light-colored bird and it made him think of the story his mother used to tell him when he was a foal.
It was a story of courage and determination. In that story a small bird got separated from her family during a very bad thunderstorm. The winds were brutal and the nest she was huddled in got blown out of the tree it was in, and she flew through the air, being tossed around. She tried to climb out and take flight, but the wind was relentless! The bird could only huddle down in the corner that had a small burrow space in in, cover herself with some of the nesting material and hang on. She kept still and calm as she could hoping the wind would place her down some place safe and near to where she was before being blown out of her tree.
The little bird was terrified, but she knew she had to be brave. Nothing good came out of being scared, when you are scared or terrified you make decisions that usually turn out to be very bad. Forcing herself to take small breaths she focused on slowing her breathing and focusing her mind on what to do once she was on the ground or wherever the wind placed her once the force died down. The nest floated for what seemed like days before the little bird passed out in sheer exhaustion and fear.
When she awoke, she heard splashing. She moved slowly and cautiously peered over the side of her nest to see she was in a bush of some kind near a small lake or pond. Scanning around her nothing looked familiar. She sighed and tried to keep the panic from rising, she knew she had to stay levelheaded and find her way back home!
Making the decision to go out of the nest, she flew up high and got a very good look at where she was. Suddenly she heard a snap of a beak and turning she saw a medium sized bird hovering just beneath her looking up at her. She didn't feel fear she simply turned her body downward and landed on the ground. The unknown bird followed and she asked them where she was. Once she figured out where she was, she knew how to return home!
The bird she had just met agreed to help her return home in exchange for some company. The bird appeared to be lonely, so she agreed without hesitation. The flew for most of the day, found a nice safe spot to sleep for the night after finding some food to eat. The next morning, they continued their journey and by the bright afternoon she found her forest! She recognized a few of the animals running and one called out in greeting to her!
Having made a new friend, she was reluctant to see them go. She hesitated for a second before asking if they would like to stay and live with her. She felt safe with them, and she wanted the company. Her new friend agreed instantly, asking her to show him around the forest she had chosen for her home.
They took flight up on the slightly cool breeze and she began to point out certain places to him. Advised him to remember landmarks to find his way around until he was confident, he wouldn't get lost.
Xenith heard another sound this one distant and it snapped his mind and attention back into focus. The weather had turned even colder, the sky was a dark shade of Gray, and the smell of rain was heavy in the air.
Turning he took off in a hard run back to her home. Hoping he would make it before the sky opened up and the rain poured and the wind whipped!
