“Only for today.” He looked toward the opening of his hangar and watched the waterfall plunge beside its entrance and into his private pool below. “Fortunately, your escape pod is small in comparison to most, and the crew is extremely skilled at retrieval and terraforming.”
“Wow, that’s unbelievable,” I grumbled as I looked down at the silver toy-sized gun in my hand. “Your technological prowess never ceases to astound me. It reminds me how ridiculous humans are for believing we are the most intelligent species in the universe.”
“Don’t feel bad. Almost all species feel this way until they meet galactic officials and become established within the IPA.”
“That’s reassuring.” I noticed the crevice where the end of Lyave’s hometree’s root sat above the platform, surrounded by the small pool of water, and how it was bare from the supplies for my lessons. “I believe Sutol told Lyave that I didn’t need anything for today because my daily ingredients weren’t waiting for me.”
“Almost certainly.” He followed my gaze. “The Calyzis are capable of communicating with each other through their hometrees with a mere thought. He’d probably prefer not to waste any of his stored energy on something you might not need tomorrow.”
“That makes sense,” I said as I looked down at my robe and stuffed the gun into one of the side pockets before buttoning up the top. “How are we going to get to the clearing?”
“I had a riding saddle and reins made for me to wear and for you to use, so you can sit comfortably on my back while I fly.” He walked over to the group of straps along the wall and hooked the device on his back, much like the bandolier he liked to wear on occasion. “This gives me full access to my wings, so I don’t feel restricted while carrying you on my back, but it also keeps you safe in case we hit some rough air while flying.”
“How can I...” I licked my lips nervously, unsure of his entire plan. “Climb onto you?”
He bowed down in front of me, lowering his front half until it was parallel to the ground, and tilted one of his wings toward me for me to use.
“Jump on and use the straps to secure yourself,” he instructed, tilting his head toward me. “Once you’re down, you’ll feel as if you’re sitting inside a backpack.”
I took a deep breath and took a few steps away from him before running and leaping onto his back, propelling myself forward with my arms. My legs straddled his back as I scooted myself into his saddle with my hands. Once everything was in place, I buckled each strap and double—and triple—checked the clasps to ensure they were secure.
“I think I’m all set.”
“Okay.” Slowly, he stood in an upright position, and the saddle adjusted itself, allowing me to sit alongside him. “Are you ready for me to take off?”
“I believe so,” I muttered, wrapping my arms around his neck. Even though I felt secure in the saddle, some instinct in me demanded that I grip him tightly with all my might. “Please be gentle with me.”
“Always.”
He dashed toward the hangar’s entrance, past the root crevice and his private vessel, and began to beat his powerful wings. He jumped off the cliffside entrance with a huge leap, and the ground vanished beneath us.
A scream ripped through my throat as I leaned forward and tightened my arms around his neck as we gained altitude, flying over the waterfall’s pool and alongside the large cliffside.
As we climbed higher and closer to the jungle trees, I had to will myself to keep my eyes open so that I could watch the waves of the ocean crashing against the rocks below us.
For some reason, I wasn’t afraid and felt like I could do this for the rest of my life.
I felt safe and secure on his back as we flew over the dense jungle trees and foliage, feeling the strength of every pump of his powerful wings.
It was as if I knew he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me.
Seeing the land from above, I noticed the rainbow-colored plants and how they seemed to both shimmer in the sun and glow with bioluminescence in the shadows.
There was a clear-cut in the thick vegetation, and I was able to tell that it was the location where I had crashed landed.
As we got closer, I was able to make out a collection of ships that had landed in a haphazard half-circle around the deep cut that had been made in the land. Several trees had been uprooted all around the entrance, and there was a craft in the shape of a silver orb sitting in the middle of the mayhem.
Axel slowed his flaps and then folded his wings, sending us plummeting toward the chaos below.
As I squeezed my eyes shut and clung desperately to my own life, I let out a scream that seemed to last forever as I awaited the end.
He jolted his wings out and then snapped his body in the opposite direction, quickly flapping his wings and slowing our descent.
As soon as I felt his feet touch the ground, I opened my eyes, let go of the iron grip I had around his neck, and scrambled to unbuckle the straps that were holding me to his saddle.
I dropped to the ground, falling onto my hands and knees as my body began to shake uncontrollably.
“Are you all right, Ami?” Strong, dawn-covered hands gripped my shoulders. “Please talk to me.”
