Fern and Caia left shortly after the exchange of strength and headed on their way. Fern was leading stealthily, hoping hey didn't run into any birchers. Caia's pale forehead was shimmering with sweat, however Fern's looked fine. Caia also noticed that Fern didn't eat or sleep when Caia did. She was a pixie, after all. They had different lifestyles and needs. They had walked for a while when they had stopped to rest.
"Do you ever imagine what life would be like if you went to Earth?" Caia asked Fern.
"I have," she admitted.
"And?" Caia prompted. Fern's eyes turned a maroon.
"I need to find my friends. I was separated from them when I was captured. I don't know whether they are dead or alive. I at least need to know their status," Fern sighed, the air surrounding them turning somber.
"Wow," was all Caia could say after an uncomfortable pause.
"I need sleep," Fern sat up suddenly.
"Okay, I'll keep watch," Caia said, trying to give her new friend a reassuring smile.
Fern laid down, trying to fall asleep on the moist ground. Her white hair surrounding her head like a halo. Just before her eyes slipped shut, they turned a pink as she sighed in content.
Now that Fern was asleep, Caia could really look at her new friend. She really did look young, and her dress was clean, despite all of the mud they had to wade through when it started to rain.
Caia also noted that, even though it was cold and Fern had only a sleeveless dress on, she did not have goosebumps. Caia wondered if fairies got cold.
Fern looked like she was at peace, and vulnerable for the first time in this entire journey. She was bubbly and happy, but if you got in her way, she could be extremely powerful and knock you to the opposite side of Eplar.
Caia stood up, suddenly remembering that she could fly if she chose to.
She knelt and put all of her weight on the front of her feet. Then, before she could think about what she was doing, she closed her eyes and jumped.
She kept going higher and higher and higher, and then she stopped. But she didn't fall down. She became suspended in midair. Caia opened her eyes and looked around her. She could see Eplar's two moons and the glowing stars. If she looked closely, she could see the different color stars. There were plum, neon green, pink, blue, orange, every possible color you could imagine, colored stars. You just had to look in the right places. Personalities were the same way, the thought struck Caia as she was gazing at the stars, people seem to have one major emotion. But, if you look closely, the universe gets a lot more complicated.
Caia slowly floated to the ground, and started to head back where Fern and her were sleeping. She heard a crack behind her, and the terrible sound of a bircher. She shuddered before realizing that she and Fern were in danger. Caia took off running, trying to reach Fern while she was unprotected before a bircher could.
Caia was scared. Out of her mind.
But right now, the only task that was on her mind was to save her friend.