The World Cried Out

All right we are on to chapter 1! I can tell you that I am very excited about this story; I haven’t been this enthused to write in awhile. I even have chapter 2 almost finished! But I shall only post on Fridays so I can have some time to finish them and even store a few up. Now I would usually take this time to answer reviews, but….there are none. None what’s so ever. Not even a rating. But that’s okay we shall press on! Here is chapter 1 please enjoy!

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The rustling of leaves was heard as a young boy traveled through a lush forest. He looked around and sighed irritably.

“Avian! Avian, where are you!? This isn’t funny anymore! Avian!!!” he yelled at the top of his lungs, startling a few animals from their hiding places.

When there was no reply the boy growled in frustration and flicked his short blonde hair away from his face. He was about to continue on his search when there was a rustling noise above him. Before he could look up something dropped down behind him and grabbed him.

“Boo!!!” The boy shrieked and jumped in surprise. He tried to get away by diving onto the ground and he covered his head with his arms for protection. Only when he heard a familiar laughter did he realize what had happened. He rolled over onto his back and glared at his friend who was hanging from a low branch by his legs. His shoulder blade length black hair was dangling from gravity and his green eyes sparkled in mischief

“Avian, that wasn’t funny! You could have given me a heart attack!” the young boy snapped angrily as he sat up. The boy called Avian covered his mouth to try and stop laughing.

“I-I’m sorry, Neil, but you should have heard yourself. Y-You screamed like a girl!” Avian broke out into a more laughter, causing Neil to glare even more and flush in embarrassment.

“Well, you would have too, you jerk!” he shot back and grabbed a fistful of dirt and leaves and threw them at Avian. The other boy held his arms up to block them as he chuckled.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he agreed. Avian then swung himself up and jumped down from the branch. “I’m sorry for scaring you,” he said and held out his hand. Neil looked at it then hmphed and got up by himself.

“No you’re not and I know you’d do it again too,” he told him with narrowed eyes. Avian stared at him in surprise then grinned.

“Again you’re probably right,” he confessed. “But you know it’s all in good fun, Neil,” he told him and ruffled his hair.

“Ack! Cut that out!” Neil demanded and batted Avian’s hand away. “I swear you’re older than me, but you act like more of a kid than I do,” he grumbled as he fixed his hair. He then proceeded to brush the filth off his jacket and shorts. Avian decided to help and got the dirt and leaves off Neil’s back.

“What’s the matter with acting like a kid? Its way better than being an adult,” Avian said as he finished.

“But that’s my point, you are an adult now Mr. Just-Turned-Nineteen. When are you going to start acting like it?” Neil asked as he turned to look at Avian. The older boy pretended to think about it then crossed his arms.

“When I feel like it. Plus you and I both know that, technically, I’m not an adult till I’m twenty. So I have a whole year to act as much like a kid as I want to, so there,” he told him and stuck out his tongue. Neil stared at him like that was the stupidest thing he had ever heard.

“You’re immaturity level astounds me, you know that?” he finally said. Avian laughed and ruffled his hair again.

“That, Neil, is my point,” he said teasingly.

“I told you to cut that out!” Neil growled and hit Avian’s hand away again. The older boy just laughed as he walked over to the nearest tree. He pulled out a big bag that he had hidden in order to set up his trap for Neil.

“Come on, Short stuff; let’s finish gathering those herbs for Menill,” he said over his shoulder then started heading further into the forest.

“Ah! Hey wait for me!” Neil called out and scrambled after his friend.

Soon they were walking side by side and filling Avian’s bag with herbs and other plants. As they worked something started to nag at Neil. It was something he wondered about often, but usually pushed it to the back of his mind. But with their previous discussion it was being much more persistent. He glanced over at Avian and bit his lip as the question announced itself. *Why is he friends with me?* It echoed in his head like a taunt.

For as long as Neil could remember Avian and him had been inseparable. Neil always felt extremely proud to know that he had a friend that was much older than him. It gave him bragging rights with the other kids. Not just that, but he looked up to Avian as a role-model, not that Neil ever admit it to him. But now that Avian was almost an adult he wondered if things were going to change. He had seen it many times before. Two people could be life long friends, but the moment one came into adulthood he would abandon the other to join the adult world.

Every day Neil was expecting Avian to turn to him and say, “Leave me alone, kid. I don’t need a snotty little brat like you around.” He started to think that he was a burden to Avian. That he was just trailing after him like a lost little puppy. As much as he expected it to come he dreaded the day that Avian would turn his back on him to join the others as an adult.

“Neil? Hellllo, Neil, you in there?” Neil jumped as he was brought out of his thoughts by Avian’s voice and a hand waving in front of his face.

“Wha!? Oh, uh, sorry…” Neil apologized and looked away in embarrassment. Avian put his hand on Neil’s shoulder and shook him gently.

“Hey, what’s up with you? You looked really down while you were in your little world of thought,” Avian questioned. Neil closed his eyes and shook his head.

“It’s nothing,” he told him. Avian frowned and put his hand on top of Neil’s head and made him look up at him.

“It didn’t look like nothing to me.” He then smiled gently. “Come on; tell Big Avi all about it.” Neil blushed at the name he had called Avian when he was very young.

“I told you it was nothing!” he snapped and turned his back on Avian. He yelped when he was suddenly forced to bend back and look up at Avian’s scowling face.

“Don’t you get snippy with me. You’re not going to force me to tickle it out of you, are you?” he asked in a serious tone. Neil sighed and felt his resolve waver.

“Only you can make something as stupid as that sound threatening. Fine, I’ll tell you,” he said in defeat. A big smile immediately appeared on Avian’s face and he let go of Neil and turned him around.

“Okay, so what’s up?” he asked again. Neil pouted and refused to look him in the eye, feeling like an idiot.

“Avian, why…why are you friends with me?” he mumbled softly, but Avian heard him.

“Why am I friends with you?” he repeated, dumbfounded by the question. “Is this a joke?” When Neil didn’t answer and looked more upset with each passing second Avian realized he was quite serious.

“Well, it could have something to do with our parent’s being friends since forever and that I’ve known you since you were that big,” Avian told him, holding up his index and thumb very close together.

“Avian, you know what I mean!” Neil yelled, getting angry that Avian wasn’t taking this seriously. “Why do you still hang around me when you can be with the adults and other people your own age!?” Avian was taken back by the outburst.

“Whoa! Down, Short stuff, down!” He said, holding his hands up. “Do you really think I’d ditch you to be around those pig headed people?” he asked. Neil looked away again and clenched his hands into fists.

“No…maybe…I dunno,” he finally admitted. Avian sighed and scratched the back of his head. Trying to find the best way to explain what he wanted to say.

“Come on, Neil. Why would I want to hang out with the guys my age? They’re so full of themselves I can choke on their egos,” Avian told him. Clasping his hands around his throat and pretending to choke. A faint smile appeared on Neil’s face and he let out a small laugh. Avian smiled at seeing that and put a hand on his shoulder. “Really, you have nothing to worry about,” he reassured him. Neil’s face fell again and he was still doubtful.

“But don’t you care what the others think of you? Having a twelve year old hanging around you all the time can’t be good for your image. I mean, I barely come up to your chest!” he pointed out, comparing their height. Avian laughed and ruffled his hair, earning him a glare.

“True, but haven’t you taken a good look at your dad lately? The guy is huge! Once you hit a growth spurt I’m sure you’ll be just as tall as him, which means you’ll be taller than me!” A thoughtful look then came to his face. “Drat, which means I won’t be able to call you ‘short stuff’ anymore.” Neil just rolled his eyes at that.

“Yeah, you’re probably right about that. But what I’m trying to say, Avian, is that don’t you want to start making a name for yourself? Don’t you want to start feeling more like an adult?” he asked. Avian raised an eyebrow then suddenly smacked Neil upside the head.

“Ow! What was that for?” Neil asked as he held his head.

“I’m trying to knock some sense into that empty head of yours! Does nothing come out of my mouth when I talk or do you just not listen to me? Being a snobby pre-adult is not on my to do list! Throwing away a good friend is something that I will not do! If it means I’m a social outcast, I could hardly give a damn! I’ll live my life the way I want to and be friends with whoever I damn well please!” Avian yelled and stared hard at his young friend when he was finished. Neil was shocked by everything that Avian had said and wasn’t sure how to reply.

“Uh, but I…” he trailed off, not able to form a sentence. Avian let out a big sigh and pulled Neil to him and draped an arm around his shoulders.

“Let me put it in even simpler terms. We have been friends since you were born. We know each other almost better than our parents know us. We’re practically brothers. You are really the only one who can tolerate me. There is no way that I am going to trade in a person that I can be myself around for some dimwitted morons that I’d have to show off to ever second of every day. Do you get it now?” he asked when he was done. Neil looked up at him and absorbed everything he had said. Brown eyes looked into green for any deception, but there wasn’t any. Finally the young boy smiled and nodded.

“Yeah, I get it,” he replied.

“Good, now if you doubt our friendship again I will be forced to tickle you to death, got that?” he asked and attacked Neil’s sides.

“Ah! I get it! I get it!” he squeaked and jumped away.

“And don’t you forget that. Now let’s finish up already or else your mom is going to have our heads,” Avian told him and picked up his bag and hung the strap over his shoulder.

“Yeah, if we don’t get everything she wants I’m blaming it on you,” Neil teased as he followed him.

“You’re so very kind,” the older boy said sarcastically.

“I try,” was Neil’s response. He was glad he had gotten all that off his chest. If it was possible he had even more respect for Avian. The older boy didn’t get caught up in what everyone else was doing and went his own way. Neil had really lucked out to get him as a true friend.

After an hour the boys were finally done with their chore and sat against a tree to relax.

“Menill is so lucky I can’t say no to her,” Avian groaned as he fell over onto his side dramatically. Neil laughed and shook his head.

“Oh please, even if you could say no to my mom she would twist your arm in some way to make you say yes,” he scoffed.

“Oi so true, so true. Your mom knows how to get her way,” Avian agreed. He then rolled over onto his back and looked up at the sky. “Well, it looks like we have a few hours before it gets dark. What do you want to do?” he asked. Neil looked around for something to catch his interest then shrugged.

“I dunno. What do you want to do?”

“You’re such a help,” Avian told him and pushed him with his foot.

“Hey, I don’t know where your feet have been!” Neil said in disgust and pushed the offending appendage away. Avian laughed as he sat up. He looked upward again then got an idea.

“Hmm, you know what we haven’t done in awhile?” he asked as he got to his feet.

“No, what?” Neil inquired and looked up at him. He suddenly had to cover his head as Avian jumped up at the tree and started to climb it, showering Neil in tree bark. “Watch what you’re doing, will ya?” Neil told him as he stood up to get out of the way.

“Sorry, but we haven’t climbed a good tree in awhile,” Avian called down to him as he reached a sturdy branch. Neil looked up at him like he was crazy.

“What are you talking about? We climbed a tree just a few days ago!” Avian looked down at him with a grin.

“And that, in my book, is awhile,” he replied. “Now come on, get up here!” Neil let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head.

“And I was afraid this guy didn’t want to be my friend, why?” he asked himself as he found a good place and started to climb.

“Hey, I heard that and just for that we’re making this a race! Startiiiiiing….now!” With that Avian started climbing the tree at an alarming pace.

“Ah! You cheater!” Neil yelled and started scrambling after him. Soon enough he was close behind and it turned into a real race.

“Hey, Avian! I can see up your skirt!” Neil taunted to try and distract him. Avian leaned over the branch he was on and glared down at him.

“For the last time it is not a skirt! It’s a pair of shorts I cut the middle out for extra mobility!” he yelled at him then quickly resumed climbing when Neil got too close for comfort.

“Sure, whatever you say there buddy,” Neil sneered.

“What are you doing looking up there anyways? I never pictured you as a pervert, Short stuff,” Avian teased back.

“Well, in case you haven’t noticed I have nowhere else to look if I want to know where to climb to next. So I can’t help it if I look up your skirt,” Neil shot back.

“It’s not a skirt!” Neil laughed at how offended Avian sounded. It was so easy to get him riled up about that.

Avian had what most people called an ‘odd’ fashion sense. He usually wore pants that had one leg ripped off so it ended above his knee. Over that he had what he called ripped up ‘shorts’, but everyone knew that it was a skirt that his older sister had outgrown, plain and simple. He wore a thin rope around his waist as a belt and his shirt only had one strap, leaving his other shoulder bare. Then he only wore one fingerless glove on his left hand.

Neil found that odd. Avian always said he hated wearing gloves because they made his hands sweaty, but a few weeks ago one was suddenly clothing his hand. When Neil thought about it, Avian never took it off. Of course he had asked about it, but Avian always changed the subject.

“Haha! I win!” Neil was brought out of his thoughts by Avian’s victory cry. He looked up and scowled at him.

“Only because you had a head start,” he grumbled as he got up onto a branch next to Avian’s.

“No, only because my tree climbing skills are amazing beyond belief,” he corrected the young boy, lying back on his branch.

“Yes, which will get you oh so far in life,” Neil said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.

“Well, where we live it will,” Avian pointed out as he looked over the sea of trees to their small village off in the distance.

“Hmm I guess you’re right,” Neil agreed when he thought about it. There village wasn’t much, but it was their home.

Compared to the other villages and the city of Westaria that was near them they were very small. Their community relied heavily on the forest for certain resources and farming to trade and sell crops. Avian’s family was one of the farming families and they were considered the best. They weren’t rich, but they made enough to live comfortably and make their town some good business.

They also attracted some business from Neil’s mom. Neil’s family weren’t farmers like Avian’s, but Menill, Neil’s mother, was a medicine woman. That was the reason the boys were gathering herbs and plants for her. Menill was a very good medicine woman and people traveled far to see her. Whether it be to get medicine or tips on how to make themselves even healthier, Menill was always kept busy.

“Hey, Avian?” Neil suddenly spoke up after a long stretch of silence.

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever wish you lived somewhere else? Like in Westeria or in a bigger town?” Neil asked curiously. Avian looked up to the sky in thought. He usually wondered what it would be like if he had been born somewhere else or if he ever moved away. Finally Avian shook his head.

“Nah, who needs all that stress?” he answered.

“Stress?” Neil echoed, tilting his head to the side. Avian nodded and closed his eyes.

“Yep, you know what those city people are like. They’re always so uptight and walk around like they have a stick permanently up their asses.” Neil laughed at that and nodded.

“Yeah, they do act like that. I always feel weird around them when I go to Westaria with you and your family. Those people can be really scary.”

“Got that right. At least in our little village people are friendly. We practically know everyone and we can be more relaxed about how we present ourselves,” Avian said with a smile.

“Heh I doubt you’d care how people see you even if you did grow up in a stuffy environment like that,” Neil told him, not able to imagine Avian being self-conscious.

“Most likely,” the older boy agreed as he sat up. He then winced and reached up to his hair. “Oh geez, I think I got a bunch of twigs in my hair from climbing,” Avian whined as he started pulling leaves, bark and twigs out of his dark locks.

“That’s what you get for having long hair. Keeping it short is much better,” Neil gloated and ran his fingers through his short blonde hair.

“Hey I keep mine tied back to keep it out of the way. That’s just as good,” Avian said defensively as he got the last of the foliage out of his black mane.

“I hardly call tying it at the very end tied back. Then you have the funny looking ones on either side of your face,” he added, pointing to the hair that was in front of Avian’s ears that was also tied.

“Okay, now you’re just trying to pick a fight,” Avian said with a scowl, stroking his hair to make it go flat again. Neil chuckled, enjoying teasing his friend.

“Well, let’s just say it’s good you’re so odd. I hardly ever get bored around you.”

“I guess I have something going for me then,” Avian said with a smile. The two then fell into companionable silence and retreated to their thoughts.

Avian was enjoying the scenery and looked up into the sky. His eyebrows suddenly furrowed as he stared at a big dark orb in the sky. It was bigger than both their sun and moon combined. He knew what it was, everyone did. It sent a cold chill through his body every time he looked at it and he didn’t know why. *Salaria,* he thought, the name of the distant planet leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

“Avian, you’re doing it again,” he distantly heard Neil say.

“What?” Avian asked and blinked rapidly as he snapped out of his thoughts. He looked at Neil and saw that the boy looked worried.

“You were doing it again,” Neil repeated.

“Doing what?” Avian asked, sounding confused.

“You were staring at Salaria with that look. Every time you stare at that planet you always get the same look on your face,” Neil explained.

“Oh…” Avian said softly as he gazed up at Salaria again.

“Why do you always seem so angry when you look at it? Do you have a problem with the Salarian’s or something?” Neil asked curiously. Avian chewed on his bottom lip as he thought about what he was feeling.

“I don’t know. It’s just…I don’t trust them. I mean, I’ve never actually talked to one I’ve only seen them, but I just feel like we can’t let our guard down with them. Something about them just rubs me the wrong way,” he explained.

“You mean how they’re so funny looking? Like how some have really long ears. Some have horns and spikes. Some have sharp, pointy teeth and I’ve even heard some have tails!” Neil exclaimed. Avian laughed at his enthusiasm and shook his head.

“No, I don’t mean that. I know I’m not one to judge outward appearances.”

“You’ve got that right,” Neil scoffed and dodged as Avian grabbed an acorn and threw it at him.

“What I mean is I have a bad feeling about them. Like they’re not as friendly as they make themselves out to be. What do you think?” he then asked his young friend. Neil looked up at the dark planet as he came to his own conclusions.

“Well, we’ve had a peace treaty with them for, what, over twenty-five years now? I can’t really see them starting anything with us after all that,” Neil answered as he looked at Avian again. The older boy sighed and scratched the back of his head.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m just being paranoid.” Avian looked back up at Salaria and began rubbing his left hand, like it was bothering him. Neil caught the action and the question he had before surfaced again.

“Avian?” he said to get his attention.

“What?” Avian asked and looked at him.

“Why did you suddenly start wearing that glove?” Neil questioned. Avian blinked at him then groaned in irritation and looked away.

“You’ve already asked me that a thousand times! I just felt like it, okay?” He then forced a smile. “Just adding another weird piece of clothing to my attire.” Neil stared at him suspiciously.

“You’re a horrible liar, Avian. I hope you know that. We tell each other everything, I don’t understand why you’re being so secretive now,” he said, trying not to get angry at his friend.

“I’m not being secretive about anything. Can’t a guy just wear something without getting hassled?” Avian asked. Neil crossed his arms and glared at him.

“Yes, but not when it comes to you and gloves. I have never in my life seen you wear gloves before. You don’t even wear them when you work on your crops with your dad! If there’s nothing secretive about it then take it off and show m-” Neil stopped when a loud crunch ripped through the air. His eyes went wide when he felt himself sink and both boys looked down at his branch. Not being able to support Neil’s weight anymore the base of it was starting to crack and break.

“Neil! Give me your hand!” Avian yelled and held out his hand. Neil reached out to him, but the branch suddenly snapped completely. As if in slow motion, Avian watched as Neil began to fall. He leaned down and grabbed onto his branch with one arm and reached out for Neil’s outstretched hand. Their fingers brushed against each other, but Avian was too late to grab hold of him. The boy plummeted toward the ground and his scream crashed around in Avian’s ears like a torrent.

“No! Neil! Neil!!!” Avian screamed frantically over and over as tears stung his eyes. “Neil!!!” Avian let out a choked gasp and his eyes widened as his extended hand was suddenly enveloped by a green light.

Right below Neil the branches of the trees started to move. They creaked and groaned as they weaved and twisted around each other until they made what resembled a net. Neil’s screaming was cut off as he landed right on it and he squeaked as he bounced. He stayed perfectly still with his eyes shut tightly and he was breathing heavily. His heart was hammering so loudly in his ears, it was deafening. When he felt no pain and got feeling back in his limbs he slowly opened his eyes and looked around.

“I-I’m alive?” he said, not believing it. He sat up and looked down to see what he had landed on. “What in the world?” was the only thing he could say at seeing his little nest of branches. Neil was suddenly hit by bits of tree bark and he heard scraping sounds.

“Neil! Thank the gods you’re all right!” Avian exclaimed happily as he climbed down to him. He wobbled as he got on the canopy, but didn’t care and he practically tackled Neil. Avian hugged him for all he was worth as tears of happiness and relief flooded down his face. “I was so scared you were really going to die!” Neil struggled to pull away from Avian’s bone crushing hug.

“You were scared!? I was the one that was falling! I mean, I-I really could have…” Neil trailed off and buried his face in Avian’s chest. He started to cry and sob, realizing just how close to death he had come. Avian held him tightly and stroked his hair soothingly.

“Shhh its okay, Neil, you’re safe. Thank the gods your safe,” Avian told him softly, partly to reassure himself that his little friend was unharmed. They stayed like that for a few minutes, crying and comforting each other. Finally Avian pulled away from Neil and looked him over.

“It looks like you have a few scratches and scrapes, but besides that you’re fine. It’s a miracle,” Avian said while wiping his tears away.

“What I want to know,” Neil sniffled as he wiped his own eyes, “is how this happened. How did the branches do this on their own?” he asked as he pressed his hands against them.

“Not only that, but it was like the tree came alive! As I was falling it felt like the branches were trying to grab me. I wasn’t just hitting them they were actually reaching out to me and slowing my fall,” he explained in awe, not sure if he believed what he was saying. He looked up at Avian and was surprised that he was averting his gaze and biting his bottom lip rather harshly. “Avian?” Neil asked in concern. Avian still wouldn’t look at him, but finally sighed and glanced at him.

“Neil, I think…” he trailed off and looked down.

“What, Avian? What’s wrong?” Neil encouraged. Avian took a deep breath to gather himself and looked Neil in the eyes.

“Neil, I think I made the tree move,” he told him. Neil stared at him, not sure he had heard right.

“What? Avian…are you saying you got the tree to save me? How is that possible?” he asked in disbelief. Avian groaned and ran his hand through his bangs.

“I don’t know, I don’t believe it myself, but lately…” Avian sighed in frustration and looked down at his left hand. “Neil, you were right when you thought I was keeping something from you,” he said. The young boy also looked down at Avian’s hand then back up at his face.

“Avian, what’s going on?” he asked, frightened by Avian’s tone and expression.

“I wish I knew,” Avian told him simply as he pulled off the glove. He curled his hand into a fist and stared at it. “A few weeks ago I was in bed, trying to go to sleep. I was staring out the window when a shooting star suddenly went across the sky. The next thing I knew a searing pain went throughout my whole body, starting at my hand.” Neil looked down at Avian’s hand again as he listened intently. “When it finally stopped and I regained my senses, I looked at my hand and…this appeared.”

Avian held up his hand and slowly uncurled his fingers. Neil gasped and his eyes widened. Right in the middle of Avian’s palm was what looked like a green marking in the shape of a star.

“Wha-what is it?” Neil asked as he lifted up a shaky hand and touched it. It felt exactly like the rest of Avian’s skin. The only difference was the color.

“I have no idea,” Avian replied as he turned his hand to look at it. “But ever since it appeared weird things have been happening.”

“Like what?” Neil pressed, not believing he hadn’t noticed anything strange was going on. Avian closed his eyes and tilted his head up, trying to relieve a pressure building in his head. A clear sign of a coming headache.

“Plant’s seem to go crazy around me. I don’t know how to explain it. Like one time I was going through the forest, while you were helping your mom, and I saw a little tree sapling. It was very small and it couldn’t get any sunlight because the other trees were blocking it. I just touched it to examine it and I wished there was something I could do to help it grow…” Avian opened his eyes and looked at Neil.

“The next thing I knew it started to mature. It grew so fast right before my eyes and it scared the hell out of me. I ran away and as I ran I heard it stop growing, but I didn’t turn back.

“The next day I wanted to see if I had been seeing things, so I went back.” Avian shook his head as the memory played itself before his eyes. “I hadn’t imagined it. The tree was more than half the size of the adult trees around it.” Avian looked into Neil’s eyes and the young boy could see his friends eyes quiver. “Do understand, Neil? What usually takes years for a normal tree to grow I made happen in seconds….” Avian covered his face with his hands and shook his head. “I made that happen and I don’t even know how!”

Neil didn’t know what to say as his friend shook. He couldn’t believe what Avian had just told him, but after what had happened it was highly possible. He tentatively put his hand on Avian’s shoulder.

“Hey, come on, maybe it was a freak event. Maybe you didn’t actually do it,” he said, trying to make Avian feel better though he knew it was unlikely. The older boy uncovered his face and shook his head sadly.

“No, it was me. After that there was another incident. You know how the little kids like to cut through our back yard to get to the field to play, right?” he asked and Neil nodded. “A few days ago they accidentally trampled my moms’ favorite flowers. I knew she would have been devastated if she saw them. I tried to repair the damage the best I could, but they were dead. I wanted so much to do something, anything to fix them and that’s when it happened again.” Avian closed his eyes and wiped some stray tears away.

“My hands suddenly felt warm and then the flowers started to heal and return to the way they were. If that wasn’t enough even more of the flowers started sprouting up from the ground. Again I ran. It was too much to hope that the change would go unnoticed. Mom raved about how much her flowers had grown and how healthy they looked. She kept saying it was a miracle.” Avian looked so miserable while he was revealing these secrets that he had been hiding. It tore Neil’s heart apart.

“Has…has there been any other things?” he asked.

“Not really, not anything big like that. I have noticed some small things though. Plants just seem to become healthier and fuller when I’m around. And then,” Avian looked up into the tree then down at their bed of branches, “this happened.” They were both silent when Avian abruptly growled and fell back, causing their platform to bounce slightly.

“I just wish I knew what was happening to me! I don’t understand it!” he yelled to the treetops. Neil looked at him and wished he could comfort him, but he could hardly relate with what was happening to his friend.

“Avian, why didn’t you tell me? We tell each other everything, I could have helped you in some way!” he blurted out. He wasn’t sure why he did it, but he felt hurt that Avian didn’t trust him with his secret. Avian lifted his head to look at him then sat up.

“Helped me how?” he asked and scowled at Neil.

“Uh, I dunno. You could have confided in me so you didn’t have to go through this alone,” the young boy mumbled awkwardly. Avian continued to stare at him then sighed and looked away.

“Neil, I probably would have told you at some point if this hadn’t happened. But you have to understand that I was terrified. No, I still am terrified. I was an average farm boy up until a few weeks ago! Now trees are growing like crazy, I can bring flowers back to life, and I somehow got a tree to catch you when I couldn’t! These things only happen in storybooks and fairytales and now it’s happening to me!” Avian suddenly grabbed Neil’s shoulders and looked like he was on the brink of becoming hysterical. “And the worst part is, is that I don’t know how or why! Why did this happen to me!? Why did-”

“Avian, snap out of it!” Neil shouted and slapped Avian’s cheeks together, squishing his face. “Now just calm down, buddy. Breathe in, breathe out, in, out.” Avian followed Neil’s instructions and soon began to relax. Neil released the pressure he was using, but still held Avian’s face to make him look at him.

“Avian, I know you’re scared, I would be too. But there must be some reason this has happened to you. Even though you don’t know why now, you will probably figure it out at some point. For now you just need to calm down and try and just go along with it. From what you’ve told me this isn’t a bad power. You haven’t hurt anyone and I’m sure you’ll be able to control it if you work on it,” Neil told him firmly, trying to get Avian to see it wasn’t as bad as he was making it. His friend blinked at him then frowned.

“But-ith!” He was cut off as Neil squished his cheeks again.

“No buts! Avian, I know you. You would never let this power hurt people and I know you’re strong enough to control it. You just have to believe that yourself,” Neil told him with a smile and pinched Avian’s cheeks.

“Ow!” he rubbed his face when Neil let him go. Avian mulled over everything Neil had told him then chuckled and smiled. “For a kid, you are wise beyond your years,” he told him. Neil grinned and patted his shoulder.

“That’s what people tell me,” Neil said. Avian took a deep breath to calm himself a bit more.

“I guess you’re right though. I got this power somehow and it’s not going to help anything by being scared of it. I’ll just be taking baby steps I suppose.”

“Good plan, that sound more like the Avian I know,” Neil said happily. Avian smiled and nodded.

“Okay, I think we should get down now. Who knows when this thing is going to return to normal.” Neil nodded and they both began their decent. Soon their feet were back on solid ground and they looked up at their perch.

“Are we going to leave it like that?” Neil asked. Avian scratched his cheek then shrugged.

“Why not? If it stays the way it is it could be a nice place for us to hang out. Not to mention it could save one of us again,” he replied. Neil’s face paled at the thought of his fall.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to be climbing trees for awhile,” he said and made a face. Avian looked at him and gave a sympathetic smile.

“Yeah, that’s probably best,” he agreed and patted Neil’s head. “Let’s head home.” Avian walked over to grab his bag when something suddenly tugged at his shirt. He looked behind him and saw that Neil was the culprit. “Um yes?” he asked.

“Er, Avian, I was wondering. I know you don’t like your new power but could you…could you show it to me. Just once before we go back?” Neil requested timidly, not looking at him. Avian was surprised, but understood at a certain level. Even though Neil acted mature for his age he really was a kid at heart. Kids were curious and something like this wouldn’t fail to intrigue Neil. Avian smiled and patted his head again.

“Well, I guess that’d be a step in practicing. What do you want me to do?” he asked. Neil looked up at him with wide eyes, not expecting Avian to agree. He let go of Avian’s shirt and rubbed his arm nervously.

“I dunno. It’s your power. Use it how you want,” Neil mumbled, slightly ashamed that he was asking Avian to use his power for him.

Avian scratched his cheek as he tried to think. *Okay, it’s always with plants that these things happen. So something small would be good…there we go!* Avian bent down and picked up an acorn that was on the ground.

“I can try something with this. Maybe get it to sprout or something,” he suggested. Neil looked at it and nodded.

“That’d be a good start to learn control,” he agreed. Avian kneeled down so Neil could see better.

“Well, let’s see if this works.” He closed his eyes and tried to focus. Avian was a little nervous. This would be the first time he actually tried to use his new powers.

As he concentrated he could feel the little acorn resting on his palm. Avian swore he felt something, like a pulse, like it was actually alive. He focused on that tiny pulse. *Grow* he commanded in his head. *Grow just a little,* he thought over and over. Suddenly an odd sensation swept throughout his body. The same tingling warmth he had felt when he revived his mothers flowers. He heard a sharp gasp from Neil and he opened his eyes.

Avian looked at his hand and his eyes widened. Coming right out of the middle of the nut was a small, green tree sprout.

“That was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it!” Neil exclaimed excitedly.

“I-I did it…” Avian whispered in stunned amazement. He then laughed in relief. “And there was no out of control mutant growing.” Avian was pleased; maybe his powers weren’t so scary after all.

“See, just some practice and everything will be fine,” Neil told him with a nod. Avian chuckled as he started digging a hole in the ground with his thumb.

“I really should have told you sooner. Would have saved me a great deal of stress.” He placed the acorn in the small hole and covered it so the seedling was sticking up.

“Was there any doubt?” Neil asked coyly. Avian rolled his eyes and shook his head as he stood up. He took his glove, that he had hooked into his belt, and put it back on his hand.

“But there is something you need to do for me, Neil,” he said, sounding serious.

“Um, what?” the boy asked. Avian looked down at him and all humor had left his face.

“You have to promise me you won’t tell anyone about this. Not your parent’s, not mine, no one, okay?” he told him. Neil stared at him then scowled and pinched Avian’s arm. “Ouch!”

“Do you really think I’d do something like that? If you were freaking out about it so much of course I know you don’t want others finding out,” he said, sounding offended.

“Okay, okay. But we have to make it official,” Avian told him and held out his pinky. Neil stared at it then looked up at Avian.

“You’re kidding, right?” he asked.

“No, you have to pinky swear,” Avian said, poking Neil’s forehead with his pinky. Neil sighed and wondered just how much more immature Avian could be.

“Fine.” He held up his pinky and they hooked them.

“We keep this secret till the end of time. If we ever tell it may we die,” they chanted together as they shook their pinkies. When they were done they let go and Avian grinned.

“There, now I feel better. Let’s get home before the sun goes down,” Avian said as he walked over and picked up his bag.

“Yeah, my mom is probably wondering where we are with her herbs,” Neil said nervously, hoping his mom wouldn’t be angry when they got back. They began to walk through the woods towards their village.

“What are we going to say about those scratches you got?” Avian asked him. Neil looked at his arms and legs, seeing his skin angry and red from getting scraped in his fall.

“Why not just tell her the truth? I fell from a tree. She just doesn’t need to know how far I actually fell,” Neil said with a smirk. Avian laughed and ruffled his hair.

“As cunning as ever, Short stuff. I really am happy that I can share this with you though. It’ll make things a lot easier,” he said happily. Neil growled as he fixed his hair once more, but was glad he could ease Avian’s worries.

“Yep, it’ll be our secret now,” he confirmed as they strolled along. But unknown to them, they weren’t completely alone. Up in the treetops sat a lone raven, watching the two boys very intently.

Far away on Salaria, Lyserius was looking into a round crystal ball. Watching through the raven’s eyes as the boys laughed and picked on each other.

“Well, well, well,” he said softly and a wicked smile appeared on his lips. “Looks like Napier was one hundred percent right in where to look. The first one has already awakened his powers.” He reached out a hand and ran his thumb over the image of the older boy. “What a pretty one too. This will be most interesting.”

Elgin appeared behind him and gazed at the picture also, the light from the crystal reflecting off his mask.

“What do you want to do, Lyserius?” he asked.

“Prepare one of the Teleporting Altar’s to send us to Earth and arrange for me to have a meeting with the Lord of Westaria,” Lyserius instructed. Elgin grinned widely at the familiar ring in the mans voice.

“You’re planning something devious,” he stated. Lyserius turned his head and smiled over his shoulder at Elgin.

“Of course. We need to give this boy a proper welcoming into the situation he has unwittingly put himself in,” Lyserius told him. Elgin’s smile turned more sinister at his words.

“I can hardly wait to see what you have planned. I’ll get started right away.” With that, Elgin turned and left the room. When he was gone Lyserius looked back at his crystal and a soft moan rose from his throat.

“Such raw, untapped power,” he cooed as he caressed Avian’s smiling image. “I’ll make you mine before you ever have the chance to stand against me,” he vowed. Then, with a snap of his fingers, the crystal’s light faded away, plunging the room into darkness.

====================Ch. 1 End

Dun dun duuuun!!! What could Lyserius be planning? Hmm, poor Avian better watch his back. Isn’t Avian the cutest though!? His personality changed from when I first created him, but I like how he turned out. So what do you think of the story so far? Please tell me and come back next Friday for chapter 2 to see what happens!