60 BEAUTY OUT OF ASHES

She was a little behind the schedule and Koby was up to then waiting for her.

He was simply wearing a hat with a light blue polo shirt and khaki chinos. But the fashionable ladies around were all ogling at him.

"It's a good thing that I slipped on one of my favorite dresses."

It was a spaghetti-strapped black sunflower boho dress. She felt great whenever she got on it. She wouldn't feel awkward next to him.

She jogged towards him and as she did so, her long brown hair bounced, revealing their luster and shine.

It didn't escape Koby's notice as she stared in awed admiration at the stunning beauty approaching her.

"I'm sorry for being late. Erin couldn't make it. She said she has some errands to do."

Without a second thought, Zoe bowed as soon as she reached Koby. 

 She pleaded Erin to come with her but she said there was emergency stuff that she needed to do for their event.

"Don't trouble yourself about it, Ms. Cheng. I'll make sure you'll enjoy your time today."

Koby smiled as he extended his hand.

"Let me carry that for you."

"Oh, just call me Zoe."

Zoe was reminded of the scuba gears that she was about to return to him.

"It's a pleasure. I hope I was able to help."

Koby responded with a radiant smile.

He stretched his hand showing her the specific direction in which they should go to see the birds.

Zoe grinned and strutted a minute step ahead of him.

'He was indeed nice. Maybe I really don't have to fret. I'll just have fun with my remaining hours on this beautiful land.' She whispered to herself.

The graceful and supple Providence Petrels were in flight.

"Wow! They look amazing!" Zoe stared in wide-eyed astonishment. 

Before she drifted on to this part of the isle, she had anticipated that she would be bored to death.

Watching flying animals scatter around is not her kind of thing.

"I didn't realize it would be this mind-blowing."

They came across as spirituous and unburdened by anything.

When she was young, she constantly put the edge of her blanket on her neck and jumped from her bed. She believed it was a magic cape that would get her everywhere she wanted to travel.

She would command it to take her to Cheng Hospital, so she could play with her parents. And she would regularly believe that she did so as she flew all over the house.

She would end up at the big frame of her mom and dad in the middle of their colossal stairs.

'Mama.. Papa..."

Zoe heaved a deep sigh. If she was a birdie, she could probably journey to heaven and see them somehow.

Catching a glimpse of the crestfallen figure of Zoe, Koby started on his tour speech.

"Did you know that these fowls were once numerous on Norfolk Island? But starving transportees consumed them as food, so they were already endangered. They were sent there as a way of punishment. They were at present times one of the rarest kinds."

Zoe glimpsed at him.

"Well, I'll be blown. That dumped me. I thought being a free feathered creature is nice. I didn't know they can also be tied down by other creatures, even with their prowess in the air."

Koby shrugged and looked up.

"That's how it is in this world. There will always be the prey and there will always be the predators. If life is tough and you become the prey, just make sure that you will survive. Certainly, the wheel will spin around, and you will toot sweet become the predator."

He winked at Zoe before calling out to the domestic fowls.

Zoe squinted at him and ruminated on what she said. She felt she could relate to that one.

She cracked her knuckles as she imagined herself as a big eagle.

She was swooping down at top speed from a black thundering cloud to snatch its chosen victim.

"Woooot!"

Koby fired her up even more by calling on the birds.

One of them obeyed his commanding voice and with a swift motion landed on their feet.

Zoe knelt down and extended her fingers in curiosity as she stared at its intricate details.

"It's pretty, isn't it?

Koby smiled at her childlike wonder. He continued on, sharing information about these delicate species.

"They favored us because they chose our lovely little isle as their humble dwelling habitat. They were now at 100,000, merely on this islet alone. Lord Howe Island is indeed a home for the ashes to become beauty again."

She stood up and looked around her and stared at the inspiring, impressive view in front of her. 

She was actually attracted to this region because of its aesthetic scenery.

She was not informed that it is not just picturesque in its outside appearance, but in its soul and story as well.

"What are they doing?" 

She studied the pink-hued sky, which was tainted by the setting sun. The birds were amazing as they flew in twos.

"Koby?"

She asked Koby, who was just staring at her.

He was stunned at her innocent idealization of nature's gifts presented to her.

"Uh, them?"

He cleared his throat as he was caught in the act. He fixed his gaze on them and beamed.

"Those were spectacular aerial courtship displays of our lovebirds. They do not just recognize this peninsula as a home, but also as a location to scope out their partner in life."

"You have got to be kidding," She muttered unconsciously.

'Is the lover of my soul really on this landmass?'

She believed there was someone out there who is meant for her and who will not leave her no matter what.

Idealistic, as some may say. But she doesn't want to entrust her heart to anyone and be left again anymore.

She tried to catch the last rays of the sun's light on the canvass of the sky.

As she did so, she picked up a cloud formed like a man with long hair. He was wearing a prince wardrobe and is extending his arm at her.

 'Was that Raigon?'

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My story will never end in the word 'ashes'. - Zoe

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