Buddy (Thia)

The rest of our stay in England went by both quicker and slower than I'd hoped. I wanted to get back to my dad and the life in America, but I also wanted to stay away from the threat of war just a little longer. I felt better for telling Jay about it. Somehow it just seemed less ominous because of what we had said the day before the wedding.

On the last day, Steev took Jay out somewhere to get his

'special present.' He came back during a break in the middle of Star Trek, and he looked very happy with himself too.

"What did he get you?" Noaba asked, and we all looked round.

He gave us that cheeky grin of his that I loved so much. "You'll see when we get back to the base."

"Aw, but we want to see now." Sam urged.

"Yeah, come on, you could just give us a hint or two."

"Shush, I'm trying to listen." I said. Now that the break was over (and Jay had stopped grinning), my full attention was on the Deep space Nine episode. I didn't hear much else of what was said that evening.

The next day, we spent the morning finishing our packing. Then we said good-bye to Rachel and Larry and drove to the airport where the others would see us off.

"You take care of yourself." Said Aunt Rose, giving me a small hug. "And keep that boy dog in check."

I laughed. "Which one, Jay or my dad."

She smiled.

Tiana was standing close by, arms folded and looking rather grumpy. Nevertheless, she smiled when I came over and at once started lecturing me about safety.

"You make sure you stay out of trouble, o.k. just don't get yourself in any kinda trouble, and if you can't, then just..." she suddenly put her arms down and started speaking to me sternly.

"Just don't try and be the hero, all right. If ever you're in any trouble, don't try to be the hero, just run, run and stay safe. Can you do that for me?"

I froze for a few seconds, then nodded.

"I'll try, but it might not be down to me. I don't control the world you know."

"I know, but I don't want to lose you. You're already living half way around the world from me

and I don't want to lose you any more than I already have."

"Oh, Tiana. You haven't lost me. Look."

I took a step back and raised my arms a little.

"I'm still here, I'm still talking, I'm still breathing, I'm still living."

We stopped for a second, then Tiana started sniggering, and we both laughed.

The plane journey seemed quicker than the one there.

For some reason Jay wasn't on his usual I pad mini playing Minecraft as he was on the way there. He was staring out the window, with a big smile on his face. I tried to guess what it was he was looking at, but all I could see was clouds and blue sky.

This strange behaviour continued for the car trip back to the base. It wasn't until we actually got there that we found out why, when James had asked him what his dad had got him for his birthday.

"Just a minute. You just wanna stand back."

They did so. Jay took a step forward, put his finger and thumb in his mouth and blew three long clear whistles, starting of low pitch and getting higher. The last was the longest.

Not 10 seconds later, there appeared a golden dot in the sky, then it got bigger to the size of a bird, then a low flying gold plane, then it became clear that it was actually a living, flying thing,

beating its wings. But it was much too big to be even the biggest eagle. As it got closer, we could also see it had four long legs, with hoofs rather than claws. And it opened its beak and out of it came the most magnificent noise. Then it touched down and stopped right in front of Jay.

I suddenly knew what it was. I'd read about these creatures in fantasy books, but never thought they were real.

"Wow!" Zee exclaimed.

"He's beautiful." Said Cindy, walking up to stroke the magnificent creature.

"Isn't he." Jay replied, already stroking its beautiful golden beak.

"That was a gift from your dad?" Said Sam, sounding both astonished and impressed, and slightly jealous.

"Yeah. Cool huh." Jay answered.

"But...that's a hippogriff right... a real, live hippogriff...how...where did he..?"

I was so over whelmed and confused I could hardly find the right words. "How did he get one...where did it come from?"

"Dad said there were loads of them on Serious before it was invaded. They can fly anywhere, even in space, and so fast you wouldn't believe." ("I think we've just seen that." Said James.) Most of them have just been wondering the stars for years, but they're extremely loyal to the royals, and always come at our call. This one used to belong to my dad, so when he called,

he came. And now it's passed down to me. They usually pass down to the princes about the age they start school."

"So why didn't it pass down to Addison when he was your age?"

"Because at that time they couldn't decide whether to give it to the first born or to the son. And Helinda was the first born.

Then the war came and they all flew away. Dad never called him again because he didn't think there'd be any use for the poor thing.

But now he says I need him more than anyone else. He thinks Buddy can help us."

"Buddy?"

"That's his name. Buddy. Dad thinks he can help, with the war problem."

At this everyone stopped. Cindy's hand was still on Buddy's beak, but it was frozen fast. At length, Sky spoke.

"You know about the war. Who told you?"

"I did of course. But he knew something was up, and would've found out anyway."

"But how's a big feathery bird ganna help?"

At this, Buddy gave a great angry squawk and began flapping his wings in Sky's direction. Jay lifted his hand to stop him. "He's not a big bird, he's a hippogriff." he retorted. "And I've already said how he can help. He can fly out in space."

"Oh great, so we can just ask him to fly out to the Tru-beeins and ask them what the plan is?" Said Sky, sarcastically.

Jay decided to fight sarcasm with sarcasm. "You could try, but then I'd be the only one who knew anything about it. Me and my dad are the only ones that can understand him."

"You can understand him?" asked Brain.

"Of course I can. And by the way,

he can understand everything anyone else says, even if it's in inter-whatsit...

"inter-galactic."

"Yeah, that...language. he'd be a good translator."

"But only you can understand him."

Jay shrugged. "I know it's a bit confusing, but it's the way they are."

We all stopped for a moment. I'd only just noticed my dad standing at the door.

"So, how can he help?" asked Zee.

"Dad. Do you know how he can help? Did Steev tell you?"

"Yes, he told me, but I don't think any of you are going to like it."

I looked at Jay, confused. I could tell from the look on his face that Jay knew exactly what dad was on about."

"Jay?" I asked.

He paused for a second, then spoke.

"Dad say's, if you give me the right stuff I can go out on him and we can find out what the Tru-beeins are up to. He says there's no way they'll be able to detect us. Any way, they won't be expecting a small boy like me to come flying in on a royal hippogriff."

Dad was right. I didn't like it. Nor, by the looks of things did any of the others.

"But why can't Buddy go on his own to the ship?" asked Cindy.

"Because I can get inside the ship. I can get into a vent or something. There's bound to be something small enough for a boy like me to squeeze into. Buddy's too big, he won't fit."

"I don't know Jay. It sounds a bit too dangerous for, as you say, a boy like you." Said James.

"Well I'm used to danger, and if I don't try..."

We all stopped, knowing the consequences of what might happen if he didn't try.

"Alright." Said Sky as last. "Might as well give it a go."

"Well, on your own head be it."

Jay looked at James, who sighed then shrugged. "As long as you're willing, and know the dangers."

Jay nodded. "I do."

I looked at dad for support, but he was looking right at Jay and, at that moment, seemed to have eyes for no one else. Finally, we all went in, but I stopped Jay just before he could go in.

"I don't like this." I told him.

He shook his head. "I don't like it much either, but it's the only way to keep you safe."

"Oh, Jay, that' so sweet, but what about you—what about your safety?"

"I'll be fine. I'm the young prince, remember." We both laughed, though for me it was just to hide my fears. "And anyway, I'll have Buddy with me. He'll look out for me, won't you Bud."

Buddy gave an affectionate squawk and allowed Jay to pat his beak one last time.