Yiva the Free

The next few days after watching the duel, Flora was on high alert. If she was being honest, watching those two princes fight scared the absolute hell out of her. Her mind had yet to slow down four days after the fight. How could humans have that much power inside of them? What would it look like if they were actually going to fight someone seriously? Was Prince Andrei this strong as well? Oh gods, Flora was REALLY going to have to suck up to these vicious royals now. Imagining that power and force turned on Prana only made Flora more determined to go through with this marriage. An alliance with Leosta was necessary. How the hell Prana had managed to survive conflicts with Leosta in the past was beyond her.

Making her way to the aviary was a whole new task. Every time she rounded a corner, she would peak over the wall to check first. Sudden movements made her jumpy. Flora knew it was stupid; she wasn't in any different of a situation than last week, but she couldn't help herself. There was just something about finding out that the rumors she had grown up with about Leosta and its brutal ways were all true. Flora didn't doubt for a second that Prince Alexei or Prince Osip could have killed one another during that duel. From the way that Prince Alexei hurt his brother, she didn't doubt that he would go through with it either.

It was all so draining to Flora, the nightmares, the fear, and the anxiety. How could she survive the rest of her life like this? Shamefully, there were times that Flora thought that she would be better off abandoned than living in this mad house. Maybe she should talk to Felix about it? No, he had made clear his stance on the subject. In his eyes, Flora was just property to be bartered and traded. Even just thinking about Felix caused a sharp pain in her heart. The betrayal was still too fresh to think about without bringing tears to her eyes. Maybe someday, hopefully soon, Flora could understand how he threw her away like that, and it be fine.

Shaking her head, Flora pushed these thoughts from her head. She had just entered the aviary and was prepared to do her morning routine when one of the lower keepers approached her. Gregel was it? "Good morning my lady, come to check on her again?" Flora nodded as she went over to the bird's cage. Stopping in her tracks, a wave of panic washed over her. Where was the phoenix? She wasn't in her cage. A chuckle came from behind her, "Don't vorry my lady, she is more than fine." Flora turned to see Gregel smiling broadly. "Today ve took off her stints and her ving should be all good."

"Really?" Flora rushed towards the keeper. "Can she fly now? Where is she?" Flora spun around, scanning the room for any sign of the bird.

"Yes, but she still needs rest." He motioned to a perch over by Koffee's nest. The phoenix chirped happily at her, glad to finally be out of her cage. She could feel the joy emanating off of her as she flapped her fixed wing at Flora. "It vill take some time before she can fly like she used to." Gregel walked over to one of the equipment shelves and pulled out a leather shoulder brace. When he came back over to Flora, he was beaming. "Vould you like to take her outside? She has been refusing to go out vith anyone this morning, so maybe she vas vaiting for you?" He motioned for Flora to extend her arm, wrapping the protection around her arm and tightening it. "Vhy don't you ask her?"

She couldn't help herself from grinning as she faced the phoenix and asked, "would you like to go on a walk with me, or maybe a flight?" Filling Flora with indescribable glee, the bird flapped her wings and landed on her shoulder. It was so satisfying to see her fly, but it was felt quite good to know that the bird wanted to wait until Flora was there to show off her healed body.

"I had a feeling that vould work," Gregel said, "she's been vatching the door all morning, vaiting for you." He waved at them as they left the aviary, seemingly pleased with himself.

It took everything in Flora not to run down the stairs and out into the open courtyard. Her excitement was bubbling up and out of her, the phoenix on her shoulder only adding to it. Both of them had waited for this day for weeks, and now that it was finally here, they couldn't contain themselves. Flora burst through the doors and out into the chilly air. It didn't matter what the temperature was, Flora's hair could freeze off for all she cared. All that mattered was getting her bird up and into the open air.

Without warning, the phoenix shot straight up into the air, quicker than a gust of wind. Up and up she soared, until she was just a speck in Flora's eyes. "Be careful not to strain yourself!" Flora yelled into the open air. Hopefully the bird would hear her, but it was probably unlikely. She watched until she could no longer see her friend, before she dropped her gaze down into the courtyard. Looking around, Flora realized just how alone she was. Even worse, she started remembering how this was the place where Prince Osip had confronted her. Though it pained her to admit it, she was quickly wishing that the phoenix was back with her. She hated herself for being such a coward.

As if the bird had read Flora's thoughts, she dropped down from the sky and glided back to a statue near Flora. Startled, Flora shook her hands. "What are you doing? You should be flying and having fun out there, not hanging around me!" A word flashed through Flora's mind, 'no' and then another, 'friend'. Flora stared at the bird, perplexed. "Is... is that you?" The phoenix nodded her head, well as much as a bird could do. "I am your friend, aren't I?" Flora stepped over to the bird, gently caressing the feathers around her neck. "At least you are here for me, but I don't need anything, really. Go have fun."

A skeptical look was in the birds eyes. 'companion' Flora eyed the bird in shock. According to Hyacinth, only Leostan royals and VERY important Leostans were allowed to bond with a phoenix. Flora could actually FEEL just how little the bird cared about those customs. "But won't they get mad?" Again, the sensation of complete disregard came over Flora. When she thought about it, Flora did remember Prince Andrei saying that something was the phoenix's choice. Was companionship what he was referring to? Resolve came over Flora as she stomped her foot. "You know what, screw those stupid rules, I'm in."

An awkward silence filled the courtyard after Flora had spoken. If she thought about it, it WAS a little weird that she was talking to a bird like a person, but hey, she could literally see the future so this was only par for the course. But, what was she supposed to do now? Flora glanced back at her new companion, to see if she wanted to fly again or go back to the aviary. The bird hopped into the air and cruised back onto Flora's shoulder. The phoenix pressed her head against Flora's, thinking, 'Yiva."

Yiva... Yiva was the phoenix's name. She had given Flora her name, and Flora couldn't be happier. At least something good had happened since she moved here to Leosta. There was a reason Flora had felt like she couldn't leave that wounded bird alone. A connection had existed way before this moment, and Flora was only realizing it just now. The world felt a little bit less lonely as she patted her companions head. "I'm fine now. You can go explore a bit. I'll be waiting here."

Easily convinced, Yiva flew off back into the sky, the place she was meant to be. If her wing hadn't been fixed, it would have been a death sentence for her. It made Flora furious when she thought about how one of the keepers had locked her in that cage. Because of what? Because Yiva didn't want to be bound to a rope? Because she didn't want to be trapped her whole life? Yiva wasn't born to just ignorantly follow rules. She wasn't meant to spend her life in a dark cage without reprieve. Yiva knew why she was put on this Earth, and so did Flora. Yiva was free.