Fallen Wings Chapter XIV (A Goodbye to Friends)...

" We have to leave Ron, the woods are going to burn down." Jennifer said as she walked over to where I was kneeling, and placing her arm around my slumped shoulders. I didn't respond, I couldn't. The others slowly gathered around as well. We stood in silence over the slain body of our friend. The fire was beginning to spread more and more, it had already taken our tent, and was working it's way to the oak tree that we layed under so many times in the past. The failed log cabin was not far behind. It seemed like everything was coming to an end, right before our eyes.

I finally looked up at Jennifer, not even trying to hide the tears that were in my eyes. " We can't leave him here. We have to take him out of here with us." It sounded as though my words came from somewhere else, like this was all a dream and they were coming from someone else's mouth.

" I can carry him, but I must tend to my wing first." Emelia said in her soothiing voice. I turned and noticed her wing for the first time. It looked like it was in bad shape. Her left wing went straight down as it always had until it reached her waist, and there it abruptly turned outwards away from her. If she was in pain she did not show it. Paul was standing by her side.

" How can we fix it, can I help?" Paul questioned. He also had pain in his eyes, both for John and for Emelia's broken wing.

" Yes, you can help. You have to set my wing. Once it is set, it will begin to heal itself. It will still be days before I can fly again, but it will heal fine." Emelia said.

"What do I need to do?" Paul asked.

" This may be difficult for you Paul. You will have to place one had above the break, and one below, and when I say that I am ready, you will have to snap it back into position." Emelia said, sounding as strong and confident as ever.

" Ok."...

Fallen Wings Chapter XIV (A Goodbye to Friends)...

" We have to leave Ron, the woods are going to burn down." Jennifer said as she walked over to where I was kneeling, and placing her arm around my slumped shoulders. I didn't respond, I couldn't. The others slowly gathered around as well. We stood in silence over the slain body of our friend. The fire was beginning to spread more and more, it had already taken our tent, and was working it's way to the oak tree that we layed under so many times in the past. The failed log cabin was not far behind. It seemed like everything was coming to an end, right before our eyes.

I finally looked up at Jennifer, not even trying to hide the tears that were in my eyes. " We can't leave him here. We have to take him out of here with us." It sounded as though my words came from somewhere else, like this was all a dream and they were coming from someone else's mouth.

" I can carry him, but I must tend to my wing first." Emelia said in her soothiing voice. I turned and noticed her wing for the first time. It looked like it was in bad shape. Her left wing went straight down as it always had until it reached her waist, and there it abruptly turned outwards away from her. If she was in pain she did not show it. Paul was standing by her side.

" How can we fix it, can I help?" Paul questioned. He also had pain in his eyes, both for John and for Emelia's broken wing.

" Yes, you can help. You have to set my wing. Once it is set, it will begin to heal itself. It will still be days before I can fly again, but it will heal fine." Emelia said.

"What do I need to do?" Paul asked.

" This may be difficult for you Paul. You will have to place one had above the break, and one below, and when I say that I am ready, you will have to snap it back into position." Emelia said, sounding as strong and confident as ever.

" Ok." Paul said. " I can do that, it won't hurt you will it.?"

" You have nothing to worry about, I will be fine." Said Emelia reasuredly. With this Paul slowly reached for her wing. He did as she instructed and put one had above the break and the other below and looked up at her for her signal. Emelia silently readied herself for the sudden, sharp jolt of pain that was going to come. She had told Paul a small lie, about it not hurting. She knew it would but she had to stay strong.
" Ok Paul, when I say now, you snap it back into place with all your might." Paul nodded his head in acknowledgement. 'NOW". The instant he heard the words he gripped both sides as hard as he could and snapped the wing back. The same loud snap could be heard as he popped it back as when it was sent into it's painful condition. Emelia winced, but made no sound. The wing was back to it's normal state. She tried to spread her wings, but could only manage to get the right one to it's full and glorious height.

" We must be going now." Emelia said still trying to stretch out her injured wing.

" Is that all you can do for your wing?" paul asked. " You can't use the healing light on it?"

" No Paul, I cannot use the healing light on myself. I will just have to be patient and let it fully heal." Said Emelia.

Emelia kneeled down next to me and put her hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Thank you for saving me. I am sorry I could not save you friend. I will mourn him as I did Gibrel." I silently nodded to her. She then reached down and picked John's limp body up. We slowly and quietly made our way through the trails and to the entrance of the woods. Once we were safe and clear from the fire, Emelia gently place John on the grass of a nearby yard. She slowly stood up and looked around at us. "Thank you all very much. I could not have stopped Azel without your help. I wish I could have been stronger and protected you better. I will remember you and what you did to help me avenge Gibrel's death and that of your friend John's." With that she turned and walked back into the woods. Paul took a quick step after her, and then stopped. We all knew, that we would never see her again.

***

Sirens started to blair in the distance. Soon firetrucks and nieghbors arrived to see the commotion. They were all surprized to see four young kids and a dead body lying on the ground waiting for them. A welcome sight came to us, as Rusty walked through the crowd towards us. "What happened, what is wrong with Jo...." He trailed off as he came to the stark reality of what was now confronting him. He stared at John's body and didn't say another word.

***

We all went our seperate ways after that summer. Joe's body was found a few days after the fire. Some teenagers were walking through the woods near the rollercoaster trail when the heard a loud crack from above them. A single white feather spiraled down towards them, and then they saw it. High in the tree slung across a large branch, was Joe. I like to think that it was Emelia that brought the teens attention to the gory sight. Her last act, to bring closure to our adventure.

Paul moved away, and became an artist. He is pretty well known now. He concentrates on images of angels, and there is always one particular red haired angel in every one of his paintings. Rusty still lives in the old neighborhood. He was never the same after that night. He felt a large amount of survivors guilt for not being with us to help out. We tried to tell him, that he was better off, for not being there, but we could never reach him. Dennis and Jennifer moved to Jacksonville. Dennis lived his dream of being in the Navy. He is the captain of a battleship that is docked somewhere off the coast of Japan now.

I moved with my family to New Orleans. I own a restaurant in the french quarter. I have lived an adventure free life, since that night. That is until now. I found an old friend of mine recently. I'm gettting on a flight to Jacksonville. Jennifer should be at the airport to pick me up when I arrive. " One more adventure John, This ones for you." I said quietly under my breath as I boarded the plane.


***