“Do you think they’ll have made any more pickles when we get back, Zo?”
“Maybe…” Zoë was only half-listening to Popkin. She was too busy making sure she didn’t forget any of the Sam’s flying lessons.
Take-off had gone very well. Since Popkin was an awakened Avian, he could be counted on to do most of the work…when he was kept focused. Letting him get distracted wasn’t so dangerous for him as it was for his rider. Sam ignored most of Popkin’s chatter. If the bird felt nobody was listening to him, he’d pout a little, but at least he was quiet. Zoë was beginning to see the merit in Sam’s approach.
As they flew over the Forlorn Forest Zoë focused most of her attention on the ground looking for signs of the missing children. It wasn’t going to be easy with the heavy canopy of trees.
“Where could they be?” Zoë said aloud, not really expecting an answer.
Popkin, answered anyway of course, “They’re probably fishing. There’s a lot of tasty trout in the streams around here. I like going fishing. Before I joined the Mouse Wing, I could spend whole days fishing. Maybe I’ll go fishing on my next vacation. Anyway, I hope they’re not playing in that big black cloud up ahead. No wait. There were no Avian with them, how could they fly? Would you like to come fishing with me on my vacation, Zo?”
Zoë nodded, “Maybe, sure…no wait, what?” She looked up at the chattering bird.
“I asked you if you wanted to come fishing with me on my next vacation.” Popkin repeated, “You should pay more attention.”
Zoë shook her head, “No, BEFORE that…” She looked around.
“Oh! Just that I hoped they weren’t playing in the big black cloud up ahead, but that was silly since furs can’t fly.”
Zoë saw the storm clouds just as Popkin mentioned them. That wasn’t good. The dark clouds were much too close for comfort. She’d been so focused on the ground that she’d forgotten to check her bearings. Such a greenie mistake. This was going to be a much bumpier ride now. She checked her tether. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Popkin?”
“I thought you saw it. Sam never misses things like big black clouds ahead.”
That hurt. As if she wasn’t blaming herself enough already without the reminder of what a rookie mistake she’d made. “Are we in any trouble, Popkin?” she asked.
“Of course not! I’m a good flier, Zo! Well, not unless the winds really pick up.”
As if on cue, a strong gust of wind buffeted the bird, almost knocking Zoë out of her seat.
“Okay that might be a problem…”