Wings of Fire: Chapter 4

	Peco walked through the farmlands, drawing breif stares from some of the human
farmers but most of them were to intent on finishing the plantings before summer to pay him
much heed. Most of them had seen the werecat a few years back or at least heard of it so a
walking plant that looked somewhat human didn't startle them. Out in the country they tended
to see odd things all the time so very little could surprize them by appearence alone.
	He, at least he tended to think of himself as a he, passed through the town with
almost no sound at all, at least none audable to human ears, plants had their own, quieter,
language. He wasn't here for the harvest or to greet the new mayor, he was here to meet an
old friend.
	When he reached the forest Peco stopped to ask the local greenery where the cat man
was. With a small russle like wind through the leaves they informed him that Rei was to the
north in a large, lifeless, clearing Peco assumed was probably where Rei used to live.
	Peco followed the directions north until he reached where his friend was. The cat
man looked almost the same as the last time he had seen him, except perhaps a bit more
tired.
	Rei looked up when he heard footsteps, though odd sounding steps, as if the walker
became one with the earth each footfall. It took him a moment to realize that the creature
before him was the friend he had traveled with all those years ago. "Peco?"
	The plant man nodded, a slight smile on his, well, at least they looked like lips.
	"You look... different," Rei commented, wondering how this tall and thin creature
had been the turnip shaped creature that always seemed to be asleep.
	"I.. grew up I guess you could call it," Peco replied in a strange, almost musical
voice, "My people change forms far more drastcly as we grow older than the other clans. I
was a baby until last winter when I changed forms during hibernaton. I am now what your kind
would call a teenager."
	"Huh," Rei said, unable to think of any other way to put it. "So, what have you been
up to these past twelve, thirteen years?"
	"I have been seeking more of my kind. Because the young ones need so much care I
left the ones I found with Momo to take care of. She seems to like plant babies more than
she does mammel babies," he replied. "And you?" 
	"Became Bunyan's apprentice full time. Crazy ol' me got a real job. Don't that just
beat all? Old man Bunyan's thinking of retiring soon and leaving the job to me," Rei replied
with a grin. "So what are you doing in the neighborhood?"
	"Yggdrasil told me of a threat that is slowly making itself known. It claimed it's
first victum six years ago," Peco stopped, not sure if he should go on.
	"Who?" Rei asked, urging Peco to go on.
	"Nina," the plant man said in a whisper.
	"WHAT?!?" The woran yelled. He couldn't even imagine someone killing one of his
closest friends. True, it had been thirteen years sense he last saw most of the others but
still...
	"We, the destined ones of our time, may be called to fight this menance. Yggdrasil
said that we must finish what we have begun. I am not sure exactly what that means but it
must have something to do with Myria... and Ryu," Peco said.
	"Ryu," Rei repeated to himself. It still hurt to remember what had happened to his
brother, his brothers. For both their fates ended in Eden. One in life and one in death.
	"I go to Windia to see what must be done. Will you come with me?" Peco asked gently.
	Rei looked up at one of his remaining friends for a long moment before noding. "Yes,
I will go. It's been too long that we have all been apart."