Kazimir felt the wind roaring against his face, Selis's strong, calloused hand holding him firm. They were plummeting fast, the world's increased gravity pulling them toward the ground at a frightening speed.
"Now, slowly start opening your wings," Selis commanded, her grip tightening around his.
He obeyed, hesitantly unfurling them. The rush of air caught against the dark wings, and their fall slowed. A small smile crept onto his lips. He spread them wider, the tension in his body melting into exhilaration as they shifted from falling to soaring.
They glided through the sky, slicing through the night like birds, drifting closer to the colossal tree in the distance.
Kazimir had never felt this alive.
Below them, the vast jungle sprawled out endlessly, its dense canopy an ocean of green stretching toward the horizon. Fireflies blinked like scattered stars, their glow weaving between the trees. Strange creatures darted through the undergrowth, so distant they looked like mere flickers of movement.
He glanced at Selis.
The moonlight illuminated her alabaster skin, her silver scars reflecting its glow. Her white hair streamed behind her, carried by the wind, and her pale silver eyes remained focused ahead, sharp, calculating.
He didn't want this moment to end.
But the ground was approaching faster than he expected.
The mushroom cap was gone, no soft landing this time. Panic jolted through him. He tried to slow himself, flapping his wings frantically, but he didn't know how. His descent quickened, the earth rushing up to meet him.
Then, suddenly, Selis pulled him towards her.
Her muscular arms wrapped around him in a firm, unyielding embrace. He felt her wings cocoon him, shielding him from the harsh wind. The scent of sweat and steel filled his senses, so familiar, so grounding.
Then, impact.
Kazimir barely felt the crash, only the warmth of her body pressed against his. The force sent them skidding across the scorched, barren land surrounding the colossal tree. He knew Selis had taken the brunt of it, positioning her back to absorb the shock. His chest tightened at the thought.
As they finally came to a halt, her wings slowly unfurled, revealing the night sky once more.
Kazimir shifted, his heart still pounding. "Are you alright?" he asked, voice laced with worry.
Selis exhaled, then gave him a reassuring nod. "Yeah, I'm fine."
The ground beneath them was burned from the heat of her wings upon impact. Kazimir immediately turned, inspecting her, searching for any sign of injury.
She watched him with quiet amusement as he fretted over her.
After confirming she was unharmed, he let out a relieved sigh. A small smile tugged at his lips. "So… you've saved me again."
Selis chuckled, brushing a few strands of white hair from her face, revealing the intricate web of silver scars marking her skin.
"Don't worry about it," she murmured.
She pushed herself up, scanning their surroundings. They had landed precisely where they had planned, on the very edge of the empty land encircling the tree.
Selis's gaze locked onto the wasp hive, her expression sharpening with focus. She motioned for Kazimir to stand beside her.
"See those empty branches up there?" she asked, pointing toward a cluster of barren limbs near the tree's towering peak. They rose high above the canopy, even higher than the mushroom caps they had leapt from.
Kazimir nodded.
"I need you to teleport up there and cover me while I attack the hive."
Kazimir narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the branches. They seemed empty. He closed his eyes, stretching his awareness into the shadows surrounding them. He felt no movement, no life, nothing lurking within the darkness. It should be safe.
"Alright," he agreed.
Then, his thoughts flickered to the creatures within the hive. The wasps, massive, twisted, and deadly. His jaw tightened.
"Be careful," he warned.
Selis smiled.
"Don't worry," she said, voice steady. "These wasps are nothing. I've hunted far bigger, far more powerful prey alone before. Having you around will be a luxury."
Her tone was regal, but there was a protective edge beneath it. She continued, "Wait until I have their attention before you start firing. I don't want them going after you. And if any notice you, teleport away. I don't want you getting hurt."
She turned to him fully, her pale silver eyes locking onto his black ones. He could see every silver scar on her alabaster skin, the moonlight tracing the lines of her past battles. Her white hair billowed behind her like a ghostly flame.
"Promise me," she said softly. "Teleport away the moment they realize where you are. Promise me, Kazimir."
His throat tightened, but he nodded.
"I promise."
Satisfied, Selis stepped forward, wings flexing in preparation.
Kazimir exhaled, closing his eyes. He focused on the shadows enveloping the upper branches, reached out, and with a swift slash through the darkness, he vanished.