The Tiger and The Bird

Chapter 13

The golden feather seemed to know all of the twists and turns of the Bird Witch temple. With it leading the way, Nong was able to dodge all of the henchmen carefully. Though she wondered why she didn't see any priestesses tending to the place. Did this new Bird Witch have no use for them?

She also wondered who this feather belonged to. Who sent it to her? Why was it helping her? She wanted to ask but it wasn't like the feather could respond. Though right now, with the spell in her pocket, she only wanted to reach Ru Feng in time. She breathed hard as she continued to run after the feather.

Hoping with all her might that he was still alive.

She recognized the floor where she and Ru Feng were held previously. Running quietly past the terrace room, she ducked behind a corner. The feather took her to a door which she opened quietly and stepped into a bed chamber.

And lying on the bed – was a topless Ru Feng. Arms bound to the frames.

"Nong?" Ru Feng lifted his head in shock.

Her face immediately felt fire, "What...what are you doing?" She asked averting her eyes from his naked torso. With his glamour rolling about he looked so magical. Every inch a god.

"Untie me!" He hissed. "Hurry!"

She quickly ran over and fumbled with the ropes. Trying hard to focus on the knots and not the ridges along his abdomen.

"Listen Nong. She's not a Bird Witch but she's insane!"

Nong got one of his arms free. "What?" She asked moving to the other.

"She said she didn't need to kill me anymore – whatever that means can't be good. Then she wanted me to break my "promise" to my betrothed by...b-bedding me first!" His face and ears reddened at the words.

Nong released his second arm. He crumpled the ropes and chucked them angrily over the bed.

Then he finally looked at Nong. His eyes softening.

"You don't know how glad I am to see you," he said letting out a sigh of relief.

Her heart tugged at his words. "Me too," she responded.

She handed him his shirt from a nearby chair. His fingers brushed hers and seemed to linger a second longer than they should have. His glamour reluctantly trailed after.

"Let's get outta here," he said buttoning up quickly.

They made their way out silently and Nong noticed that the feather had mysteriously disappeared again. Going the way she had come from they barely passed the terrace room when they were met suddenly with the witch, General Rangshi, and a handful of guards.

"What do we have here?" General Rangshi frowned. He looked at Nong, "How did you get out?"

The witch stepped forward. Her ensemble of beads swaying like a dance, "Off so soon your highness? We barely got started," she purred.

She lifted a slender finger and the swarm of guards moved forward with sharp swords pointed at Ru Feng and Nong.

He held onto her hand as they backed up towards the balcony. The cold wind flung Nong's hair over her shoulders while she stole a peek at the dark drop behind them. She gulped at the depth. But she steeled her mind. It was night time already. Her governess would be worried sick.

She tightened her grip on Ru Feng's hand.

"Nowhere to run," the witch said in a sing song voice following behind her lackeys.

Ru Feng's brows creased. He swiveled Nong behind him protectively as the guards stepped closer and closer edging them right up to the biting metal bannister of the terrace. They were trapped between swords and a steep fall.

Nong tugged Ru Feng in close wrapping her arms around him tight. His heart fluttered at the sudden touch while he worried for them both. But Nong instead whispered, "Hang on tight."

She leaned back pulling them both off of the balcony. The witch shouted angrily commanding the guards to grab them fast. But they were already out of reach. Plunging towards the forest below.

"What are you doing!?" Ru Feng cried turning to face her. Holding on to dear life. His long hair ruffled behind him.

Nong had her eyes squeezed shut. She muttered something in a language that he'd heard before but couldn't remember when or where from.

Then suddenly – a pulse radiated from Nong.

She lurched as two royal blue wings sprouted from her back. Unfurling like a flower before his eyes. Beautiful, shimmering blue feathers brushed his face. It was the most magnificent thing he had ever witnessed. The wings flapped steadily slowing their fall.

Nong opened her eyes and laughed. She did it. She felt her heart soar with her body. She blinked away her tears and her eyes landed on a stunned Ru Feng. She grinned at him. They were a breath apart. Holding on to him tightly, she could see the moonlight reflected in his golden eyes. She was surrounded by the rain and the pine and she knew she never wanted to be anywhere else.

She pressed her lips together and flapped her wings once, twice, propelling them into the night sky. Away from the Bird Witch Temple. She would take Ru Feng far away from this horrible place. And she would save him no matter what. Her thoughts went to his beautiful smile when a searing pain shot through her shoulder.

"Nong!" Ru Feng cried out. She saw a bright red gash on his cheek and the tail end of an arrow jutting from her right. From the temple stood a grinning General Rangshi with a bow in his hand.

She faltered. Pain overtook her body. Her sight began to blur. Struggling, her wings flapped unevenly trying not to let them crash.

"Nong!" She heard Ru Feng call her name in desperation. She heard it again and again and again each time growing quieter as they plummeted towards the forest.