First Flight (Zoro X OC)

Chapter 5

*EDITED*

The day was cold, temperatures had been dropping the past few days; Zoro said that this was because they were nearing a winter island. The sun peaking through the clouds helped warm her feathers regardless, making flying bearable. She left after the sun rose, warming up her feathers for flight and headed out in the direction the ship was headed, keeping an eye out for anything of note. 

She could tell there was an island nearby by the small birds that joined her flight like those fish that stick to and follow sharks. Unsurprisingly, she glimpsed an island on the horizon, and from what she could see it was a winter island, just like Nami predicted, with dense forestry and tall central mountains. Snow blanketed the tree tops and icy cliffs; it didn’t appear to be inhabited besides various wildlife. The small birds that had flow with her left her as she circled the island to continue towards it.

She made a lap around the island once to scout it out then turned around, whipping her tail for the sharp turn, and headed back towards the ship. Now that she was flying against the breeze she could feel the icy bite in the air but her feathers and body heat kept her plenty warm while she flew back to the ship. 

She spotted Zoro on the grass lawn, dozing against the ship side, and dove towards him, tucking her wings she landed on the railing just over his head. Her tail swished into the front of her subconsciously and accidentally brushed the side of his head. She quickly grabbed her tail and pulled it back behind her, nudging Zoro slightly with the tip of a wing to wake him up. He opened one eye and peered up at her as she beamed down at him.

“There’s an island ahead of us, maybe 100 miles out,” She told him. He raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to speak when Nami, who was walking by, let out a squeal as she overheard. 

“Yay! I knew we were getting close! Thanks, Leanna you’re the best,” She shrieked, rushing forward to wrap her arms in a tight hug around Leanna, who let out a suspiciously bird-like sound and flapped her wings to stay perched on the railing. 

Nami let go as quickly as she hugged her and rushed off, calling out to the rest of the crew to prepare them.

Zoro laughed, looking at Leanna’s shocked expression, “Careful, you might make a friend.”

Leanna blinked her shock off and gave Zoro a playful glare, she jumped down from the railing and sat next to him, “Your crew, is very uh… excentric? They’re very different from you.” She didn’t mention that this was also why she enjoyed his presence more. The others were nice, very friendly and inclusive, but they had a high energy that overwhelmed her as she was learning to navigate socially.

He smiled, “You get used to them.”

“How long have you guys been together?”

Zoro hummed in thought, “Well, maybe a year now, I was the first member to join Luffy. Brook joined us recently.”

She nodded in understanding, “So where did you guys come from?” 

“All over, Luffy picked us up along the way,” He folded his hands behind his head, slightly bumping her wing with his elbow. She itched absentmindedly at the bandage over her thigh that made her feathers uncomfortable, she ran a finger along under it, tugging at the itchy stitches.

“Don’t let Chopper catch you doing that,” Zoro chuckled.

“How come?”

“He doesn’t like when people mess with their bandages. But I do it anyways.”

She smiled, getting up to stretch. She lifted her arms high over he head and bent back, flexing her wings out, the joint in one popping loudly and catching Zoro’s attention.