Chapter 1
I woke by the flutter of wings.
"Jewel, it is too early!" I hissed and stood up from my fireproof nest. My denmate, Jewel, said, "there's a newcomer here. Come on, let's see if we can... you know!" I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure he's not worth it!" I growled but spread my fiery wings and flew after her anyway.
Soon enough, we saw the newcomer. He was blue with deeper undertones under his wings and neck. "it one like you," I muttered to Jewel, who smiled at me and then nudged me forward "why?" I whispered, and she shrugged "you're the biggest out of us. If he sees you first, then we will know he is worthy enough to be our denmate," she said.
I rolled my eyes but let myself gracefully drop to the ground, flames flickering in the light. The male gawked at me, his eyes big. I smirked, "hey there, stranger," and crooned, curling my sharp nails into the ground. the male shook himself out of whatever stupor he was in and looked down shyly "h-hey," he squeaked, and I looked back over my shoulder at my friend.
She moved with her wings, and I knew she wanted me to continue the conversation. I rolled my ember eyes and returned to the newcomer. "what's your name?" I asked. he smiled softly and offered a wing "Blu."
I took it, careful not to burn him, quenching my flames to only a tickle of pain along his feathers. "Orange. Nice to meet you, Blu. I hope you know why you're here," I said, flicking my wing at the cage around us. I knew the furless was following us with a camera. They had done that a lot.
I knew they just wanted to study us, but couldn't they leave us alone in the wild. "uh..." blu started, and I looked at him. "I dont know why they've taken me in here. Are there other birds in here?" he asked, and I hummed, "jewel!" I was thrilled, and my sister came over smiling as she landed.
"greetings Blu. I'm Jewel. This is orange. I'm sure she had told you anyway. Welcome to our little cage," she said, moving with her wings that indicated the cage around us. Blu smiled a little, but his eyes wer still flitting to me. I rolled my eyes as steam puffed out of my feathers, and I spread my wings. "I will go to the nest, Jewel. You can show him around," I told the bluebird before taking off, leaving a small scorched mark on the peppery ground.
I didnt want anything with that bird to do. I wasn't even of his kind. I was a phoenix, not a... whatever he and Jewel were. The humans probably wanted the two of them to mate anyway. I would have to wait if I wanted a mate, but I didn't.
I have no use for them anyway.
Soon enough, I cuddled into my feathers and fell asleep with many strange dreams. If I only knew what they would mean for the future ahead of us.
