Chapter 8: The Flying Horse

Kena and Hope left the witch's market behind them, stepping onto the rocky path that stretched out ahead.

The new green cloak Kena wore felt heavy on her shoulders, but it was warm and kept the chilly wind off her skin.

She pulled it tighter around herself, glad for the softness against her neck. The purple sky above was bright again, glowing in a way that still felt strange to her.

The air carried the smell of fresh grass and something sweet, like flowers she couldn't see.

Kena's legs ached from days of walking, her muscles sore and tired, but she kept putting one foot in front of the other.

The golden city was closer now—she could feel it deep in her bones, like a pull she couldn't explain.

Hope walked a little ahead, holding the map in his hands. His eyes moved over the paper, tracing the lines and marks with focus.

"We're on the right track," he said, his voice steady and sure. "A few more days, and we'll be there."

"Days?" Kena groaned, dragging her feet a little. "My feet are killing me already. Can't we stop for a bit?"

She kicked a small rock, watching it bounce down the path.

"Rest later," Hope said, not even looking back at her. "We need to keep moving now."

Kena glared at his back, her lips pressing into a thin line. She wanted to argue, to tell him she was tired and sore and sick of walking, but she didn't.

Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the photo of Justice Veldric. She stared at his face—those sharp eyes, that dark hair, that frown that never seemed to leave.

"You better be worth all this," she muttered under her breath, shoving the picture back into her jacket.

The path started to climb up a hill, and the ground changed under her boots. It turned soft, like sand, and every step felt heavier as her feet sank into it.

She cursed quietly, kicking at the dirt in frustration. Dust puffed up around her, sticking to her pants.

Hope kept moving ahead, his steps steady and even, like the ground didn't bother him at all.

She hated how he never complained, never slowed down, never seemed to feel the same aches she did.

It made her want to yell at him, but she just gritted her teeth and pushed on.

When they reached the top of the hill, Kena stopped, her chest heaving as she caught her breath.

She put her hands on her knees for a moment, then straightened up and looked out.

Her eyes widened, and she gasped. Below them stretched a wide plain, flat and open, dotted with little flowers that glowed a soft blue.

They shimmered in the light, like tiny stars scattered across the grass.

And far in the distance, the golden city sparkled brighter than she'd ever seen it before, its walls and towers catching the purple sky.

"Wow," she said, her voice soft with awe. "It's huge."

Hope stepped up beside her and nodded. "We're getting close," he said, folding the map and tucking it into his cloak.

Kena opened her mouth to say something back, but a loud sound cut through the air—a sharp, high neigh that made her jump.

She spun around fast, her heart thumping. Behind them stood a horse, but it wasn't like any horse she'd ever seen.

Its coat was white and shiny, almost glowing, and big wings stretched out from its sides, flapping slow and strong.

The feathers rustled in the wind, and its eyes—bright gold—locked right onto her, staring like it could see through her.

"What the heck is that?" Kena asked, taking a quick step back.

Her hands went up, like she could stop it from coming closer.

"A flying horse," Hope said, calm as ever. "They live around here."

The horse snorted, a puff of air coming from its nose, and took a step toward her. Kena stumbled back again, her boots slipping a little on the sandy ground.

"Whoa, big guy," she said, holding her hands higher. "Stay right there."

But the horse didn't listen. It lowered its head and nudged her arm with its nose, warm and soft against her skin. She froze, not sure what to do.

"I think it likes you," Hope said.

She glanced at him and saw his eyes crinkle at the corners, that little sign he was smiling under his mask.

"Great," Kena said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

But she didn't pull away. The horse was pretty, she had to admit—its white coat shone like snow, and those wings were amazing up close.

She reached out slowly and patted its neck, her fingers brushing over the smooth hair.

The horse neighed again, a happy sound this time, and nudged her hand.

"Can we ride it?" she asked, turning to Hope with a spark of excitement in her eyes.

"Maybe," he said, stepping closer to the horse. "If it lets us."

Kena grinned, her tiredness forgotten for a moment. "No more walking? I'm in."

She grabbed the horse's thick mane with both hands and pulled herself up.

It was tall, and her arms shook a little as she hauled herself onto its back, but she made it.

She swung her leg over and settled in, feeling the horse shift under her. Its wings flapped once, and she laughed out loud.

"This is awesome!" Kena said.

Hope climbed up behind her, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders to keep his balance.

"Hold on," he said, his voice close to her ear.

"To what?" Kena asked, looking around.

But before she could figure it out, the horse took off. Its wings beat hard, a loud whoosh filling the air, and they shot up into the sky.

Kena screamed, a mix of fear and thrill bursting out of her.

The ground dropped away fast, the hill shrinking below them, and the wind slammed into her face, cold and wild.

Her hair whipped around, stinging her cheeks.

"Slow down!" she yelled, her fingers gripping the mane so tight her knuckles turned white.

The horse didn't care—it soared higher, climbing into the purple sky.

The plain below turned into a blur of blue flowers, and the golden city grew bigger ahead, its towers sharp and gleaming.

Hope's hands tightened on her shoulders, steadying her.

"It's okay," he said, his voice cutting through the wind. "It knows where it's going."

Kena's heart pounded in her chest, loud and fast, but after a moment, she started to smile.

"This is insane!" she shouted, her voice getting lost in the rush of air.

The wind roared in her ears, tugging at her cloak, and the horse's wings glowed as they caught the light.

She'd never felt so free, so alive, like nothing could hold her down.

They flew over mountains, their peaks white with snow that sparkled below.

Kena leaned forward a little, looking down, and her stomach flipped at how high they were.

"We're so high!" she said, laughing again, the sound bubbling out of her.

Hope didn't say anything, but she felt his grip loosen a bit, like he was relaxing too.

The horse dipped lower after a while, skimming over a wide lake.

The water was clear and bright, sparkling under the sky, and Kena caught her reflection as they passed.

Her hair was a wild mess, flying everywhere, and her grin was huge.

She didn't look like the angry, lost girl from home anymore—she looked different, stronger. She liked that version of herself.

After what felt like forever, the horse slowed down and glided toward a grassy hill.

Its wings flapped gently as it landed, the ground soft under its hooves.

Kena slid off, her legs wobbly from the ride, but her face was bright with excitement.

"That was the best thing ever," she said, patting the horse's side.

It neighed and nuzzled her hand, its warm breath tickling her skin.

Hope jumped down beside her, landing steady as always.

"It cut our trip short," he said, brushing grass off his cloak. "We're a lot closer now."

Kena looked around, taking in the view. The golden city was near—its high walls loomed just past the next valley, close enough that she could see the details of the stone.

"Good," she said, turning back to the horse. "Thanks, horse."

She gave it one last pat, her hand lingering on its neck.

The horse flapped its wings hard and took off again, soaring back into the sky. Kena watched it go, her head tilted back, still smiling.

"I want one," she said, half-joking, half-serious.

"Maybe later," Hope said.

His eyes crinkled again, and she knew he was teasing her.

Kena rolled her eyes but didn't snap back like she usually would.

She felt lighter now, like the flight had shaken something loose inside her—something heavy and dark she'd been carrying.

"Let's keep going," she said, pulling the photo out of her pocket again.

Justice Veldric was close now, somewhere in that city. She could do this, whatever it took.

They started down the hill, the grass soft under her boots. The golden city called them forward, its light pulling her in.

For once, Kena didn't mind the walk. The flying horse had given her something—maybe a bit of hope, maybe just a good moment to hold onto.

Either way, she tucked it away inside her, keeping it close as they moved toward whatever came next.