Dreams are that wonderful psedo reality that boggles the mind with its creativity now and then.
Othertimes they seem so mundane one might accidentally confuse it as a memory. Some, are the result of a little mixture of both.
Coming into consciousness Naomi was in her tiny kitchen back home. Standing at short breakfast bar as the sound of the radio droned from the main room. She was back in her own apartment like nothing ever happened- it was so vivid as she peered around the tiled walls out the large narrow window.
'How...? what? Am I really?' Naomi felt almost afraid to hope she might be back safe in the familiar human world, trembling a little as she turned to walk out, parting the brightly beaded curtain.
Her only other main space was a high ceiling, mezzanine style room with large white wooden framed windows. The walls were paneled waist high with a smart white wooden trim, with a soft taupe colour paint on the upper section.
The room was literally bombarded with plants. Pots adorned all around the front most window- but most were gathered on a stepped decorative wooden shelf.
That was her prized collection, a splendid selection of cute shrubby little bonsai trees, beautifully shaped and manicured as well as she could muster. Five years and way too much money but she had not one regret. For some reason a touch of melancholy settles in her heart looking at them all.
She turned to look up towards her loft bed and noticed there was no longer a ladder up?
What? Why?
She looked closer, intead there was a pully lever instead it would seen.
..makes sense? Right now at least..
'Oh well, okay. ' her dream self reasoned as she reached up to yank upon the high pully four times before she heard an almighty crash and growling.
The pully snaked down and coiled around her wrist tightly gripping it- she began to panic and try to pull away. Confused she tried to claw it off only to find it was smooth and... hairy?
She looked into her hand and found she had been tugging and yanking on the tail of the lion, that had been sleeping soundly in her bed.
It turned its large head to show her its nice pearly whites and promptly spat out her chewed up toothbrush, grumbling and growling all the while.
Naomi gasped and woke with a start as she jolted into consciousness. Her heart jumped in fright, still confused as her right arm throbbed with a numbing ache.
Blearily she tried to raise her head, shoulder aching under her- laying on her side fully now. No longer airborn she had reasonably gathered.
It appeared to be bright enough to be daylight currently in the nest.
'Nope'
She groaned groaned aloud, not waking up nicely at all.
Too numb unfortunately, she had to settle with slowly rolling onto her back, laying flat as her limb tingled painfully. She must have had it pinned under her by accident.
"Ugh.." groaning quietly she closed her eyes again as she gingerly tried to massage and rouse her deadened arm and hand, her eyes closed.
'At least those blankets are a bit looser'
that was a major relief- Naomi genuinley feared she would develop claustrophobia at one point.
They were landed that was good at least, but now the questoon begged where exactly?
As if right on que, she heard
"Good morning beautiful female, I have food ready if your awake."
A deep voice spoke to her from just to her left and she jumped a little, startled at his sudden presence.
Sighing slightly, she remembered this troublesome man who was currently disturbing her peace.
"Naomi, my names Naomi." She retorted, finally allowing him the knowledge. As she turned towards him to speak she was immediately stunned once more.
A gentle light flooded the area, dawns early blue light finally illuminating the mystery man causing all her problems.
He was absolutely breathtaking. An amber and brown feather necklace rested upon his broad chest that rose and fell slowly.
Hyfron had Dark chocolate brown hair and a bohemian hairstyle, half shorn and half plaited, that really added to his bad boy air.
Aa she examined his form she noted his sharp features; piercing gray eyes that stood out against his dark hair and folded wings- and were hungrily staring right back at her as he stood gauging her gaze.
'Damn ' Naomi couldn't help but stare, a touch dumbstruck.
Her brain stopped for a moment and heat surged to her abdomen under his intense gaze.
'Oh no.' Her body let its opinion known but her mind called a time-out.
Suddenly feeling exposed even though she was few layers undercover- she began to feel a little bashful.
'Snap out of it- oh my god I can't cope with that intensity ' she broke eye contact first, mildly frustrated that he didn't sense her discomfort.
It was difficult to take in the entirety of the man before her, there was an undeniable attraction there but she was still not at all impressed with the methods he chose to pursue.
There was the invasion of privacy as well added to her count of grievances towards the apparently handsome male.
'It's going to be hard to say no to that face though...'
Naomi felt a little guilty each time she looked at him. She really liked Oren and thought he was handsome, Hyfrons look was just different and it gave him a certain sense of allure.
He couldn't help but notice all of her emotions quietly ripple across her face as she thought- he didn't fail to notice the flicker of annoyance that settled in her eyes.
It turned out the pair were encamped in an enormous hollowed out tree trunk.
The mornings light gently shone down the open skylight entrance as a small smoke trail from Hyfrons cooking weaved skywards.
Salted skewered pork with giant purple onions and pineapple hybrids all grilled and ready to eat.
It was simple and a little charred but delicious thanks to the foraged fruit and vegetables. Naomi missed some rice or grains though for her it was a slightly heavy meal to have first thing.
She was pleasantly surprised and couldn't help but comment upon his ingenuity.
"I had no idea anyone in this land would use cutlery or utensils!' She muttered, the sharp eared male heard her clearly of course.
"The bird clan have always been problem solvers and have long since evolved to use a variety of tools." He gruffly replied and simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Ah I see, how..interesting " was all she could awkwardly blurt out in response.
'I think I remember some series about crows leaning to solve puzzles ' her mind wandered off again as she nimble the skewer.
'I wonder why he doesn't ask about me yet? Maybe he doesn't really care enough?...hmm'
Having eaten earlier Hyfron continued to carry water for Naomi to clean up a little after breakfast. He seemd to have some stone basins and items left in this nest.
"Have you eaten enough Naomi? When you are finished up we will make our way to the nearby village for supplies." Hyfron looked directly at her as he spoke, his grey eyes cool but gentle.
He had just finished warming some water and was leaned down to speak to her, his impressive stature on full display.
Naomi was the one to grumble a reply as she nodded as chewed her last bit of meat, her eyes falling off to the side.
'Okay maybe some sense of responsibility exists within him anyway' she mulled over his rough and ready care.
Having finished the morning particulars the pair made the short flight to the nearby horse tribe.
Hyfron carried Naomi in his arms as he flew nimbly while she tried not to squirm, indecisively pained to be in such close contact again.
It was an intimate flight, he insisted she cling to his neck as they flew.
At least he had allowed her wear a 'cloak' instead of the layered skins.