Sitting and talking with the old lady feels a lot less stressful this time. I guess the whole thing with the tree was a huge burden off of her chest. She seems much more relaxed and open now. I’ve learned about her life. Her real name is Virdy, which is not too far off from what I’ve been calling her in my head. She was raised here, on the island, with her sister, Seela’s grandmother. One day, a group of travelers came, and Seela’s grandmother fell for one of them while she was supposed to be guarding the tree. They had Seela’s mother together, who Virdy insisted on raising on the island to guard the tree. So her grandmother left the planet to travel with her new friends. When Seela’s mother grew up, the same thing- fell in love with a traveler during her shift, had Seela, left Seela on the island with Virdy while she went off. I asked Virdy why she’s never left, and she told me that her love is the island, and that she just wished for the day where others could come enjoy the beach with her.

“I guess what I’m saying is,” she looks at me, a tired, relieved look in her eyes, surrounded by wrinkles, “thanks, kid. I always felt like it wasn’t right to guard the tree. But it’s what I was taught. I thought it had to be this way. And I couldn’t ask her. I didn’t know it was possible, but I held out hope for a long time that someone, somehow, would be able to figure out what I couldn’t. I trust that you and my grand niece will keep each other safe and happy.”

I just nod, not knowing what else to say. It really wasn’t going out of my way. I see how much it means to her, but to me, it was just my second stop. And I had fun, and met someone who’s going to join me! I’m so excited to travel with Seela.

Just then, she bursts in.

“Basket’s packed! Are we leaving right now?” she eagerly announces.

Before I can say anything, Virdy extends both wings into the air.

“Hold on,” she says, “do you two plan to sleep in that basket?”

Seela and I exchange a glance, and she looks at the ground, pink as her flower in the face. I wonder why she’s so embarrassed?

“Yeah, that seems smart,” I tell Virdy.

“If that’s the case,” Virdy winks at Seela, who turns an even brighter pink, “you’ll need privacy. Pick any one of the tapestries here to cover the basket.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Really?” I’m surprised she’d offer one, I assumed they were really important to her.

“Any old one. Think of it as a housewarming gift.”

I look to Seela, “Do you want to pick?”

She shakes her still pink head. I still don’t get the embarrassment, but that’s okay.

I look around to make sure there isn’t one that calls to me more than the one I already knew I was going to pick. That one above the couch, with the man and woman, the yellow and blue, the silver and gold, and the wings and tentacles… it’s been bothering me, because I swear it looks familiar, but I can’t remember it.

“This one,” I finally point up at it.

“Hmmm,” Virdy looks up, “this is one that I acquired more recently, a little after Seela first started flying. It was on the boat of some invaders that I, um… removed. It’s all yours. Seela, help me get it down.”

Virdy and Seela work together to remove the tapestry from the ceiling.

“Alright,” Virdy says, “now let’s see you two off, so my retirement can finally begin!”

The three of us go outside, to where the basket is. The travel basket is about the same size as the basket Seela carried me in earlier, and looks almost the same on the outside. There’s a rope hanging off the side, with knots in it for me to climb in. Did Seela put that there for me? How thoughtful! I climb up, and help attach the tapestry to the side of the opening, while Virdy sews buttons to the other side so we can open and close it as needed. Inside the basket, on one side, are three crates, each with a hook above it. One crate has “First Mate Seela” pained on, and is locked. One has “Captain Hana” painted on. When I open it, inside is a lock and key on a string. Taking out the lock and key and putting my bag inside, I lock the crate, and tie my key to my left wrist, so I won’t lose it. The third crate is empty, unlocked, and unpainted. On the other side is one more crate with two hooks above it, where a wooden bow sits. When I open the crate, there are five metal hooks, each attached to long rings of rope. Is this what she attacked me with before? Because this would’ve caused a little more than blunt force trauma, I would think. I lift my hand to my forehead, and sure enough, there’s a scab there.

Okay, so I guess I can handle stabbing and puncturing. Good to know.

Seela loudly flaps her wings, signaling that she is ready for lift off.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to stay for the first island party?” Seela asks her great aunt.

Virdy shakes her head.

“You kids don’t need to see what I’m about to become,” she laughs.

What could that even mean?

“Now go! Shoo!” she waves her arms, gesturing that we hurry up.

Seela wiggles the basket off of the branch, just like before, and before the basket can fall, she glides through the air with her wings, lifting us up.

“Bye Aunty!” Seela yells.

“It was nice meeting you!” I yell, waving goodbye.

“You kids have fun!”