Chapter 6: Maze of Friendship
"When sunset came, I changed into a sparrow and flew myself above the hedge maze until I saw Catrina...," Rep narrated, "I had never felt so excited about anything in my whole life."
Rep flew over the hedge maze with a smile on his beak as he felt the wind blowing underneath his wings. He tweeted a nice bird song, passing a couple of robins as he did. He kept flying when he saw something at the center of the maze: Catrina.
Rep flew down in a whirlwind until he perched himself on a bush of pink blossoms.
****
As she waited for Rep, Catrina was sniffing some flowers and touching their petals, until she saw a green sparrow perched on the bush next to her. The sparrow made a tweet in greeting.
"Hello," she greeted as she curtseyed, "Have you seen my friend? He's a Sheegana lizard."
With a few flaps of his wings, the bird lands himself on the ground and suddenly...transforms into Rep. Catrina gasped with awe.
"How did you-?" she asked.
"Your dad was right about one thing," Rep said before he turned into a cat, a dog, and then...himself, "We can shapeshift."
Catrina giggled as he transformed.
"So, what do you want to see first in Tambelon?" Rep asked as he held out his hand.
"Absolutely everything, Rep!" an excited Catrina said.
"Okay, but we have to make sure our families don't see us," Rep said, before transforming into a pegasus pony, “Hop on.”
Catrina got onto Rep's back with care, and they both flew off into the sky.
****
As the two friends flew over Tambelon, Catrina was able to see the whole city. She watched with awe and wonder in her face as she saw the people and buildings below. Several different species were down there, all living side by side like prejudice and differences in race barely existed.
Rep is giving her the tour as they flew over each landmark, each of them standing out like needles in a haystack that were easy to find.
Rep pointed and said, "Over there is the Palace of Harmony."
Catrina looked over and saw a palace of ivory with giant bells at the top tower.
"It’s the home of the Moochik and the Council, and it is the first building to be purified back when Tambelon was Nightmare Valley. Over to the right is the market place, where you can shop for anything: clothes, potions, all kinds of stuff."
Catrina gazed with astonishment at the hustle and bustle of the market place as she sees everyone buying and trading with the merchants. An anthropomorphic deer-like being for instance was making a trade with an anthropomorphic chubby looking dog-like being.
"But all those places can't compare to the place where we‘re going."
"Where's that?" Catrina asked.
"You'll see," Rep said.
It was in that moment that Rep began to fly like a pegasus in a race. Catrina hung onto her friend as they flew, while, as they did, Rep couldn’t help but note the grip she had on him. It was a little tight, but it was most of all gentle, and her touch on his pegasus fur gave him a soothing feeling.
****
As the sun created a twilight sky before it set, Catrina and Rep flew over a familiar building made of gold. Catrina was amazed by the glittering architecture as her eyes shined.
"What building is that?" Catrina asked while pointing.
"That is the Tambelon School of Knighthood. The children of Tambelon go there to learn how to be true knights. They teach history, magic, potion making, combat skills, and the Four Codes."
"Four Codes?"
"To be a knight, one has to follow the Four Codes of Knighthood: Inner Strength Within, Love for Another; the Courage Within; and Self-Sacrifice for others. Anyone who follows the codes will receive the Medallion of Knighthood and become a true knight of Tambelon."
Everything Rep said about the school filled Catrina with wonder and inspiration. When she saw the school shining, she could almost feel the light and harmony that the school and Tambelon share. Suddenly, the clock tower dinged. Catrina gasped with horror when she saw the clock pointing at six o'clock.
"It's six! I gotta get back to the caravan!" she panicked.
"I'll fly you home fast!"
Rep zoomed while Catrina hung onto his mane tight, and to Rep, even the feel of Catrina tightening her grip on him gave him a soothing feeling.