Twenty years later since the event of Jaymie's father Jay disappeared into the beyond. He was raised by his other Dad Tate who is Jay's soulmate and Jay's Best friend Stace.
---o0o---
One very cold winter season Jaymie felt down, he felt like he was missing out on something. He went to have a chat with Tate and Stace after a meal around the firepit. They knew that he needed to spread his wings and roam the world on his own just as both his dad's did and Stace.
For two weeks Jaymie prepared himself for his own adventure, listening to both Tate's and Stace's advice about trusting his own survival instincts.
A week later, Jaymie packed a small backpack of his essential items and as he set off through the arch doorway. Stace followed him through, she wanted to stretch her own wings. He smiled at her as he carried on. He was a little nervous, excited, but it didn't take him long to adapt to his new found freedom. He knew deep within him he had Jay watching over him, to guide him if he lost his way. Jaymie struggled when he reached a huge mountain that seemed to reach towards heaven. After some thought and encouragement he shot himself straight up before flapping hard until he reached the peak. He knew Stace would be behind him so he waited for her staring at yet another portal.
After Stace joined Jaymie at the peak catching her breath, she noticed almost immediately the portal. "I will be right behind you Jaymie" she told him.
---o0o---
As Jaymie walked on through, but when he turned to wait for Stace. She was not there, he wanted to go back through, but something told him to carry on and that she will be alright. So, he followed his desires.
He wasn't sure how fast or slow the time went, but after what felt like a day's trekking through the valleys, Jaymie decided to literally spread his wings. He searched for a hideout to stow-away his things before shifting into a big beautiful red kite bird of prey. He stretched out his wings giving them a few flaps. Then he prepared himself for his flight, as he took his run-up he spread his wings. With small gentle flaps he lifted himself off the ground and began to thrust himself as high as the clouds.
Allowing the wind to brush over his feathers he soared through the skies, wings cutting through the clouds. He felt so free.
As he was soaring through the lands passing mountains, waterfalls and cutting through the clouds, he suddenly felt a familiar warmth present itself, it felt like something he felt within himself. Jaymie scanned around him and saw nothing. However, he felt the spirit around him still, he knew it wasn't gonna hurt him so he decided to have a little fun. Slowly, he circled around a medium sized mountain. It was that feeling that he definitely knew for sure it was his father. So he carried on having fun, swerving between mountains, then up and over and occasionally under the waterfalls feeling the cool spray. Jaymie wasn't sure of his purpose when he came through the portal, but he felt like he could tick off one of the things on his list he had made in his head and move on. It seemed to him that he could achieve anything in this realm. He was in such deep thought that he didn't notice another bird until he collided head-on causing them both to fall on the grassy plains below. Jaymie was the first to get up, but when he saw the other bird lying still, he carried him to safety and watched over him until he awoke.
"What happened? Who are you?" he spoke when he finally opened his eyes.
"Oh, you're finally awake. We were both flying and collided into each other. I carried you here. My name is Jaymie. What's your name??" Jaymie greeted.
He didn't answer straight away as he was still in a daze and was trying to make sense of it.
"I'm Cedar, pleased to meet you Jaymie. I need to go," Cedar said, trying to get on his feet only to realise that he was stark naked. He quickly covered himself whilst Jaymie handed him some of his spare clothes. Cedar was slightly bigger than Jaymie, so the clothes were a little tight.
"It looks good, a little tight but you do look good," Jaymie complimented.
Cedar briefly blushed before quickly changing his expression with a raised eyebrow. Jaymie chuckled.
"What brings you all the way out here then Cedar?" Jaymie asked, trying to start a conversation.
"Erm… well I was kind of guided this way, but I can't remember why?" Cedar answered.
"Oh, well I'm sure you will remember, in the meantime why don't you… keep me company. I, too, was guided here in the hope it would lead me to finding out what happened to my father, Jaymie asked confidently.
"Your father!?" Cedar asked.
"Yeah. You see he went on a trip with his friend Stace, but something happened, I don't know what. Stace didn't see much," Jaymie tried to explain through teary eyes.
Cedar wasn't sure what to do, he hesitated, but eventually he placed his hand gently on Jaymie's shoulder. Jaymie felt his warm touch and slowly moved in closer. Without a moment's hesitation, Cedar looked at him and pulled Jaymie into his chest and gave him a comforting hug. Cedar felt slightly awkward at the start, but he soon relaxed himself in time to feel Jaymie relax. They closed their eyes and shared a kiss.
Cedar didn't know what this feeling was building up inside him. Suddenly, he pushed Jaymie away and flew off like a shot leaving Jaymie standing there stunned, wondering what he did wrong. Jaymie wiped the tears that escaped and continued his search for his father. At the same time thinking whether he was wasting his time as he never really thought it through before he began his journey.
As Jaymie continued on he came across what looked like a dead volcano, but as he flew over and circled it, something bright came from the core. It was heading straight for him so he didn't hang around. He headed away trying to lose it, but it was gaining on him fast. It suddenly swooped towards Jaymie from underneath and they landed back on the edge of the volcano. Jaymie stared for a moment, as the blazing light started to take form in front of him, it formed into his father.
"Father!" He raced ahead and straight into his arms. Jay wrapped his arms tightly around his grown son. Then Jaymie stepped back and smiled up at him.
"I know I came here to search for you, but I was beginning to think whether I would or not. How is this possible?" Jaymie asked excitedly.
"Well Jaymie, my beautiful boy, at this place you can see me anytime you ever need guidance," Jay explained, as Jaymie nodded.
"But why here? Why haven't you gone back to Daddy Tate?" Jaymie asked, but Jay didn't answer.
"Now I should be meeting someone here, I wonder where he's got to?" Jay thought out loud.
"Another guy!?" Jaymie asked, slightly confused.
"Yeah, his name is Cedar," Jay explained, Jaymie's eyes widened in shock.
"Have you seen him?" Jay asked.
On hearing the name Jaymie felt a surge of warmth from Cedar's hugs, "Erm… I mi…I haven't seen anyone," Jaymie clumsily dodged. Jay rolled his eyes,
"OK, not to worry. We will just have to look for him," Jay explained as he walked due west as that was the nearest oasis. Jaymie wanted to say something but kept quiet and followed his father.
'I think he knows that I've met him. I shouldn't lie to my father, but he seems to know the direction Cedar went. What is he not telling me?' Jaymie thought. "Father, how is it you know which way Cedar went?" Jaymie asked.
Jay did a sideways glance and smiled. "I thought you said you haven't met him?" Jay asked, smiling.
"Well… Erm…" Jaymie stuttered, 'he knows!' he thought. "Yes I've met him briefly, but he ran away. Exactly in this direction we are heading" Jaymie explained, deliberately dismissing the kiss they had shared.
"Do you like him?" Jay asked.
Jaymie choked at the question, "Erm… yeah he's alright. He seemed weirdly tense" Jaymie answered. The image of them kissing is playing in his mind over and over trying to figure out what it means and how to overcome this new algorithm.
"He's just alright, ok then," Jay mocked jokingly. Jaymie nodded as the oasis came into view. As they approached the area, they both noticed a silhouette, someone that Jaymie recognised instantly. Jaymie stopped for a minute and only started to move when Jay told him to hurry up. Soon as Jaymie caught up to his father, Cedar was in clear view, they locked eyes. Jay noticed, "I shall leave you two alone now," Jay said before vanishing.
"Dad" Jaymie called after him, but it was too late, he was now alone with Cedar once again.