The phoenix groans. "Of course you are."
Before I can offer another witty comeback, he extends one of his massive wings, and a strange bundle appears at my feet fruits, of all things. I blink at them for a moment, too surprised to be insulted.
"Here. Eat," he says, as if he's handing me an ultimate gift.
"Wow, really pulling out all the stops, huh?" I say, picking up one of the fruits. "Did you get these from the magical fruit market in the sky, or do phoenixes just carry snack packs everywhere?"
The phoenix rolls his eyes, if that's even possible for a bird. "Would you rather starve?"
I take a bite, feeling the juices explode in my mouth. Okay, so it's pretty good. But still. "I thought mystical creatures would have more... I don't know, class. You don't see dragons handing out bananas to their chosen ones."
"You're not exactly a 'chosen one.' I'm trying to avoid an overly dramatic death scene with you passing out from hunger."
"Thanks," I mumble through a mouthful of fruit. "You're really great at making me feel important."
The phoenix sighs, looking up at the darkening sky. "It's getting late. We need to find a place to sleep."
I choke a little on my fruit. "Sleep? What, you're telling me the legendary firebird doesn't just sleep on a bed of flames? You need an actual bed like the rest of us mortals?"
He flaps his wings once, the movement so fast it kicks up dust in my face. "Not exactly, but I'm not keen on staying out here in the open. The forest gets... complicated at night."
"Complicated? Oh, yeah, because the daytime has been so simple with giant explosions and dark mages and you know what, fine. Lead the way."
The phoenix doesn't argue, which is honestly kind of a win for me. He takes off, his wings casting a shadow in the fading twilight. I scramble to follow him on foot, but thankfully, he doesn't fly too fast.
We walk through the forest for what feels like forever, until the trees thin out and a rocky cliffside appears before us. At the base of the cliff is a large, hidden cave. It looks like the kind of place you'd find a bear... or a fire-breathing phoenix.
He lands in front of the cave entrance with a soft thud. "Here."
"Wow," I say, stepping inside. "Home sweet cave. Does it come with room service, or am I supposed to forage for breakfast in the morning?"
The phoenix gives me a look. "Keep talking, and you might just find yourself on the breakfast menu."
I snort. "Please. You wouldn't dare. I'm too annoying to kill."
"True," he mutters, shaking his feathers as he settles near the entrance. "Now get some rest."
"Rest?" I echo, sitting down on a flat rock. "You say that like I can just close my eyes and magically forget I nearly got vaporized today. No big deal, right?"
He looks at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, surprisingly, his tone softens. "You've been through worse."
I pause, not expecting that. "Yeah, well... it doesn't get easier. No one ever said, 'Hey, maybe this whole cursed-fire-girl thing will be a blast.'"
He lets out a long sigh. "Cursed or not, your power is yours to control. If you don't... well, let's just say more than villages will burn."
I look down at my hands, still sticky with fruit juice. "What if I can't control it? What if... I don't want to?"
He turns his head slightly, the flames of his feathers flickering in the dim light. "That's why I'm still here, isn't it? You followed me."
I scoff. "Followed is a strong word. More like... I'm stubborn and can't take a hint."
"And yet, you're still alive because of it."
There's a long silence after that, and I hate how the words sink into me, making me feel like maybe he has a point. Maybe this annoying, giant bird is right. I hate when other people are right.
The night deepens around us, and the stars twinkle faintly above the cave entrance. I shift uncomfortably on the cold stone, watching him.
"Do you have a name?" I ask, breaking the silence.
He raises a fiery eyebrow. "A name?"
"Yeah, you know, something other than 'giant flaming chicken.'"
There's a brief pause, and then, with a gruffness that almost sounds reluctant, he says, "Hinote."
I blink. "Hinote? That's... actually not bad. Very firebird-y."
"It means 'hand of fire,'" he explains, almost like he's trying to get it over with.
"Yeah, yeah, I figured. I'm not completely ignorant, you know." I hesitate for a second, then add, "I'm Yukari, by the way. Yukari Hoshizora."
"'Starry sky,'" he muses, his voice thoughtful. "Fitting."
I raise an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He doesn't answer, and for a moment, the only sound is the faint crackling of his flames and the distant chirping of crickets. It's a weirdly peaceful moment, one I'm not used to.
But then, as the night wears on, the chill starts creeping in. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to fight off the cold. Typical. I finally find some quiet after the chaos of the day, and now I'm freezing.
I steal a glance at Hinote, who's lying on the other side of the cave, his fiery feathers casting a warm glow around him. The jerk doesn't seem bothered by the cold at all. I mean, he's literally made of fire. Must be nice.
I try to shift closer to the wall, hoping it might block the wind a little, but it's no use. My teeth start chattering, and despite my best efforts to stay strong, a shiver runs down my spine.
Suddenly, I hear Hinote sigh. He doesn't even turn to look at me, but his voice is gruff as ever when he speaks. "You're shivering."
I roll my eyes, even though he can't see it. "No kidding, genius. What gave it away? The sound of my bones rattling?"
There's a pause, and then, to my surprise, Hinote says, "Come here."
I blink, caught off guard. "What?"
"You're going to freeze to death if you stay over there," he grumbles. "I'm made of fire, remember? You won't be cold if you sleep closer."
For a second, I just stare at him, completely dumbfounded. Did the big, grumpy phoenix actually just offer to help me? The same bird who's been acting like I'm an annoying fly buzzing around his head?
"Don't make me repeat myself," he snaps, clearly regretting his act of kindness already.
I'm not about to let this opportunity slip by. Without a second thought, I scramble over to him and plop down beside his warm, feathery body. The heat radiating off him is immediate, wrapping around me like a blanket. I let out a contented sigh, the chill melting away in an instant.
"This is... nice," I mutter, feeling the warmth sink into my skin. It's like curling up next to a cozy campfire, only this one has attitude and can fly.
Hinote doesn't respond, but I don't care. I lean back against his side, and the steady crackling of his flames lulls me into a state of calm I haven't felt in... well, I can't even remember when.
The warmth is so comforting, I can feel myself start to drift off, my eyelids growing heavier by the second. But before I completely fall asleep, a thought crosses my mind this is the first time in my life that anyone has actually cared enough to make sure I'm okay.
Not my parents. Definitely not my village. But this grumpy, flame-throwing bird?
I smile to myself, burying my face a little deeper into his warm feathers. "Thanks," I mumble sleepily.
"Don't thank me," he mutters. "You're still a pain."
But there's no bite to his words, and somehow, that makes them even better.