Previously on LW:
The four friends plus Aric journey with the fairies towards the Elder Tribe, where the One Elder and the rest of the fairies will decide their fate. While Aiden is being an idiot with the fairy children and Chase is sulking with his gryphon friend (who is actually female), Hailey realizes Autumn is acting a bit cold with her and, feeling guilty, catches up to her while Aric leaves them to talk in peace.

Chapter 17

    As Aric flew off to talk one of the fairies, Autumn turned to me. "Hey."

    "Hi. Er, I'm sorry, okay? I know this sucks, and you didn't even want to come in the first place, and it's my fault we're stuck in the forest while our families worry about us, and I've been a bad friend overall, but I'm sorry and so grateful you came with me. Just wanted to tell you that."

    Autumn was quiet for a second. "Hailey, the fact that we're here isn't really the problem. I knew what I was signing up for, and I'm the one who got us lost."

    "That's not your fault-"

    "It is. I know you don't blame me, because you and Aiden are the worst at using maps and you think you would have gotten lost anyway, but it was my job. So, of course, I'm not mad at you for that. And yes, my family is probably worried out of their mind, but that's not your fault."

    Hearing her say this made me feel ten times better, but there was still a problem. "But you're still mad at me."

    "Not really at you. Well, a bit. It's stupid."

    "I know it's not. You never do anything for stupid reasons. I'm the one who does that."

    Autumn laughed, but her eyes were humid.

    "Want to ride Juno and Grey while we talk?" I suggested. "I'm still struggling with the 'flying through a forest while talking'-part."

    "Sure." She waved to Juno, who came back immediately. Grey followed suit, but was most likely only this fast because she wanted to escape a nosy child.

    "So, what's wrong?" I asked.

    "I know it's stupid, but I can't help but feel like I don't matter." She cut me off before I could protest. "It's true. It's always like that, at Sperodyfis or here. Everybody loves Aiden who's an elite archer on top of it, Chase is a great warrior and second in command, and you're a freaking princess. Then, there's me."

    "That's not true-"

    "Yes, it is."

    "That's not what I mean. Please listen to me," I pleaded. "True, people see me and think 'oh, look, the princess, wow!' but that's not anything I've achieved myself. I just showed up and was told that's what I was. I have no merit."

    "Everyone still loves you."

    "The only thing Princess Hailey has done since being back from the human world is learn stuff you guys knew in second grade and sit in silence at two fancy dinner-meetings. I know some people think I'm cool just because I'm related to the king, but I also know you know better. That doesn't make me important. People treat me like it does, but we -Aiden, Chase, and I- know the truth. Without you, we'd be completely lost. We might not even be friends."

    "Yes, you would be," she argued, but her eyes were a bit brighter.

    "Um, no. If you hadn't stopped Aiden from putting a mini time-bomb-thing in my chocolate cake I spend two hours on, he and I would have had a huge fight. I'm sorry if it feels we've been ignoring you," I apologized. "It's true I spent more time with Chase lately. I think we're so used to you being on top of everything we forget you're having a hard time, too. You're still my best friend."

    "What about Allison and Aiden and Chase?" She wiped away some tears.

    "Best winged-friend, then. I can't pick between you Allison and you. Don't tell Aiden and Chase, but it's true." I reached out to squeeze her hand, since hugging was a bit inconvenient at the moment.

    "Thanks, Hailey."

    "I'm the one who should be thanking you for always sticking with me. Whatever anyone says, please never think you're less important than any of us just because you don't have a stupid title."

    She nodded.

    "So, you've been hanging a lot with Aric lately." I changed to subject to something a bit happier.

    "Yeah. At least he didn't act like I was a second choice. I'm sorry, I sound bitter, but most of the time Chase and Aiden have been acting like I don't exist."

    "Well, I've talked to them as much as you have. Don't worry about Aiden, he's just happy because there aren't any rules here, but if he sees you're sad he'll come running. Chase..." I dropped my voice lower. "He won't tell me why, but it's like he knows the fairies and doesn't like them. At all." I redirected the subject. "Anyway, we were talking about Aric. I haven't talked to him as much as you, but seems nice."

    "He is. He doesn't like to talk about the Outlands much, though. When we talk about friends, he looks a bit sad, like it brings up painful thoughts."

    "Do you think it's really horrible there?"

    "Well, it's the wilderness, but the people can't all be bad, can't they?"

    "I hope not."

    Aric chose this moment to fly back to us, a gourd of water in his hand. "Water?"

    "Thanks."

    He tilted his head at Autumn, and she sighed. "Yes, you were right. Of course we're good. Hailey's my best friend, after all."

    I couldn't help the smile that split my face.

    ***

    We progressively flew lower and lower until we met Chase on the forest floor. Around us, the trees were too tall to bother us with their branches, and only thick ferns and scuttling critters hindered our steps. The fairies were as light on their feet as on their wings and shot forwards in little bursts of flights before touching down and springing back up again, leaving us to follow as best as we could.
    Their grace mesmerized me. Meanwhile, I seemed even clumsier than usual, much to the amusement of Aiden and the fairies.
    Aiden had decided to leave his tireless friends to their games while he took a well-earned break. Twigs and leaves were stuck in his hair, which was messier than usual.

    "It's crazy," he told us. "These kids never get tired. I should introduce them to my mom. I'll look so well-behaved in comparison. And, wow, they fly fast. But they're lighter. It works to their advantage." He yawned. "Chase, can I ride your chicken?"

    "What did you just call her?"

    The gryphon glared at Aiden from over Chase's shoulder.

    "Fine, gryphon. Not my fault if she doesn't have a name."

    "Yes, she does."

    "Oh, yeah? What is it then?"

    "Zarasa."

    The gryphon turned towards Chase, as if already familiar with her name.

    "Laaaaaame," Aiden dragged out.

    I rolled my eyes. "Aiden, you can't name every animal after potatoes. Zarasa," I repeated the name. "I like it."

    Chase smiled at me. "I'm glad."

    "I do, too," Autumn said. "It's exotic, but simple."

    "Thanks, Autumn. I had to list off names for fifteen minutes until she found one she liked."

    "Shame on all of you and your horrible taste." Aiden shook his head.

    "Okay," Autumn said. "I'll bite. What did you want to name her?"

    "No, never mind. No one ever supports me in this family."

    "Aiden, stop being an idiot and tell us." Chase chuckled. "We know you've been waiting to ever since we mentioned names."

    "Fine. Will you promise to listen till the end?"

    "How long is that name?" I frowned. "Did you hyphenate every word you know?"

    "Of course not. Why do you guys always expect so little of me?"

    "You had a berry fight with fairy kids a few hours ago," Chase pointed out.

    "Exactly. So, you promise to listen?"

    "We do," I said. "Go ahead, what would you have called the gryphon?"

    "Let me list all of them. Ketchup, 'cause she's a bit reddish."

    Chase groaned.

    "Shush, you promised not to interrupt. So, Ketchup -or Mustard, actually, but not Mayonnaise, that's just stupid. Second-"

    "I didn't promise anything," Chase argued.

    "Hailey signed up every single one of you. You have no choice. Now listen. On principle, I have to say Ms. Potato, though she isn't deserving of such a name. Also, Butternut. Butterscotch. Cookie. Spark."

    "Is it just me or was that one not a food item?" Autumn asked.

    "We must have misheard him," I joked.

    "Aiden, how can you be afraid of the name my children will have, when all of yours will end up named after food?" Chase shook his head.

    "My children will have wonderful names, thank you very much. Stop being so jealous, Chase."

    "Let's not talk about Aiden having kids, because that's just scary," Autumn concluded.

    "Actually, an army of mini-Aidens would make a good scene for a horror movie," I mused.

    "You're all jealous. I'm sure Raisin approves of my names."

    There was a blank as we all processed what Aiden had said.

    "If I am not wrong, the gryphon is not named after the dried grape," Aric ventured.

    "Did you just call her 'Raisin'?" Chase asked in disbelief.

    "Z... Zaisin? Zarsain? Okay, no, I have no idea what her name it. You only said it once, and I wasn't paying attention."

    I laughed, and Autumn shook her head. "You're incorrigible," she said with a smile.

    "I don't know what that is, but thanks. Zazara?"

    "Zarasa. And what's your name again?" Chase asked. "Ideen?"

    "Hey! You're not allowed to do that. Mikoy is annoying enough at is it. I don't think it's too much to ask that my best friend remembers my name."

    "In my defense, it's only been ten years, and I wasn't paying attention," Chase teased.

    "Haha. This is why I'm the funny one, and you're not."

    Squeals from a few younger fairies sprinting past us interrupted their banter.

    "We are arriving," one of our guards told us. "When we reach the tribe, you will stay back with us while the Elder tribe is informed and decides on procedure."

    "Cool. Is it true we'll have a banquet?" Aiden asked.

    "If you are recognized as guests, then, yes, it is customary to hold one."

    "And if we're not recognized as guests?" Autumn asked.

    "The One Elder will decide."

    Autumn and I exchanged a look. "This One Elder is getting on my nerves," I muttered.

    She made a face. "Right?"

    With this new piece of vague information, Chase let his teasing smile slip off his face and grew quiet.

    "Hey," I reassured him. "Just because we don't get to go to their banquet doesn't mean anything will happen to us." We were prisoners, but the fairies had been friendly towards us, and I didn't believe they could be cruel.

    "Sure," he muttered.

    Aiden opened his wings. "Be back in a few. I wanna ask Mikoy something."

    Chase grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "No, you're not. Stay with us."

    I expected Aiden to argue, but he too had realized Chase was not in a joking mood.

    "Okay." He stood on his tiptoes. "Look, you can see their village from here!"

---------
Hi everyone!
So many awesome name ideas for the gryphon! Thank you to all who commented. It was hard to pick one, but I finally went with @LauraAnimalgirl 's Zarasa. (Special thanks as well to @Isabelle999, because it was a close call between her name suggestions and the one I finally picked.) You guys are so creative I think I'll keep asking you for name ideas ;)
What did you think of the chapter? Do you share more Hailey's point of view on the fairies or Chase's?

Also, I just uploaded the character ask I wrote about earlier with some questions from you guys at the end of Secret Wings! (To avoid the confusion of having one in the middle of this book out of nowhere.)

Another great cover by @Lady_guardian_star, this time featuring Chase!

See you in two weeks!