Chapter 3

Later that day..."What are you drawing there, Rai?", the elder asked the boy, who was now sitting outside the hut and drawed a winged figure on an empty scroll.

Rai turned his head to face the old man. He always first was taking notice of his tattooed skin (you already guessed who he is?). The elder always was telling the story of a giant Trico and the adventure he had with it.

"This.", Rai replied plainly, turning the scroll."

"A... Trico? How so?"

"I thought of your story and..."

"You got some inspiration?", the old man said, giving a short laugh. "Come with me. I can tell you some more things about the Trico.", he continued.

Rai got up from where he was sitting. He followed the elder in his hut.

The boy watched as the man got some scrolls and placed them on a table. He opened them, to reveal detailed drawings of the creature. The remaining spaces were filled with notes.

"After my adventure with Toriko, I wanted to convice the villagers that Tricos were actually harmless."

"What did you do?"

"Well... I didn't really do something. But I noted everything I got to know about the Trico, here", the elder said, pointing the scrolls.

Rai took a good look, before the elder gathered them again.

"What really happened between you two?"

"You know, our friendship didn't begin well. When Toriko was still under the Master's control, he flew to our village and chose me. While in our way to the Tower, a lighting struck Toriko and we fell.

"When I woke up, I found myself next to the Trico's head. The poor thing had spears on it and was tied on the ground. I helped him and then we worked together to escape the cave.

"It was soon I realized that Trico couldn't fly; his wings were broken. I couldn't leave him. And I literally couldn't because he was following me the whole time.

"As time and trials passed, Toriko and I built a bond of trust. However there were things that would make him not even notice me.

"For some reason, he was very afraid of the glass eyes. Even they were away from him, he would still not make a single move. I had to climb on chains, walk on ropes and jump over unimaginable heights to get rid of them and get Toriko moving again.

"I helped him and he helped me. I found him food and he took me high. I was breaking the eyes and he fought the soldiers we found in our way. There was nothing that could stop us.

"It was then when we 'met' the other Trico. It was under the Master's control. You can't imagine how Toriko would put his life at risk to save me.

"The end of this adventure was the defeat of the Master of the Valley."

"Yes, I know about that. Trico lost his tail but still could shoot lightning. You used the mirror's light to the Master and the lightning destroyed him. Then Trico flew you home."

"The villagers didn't take it well. They immediately wanted to kill Toriko. I ordered him to fly away.

"I hope that he is alive. I don't know what would I do, if I found out that he is dead.", the elder sighed.

"Are you alright?"

"It's alright, Rai. You can go home now, I need some time to think.", he said turning around.

Rai got up and walked to the door of the hut. He glanced the elder one more time before leaving.
...
Rai stepped inside his hut, still staring at his drawing of the Trico.

"Rai, you are a little late. Where were you?", his mother asked him.

"I was talking with the elder."

"The elder?"

"He just told me about the Trico.", he said, handing the drawing.

"Alright... Just make sure you clean up the mess in your room. You have filled it with scrolls everywhere!"

"Fine.", Rai answered simply, going there.

Rai nearly screamed when he saw a small bird-like creature sniffing around his room.

"Trico? What are you doing here?", he exclaimed under his breath, standing at the doorframe.

It must have found me through my scent, he thought.

The boy slowly approached the baby Trico, which shrank in a corner. It's feathers had furrowed, like a scared cat. The growl of the small creature could be heard from where Rai was standing.

Rai lowered to the Trico's level, so that it wasn't that afraid of him. "Hey there little...bird. How did you get here?", he asked like he was expecting for an answer.

The boy sat crosslegged across it, waiting to see if it would approach him.

The Trico sat straightly and then its eyecolour turned to yellow. With very slow, cautious steps walked to the boy. Rai didn't make any sudden move. For a moment he was just holding his breath, fearing if the animal did anything hostile.

The bird-cat-dog pup quickened its move and with any track of hesitation gone, it sat next to him. Rai lowered his gaze to look at the sniffing, curious pup. With its turn, the Trico gave him a grateful look, recognizing the boy who helped it to get out of that hollow. Its expression was something like a... grin?

Rai grining too, moving his hand to pet the young Trico on its head. Its horns were still short, not fully grown.

The baby Trico accepted the petting, hesitantly, but soon pleasantly as the boy's hand ran through its head and then its feathered body. It was no time at all when the pup began to purr.

"Rai, are done in there? Launch is ready.", his mother called.

"I'm coming!", the boy called back and glanced again at the little Trico. It seemed to enjoy his company.

Rai got up and the Trico stepped aside. It was looking at him questioningly, with deep green eyes, like it was saying: 'Where are you going?'

"I have to go, Trico. But I'm coming back very soon, I promise.", he told to it. Rai was about to leave the room, but stopped when hearing steps behind him and feathers touching his legs. He looked down to see his little companion.

"No, Trico, no. You have to stay here.", he told, shaking his head, and trying to push the pup into the room. "I'm going to come again, it won't be long", Rai told it softly.

The Trico did a sound like a sigh. It then lied on the floor disappointed. Rai smiled at it. "Good Trico."

About fifteen minutes later the boy was back. "Trico, I'm back!", he called for it, but it was nowhere in sight.

"Trico?", he called and then turned when he realised that the small animal was sitting behind him.

"You scared me, I thought you left...", Rai said and the pup whaled, like it replied a 'sorry'.

The boy smiled and sat on his knees in front of the Trico. "Look what I got.", he said, putting out of a satchel some meat. "This is for you. I'm sure you are hungry."

The baby sniffed the food and its eyes turned yellow. With its beak like mouth, it swallowed it whole. Rai then noticed that the Trico really hadn't teeth, but he was sure that its jaw power must be huge.

He watched as just in two minutes, the young Trico had eaten the whole content of the satchel. It looked satisfied.

"You liked it?", Rai said and the Trico licked its mouth happily. "I will take that as a 'yes'."

The pup sat on his lap and licked the boy. He laughed in response to his little companion.

"Stop it! *laugh* Stop T-Trico! *laugh* Trico!", he complained and pushed the small creature, which growled for a moment but then stopped, understanding that his now human friend meant no harm.

The two of them sat in front of the window. The Trico sat next to Rai, who gave him a pet on the back.

"Good boy", he said, turning at it. The pup growled at the word 'boy', like it understood him. "Uhh... Good girl?", he tried again and the Trico grinned again, closing her eyes in delight.

"You're going to need a name...", Rai said and his Trico looked at him, wagging her tail like a dog.

"What about... Zuri?", he thought and Trico did that whaling roar. -WOOOAAAAARR-

"Well, Zuri it is.", he told her and wrapped his one arm around Zuri's feathered body.

She didn't complain at all, but the opposite. She purred happily. Soon she slept in the boy's lap.

Rai smiled, seeing his new friend Zuri. She was just like the elder told him about Tricos. Cute, caring, friendly and harmless. Why to be afraid of a Trico?

I'm so glad that you are here, he thought. Zuri would be his responsibility now. It would be a new beginning for both of them.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoy the story. I tried to make this chapter longer.

I finished The Last Guardian just today and the ending was really touching.

Until next time!