Phoenix Reborn Read Online Free PDF

people. Maybe he liked the calm of solitude as much as she did.
    So — she was a freak of nature. And she would embrace it, at least for now. Taking one of the rounded pieces of silver in her fingers, she began to heat it, softening its surface. With her fingertips and nails she began to manipulate it, flattening the almost molten metal into a circle. She was going to make herself a charm. And maybe it would bring her protection and luck.
    Before long, she’d roughed out a replica of the Golden Eagle she’d seen earlier in the day, its wings spread in flight, face looking downward as though searching for its prey.
    With a small iron nail, she formed a loop and then hooked in a metal clasp. Then she removed the silver chain that she always wore around her neck; the chain which remained perpetually empty, a remnant of her mother. Years earlier, Ashling had found it in a jewelry box that her parents had left behind when they’d disappeared.
    When she’d threaded the pendant onto its length she held it up in front of her face, watching the eagle move in slow circles, showing itself from every angle.
    The eagle rivalled the firebird as one of the best pieces she’d ever made. It truly looked as though it were in flight, animated in its hunt. Perhaps her gift was in crafting flying creatures. Maybe her envy of their ability to escape earthly cares fed her talent.
    She hooked it around her neck, allowing the pendant to settle on her chest. This — her eagle — was now her totem, her protection. The golden flyer who’d come to visit from above. She hoped to see him again, and that he would stick around and keep her company on her solitary walks.

4
    I nspired by her creation, Ashling headed out on another hike the following morning before work. Her eyes searched the sky once again as she climbed towards the Observatory in hopes of finding her lovely friend above.
    It was 7:30 a.m. and the air was crisp, the clouds painted with strokes of pink and orange as Ashling wrapped her arms around herself for warmth.
    Only a vulture occupied the sky, though, and Ashling had little interest in him. She always knew the large birds by their spread wing-tip feathers, which caused them to fly in uneven circles. It always made them look slightly drunk as they went, the wind rendering their patterns erratic. Vultures were vile creatures; gawky in flight as they looked for rotting flesh to eat. They made eagles look like champion ice skaters in their grace and poise — not to mention the fact that they often regurgitated rotten meat, which no doubt smelled utterly awful. Their stomach acid was so volatile that it could dissolve metal, let alone what it might do to human flesh.
    So no, the vulture was not what she wanted to admire at an early hour.
    Ashling wandered, her head crooked upwards as she hunted for her golden friend from the previous day. But her progress was abruptly ended when she collided hard with something. Her arms shot out, grabbing for whatever it was, convinced for a moment that somehow a tree trunk had moved into her path.
    With horror, she realized that she’d landed her palms on Hawke Turner’s stomach. She had only a moment to register how firm it was, how warm, before pulling them away.
    “Well, fancy meeting you here,” he said.
    Ashling’s eyes were on his, embarrassment written all over her face.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he laughed, grabbing her arms to support her. “You were just so focused on the sky that I stood watching you. I wanted to see if you’d even notice me.”
    “Clearly I didn’t,” she said, pulling away from his grip. Her voice was more hostile than she intended.
    “Ashling, I didn’t mean to make you feel…” He looked repentant for finding the situation amusing.
    “It’s fine,” she said, doing little to hide her own regret at her tone. “I was just surprised. I’m not used to running into people up here.”
    Hawke looked towards the sky. “This is