Wings of Change

Chapter 4: Water Fever

"Turn these eyes to my sole protector, break the will of this born defector." ~I Just Need U by Tobymac

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Phineas screamed, throwing his arms over his head as a shield and throwing himself against the ground as the plants stampeded toward him. He could feel the earth shaking all around him, and he cursed his curiosity which had gotten him into this mess to begin with.

The first of the plants barrelled past him, just narrowly missing him. Others swerved to avoid the random obstacle in their path, while still others crashed into him at full speed. Their spiky leaves left gashes up and down his limbs and across his torso. He squeezed his eyes shut and prayed for it to end, even as a slash tore across his face and he whimpered fearfully.

I should never have come here. I should have stayed in the Nook. This was a stupid idea. Wedge was right. I am helpless.

"Fast-fairies, on my mark!"

A shout rose above the tumult, strong and steady. He didn't dare lift his head, even as he heard the reassuring hums of several pairs of wings surrounding him. He trembled as the clash of swords and leaves flooded his ears and he barely felt the small arms wrap around him and drag him into the air, out of the way of the crazy weeds.

He yelped in shock, lashing out and hitting something very solid behind him.

"Ow! Hey! Watch it, sparrowman! I'm trying to save ya!" came a heavily accented feminine voice from near his left ear. "Or maybe you'd prefer I put ya back in the field with them spooked thistles?"

Thistles? That's what those were? He shook his head mutely and received a snort of laughter in reply. They landed in a small clump of grass a little ways away and he spun to face his rescuer. She was a fairy a little bit shorter than him with lengthy red hair and a long pink dress. Even without being able to fully see her, he could tell she was breathtaking.

She caught him gawking and she folded her arms with a small smirk. "Well? Got an explanation or are ya just going to stand there staring at me all day?" Her words were sharp, but Phineas could hear the amusement in her mind.

He must be new, she decided. Every fairy knows to avoid the Sprinting Thistles. There isn't a garden fairy alive who can tame them. Such a shame really.

"E-explanation?" he repeated, swallowing nervously.

"What are ya doing out here all by your lonesome? Especially here. Needlepoint Meadow is dangerous. No fairy is supposed to come alone. Queen Clarion's orders."

"Oh...ah...I didn't...I didn't know, Miss...?"

"Rosetta," the fairy responded.

"Phineas," he introduced himself.

"Nice to meet ya. Now, answer my question. Sprinting Thistles are no trifling matter, and certainly not to be messed with. Who told ya to come here, and a better question, where are they?"

"Um...I just thought..." He trailed off as he heard the shouts of the fast-flyers in the grass beyond. Glancing over his shoulder nervously, the realization of how much danger he'd actually been in crashed over him and he felt immediately grateful to this fairy for pulling him out.

His attempt at an apology was interrupted by the flurry of wings and he jumped as a fast-flyer appeared before them, her eyes scanning him and then jumping to Rosetta as she began to speak. "The thistles are gone," she said. "But, I suggest you show your friend here the way out before he causes any more trouble."