Flashback

Chapter 8

I was back at the place with the rose colored walls. Though I was outside. I was running across a huge field with faeries sitting on blankets with their mates, or walking around. Some kids were climbing on a fountain sitting in the middle of the field. One of them fell into the water, surprised when a pair of hands lifted him up and sat him on the edge. An amused mer started to lecture the child. Then he splashed the bemused little one with his bright green tail and submerged again.

I smiled despite my foul mood and continued running. Ones who saw me waved or saluted and I returned their gestures. I couldn't let them know what I was planning. If I acted suspicious, someone would catch on.

I ran until I came to a tower, made of the same material as the main building. The guard at the door stopped me before she saw my wings and eyes. Then she let me inside.

I sprinted up a set of wooden steps, following the spiral staircase up to the floor right below the spire of the tower. There were nine doors on that level, and I headed to the one in the middle and opened it.

I entered and beheld a faerie paradise. Or at least my description of a paradise.

Furniture was scarce, except for a few small desks covered in everything from maps and charts to drawings and books. In fact, it was rather messy, as the few tables that circled around the outside edge of the room were quite literally overflowing.

Some of the books were stacked in hazardous piles against the wall. Papers from who knows when had been stashed underneath things. It was awesome.

About six feet above the ground was a ledge that ran the circumference of the room. It looked to be about three feet wide and allowed access to the towering bookshelves on top. There was a ladder from below, letting non aerial people up.

Hanging from the ceiling was a hammock-like bed, level with the books. Only flyers could make it to the bed, which could be drawn up to the ceiling when not in use.

Also on the ceiling was a mural. Hundreds of feathers had been painted up there. Of every shape and size. It was not finished yet. There were benches suspended from the ceiling as well, to provide the artist with a place to rest while painting.

I rushed around the room. Opening various doors in the wall to grab things.

A leather pack, spare clothes, and my weapons of course. I changed into clothes more suitable for a long journey in fall. An orange top and brown riding pants, complete with a tough pair of boots. Then I pulled out a deep red cloak which would hide my wings. With a sense of finality, I opened a hidden panel behind a bookshelf.

Inside were two boxes. The first one was small and had carved words written in a lost language on it. I opened that one and took out the golden circlet nestled in velvet. I eased it onto my head, so that the small golden feather rested in the center of my brow.

I was about to close the panel when I laid my eyes on the other box. It was a bit larger than the other and relatively plain compared to it. The only decoration was a short message burned into the surface.

Gingerly, I took it out, staring at the note.

Ren, whatever happens today, you can count on your family. Don't ever forget that.

I love you,

Daddy

Then I opened the box, staring at the contents. There were a few feathers. Three bronze, three silver. A pearl, slightly bluish in color. A small bracelet, long outgrown. A dried flower. And buried at the bottom was a small green scale, almost unnoticeable.

I slammed the box shut and returned it to the hole in the wall, grabbing my stuff on the way out. I pulled the hood up over my head so it would shadow my face, and left the tower.

A short distance away from the living quarters was a long, low building. There was a pasture behind it where winged horses grazed. Must be the stables.

I walked inside, greeted by the rows of stalls that seemingly stretched on forever. A stable hand was dozing in the corner. I walked up to him and shook his shoulder.

"Kooka! Kooka wake up!"

He opened his big brown doe eyes slowly. "I wasn't sleeping." he said as a yawn escaped before he could stifle it. He grumbled to himself in annoyance before standing. "What can I do for ya' Ren?"

I pulled back my hood and brushed some straw out of his mousey brown hair. "How did you know it was me?"

He smiled. "A little bird told me." I raised an eyebrow at the twelve year old "Ok, Ok. I got you that cloak for your last birthday. It wasn't a big leap."

I satisfied myself by letting out a scoff of annoyance and continued my conversation. "Where's Screech?" I asked, referring to his best friend.

"At some kind of scribe meeting. I don't see why he went. He's supposed to be writing the horses' names on all the equipment with me."

I laughed. "Oh well, I'm sure he'll come back soon. He always does." As I said this, a boy the same age as Kooka came through the stable door.

He had messy dark blond hair and mischievous hazel eyes that told me that he was up to something. Kooka couldn't see him at the angle he was in.

The boy came up behind Kook, and threw his hands over his eyes. "Guess who?"

Kooka responded with a sharp cry and turned around, ready to flip the one he thought was attacking him. Next thing I knew, the boys were rolling around on the ground, trying to get the upper hand.

They were good fighters too. Evenly matched enough that they must have had the same training. The fight was getting a bit too rowdy though, so I bent down and grabbed both of their collars.

I pulled them off of each other and they seemed to regain their senses, and started to tease instead.

"C'mon Kook! You let yourself get beaten by a girl!"

"And you didn't? I seem to recall a certain someone being disarmed by Dove during training!"

"Not my fault! She's good with sharp objects. Heck! She has to be! She's a doctor!"

"Doctor or not, she's still a girl."

"Well, I've seen your sister get you on the floor in less than five seconds."

"Oh yeah? Well -"

I clamped my hands over their mouths. "Will you two calm yourselves and help me with the supplies? I swear, you can be such girls sometimes, with the way you talk!" I glared at both of them before releasing my hands.

They went to get rations as I saddled the horses. There were four pegasi that I needed.

Analore, completely white except for her legs, which were black halfway down.

Obsidian, Analore's brother, was black except for white legs.

Dawn was a subtle chestnut, a soft tempered mare.

Breaker was a dappled grey, with a feisty side.

After the horses were ready, Kooka and Screech came back and helped me fill the saddle bags with food for four people and two weeks. Plus a bit extra for the horses.

As I mounted Analore, Screech stopped me from riding out. "Don't get captured out there."

"Yeah, cause then we'll have to go and get you. And I don't like wolves. Do you Screech?"

"Nope. Now c'mon Kook. We should go practice. Laney will be getting restless. You know how she doesn't like being cooped up in her stall all day."

Screech ran off, and Kooka looked at me one last time before scampering away to join him.

If only I had listened to their advice.