Lost Wings

13~ Fairies

Chapter 13

    Tiny people stepped out of the vegetation. They were the height of young children, but with slender limbs and delicate features. Many of them had hair of strange colors and skin decorated with what reminded me of Amerindian warpaint. Most notably, their vibrant wings weren't feathered like mine or my friends'. They were translucent and insect-like, some more like butterflies, other like moths or dragonflies.

    "Fairies!" Aiden exclaimed, confirming my suspicions.

    We were surrounded, but the gryphon glared fearlessly at our assailants. One of them said something in a light, ringing language.

    Autumn swallowed. "Til?"

    A man covered in purple face paint stepped forwards. He studied Autumn with interest.

    "You speak the fairy tongue?" Aric whispered with a look of wonder.

    The fairy's rapid answer prevented Autumn from replying. Her eyes widened, and she turned to us.

    "He speaks way too fast. I only know the basics, like 'hello'. And I forgot how to say the word 'peace'. And 'friend'. And everything else." Her voice trembled.

    "It's okay," I reassured her, trying to swallow my own anxiety. "Don't panic. Come on, Autumn. If you can use your ambassador skills to befriend fairies, you'll be the most sought-after diplomat in the whole kingdom."

    The fairy took a step closer, but the gryphon opened his wide wings with a shriek. There was a moment of stunned surprise among the fairies. Then, they all bowed their heads, offering their opened palms towards the animal.

    Satisfied, the gryphon tucked back his wings, and let the fairies come closer.    

    "Excuse me? I thought your stupid chicken was going to help us, but nooo," Aiden complained.

    "What next?" Aric asked, his spear still held tightly in his hands. "They are more than us."

    "We can't do anything until we're out of this net." Chase glared at the fairies.

    "Vakil," a man with a long purple braid ordered.

    Something stung my neck, like a mosquito. I heard Chase swear as the world faded away.

***

    My eyelids fluttered open. My head was pounding, and I groggily tried to take in my surroundings as the dancing green spots around me became trees and bushes.

    "You're awake. Finally." A tiny woman with a blue pixie cut looked down at me. She was hovering a few feet off the ground thanks to her dragonfly-like wings.    

    "Hailey!" Chase exclaimed. He was sitting up against a tree just like I was. Thankfully, he didn't seem hurt. Autumn and Aric were both still asleep, slouched against their own tree trunks, but Aiden was nowhere to be seen. The peryton and gryphon were also missing.

    "Where's Aiden?" I managed to ask even though my tongue felt heavy and numb. I tried to get up, but my ankles were bound together, as were my wrists.