Until Forever (1st draft)

Part the Eighth

The eagerly anticipated journey began as all journeys do: with packing. Steekbunk laid out twin pieces of a rounded, rubbery, purple material that Geneva was fairly certain were large leaves. A series of holes ran all the way around the outside edge of each leaf-like mat, and viny cords were woven throughout these perforations. Steekbunk carefully smoothed any creases out of the flat pieces, then fanned out the loose ends of the cords and arranged them in a perfectly spaced pattern.

    In a flurry of quick activity, the hairy egg-man dropped two loaves of bread, two overstuffed cloth sacks, a clay canister, a mug, a blanket, and one of the plump cushions from his stump chairs onto each purple mat. Then he began to gather the loose cord ends and draw them toward the middle of the mats, interlacing them until each mat had been tightened into a compact ball with all of the belongings secured safely inside, and one braided section of cords left dangling in a slack loop. He put an arm through the loop and slung it over his shoulder.

    "That one is for you," he said to Geneva while pointing to the other backpack ball.

    "Thanks," she replied while picking up her ball pack and examining the intricate lacing up close. "Just don't ask me to open it."

    Steekbunk marched out the doorway and dropped from view. Geneva darted to the door and peeked out, wondering if he had fallen like she had the night before. She heard him before she saw him, the loud skritch-skritch-skritch was impossible to miss. He was making his way down the tree like a bug, using the curved claws on his hands and all four feet to dig into the wood for a secure grip. skritch-skritch-skritch

    "Uhh... Steekbunk?" she shouted, but apparently not loud enough. She tried again. "Steekbunk!"

    He stopped his crawling descent and peered back up at her.

    "That's really not going to work for me," she said. "Unfortunately I chew my nails."

    "Sofie is a friend to both of us. You do not trust a friend?" he answered. Then he was off again. skritch-skritch-skritch

"Sofie?" Geneva asked herself, mainly thinking out loud. Then she turned and looked at the little smiling creature standing beside her. Sofie stepped past her and flew out the doorway, spiraling playfully through the air before returning to hover right before Geneva.

"Step outside," said Sofie.

"Well I would but..." Geneva started to say, but Sofie interrupted her by flying right at her and taking her hand.

"Ssshhh..." Sofie whispered as she tugged gently at Geneva's fingers, but the girl resisted. "Trust," said Sofie in a soothing voice. "You are a friend of Sofie. You are a friend of the Faerie."

A quick glance upwards revealed that the swarm of little creatures had returned, flitting about right above Sofie, wiggling their long toes and flapping their glowing wings. Geneva felt Sofie pull her hand again and this time, without really thinking, she stepped through the doorway and found herself suspended in midair, as if the warm breeze itself was cradling her in a protective embrace.

    The Faerie swarm undulated all about the girl as they slowly brought her down. At first Geneva was terrified of plummeting to the ground so far away, but ever so slowly she became confident that she was safe.

    "Trust," Sofie said again, still holding the girl's hand as she flew beside her.

    "Trust," Geneva repeated with a slight smile. She let go of Sofie's hand and extended both arms straight out, tipped her head back and closed her eyes. Her body slowly revolved as it drifted down and Geneva suddenly remembered when her mom used to take her to the park to toss maple seeds into the air and watch them twirl to the ground like helicopters.

    Finally her feet sank into a soft grassy mound and her flight was over. One by one the little flying creatures darted close to Geneva's face and gave her a glowing smile and a giggle. Then they flew off into the woods, leaving only Sofie behind.

    "Your journey will be challenging," warned Sofie as her wide eyes stared unblinking. Her soft voice suddenly seemed stern. "And you will face many threats. Some of them will be obvious, but the most dangerous of them will be cloaked in deceit, waiting for you to make a mistake that will cost you everything."

    "I thought I was just going home?" asked Geneva.

    "This will help you," the Faerie replied. Her tail coiled around in front of her and she removed the ornate ring from it, holding it out towards the girl. Geneva offered an open palm and Sofie dropped the ring into it.

    "Listen carefully," Sofie continued, and the tone of her whispery voice became even more hushed. "When the Faerie Tail Ring is worn on a finger, it allows the bearer to see through the effects of magic and nullify spells and enchantments."

    "Magic?" Geneva muttered. She couldn't hide her incredulity.

    You're talking to a flying Faerie. Is magic really that hard to believe?

    "But you mustn't use it recklessly," Sofie said, ignoring the furrowed brow on the girls' face. "You must choose those moments carefully. Overuse will steal your vision completely."

    "What? It can make me blind?"

    Sofie's little hands closed Geneva's hand around the ring. "Travel safely, beautiful girl. The gratitude of the Faerie shall be eternal. The gratitude of Daysheen shall be eternal." The little creature rose into the air and smiled before flying off to join her people.

    "Thank you...Filosofie," Geneva said quietly, still clutching the ring. But the living stuffed animal was already gone.