Wings

Chapter 3

It was dark outside. Heather knew she was supposed to be sleeping but she had this feeling, like a boulder in her stomach. Guilt, the word ripped through her head.
She just couldn't forgive herself. It was her fault that Mel got in trouble, her fault every time.

Heather could hear Melanie snoring peacefully in the room next door in a nice warm bed while she sat on a bunch of newspaper, waiting for something interesting to happen.

So she fantasised about the day where she and Melanie would escape her aunt and uncle's evil clutches, where they would go on adventures together and live on a peaceful island off the edge of the land in the bay of Hyswæ.

She wished deeply for this fantasy world to come true. She begged with all her might.

A long, rumbling growl filled the room. At first, she thought it was her stomach, but then a creature stepped into the moonlight, a wolf the colour of the sea was standing in front of her.

What do you want? Heather tried speaking to it through her mind. Usually, she could speak to animals telepathically. It stopped growling and cocked its head.

What? the wolf stared, it's pulsing indigo eyes fixed on her's.

I said, what do you want? she repeated mentally.

How can you speak to me? it demanded, its eyes narrowed.

I'm born with it, she replied casually. But let's get to the point. What do you want?

Are you Heather? the wolf sniffed her.

Yes.

I'm here to take you to your family.

* * *

My... my f-family? Heather mentally stammered. But my parents died! 

Who told you that nonsense? it snarled, pawing the ground and ripping the newspaper to shreds. 

My evil aunt and uncle! she spat. I knew they were lying! She hadn't actually meant to think evil to describe her aunt and uncle but it worked anyway. 

Gretta, it growled. Eliza has told me of the time she stole your precious egg...

Eliza, her mother's name was Eliza.

Wait up! Heather backed away as much as she could, eyes wide. I came from an egg?!

Of course! the wolf snorted as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. You're a Malætra! All Malætras come from eggs!

She looked at it blankly, puzzled. Malætra?

You don't know what a Malætra is!? It almost roared but caught itself before it got so loud everyone woke up. What have those oafs taught you?!

Nothing, Heather answered even though the question was a rhetorical one. Except for Mel, she taught me how to read. I even know how to speak English!

The wolf sighed, and sat down, shaking its sea-blue head. Well, first of all, you are a Melætra, and second, in case you don't know what you can do, a Melætra has horns and wings and can do magic of any kind.

OF ANY KIND! she marvelled, her jaw dropping to the floor. I knew I could heal but I didn't know I could do any magic or I would've broken free of this chain ages ago!

The wolf seemed to have only just noticed the chain. 

It cursed. Loudly. Heather winced. They have kept you on a leash, they haven't taught you anything! These people you say have raised you the last seventeen years are eviler than I thought!

Whoa! Heather exclaimed in her thoughts. Calm down and mind your language! 

Sorry...

Oh! Her eyes lit up. I just realised; I don't know your name. I mean, it's a bit unfair that you know who I am, yet I'm left in the dark about you.

"It's Finn." An unfamiliar male's voice said in a hushed tone. Heather gawked, there, where the wolf was a second ago, was a boy. He was probably around the same age as her, with jet-black hair and the same indigo eyes as the wolf's ones. 

They both stared at each other for a moment, then Heather realised that he had no clothes on. Her face grew hot, and she tried not to look anywhere else other than his face. Heather grimaced; it wasn't working, so she settled for the floor.

"Ummm, you're naked..."

"Oh," Finn went as red as a tomato. "Err, do you have a-any c-c-clothes?" He started shivering as a cool breeze entered the room through the open window.

"Yeah I do... but they're not meant for males..." she trailed off, imagining dirty images. Heather shuddered and shook her head slightly to clear the images, disgusted at herself.

"I don't mind! Just get me something to wear!"

Heather reached over to her pile of clothes and handed a pair of jeans and a plain green t-shirt to Finn. 

"Thanks." He put them on and then stood up straight. He flicked back his hair and smiled at Heather. She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled back at him.

"Well? What are you waiting for? C'mon," he turned to head out out the window, and when she didn't move he looked back. Heather stared at him blankly and pointed to her ankle.

"This is a good time for you to practice your magic!" Finn exclaimed. "Tell the chain to unlock itself."

"Are you serious? It's that easy?!" How had she not figured this out years ago??

"Yeah," Finn answered. "Keep your voice down and hurry up already!"

Heather took a deep breath.

She swished her hands and wiggled her fingers like she did when she was healing and concentrated hard.

Chain! Unlock yourself so that I can be free! she willed it to unlock.

Immediately the chain unlocked and fell limp onto the newspaper.

"Wicked!" she whispered.

She flew around the room for the first time, stretching her wings as far as they could go. she wobbled and fumbled, and... crash. She needed to practice. A lot. She heard Finn laugh.

"Alright hatchling!" Finn called "Let's get going!"

"I'm not a hatchling," Heather muttered under her breath, barely audible.