Project Wings (Completed - Editing)

Chapter 7: Here Cometh the Tempest

Chapter 7: Here cometh the tempest

The glare of the afternoon was bright. Too bright that he had to shield his eyes as he ran towards his favorite mango tree. The other boys had teased him again because of his unusual height. He didn't like them. Didn't like all the petty jealousies or the constant need to dominate. He was stronger than any of them. And while he knew he would have liked friends, he'd rather be alone than be subjected to their idiocy.

He smiled happily when he reached the shade of the tree, slumping against the rough trunk as he wiped the sweat from his brow. The wind rustled on the leaves, singing to him. He liked it here. The silence was comforting. The leaves of the tree created a pattern of dappled sunlight on his skin. He felt sleepy as he watched the dancing leaves swaying with the breeze. He thought he heard a soft melodious voice. Distant and unearthly. The sound wove and re-wove in his brain, making him fuzzy. He guessed it sounded like a lullaby. Something that his mother sang to him when he was younger.

"What is your name?" a soft voice asked. He was jerked awake as he scanned the area for the source of the voice. The song had completely vanished. He thought he was imagining things. He shook his head to clear it when the voice spoke again.

"I asked what is your name?" the voice was coming directly on top of him and he looked up. A ray of the sun fell directly on his eyes and he held up a hand to shield them. He scanned the branches cautiously as he stood up. He thought he spotted someone sitting on the topmost branch with his back propped on his arms.

"My name is Alab, why do you ask?" he looked at the speaker suspiciously. He looked to be a boy of his age, slight of frame and rather pale.

"Do you come here often?" the other boy ignored his question by asking one of his own.

"Yeah. Are you the one singing?" he answered back.

"I guess." The other answered nonchalantly. "Come up here"

He frowned, wondering why the boy seemed to be too comfortable with him. "Why?"

"Just come."

He was annoyed. Who did he think he is?

He found himself complying with his command after all. He hauled his heavy frame up the branches one at a time, careful where he put his weight. He reached the branch the boy was sitting on.

"So?" he assessed the other's features. He didn't look in anyway threatening. His eyes had a far away look in them as he pointed with his finger.

"Look." He said with a smile on his face. His eyes were a luminous black, flashing with golden flecks as they stared at something in the distance. Alab grudgingly turned his head to look where he pointed.

The sight took his breath away. The altitude where they are on made the view of the clearing utterly majestic in the late afternoon light. The tall grass danced in an unknown symphony as they shed their floating seeds to the swaying of the breeze. Giant blue and green dragonflies dotted the scene, going from blade to blade of grass. Dandelions and wild cosmos laden heavily with flowers bowed to the earth.

They stayed in comfortable silence for a long time, watching the play of the dragonflies that flitted here and there. The shadows lengthened as the afternoon wore on and the sky started to darken, staining the clouds with violet and orange hues. Slowly, the dragonflies retreated to be replaced by the song of crickets and cicadas. Fireflies dotted here and there as the night grew near.

It was beautiful.

"Thank you" Alab broke the silence as he placed a hand on the shoulder of his mysterious companion. The boy turned to him, nodding softly.