Mythical Creatures

Changelings

Two babies cry. Their brown eyes are full of tears. The nursery is painted a light blue color with little rabbits dancing along the wallpaper. The mobile above the crib plays a sweet tune, but it is drowned out by the children's whimpers. A creature is reaching through the open window with long white fingers and porcelain skin. In one hand it holds two seeds, the other hand is empty. It reaches for the babies. The curtains sway in the breeze coming from the open window. The nursery door quickly opens and the children's mother enters. The window is closed. Through the bars of the crib, leaves sprout out in all directions. The mother slowly looks over the side of the crib. Two babies look up at her. One with red eyes and one with blue.

18 years later

A swift wind blows past Sofia. She steps slightly backwards and turns toward the source.

"Gilbert, How many times have I told you not to run in the house?" she asks, frustrated.

"Got to be like a hundred by now, Mutti." replies Gilbert. His white hair falls in his face.

"And why haven't you stopped doing it?" she grabs the boy by his pointed ear.

Gilbert winces, "Ah! I'm sorry!"

The woman releases him. Gilbert rubs his now sore ear. 

"Go get Ludwig. Dinner's almost ready." Sophia says.

Ludwig, as usual, is crouched among the flowers in the garden. His blond hair pulled away from his face by a small amount of gel. Gilbert joins him, flopping down beside the other boy. Ludwig reaches out his clawed fingers and cups them around a group of unbudded flowers. The flowers begin to grow in his hands. He hold them in place until the flowers have fully blossomed and then pulls them away. Ludwig and Gilbert go inside the house for dinner. As they reenter the home they make sure to fold their wings so they don't bump anything. They eat the usual sausage and potatoes without complaint. It's their fault they can't live closer to the market for other types of food. 

Gilbert and Ludwig are changelings. Changelings are creatures like fairies that replace human babies with their own young. Humans typically have no idea their child has been replaced until its tenth birthday when the changeling grows its wings. The humans will then throw them out or the changeling will leave on its own. Such changelings are referred to as wild changelings. Some humans, like Sofia, are aware that they are raising changelings, but are so overcome with grief in losing their real baby, they keep the fairies. Full grown, wild changelings are very aggressive and tend to kill any human in their path. Domestic changelings, fully raised by human parents, do not display changeling personality traits. Ludwig and Gilbert have both grown in full wings and have learned only human traits. They pay little attention to the different species their 'mother' is. They love her just the same.

A storm rumbles overhead. Several knocks can be heard at the door. Sofia answers the door hesitantly. The house is deep into the forest, for this reason there aren't many visitors. She opens the door to see an elderly man with a cross necklace. He asks her to come inside as to shield himself from the rain. Sofia, being kind, allows him in. Sofia makes the man a warm cup of tea. 

"May I ask your name, Herr?" Sofia hands the man his tea.

"I am Abraham. You may call me Abe if it pleases you." he takes the cup from her.

"Alright. What are you doing so far into the woods on a night like this, Abe?" Sofia asks politely.

"Now I don't mean to alarm you, Fräulein, but a hunter from my town claims he saw a full grown changeling in these woods. Not just one, but two. Changelings are very aggressive. I was looking for the supposed changelings when it started to rain. Luckily, you were here." the man sips the tea.