The Journey of Objects.

The Enchanted Feather

The Enchanted Feather:

Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a faraway land, there stood a small cottage. This cottage was surrounded by trees, ivy covered its wooden walls. A small, rippling stream, crept its way around the outskirts of this beautiful cottage, it wound its way through magnificent gardens, filled with extraordinary flowers. You could say this cottage was something out of a fairy-tale. However, this enchanting cottage held a dark secret, but because of its outward beauty, the evil it held was often overlooked and forgotten, such was the case for a winged healer.

Alatum Sanator was heir to the Cloud Throne, at first glance he was just like any other noble man, handsome, tall, with angled cheekbones and an arrogant smirk, but there were two massive differences that marked him as 'other'. Protruding from his back were two large, awe-inspiring wings. The feathers were white, yet tipped with a charcoal grey, he also had the gift of good fortune and healing.

Alatum was, like everyone, flawed. He was arrogant, prideful and impulsive, but he was also kind, gentle and compassionate. One day, as he was flying through the candyfloss clouds, he took notice of the little cottage surrounded by trees, and he grew curious. On impulse he descended like a falcon lunging for its prey. Alatum landed softly, the spongy grass, sinking as if releasing a sigh. Curling his wings tight to his back, Alatum stood in awe for a few short moments, taking in the resplendent scenery. How could something be so perfect? he wondered. Alatum began ambling through the garden, absorbing the colourful extravaganza that encompassed the garden, listening to the gentle trickle of the rolling stream. After a while, he began to feel uneasy, something was missing. In a garden such as this, anyone would expect to hear the dulcet chorus of birdcall, see the flitting of butterflies and bumblebees. Yet there was nothing but the sound of the stream. In fact, what he once found calming and reassuring, began to feel dangerous and unsettling. Picking up his pace, Alatum made his way to the door of the cottage, just as he raised his hand to knock, the door swung slowly inwards, creaking. Alatum, stared into the dark abyss revealed by the opening of the door, just as he was about to turn around and take flight, a whisper of wind brought him the sound of soft crying. Immediately his training kicked in, entering the eerie cottage, he made his way towards the sorrowful weeping. The temperature plummeted, and the smell of damp and mould filled his nostrils, the only sounds were the sobs and his footsteps which ricocheted off of the bare walls. Suddenly the cries stopped, with growing trepidation, Alatum rounded the corner and stepped through an open doorway. BANG! The door slammed shut behind him, a gust of wind swirled viciously, growing in strength and power, Alatum fell to the floor, hands desperately covering his ears as pain began radiating through his entire body. Silence. Just as suddenly as the wind had appeared, it disappeared leaving a grey clothed figure, standing still as a statue, in the middle of the once empty room. Cautiously, Alatum removed his hands from his ears, shivers wracked his body as the temperature continued dropping dangerously low. Alatum, through trembling, blue lips, croaked "Wh-wh-o-o a-are y-you?" Desperately cocooning himself in his wings, body aching for warmth. The disembodied voice echoed through the room "I am the harbinger of doom, Cassandra, and I have grown ever so lonely, here in my pretty little cottage, but you have come and now I can play...won't you join me in a game?" Cautiously Alatum asks "Wh-what g-g-game?" "A game of truth and lies" Cassandra responded, slowly she turned around, the shadows moving with her, as if they were alive, a soft chuckling could be heard around the room, growing in intensity and further unsettling Alatum. Clearing his throat as best he can, he asks Cassandra "Wh-what are th-the rules?" Throwing her head back Cassandra unleashed a dark laugh, "I catch you in a lie, you die, you tell the truth and I let you loose" Alatum clears his throat, and nods his head once in affirmation. Cassandra tilts her head in understanding and then opens her mouth to speak "Are you worthy?" Alatum closes his eyes, what exactly is she asking if I'm worthy of? He wonders, sighing regretfully, he answers "not yet" Silence pervades the room, finally Cassandra lets out a harsh cackle, "The truth yet also a lie, my, am I in a bind, you lie yet speak the truth, so a curse shall be placed upon you, yet you will be set loose" Alatum opens his mouth to respond, but the wind picks up and rips the breath from his lungs, darkness envelopes him and all is silent.