Banished

1

"Would it be worth my time to ask you to come down?" Needle asked as he craned his neck to look up at the slight woman balancing on the beam high in the barn rafters. She laughed lightly as she looked down at the man who normally towers over her go to such lengths to meet her gaze.

"Dear Needle, what do you think it would be like to fall with nothing to catch you?" Willow asked as she hopped into a sitting position on the beam, swinging her legs in a childlike manner. She looked out the window as the wind blew in softly, sweeping a strand of her frizzy black hair in her eyes.

"I imagine it would be frightening. Now would you please come down? Shrew would like to have a word with you." Needle told her with a slight twinge of regret as he watched her figure visibly slump and she let out a loud, over-the-top sigh.

She didn't say a word as she let go of the rough wood board she had clung to and let herself fall. Needle sucked in his breath as he watched her, preparing to shift if she tried anything but immediately eased as he watched feathers bloom from her and listened to the pop of her bones as she compacted into herself.

He caught her clothes before they hit the dirt floor and threw them up as she flew by for an easier and less awkward shift back. He watched her fly out the door and waited until she called him before following.

"You do like to keep me in suspense, Willow." Needle sighed as he shook his head at her while she straightened her grey nightgown. Needle looked over her quickly, checking for any harm that might have come to her during her brief fall but, seeing none, he let out another breath and led her along the stone corridor that connected the barn to the stone, castle-like structure that served as a meeting place for the Council of the Birds and a home for Willow and Needle.

Willow's feet slapped against the stone floors and the sound echoed around the empty hall, drowning out the sounds of Needle's dress shoes that clicked pleasantly. Needle glanced down at Willow's bare feet and shook his head as he readjusted the weapon strapped to his back.

"Would you like to stop your room for a pair of shoes?" He inquired and Willow looked up at him with a small grin before shaking her head quickly as she lifted her hand to inspect her dirt-caked nails.

The floor was cold beneath Willow's feet but she refused to give Shrew an ounce of respect after all of these years. Willow shivered slightly as the frigid air began to mix with her thin night gown. Needle looked down and shook his head as he slung his weapon belt off before draping his jacket around her shoulders.

Willow offered him a thankful smile as she glanced over his outfit, not surprised to see little change in how he dressed. He had a white, button-up shirt with a brown vest buttoned up over it, dress pants, and shoes to match. He looked as sharp as always. 

They neared the door to Shrew's office and Willow sucked in a nervous breath as she began to regret her decision reguarding the shoes. She drew Needle's jacket tighter around her thin frame. Needle noticed her nervousness and reached down to give her shoulder a tight, reassuring squeeze. She smiled up at him greatfully before nodding for him to go ahead. 

Needle sighed and stepped in front of Willow before pushing the office door open to reveal Shrew. The elderly woman looked up with slanted eyes as she took in her grandson and the girl that stood behind him. Shrew took in her dirty and underdressed appearance with disdain as she shook her head and beckoned Willow forward. 

Willow remained silent as she approached the desk with her eyes cast downwards, not daring to speak until spoken to. She could feel Shrew's unwavering gaze bore into the top of her head but she did not show fear. Shrew hated when she showed fear.