Woven

Sira: Chapter 1

Sira groaned; she had been staring at a blank page for hours. She hadn't come up with a character, not a shred of plot, and not an inkling of setting. Tireless hours she had exercised her brain with books, help videos, and advice from other writers. Nothing. Fruitless efforts. Her inspiration just went kaput every time she sat down.

Of course; the week before her creative writing assignment was due, Sira hadn't even been able to start. By contrast, her friend, Zach, had been able to compose a 20,000-word novella in a mere two weeks. He was always better at stuff than Sira.

Her head began to hurt. Rubbing her temples, Sira checked the clock: 11:52 PM. Sighing, she picked out her pajamas and shambled to the bathroom to change. Taking off her shirt, she contemplated whether she should shower so late or just wake up early and shower before Seminary. Considering she tended to take long showers, Sira decided that a late-night shower would be better than an early morning one.

Several minutes later found her lost in thought, the hot water cascading over her every curve. Her fingers ran through her pixie cut hair, light brown and streaked with highlights. Sira was slender, but not particularly muscular. At fourteen, she was taller than most her age, which was fine with her, since she didn't get out much.

Sighing, Sira finished scrubbing and turned off the shower. Rather than use an obscenely loud hairdryer, she brushed out the tangles and pulled it all into a short ponytail. Now changed into comfortable pajamas, Sira stretched and examined her face.

Around her bright blue eyes and small nose, some new, small, red bumps had formed. Of course there was another outbreak. Just another thing to be worried about. She rolled her eyes and snuck out of the bathroom to bed. Sira conducted her nightly routine; praying, reading in her Scriptures, and then journaling. After that, she shut off the light, turned on a reading lamp and got out the book she was reading.

Gradually, Sira progressed through the book, analyzing the plot and characters. She was reading it because it was her favorite author, but this, as well, had yet to yield fruit. Eventually, her consciousness drifted. She dipped into sleep and, from her world, at least, Sira flew far away.

---

She felt like she was falling, as she often did at the end of one of her dreams. Sira opened her eyes and yelped in surprise. Above her was sky, crisp and blue, with scattered clouds. The wind was rushing past her and she couldn't feel anything beneath her. Sira rolled over and somehow managed not to pass out; the ground below her was fast approaching. She let out a pitiful whimper and closed her eyes again, panic welling up in her chest.

Suddenly, something hit her side and her trajectory changed, now at a gentler speed. She had a sense of someone carrying her. Opening her eyes, she still saw sky, but when she turned her head away from the wind... wow.

Sira's rescuer was beautiful. She - they - it was very puzzling, but magnificent. Its face appeared that of a woman's, but shifted constantly, even showing masculine traits at times, leaving Sira uncertain what to call this creature. She decided to focus elsewhere.

The creature's hair flowed behind it, inky black and flecked with bright points of light, like the Milky Way, but there were no constellations in there. At least, not any that Sira recognized. The being had a pair of large wings, which undulated gingerly, their black feathers rustling in the descent. The dress - or perhaps, robe - that it was wearing was excessively long. If it was on the ground, it could easily pass for a wedding train. How such a piece of clothing could be considered practical, Sira had no idea.

The creature, fair and mysterious noticed Sira observing it and promptly spoke, the voice resonant and as fluid as its bearer's face, "You judge me, even though I rescued you?"