The Red Nobody

~ Two ~

My hut can be either my favourite place, or least favourite place to be, depending on the situation. Mother is pacing up and down the hall. I gulp with butterflies in my stomach.

"I'M SICK OF IT!" The rage in her voice lets me know how mad she really is. I pull myself back into my chair.

"Sick... of... what?" I shake in my chair, shivers drowning my spine.

"YOU, I'm so sick of you." My mother turns way as she gives me a chilling laugh under her breath. She sighs and turns to face me, her cheeks bright red.

"You need to learn your place on this island, you've seen everything, how can you possibly want to see more." She stops to take a small breath.

"You are banned from leaving the village, anywhere beyond our borders is out of bounds. I NEVER want to see you out flying again, you leave ONCE, I will personally cut off your wings, UNDERSTAND?" I pull myself back into a hunch like a scared little dog. I nod my head as a response. I know she's joking, I hope. She could never do that to me. She turns to leave and I make the dumb mistake of talking back.

"I actually enjoyed being stuck here until I learned how annoying you were." I say as I roll my eyes... Bad mistake.

Lesson 1: Never, EVER talk back to your mother, especially if she is the leader of your village. If you do dare say anything, be prepared to lose your dignity (and your wings).

Mother opens her mouth to murder me with words but my sister Graiy come crashing in face first into the floor of our hut, knocking down the door.

"Graiy if I could wear your boots I would leave right away," I backed into my chair to hide from the vicious words about to explode out of my mothers mouth, "so you better go. Now!" My voice has a deep tone to it, I couldn't get her in trouble with me, she's innocent. Her eyes expand, her pupils darkened, she runs to escape but she is to late.

Mother pushed forward her hands, releasing powerful forces of pure, purple ice, Graiy wailed in shock. She fell to the ground. She turned to mother and glared at her. Mother turned back to me.

"You do not talk, understand?" She hissed at me. I feel she is upset, or angry. She has never acted this way before. My concern only grows for her. I wouldn't dare ask her now, perhaps later in the evening. I turn my attention back onto Graiy, she seems completely helpless, 'poor thing', I think to myself.

"You girls are in huge annoyance at the moment. You are both going on two hour patrol shifts, around the dial, for the next two days. While you aren't in a shift, you will be cleaning the Main ConCourse, understood?" Her voice stings my head. Two hours is nothing, but, if I'm correct, an entire DAY'S worth of cleaning out the ConCourse. Might as well die now.

"Mother? No other sentry takes shifts like that, isn't that a bit harsh, just a bit? And could you pretty please unfreeze Graiy?" I plea like a little girl.. She narrows her eyes at me, shivers run along my spine like bugs crawling along my back.

"I will release Graiy when I please, but as of your shifts, we can comprise, shall we? Let's make it two hour patrols, and the breaks, every second one, is cleaning the Concourse? Hmm?" She gives me a funny look. I nod my head in agreement.

"Deal." My words are firm, making her sure of my choice. She melts the ice off Graiy's back. She gives s sigh of relief.

"I will take her to rest." We exchange stern looks, she nods and turns to leave the hut. She heads for the ConCourse. I pick up Graiy and carefully carry her to her bed and place her down.

"Can you do me a favour Graiy, and just sit up for a second?" I make my tone soft. She sits her body up. I thoroughly check her wounds, theres only a few, small dashes, mother clearly going through something. Graiy sits up taller and turns her face to look at me.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" Her expression let me know she had many questions.

"What happened exactly, all I can recall is mother giving me a good smack, with ice?!"

"Mother was giving me a good scolding, and you came in at the wrong moment."

"I remember that now, she froze my wings, even though it wasn't that bad, it really hurt my bare skin." I feel so bad for her. I continue on.

"Yes, and then you fell with a hard thud on the floor, but mothers never acted like that before, well from what I can recall? On with the story, she yelled at us, giving us both long patrol shifts and every second break, we need to clean out the Main ConCourse. This is for two days, around the dial. Were you awake for any of that?" She rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Yeah, I blacked out just after you picked me up. And why a punishment like that, no island sentry has ever had a shift like that, at the most its been every six hours, who the hell wants to come to this dump!" Anger flares in her.

"When does our 'punishment' begin Robyn?" Disgust lingers in her voice.

"Tomorrow, nine in the morning." She sighs and spreads her wings to lay on her wooden bed. She flops onto the bed as she closes her eyes.

"You need your rest Graiy. Would you rather me take the first shift?"

"That would be amazing, now if you would please excuse me, I have a nap to take, and dreams to think about, goodnight Robyn." She turns away, as I place her quilt over her. I tiptoe out of the room and quietly close the door.

I left the hut to check the time at the sundial. I flapped my way over to the dial, and measured out the Sun, 'eight at night' I think to myself. I look to see the sunset over Gilimver river. It is an unforgettable sight, white birds flying over the lake creating ripples, trees creating black silhouettes over the crystal clear water. Fish spring in and out of the lake and the yellows, oranges, pinks and lavender colours hit the water perfectly. 

**************

My bed is warm, safe nice. I snuggle deeper into my handmade quilt, sniffing it to give me comfort. I wriggle around under the quilt until I can feel all my soft red feathers lying the way they should. I bury my face deep into my pillow. I think about how I will layout where I patrol. 'I can start with the village borders for half an hour, then I've onto the west coast for an hour, the double back to be back in the village by eleven, good plan Robyn,' I think to myself.

My eyelids become heavy, I try not to close them, as I feel I have to much to think about, Graiy, the patrol, what could ever be wrong with mother, even the strange hut on the edge. I give in to my sleepy eyes, and I'm instantly in a deep sleep.

Authors note:
How's the story so far, any mistakes or things that need changing, just let me know in the comments (it's much appreciated and no offence taken to anything).