Nina And Other Stories | ✔

Ebere's Journey - Part 4 - Ebere and the River

As they walked closer to the rushing water Ebere could see why they said it was impossible.

In the water the evil looking turtles trashed around, looking everywhere for their next victim. The only way across was through a long rotten bridge that looked unsteady and that Ebere knew wouldn't carry her weight.

"Are you done?" Rag looked scared as he focused on the sheer drop from the place they were hiding.

"Yeah, I think I'm done," Ebere got up and dusted her jeans.

There was obviously no way across for her, but something was tugging at her mind.

"Rag, you said that the Ika - whatever - loved killing humans, what about monsters, or anything else?"

"Well, I wouldn't know. Everyone says they love killing people."

"I'm not going to cross that place, but maybe someone can. Someone can cross the river and get that lily for me."

"I don't know ..." Rag seemed uncertain.

"What about Nika?" Diane asked. The young fairy had been quiet the whole walk here.

"Now you shut up. This is none of your business," Rag scolded her. He seemed to do that whenever she spoke up.

Ebere picked up on it. "Who's Nika?"

"She's the bravest fairy I know," Diane answered, "but she also has a big ego. Dare her to get the lily and she'll do it for less than two grubs."

"Is that so?" Diane nodded and Ebere smirked. She started to thank God she was the best taunt in the world. "In that case, let's go see this Nika."

Ten minutes later she was standing before another green fairy. This one had hatred spewing from her eyes.

"What do yer goo' fer nothin' hooligan' wan' this time?"

"Nothing really," Ebere started. "I heard you were the bravest fairy in the world and I came to, you know, verify."

She wore a smug smile. "O' 'cause I am. Yer ain't wrong," she heard the last word and frowned. "Verify! I don't like that language from yer! I am the bravest."

Ebere snorted. "Please. I've seen twigs braver than you. One jammed my dog's window in a storm and saved his life. What have you done?"

The little fairy started getting worked up.

"Ye behave yerself! Ye can't come to my house and insult me in my face! Ye best be leaving."

"You don't need to tell me," she turned to Rag and Diane. "You guys've wasted my time. And here I thought I was about to meet someone brave enough to get me a lily from across the river. What a disappointment!" she made to leave.

She flipped her long Brazilian hair over her shoulder and took two steps when a tiny voice called out.

"Wait!" it said.

She resisted the urge to smile and turned, "Yes," she dragged it.

"I'll get ye yer lily. I'll prove to ye that I'm the bravest of them all," with that she flew away.

"You two do realize you've sent Nika on a suicide mission, right?" Rag deadpanned.

"No," Diane giggled. "Her ego sent her on a suicide mission."

Ebere raised her hand and gave Diane a high-five.

"Now, while Nika is doing my job for me, let's go down to that peacock."

Rag and Diane led her to a fancy gate.

"He lives just inside this gate," explained Rag.

She pushed it and was met with a boxing-ring-like structure where a lone peacock lay.

"Ah, visitors!" a cultured voice emanated from the peacock.

He stood and spread his tail feathers. They were beautiful, blue green and had a design that looked like thousands of eyes. They were decorated with beads that made it glow. Ebere was enthralled.

Ebere recalled what Rag said.

Confuse him!

But how?

She suddenly had a bright idea.

"What lovely feathers you have Mr Peacock," she gushed.

"Of course they are! Most beautiful in the land. Everybody would do anything for my feathers," he struck a pose.

"But do you happen to know why the moon's light doesn't hurt like the sun's?"

He stopped and was about to talk but she didn't let him.

"Or why the leaves are green and not black? Or why the sky is blue?"

As he stood there pondering, a feather silently dropped from his back.

Diane flew over to it and took it flying out of the room immediately.

"Till next time Mr Peacock. I've gotta run."

She hurriedly left and met them at the gate. Diane was still holding the feather.

"That's it guys! Two down one to go."

"You'd better hurry," Rag said sadly. He was staring at the second moon on the horizon.