The moss that clings to the tree trembles with the crisp wind passing through the valley. A forest stream rushes over smooth pebbles, eroding anything in it’s way. A wolf cub catches the scent of a rabbit, barreling towards a gray hare.
May sits on a dead tree, the one that fell over the crick. She places her toes into the bone-chilling water. She dusts the place next to her off, as if she was expecting another figure to appear from the foliage. Hopping off the log, she walks down the riverbed. Pulling her capris up above her knees, she sloshes down the valley forest.
May leans down, waiting for any sudden movement. Hands flash as she dives for a toad. She brings her self back up, not noticing her pants have reached the water. The frog peeks it’s bulging eyes through the spaces between her fingers. She eventually lets the toad free, waving goodbye, while she wears a giant of a smile.
A dark shadow is cast over the valley. May looks up, fear crossing her rosy face. The terror was instantly became a grin of triumph and her navy dragon landed near the ledge of the forest. She ran up the side of the valley to Kai. She stroked his head, taking it in her hands.
“Where have you been?” she whispered. The dragon’s eyes turned sad. I got lost, the dragon’s scales spoke. “Well, maybe we should work on that sense of direction.” she says, just happy to see Kai. She boards the dragon, grasping his nape. “Just go where you wish.” May instructs. Kai lifts off, rising above the trees. May’s head thrusts back once they reach the tree tops.
“Slow down, Kai, you’re going to scare off any prey.” May demands, and Kai slows himself enough so she can shoot down a couple birds. They land back in the forest to collect them, and stop at a crick for water. Laying down on the cold ground, she tugs on her turtle neck, bringing it up past her mouth. She loosens her belt that is around her waist, and strips off the indigo sweater, leaving on just a beige tunic. She rolls down her foliage-colored capris, and starts to gut the animals, and places the meat in her glossy black satchel.
Hopping on Kai’s back, May smells the air. “Kai, I need you to go west.” she says, sensing the village was that way. Kai lifts off once more, launching towards the sunset. May grips on Kai’s neck, knowing Kai wants to visit Ethan, May’s trainer and best friend, again.
Sweat clings to May’s face. She sits in front of a fire, roasting her game. Cornelius sets a bowl of herbs next to May. “I picked these this morning after you left.” he says, leaving the room. May thanks him, and asks to send her mother in.
May’s mother, wearing an old wrinkled face and floral gown, sits down next to May, sprinkling some of the herbs on the roasting bird.
“Mother, is Ethan home?” she asks, turning to her. “I don’t know, May. Tomorrow’s the Festival of the Trees. I doubt he’s home.” she replies, still seasoning the bird. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. she thinks to herself. The celebration of the new season. 405 days of autumn, her favorite time.
“Mother?”
“Yes, dear?”
“What is Fall like on planets other than Yon?”
“I don’t know, dear, probably the same thing. Dragon scales changing, Springcorn planted. All the same.” her mother replies, standing up.
“But mother, what if it isn’t the same?” May asks. Her mother chuckles.
“Well we’ll just never know now, will we?” she says, exiting the room.
May ponders for a bit, finally calling Cornelius.
“Yes, m’lady?” he says, walking in.
“Cornelius, what is Autumn like on other planets, other than Yon?”
He makes his way to the sagging couch. “Well, I’ve heard that on many planets, the leaves change color, then fall off near the time of the coming winter.”
“Our leaves don’t change color, they just... Fall off, but the dragons change, though. What about the dragons?” May asks, moving closer to Cornelius.
“Oh, I believe dragons are just a myth in those worlds.” Cornelius points out. May’s face dropped. “A myth...”
May sits there, thinking about the fact that dragons don’t exist in the other planets.
“A place without dragons is no place for me.” she says finally. Cornelius pats her on the head. “You’re right.” he says, removing the bird from the spit. “Looks like we’ll have a feast tonight.” says Cornelius. May gives a soft laugh. Cornelius replies with a smile and a slight nod.
May follows him out of the room, entering her mothers bedroom. A table sat in the middle, a torn red plaid table cloth covered up most of it. Plates and glasses have been set, a candle in the center. Cornelius places the bird on the corner of the table, a basket of blueberries and assorted nuts across from it. She plucks a berry from the mix and pops it in her mouth.
Her mother makes her way slowly down the reeky stairs. She acknowledges Cornelius with a nod, and makes her way towards May, planting a kiss on her forehead.
“Good evening, May. Is Esabel home yet?” her mother asks, sitting down. May frowns. “No, I haven’t seen her. Would you like me to go out and look for her?”
“No, that’s okay, dear. She’s old enough, she can feed herself.” her mother sighs. Esabel, her sister, was late again. “Do you think she was seeing Keanin?” May wondered.
“Perhaps. She really likes that boy, doesn’t she?” her mother asks, smiling. May agrees, taking a bite of her chicken as Cornelius served it. I got a good one. she thought.
“Has Kai been feed?” her mother asks.
“No, I was planning on doing that after supper,” she says, “But I can do it now. Is he growling?”
Her mother waves it off. “No May, I was just wondering. I knew you would take care of him, being your best friend and all.”
May nods. The door opens, reveling Esabel.
“Come in, dear.” her mother greets. Cornelius takes Esabel’s bags as she sits down. “Hello Mother. Hello May.” she says, smiling. “Hello.” May and her mother reply.
“Where were you?” May asks.
“At Keanin’s.”
Thought so. May thinks to herself.
Esabel starts to eat small bites of her bird. She serves herself a small heap of blueberries and nuts. They sit in silence untill May finishes.
“I’m going to feed Kai. I might also see if Ethan is home, I don’t know.” Her mother nods, and May is out the door.
Kai greets her with a toothy smile. May feeds him a couple scoops of pellets and fills his water. She pets him. “Hi buddy.” she says, hugging Kai.
May spot Ethan walking over. “Ethan!” she shouts. He waves back, picking up his pace.
“Hey, I came over to-”
Ethan tumbled to the ground, leaving a huge gash on his face. May ran over to his side, noticing a dent in the road. Must’ve tripped.
May moves the hair from his forehead.
“Ethan?”
