In The Dark of Night

Chapter I | Kestrel

The wind whistled past Kestrel's face as she flew through the forest. She dipped and dove to avoid the trees around her, her wings catching the wind current to carry her through the silvery trees.
"I'll get you!" The voice of her best friend, Rhea, carried from far behind. Her large grey-brown wings weren't suited for flight in the forest. Kestrel, on the other hand, was built like a kestrel, with aerodynamic features and small dotted wings. She also had the gift to turn into her bird form, which she didn't use in races like this one—they made it much too easy to win.
Kestrel laughed out loud and sped forward, landing on a gigantic Silvis tree with silver leaves that was the ending spot. She folded her wings behind her back and plopped down in the boughs of the tree, squinting to see where Rhea was. The silver leaves above her rustled in the breeze, making a twinkling sound like that of a wind chime. Suddenly, a crash sounded above Kestrel as Rhea clumsily landed on the tree.
"Kestrel!" She cried, her voice carrying through the boughs of the tree.
Kestrel shook her head before transforming into a bird and flying into the upper branches. Being a bird was oddly freeing, in Kestrel's opinion. When she had first discovered her gift, she had been afraid of it, scared that she wouldn't be able to turn back. Now, she was very confident in it and was able to turn back and forth easily. Kestrel landed and turned back into an elf. Rhea was tangled in the tree branches, attempting to pull herself out—and failing.
Kestrel reached forward and pulled on her friend's arm, yanking her out of the branches with a grunt.
"I win again!" She exclaimed, punching Rhea playfully in the arm.
"I don't know why I even agreed to race you again in the first place," Rhea said with a smile, "you always win."
Kestrel shrugged, "I'm built for racing. You aren't. How about we go down to the market?"
Rhea perked up, "I'm in!" She spread her wings and dove out of the tree, towards the forest floor. Kestrel followed, plummeting towards the ground, only opening her wings at the last moment. She landed in front of Rhea, who jumped back in surprise with a small squeal.
"You really need to stop doing that," Rhea complained as they made their way back to the village.
"But it's so fun!" Kestrel responded, twirling around, her dark brown eyes shining.
Rhea shook her head and laughed her full laugh. "You are so odd, you know Kestrel."
"Oh, I know." Kestrel winked, and grabbed Rhea's hand, pulling her down the path. Above them Kimborough spilled out into the trees. The branches were full of little Elven huts. Many elves came from Silvis City to Kimborough, seeking a more peaceful life than what you could get in the capital. Kestrel's family had moved there from a small eastern seaside village before Kestrel had been born.
Kestrel and Rhea approached the town square which was set on the forest floor. It was bustling with elves selling their food and trinkets. The air smelled like homemade breads and jams, making Kestrel's stomach growl. The pair strolled through the crowded streets, headed towards their favorite sweet shop: Amethyst Sweets. Mrs. Vilinet, an old elf with wings like a quetzal, ran the place.
"Kestrel, Rhea, Good to see you both," Mrs. Vilinet called from inside the shop as the pair made their way in.
"Good morning, Mrs. V. How are you today?" Kestrel asked, pulling out her opal pieces and counting them quickly.
"Good, Good. What can I get you two today?" She asked, gesturing to the various types of pastries and candies that line the walls.
"I'll have a slice of pumpkin bread, please," Rhea said, placing three opal pieces on the counter.
"Me too." Kestrel dropped three more opal pieces onto the counter.
Mrs. Vilinet took two pieces of pumpkin bread from the display and placed them in separate bags. "Here you go." She handed them the bags.
"Thank you!" Kestrel called as they exited
Once outside, Kestrel and Rhea walked and talked, taking bites of their bread as they went. Finally, they reached the tree containing Rhea's house.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Rhea said as she opened her wings and flew up to the entrance. She opened the door of the small hut and disappeared inside.
Kestrel crumpled the empty bag the bread had been in and stuffed it in her bag. Then, she transformed into a bird and flew up into the sky. She burst above the canopy to find the sun just beginning to set, the bottom of lingering above the horizon. Kestrel stretched her wings and flew in the direction of her own hut. Her family hut was on the outskirts of the village; Kestrel knew the way by heart. She flew west, towards the setting sun. The silver leaves of the trees blurred together below her, making the forest look like a piece of iron. Finally, she spotted the family tree, it was taller than the trees around it, and some of its leaves her more gold than silver.
Kestrel dove down, through the canopy and into the forest. She flew through her bedroom window and transformed back into an elf. She tossed her bag onto her bed and kicked off her slipper like shoes. Outside her door she could smell dinner cooking, some sort of stew. Kestrel opened her door and strode into the living room. Her younger brother Fendrel was flapping his small kestrel-like wings as he bounced up and down in the middle of the room. Her mother, Syndra, was standing in the kitchen, stirring a giant pot of stew. Finally, her father, Emory, was sitting out on the porch, reading a newspaper.
"Kestrel. Good to see you home," Kestrel's mother said, looking up from the pot.
Kestrel smiled and nodded, moving towards the door. She grabbed her book from its place on the kitchen table and joined her father out on the porch. He had falcon-like wings, which were currently tucked behind him. His eyes were dark brown like Kestrels, and his hair was light brown with streaks of grey. He looked up from his newspaper when Kestrel came and sat down, dangling her feet off of the platform that jutted off from the hut.
"Where have you been today, Kestrel?" Emory asked, folding his paper.
"Out with Rhea, like usual," she responded, opening her book to the last page she has left off on.
"You really should focus more on your education, you know. You spend too much time messing around with that Rhea."
Kestrel sighed, her father was always going on about how he thought Rhea was irresponsible and a bad influence. "I do focus on my school work. It's a weekend."
Emory just looked away and resumed reading his paper.
Kestrel turned away from her disapproving father and looked down at her page. She smiled as her eyes scanned the page. Kestrel had gotten this book from Rhea and she treasured it, reading it over and over. Her father disapproved, always grumbling about something or other, and the fantastical story helped draw Kestrel away from the distractions of her life. When she had finished the chapter she had started, she marked her page with a slip of fabric and closed the book. The only lights illuminating the platform were the glowing moon—like a tear in the night sky—and the lanterns from the Silvera house behind them. Kestrel glanced up at the sky; now the silver sliver that was the moon was high in the sky, bright stars dancing around it.
"Dinner!" Kestrel's mother's voice cut through the silence as she announced dinner.
Kestrel tucked the book into her tunic and made her way inside. Flames blazed in the fireplace, making the whole hut warm. Fendrel was sitting at the table, making towers out of his utensils. Syndra was spooning out stew into wooden bowls then placing them on the table. Kestrel took her seat at the table and picked up her spoon. The bowl in front of her was filled with thick broth, soft carrots, boiled potatoes, and other assorted vegetables. From the smell that filled the house, Kestrel could tell that it had been cooking all day.
When the whole family had sat down, they started eating. Kestrel spooned some of the stew onto her spoon and popped it in her mouth.
"Mmmm. Really good mom," Fendrel commented, his mouth stuffed with potatoes.
"Thank you," Syndra said.
The family fell silent, the only noises were the fire and spoons scraping against wooden bowls.
Finally, Syndra broke the silence: "Your father and I will be gone early tomorrow morning. Just letting you know. We won't be back for a couple of days. Be safe, don't go too far into the forest alone, you know the drill."
Kestrel knew the drill by heart. Her parents worked for a business that required them to leave the town quite often, on different trips around Estlyn.
When everyone had finished, they stood up and washed the dishes before departing to do their own things.
Kestrel went to her room. She lit a candle on her bedside table and sat down on her bed. The frame was made of wood with a mattress filled with feathers. She changed into her pajamas and slipped underneath the covers of her bed. Kestrel glanced out the window, outside crickets chirped and the leaves rustled. Kestrel reached out of her covers and snuffed the candle. Then, she closed her eyes and fell asleep, the sounds of nature still flooding through the window.