Short Stories

Prompt #20

"What's the word for that infestation of tiny creatures over there?"

"Those are children. That's a school."

Nixy was being welcomed by Nathan. Nathan was an earth spirit who had moved to the human world many years prior. He had maintained his bulky square image, his chest as round and hard as a boulder, his temper calm and natural. He was, as they would say back home, an Earthmite. Being so close to the Earth and its creations, Nathan had felt he should explore the world of the fleshy animals that had overrun and polluted the soils he breathed. That's why he was the one showing Nixy around. He had knowledge of this world, had learned the ways of the animals that walked upon it.

"So they're really not called flesh animals?" Nixy asked, confused. She was sure that was what they were. What else could they be? She was made of liquid, so clearly a water spirit, Nathan was made of the Earth, clearly an Earth spirit. So the mammals that moved their flesh so boldly must be flesh animals of some kind.

"They're called humans. But they are animals. They evolved from apes," Nathan explained.

Nixy stumbled over herself, her feet sliding on the sleek grey stone below her. Nathan, being sturdy as the ground he walked on, caught her arm and lifted her to balance. "Legs take awhile to get used to for the other spirits. Air spirits are the worse as they've never set foot on land," Nathan explained, reassuring her that her inability was normal.

Nixy had created a form that matched these 'humans', matched what they walked on, the snatching parts that were at the ends of their limbs. She was still a water spirit though, and her body glimmered under the sun as the water did in the summer. Nixy was a walking mirror and warmed quickly in the heat, steam coming from her mouth as she spoke.

"We need to get you someplace colder or you'll evaporate," Nathan quickly spoke, pulling her along with him.

"What's happening?" Nixy asked, her mouth spouting more puffs of steam.

"In that form, you'll evaporate in the heat. You'll lose parts of yourself if it gets worse," Nathan warned.

Nixy's eyes widened in fear and she slipped as she tried to speed up. She felt her skin bubble as she grew infuriated and clutched her arms. Nathan was quick to help her to her feet and pulled his jacket over her head. "This should help shield you, but you have to keep a cool head. We don't want you boiling yourself away do we?"

"How much farther Nate?" She replied, hoping the task at hand would help distract her fears and frustration.

"Not far Nix, my house isn't far. I tell you what you're brave for even coming this far."

"I am?" Nixy wondered.

"You're the first water spirit I've seen commit to the journey here."

Nixy felt her stomach sink. What if she wasn't? What if all the other water spirits simply didn't make it. She knew others had left and never returned. What if she never returned?

Nixy and Nathan made it into his 'house' a place he had once described to her in air messages. A structure made from materials sourced from the ground that sheltered and helped the 'humans' to live. Once inside Nathan left Nixy in the entranceway as he rushed to run her a cold bath in which she could absorb the water and cool herself. Nixy stood with Nathan's jacket over herself, the water in her skin seeping into the jacket and the material becoming heavy on her shoulders. She looked around with glass eyes, touching the materials and objects and leaving water droplets all over. Where she stood a large puddle had formed and she trailed it into the next space in this house.