Aesthetic and the Animals

Episode 18 A Plumage of Down So Soft

Episode 18 A Plumage of Down So Soft

Prince Tweed

"The door is locked." said a small voice.

Everyone spun around, looking for the source of the peep. But nothing could be seen in the shadows of the blue room. Yet they were deep shadows indeed.

"Who's there?" I called. There was no response.

Aesthetic had on hand on the doorknob, working her Silk through the lock but so far she was having no such luck. "I cannot get it open."

"What's wrong?" Belle stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Aesthetic's shoulder.

"There is a strange Silk here, neither fairy nor witch magic. I'm not sure I can break it." Aesthetic withdrew her hand.

"There is a key," came a soft giggle, a girl. There was a shuffling and the shadows were gathered in one corner of the room.

"Reveal yourself!" I commanded, pointing my sword at the soft shape in the corner. It stood, and it couldn't have been more than 5 feet tall. A face appeared then, a young girl. She stepped from the shadows, but they seemed to trail after her. She had flowing white hair, bright as the deepest snow. Her dress was soft and white, flowing into the shadows behind her. Her hands were not visible inside the sleeves.

She tilted her head, one foot forward the other behind and stopping to perch there gingerly. Cashmere stepped forward, "Peculiar." he had a head tilted.

"Hello..." the girl raised a hand to Cashmere and he looked to me with confused eyes. I nodded and he took it slowly. He rose it to his lips and planted a soft kiss there, as not to scare the girl but to respect her. "Oh!" her eyelids fluttered rapidly.

Aesthetic put a hand on my shoulder and moved past me. "Where is this key?"

"You left it behind," the girl's voice was so quiet almost not to be heard.

"Oh no, no way am I going back to the Red Room." said Belle.

"I'm with you there," Lemon Meringue said, playing at her stained skirts.

"Look what it did to my dress." Peach patted herself down.

"Oh no, not the Red Room. Icky place that is. Though it does taste so sweet." the girl smiled.

"Who are you?" I asked her.

"Me? Oh, I've only ever been called one thing as far as I can remember."

"What is that?" Belle asked.

"Wild Goosedown."

"You are Wild Goosedown?" asked Lemon.

That's when the girl's eyes went wide and she ducked down, backing away into the shadows once again. "Oh no! I must hide."

"Where are you going?" I called, going after her. Aesthetic stopped me.

"Hide and seek me out if you can." came the giggles of the girl.

"We must play her game if we are to find the key."

"Must we though?" Belle groaned.

"I do so like games!" Corduroy announced.

"Me too!" Tartan agreed.

"I don't think I agree," Cashmere said. "But nonetheless the girl is intriguing. After her we shall go?" he looked up to me and I nodded.

"Have we waited long enough?" I asked Aesthetic.