Laughter Lines

The Silver In Your Dark Hair

Arthur watched Kay and Ginny take off together, a wild, open-mouthed grin on his face.

"Look at that." You are in awe. "Look at them. Can you imagine?" You've watched Kay fledge and fly when you go to the cliffs, but seeing her and Ginny together is something different. Kay is happier. It's all over the way she holds herself in flight! Not for the first time, you wish you could be up there, too. "Gareth, do you ever imagine flying like that?"

You glance at him. He shrugs, keeping his eyes on the path before him.

Arthur hooked his thumbs under the pack straps and tugged them to re-adjust. His left arm twitched, jolting him with a mild shock. Irritating, but he didn't have the tools to deal with it so he waited a few seconds for it to stop, then finished his pack adjustments.

They were one hour into the four hour hike back, though it would probably take longer since they were returning uphill. They'd made a lot of purchases, enough that they needed to buy two hiker's packs to carry it all back. It was a little heavier than Artie expected, but he was pretty sure he could make it. He walked on, mulling over the right words to feed Arcturus.

You have another way of communicating with Gareth. He's chosen silence. You should start there.

Artie frowned. Why was Arcturus kicking this back to him? Sign language worked better when two parties weren't walking side by side up uneven terrain. In this situation, it would be easier to talk aloud.

Meanwhile, Gareth will be the one struggling to communicate. You can't just shunt the problem onto him.

Artie blew a defeated sigh out his lips. Yeah. That... that was true.

He shifted the pack again. A loose rock slid out from under his foot and he stumbled a little, catching himself. Gareth paused, but Arthur waved him on. He could wait to talk until... until... a break? Yeah. He'd be needing a break soon.

Not too soon. Maybe halfway back they'd take a break. Then they could have a conversation.

Good plan.

His arm shocked him again.

.....................................................

Ahead of Kay, Ginny beat her wings and slipped into a glide, screeching loud enough to scare off any furry critter interested in keeping its liver to itself. She turned and pulled her wings back, dropping in a perfect stoop that sent her hurtling toward the ground. A few feet from the path, she spread her wings and curved her flight to skim parallel to the ground, then pulled up, beating her wings to climb level with Kay.

Definitely showing off, but it had its intended effect. Kay's cheeks hurt from the smile that stretched them and she fought the urge to creel along with Ginny's joy. It wasn't wise to use her voice where it could still carry back to an inhabited area.

But Ginny! Her flight was breathtaking to see, and Kay knew she could not have taught Ginny all this. Kay was no bird. She was a siren, and therefore flew like a human who had been given wings. Teles had never taught her to stoop for prey. There had been no need. What would she catch prey with, anyway? Her nubby little toes? She laughed at the thought.

Watching Ginny, Kay knew exactly how she would teach someone like her to fly. First, it would be the basics. How to take off. How to land. How to glide. How to climb. Over time, she might be able to introduce a few of the tricks that gave the act a thrilling edge, but at a certain point, she would direct her daughter to study hawks. Watch them. Tail them. Could she talk to them? Kay would have to ask if Ginny knew their language. But only true-born birds could have taught Ginny these techniques.