Enmity's Lost Prodigy: Chapter 11 - Retribution

“Don't get me wrong.” Talia assured. “We like it here, but Farrah plans on making this valley her home so we want a place we can call our own.”

Morning had risen like a restless mummy, Talia had stiffly crept out of bed and headed mindlessly to the kitchen for a meal. Before she knew it, she was now discreetly discussing her plans to move out.

“You are always welcome here.” Saren reminded. “You and Farrah both.”

“I know but we kinda got these plans, and we're two young woman that need our space so...” Talia tried to let down easy, “It's nothing personal.”

“Of course, I just don't want to seem as though you are any burden is all.” The mother assured.

“Honey,” Kalin intervened “She's just being earnest is all.”

Talia smiled at the remark “I'm glad this went well.”

“Young lady,” He continued, “You liven up this place, I like that, but I can't hold you here.”

“Thank you for understanding.” Talia nodded.

“Say, have you put any thought into where you want to sit yourselves? If you need help...”

“No, no, it would take from the experience.” Talia insisted.

“I know men who can build very well...” Kalin offered

“It couldn't be that hard.”

Kalin stared, “Do you have any tools?”

“Honey” Saren intervened “She's just being earnest is all, let her build her own house.” Tittering at the role that was switched.

“She's being a fool is what she is! House building is hard.” He asserted.

“I lived my life in the nook of a tree,” Talia informed “A pile of boughs is like a mansion to me.”

“And when it gets cold?” Kalin suggested.

Talia pondered “Then... If it gets too bad, we'll just stop by your place. Ifn's your invitation is still open.”

“Of course, why wouldn't it be?” Saren answered

“Excellent.”

At this point, Farrah had awoken, no doubt by Talia's conversation with the hosts. Staggering less sore, she sat at the table and was handed a morsel from her best friend. “Thank you.” Farrah said reaching out.

“They are a lot better than war rations.” Talia remarked. Farrah chuckled.

“War rations?” Kalin asked.

“Oh, that story, we'll save that for another time. Amazing what one does for food out in the abyss.”

Time passed, conversations did too. Farrah was waiting for Gregory who still hadn't returned yet. Sun shown on her through the tops of the massive trees onto the balcony. They dazed her in trance, dancing rays of light, laughing, singing to themselves like ethereal children cast down to meet her. Did she miss Gregory? Maybe she thought. Light still trickling though. It had been a while now, she could gauge some sense of attachment or affection but she wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe she already felt love and it bounced off of her dunce forehead like a drunken butterfly and crash landed into a daisy. Maybe she looked too deeply into it. The longer he took to get back, the more she wondered; this confusion to her, was it a fools guess at which way the stars pointed or a fools errand to meet them. Her ship was lost at sea and no direction to point her to shore. Maybe it was nothing. The light regardless felt so rejuvenating, she could wait there forever if need be and sort herself out.

Farrah heard a sound, wings, flapping, it was near by. She shot up to find them but was disappointed. The neighbours passed by, unaware of her at first but glancing over slightly, they smiled then returned to their abode. Farrah returned to her seat. “Huh, that bad eh?” Talia commented.

Farrah turned to Talia and then back out past the balcony.

“These heights make even me paranoid” Talia said as she peered down below. “You think it's because of how big everything is here? Makes you feel pretty small, especially for me... Hey, you really do like him don't you? Greg...” Talia specified, “You seem pretty out of it waiting for him.”

“And who say's I'm waiting for him? It's nice out.”

“I know what I saw, he must mean a lot more than you realize, or you just ain't saying.”

“You really think so?... I've been wondering myse...” Farrah stopped. A tall handsome figure had just made sight, Farrah left to greet him, Greg had returned.

Talia exhaled, “What did I tell ya?” She answered alone.

“Farrah.” Gregory welcomed

Farrah flew around, still at a distance. Following him back to the deck where she just was moments ago. “Where had you been?” She asked.

“Around, about, just planning something for later.” He replied, looking away, hiding a grin.

Farrah was excited, it had to be something for her, why else would he hide himself so obviously like he did.

Talia sat, staring off half unexpectedly, half expecting some acknowledgement of herself. Maybe a 'Sorry I ditched like that.' or 'As we were saying...', Talia knew she wasn't going to get it. Talia saw it, young love, blind, literally, Talia was 'right freaking there'. Talia opened her mouth to speak but closed it, she would just wait a while longer. 'What was this' Talia wondered, now they were planning on going somewhere.

“Alright,” Talia got up, “That's it.” She flew up to Farrah's shoulders and dug her claws in innocently. No response. Talia needed height. She climbed but among the cat's tilted cynicalism she slipped, falling back with wings now tangled in hair. Talia spazzed out trying to grasp the slipping strands of hair, like a fly caught in a web, wild noises began to erupt from the back of the magpie's nape. Hair tussled in the breeze of frantic flailing claws. At last, the hurricane had ended. In the top of Farrah's lovely head grew a goose egg, a large rapidly growing one with two ears and ominous eyes like glowing obsidian.

“You have, a...” Greg mentioned, staring into the eyes of the beast.

Farrah fixed her hair, scratching the side of her head. “Yeah...I kinda got that impression a while ago...” Farrah confessed.

“I think we should get going then.” Greg suggested, turning himself to depart.

Farrah noticed the light reflect off of his feathers, along his shoulders, his cheeks. She blushed furiously, almost enough to be seen without her goofy squished expression. Greg released both arms and tipped himself hurdling down below. Farrah returned to her senses and was about to follow but not before privately discussing. “Hi.”

“Just getting comfortable.” Talia innocently carried herself

“Mmmhm.” Farrah returned, just as obviously illegitimate.

Farrah's wings opened much nicer today, the soreness only barely tense along her muscles, recovery had happened much faster than expected for an expedition into the abyss. At last, her strength could persist to test Greg even farther. Their morning flight took them across the bottom of the village, through daredevil gaps and skimming water. Each roll felt like a bed of grassy hillside along a divine barrage of penetrating light. Farrah felt entirely blessed. Along their path came a plateau of rock only as wide as two people laid out, stuck out of the bark of an old tree. They made their stay there.

The bark waved like shattered oceans, large tendrils came down with groove like seats in between. Lovely seats. They sat there a while, occasionally glancing over. Greg gave out his hand. Farrah, uncertainly receiving it by giving her own. “Farrah.” He spoke.

“Yes.” Farrah replied after some time.

“You make a socially awkward man such as myself very happy.”

“You, socially awkward?” Farrah asked, looking up to face him.

“Ha...” He tittered. “You can't tell?”

“Not really.” Farrah replied

“Well, I'll tell you.” Greg said, turning himself to meet her. “Without a mask to wear myself... You make me very nervous.”

“How nervous?”

“Well... How nervous are you?” He asked hoping to hear the same. Farrah shook her head slowly not sure how to gauge it, but worry still took her eyes slightly. He caught the glimpse of it in her. “Multiply that by about ten.”

“How are you even holding yourself together?” Farrah asked, concerned

“I don't even know... I just know that, you, and...”

“HOLD IT!” Talia shot out. “Should I give you two some space?” She asked very calmly, looking to each individually. Both too quiet to reply. “I think I should give you two some space. I'll just be, um...” Looking around. “Over that a ways... Somewhere.”

Farrah nodded.

Talia turned to leave but hauled, returning slowly. “Oh... And um... Farrah, did you father ever give you a certain talk?” Talia inquired

“Uhh...” Farrah replied, clueless.

“Just... Um... Don't do anything to crazy... No, seriously.”

Greg would have died laughing but he curled into his seat, melting in embarrassment.

“He know's.” Talia commented to make sure nothing would happen.

“You know what?” Farrah asked.

“Nothing that you need to know for quite some time.” Greg replied, reassuringly.

With that, Talia nodded and left. “No, really, what is she talking about?” Farrah asked.

Their intimacy was cut short but they didn't change. Greg tried to resume some composure uttering “Well, it's...” Before falling silent and the two sat together, alone. Before long, Farrah slouched back, as did Greg and the two laid into one another. Farrah looked up, the still air down where they were was so peaceful. Maybe if she were to just hold more than his hand. She moved her arm slowly across his side, under his arm which shakily moved to her shoulder her head soon fell forward. This warmth was like long ago but under fell under a new light. Her head, nestled into his chest, the smell of another. She fell back to her early memories, snuggled into her uncles arms. Autheor would sit by the fire, his feathers were stiff and itchy, but she got used to it. This was different though. Somehow she was even warmer, he was softer, more comfortable, more desirable, more than she ever felt. As though a mothers arms were replaced by a silver steed, protecting and accepting with the firm assurance of trust. It was intoxicating. Soon, Farrah drifted off and began to dream.

Red dancing splotches waltzed along her eyelids, slowly opening them she found herself in euphoria. She just laid there, looking up as the sun beamed blinded her, closing the eyes once more. Time itself moved still, calm and tranquil. Each leaf moving swayed like dandelions on the hill. Three figures flew above, going about their business. Farrah sat up. “How long was I out for?”

“A little while.” Greg replied.

“Talia... Where is she?”

“She went to give us some privacy, remember?”

“Yeah... I do. Where did she go to?” Farrah began to feel uncomfortable without her friend.

“She should be fine Farrah. She's probably off in the distance ominously watching us like a... I don't know. Like she usually does.”

Farrah pulled herself up, shaking the daze away. “I just don't want her to get lost, it's such a huge place.”

Greg knew his peace had come to an end. “Alright.” Getting up, he looked disappointed. “Let's go find her so we can go somewhere else for a while.”

Farrah staggered to her feet. Taking off they headed in the last place they remembered her going. Talia had to be close by, especially knowing her. They passed through the immediate area, and could not spot their small friend. “Is it possible that we missed her?” Farrah asked, holding onto the confidence that they were just blind.

“I don't know, she's your friend, you should be able to spot her much easier than I can. After all, she's not that big.”

They exhausted their search after many passes, soon Farrah became somewhat worried. What would happen if she became a snack for some foreign predator she never knew about, Farrah didn't want to think about it. “Are there... Any predators out he...”

“Don't be ridiculous.” Gregory cut off. “We're... just blind is all. It's not like she could get that lost here. It's impossible to leave here without knowing it. Eventually you are bound to find yourself again.”

“Talia!” Farrah called. “Do you think that she might have gone to Leanna's? I can see it from here.”

“Can she fly that far?” Greg questioned.

“Maybe, I'm not certain.” Farrah worried.

“If anything, Leanna should be able to help.”

Over the lakes, past many homes, Farrah flew hoping that Talia was somewhere safe. Hoping maybe she might find Talia along the way. Climbing the basin of the hillside, they spotted some children by the story area. They had already gathered for their daily visit with Leanna early today. Landing there Farrah noticed a familiar face. Dressed in cloth, with braided hair and of all the impossible things, red lipstick. Farrah couldn't help but exclaim. “Talia!”

“I've been overrun by children.” The cat informed mellow dramatically.

“What brought you all the way out here?” Gregory asked, relieved. He would not admit his own worry.

“Well, while you two love birds were doing whatever, I saw Kaila crying to herself alone so I went to see what was up. We walked all the way here, I cheered her up and now we are friends.”

“Friends, huh?” Farrah teased.

“She's cool. Mathanial and Leean here are pretty chill too, and Va'ness can make all kinds of makeup out of things you never expected.”

Farrah adored, “You look marvelous.”

“Quite royal.” Gregory added, smirking.

“Some times a girl just needs to dress up and remind herself that she is a dog gone queen.” Talia remarked.

Farrah, happy to be reunited sat back and smiled. The sun flashed, Farrah rose her head to the sky. Three figured flew overtop, probably the same from before. They seemed to want to see Leanna. A lot of people did. She wondered if story time would be prolonged.

“Farrah.” Talia called. “You didn't... Worry about me, did you?”

“No... I knew you were safe...” Farrah pretended

Gregory laughed. “All the way here, 'are there predators here' 'what if she fell in the lake' 'could she have gotten lost'”

Talia smirked. “Sounds like someone isn't getting any tonight.”

Farrah hid herself. Gregory laughed harder. “Oops. Guess I walked right into that one.” Talia followed this humour, covering her mouth as she chuckled.

Most the kids headed off to do their own thing, while assumed Va'ness was trying to fix the poor braids in Talia's hair. Some loud noises could be heard from above. It caught Farrah's attention, no one else seemed to notice. “So” Greg inquired. “Talia, what do you think of kids now?”

“They are all still crazy, but at least I'm not being dog piled, or chased, or leached upon. Oh and there was this one time when me and my cousins all went to the creek and everyone thought it would be funny to go upstream and take...” Talia's story was interrupted abruptly by a cup that had fallen. “That was odd... Either way it's probably best I don't say what they did ups...” Once again interrupted, this time by the crash and shattering of a wooden chair. Screaming and hollering could heard above, now more fierce and malevolent than before. Gregory had leaped to his feet, and Farrah dazed wasn't sure what to do. The voices called again and she backed up onto a standing and horrified position.

“Kids.” Gregory ordered. “You should head down to the village, now.” The kids stood there in shock, half unsure of what just happened. “GO!” He ordered. The kids followed the command. Gregory quickly headed straight for the entrance to Leanna's house, Farrah following wearily behind.

Inside the house was a mess. Furniture knocked over, some things broken. The hollering came from outside on the balcony. “Stop, she can't fly. What are you doing?” The voiced called. Gregory rushed out to see the matter. Three men flew out carrying Leanna in their claws. Gregory leaped out to the rescue, unarmed and in panic. Farrah soon made her way to find a man beaten on the deck, still pleading the men to stop. Farrah gripping the deck, she wasn't sure whether to leave the beaten man or to go with Gregory. The men couldn't be carrying Leanna, Farrah didn't want to believe it but part of her knew that it was. Hesitantly she scrambled out, making her way.

“Your kind is not welcomed.” One of the men said, loosening his grip on Leanna.

“What could we have done to make you hate an old woman like me?” Leanna cried out.

The mans expression was stricken at the remark, a blind powerful anger flashed through him and he tightened his grip once more. “This is no longer your world. When I am done, no more of your kind will ever exist to tarnish this land.” He finished, shirking his grip. With the weight on one leg, the other man released her, jerking Leanna out of either's grip and plummeted her old feeble body to the ground below.

“Leanna!” Gregory called, diving to catch her. One of the men turned, and fell with her, blocking Gregory from assisting. He was tackled in the air, pushed away from saving the woman he had known his whole life. Screaming, his attempt was in vein. Farrah too offered her effort but could not get close enough. She dove as rapidly as she could, knowing it was slim, catching up to save her. In a bleak moment, time stopped. Leanna's fall had been stopped by the home that she knew as it came to meet her. On the ground, in a cloud of dust, laid the heart of the innocent, forever at rest. Leanna perished in an instant.

Shock covered everyone but the assailants. Gregory begged his own life that his vision was clouded. Hallowing deathly cries Farrah snapped. All colour faded in her eyes, all chains dismantled. The gates that held back her fury had been decimated “You monsters.” Her blood curdled with her voice “I'll kill you!” She broke off at blazing speed.

One of the men, the main aggressor beckoned her. Soon noticing her black body, the blue sheen on her back, the white tips of her wings “So, it seems there are more of these devils here.” The man engaged, following the pursuit in the air.

Farrah swung herself mid flight to catch his neck with her claws. He parried and the two fell separate of one another. Both recovering and returning to exchange blows once more. Farrah's anger was without saviour. “I'll never forgive you, I'll make you pay.”

“I don't need your forgiveness, nor owe you more than your death itself.”

Gregory too joined the fight, aiding Farrah. “Gradious, I'll take on this one.” The lacky said, blocking Gregory from the fight and starting his own.

Talia in the back of Farrah's nape, frantically trying to stop the conflict. “Farrah, what are you doing?” The two collided, Farrah's attack grasped Gradious's arm, throwing him off balance, forcing him to the cliffside. They began to spin and Talia was forced out. The last few strands of hair left the her paws and Talia frantically recovered her tumble. “Farrah! FARRAH!” Talia screamed “THIS ISN'T LIKE YOU, SNAP OUT OF IT!” but the words fell on deadened ears.

The two spun out, breaking from one another, Farrah skipping along the cliff and slipped. She rolled along the rock and leaped off, reengaging. Every fibre of her being screamed with hatred. Her blood boiled over, every nerve of her body burned like fire. “How could you!?” She cried out.

Planting firmly against the other, Gradious spat in her face out of spite. “You don't deserve life, nor that old woman, nor the dead man who lead us here.” Once again, they disengaged, as they plummeted closer to the ground and attempted to regain their altitude.

“How could you hate an entire people, so much?!” Farrah roared.

“You don't know my suffering, how could any of your kind know what I endured!” Gladious retorted, gaining dominant height

“That's not an excuse!” They clashed, Farrah spinning them around and taking the top, only to get a foot planted in her face and the grip viced against her skull.

“While your people thrived, my parents starved to death to feed me. We had nothing, we were dirt, we were beaten, ostracized, damned, disgraced! I'll rather die than let your rich privileged tail flaunt any longer in matters you could never have experienced. You cannot vanquish my resolve.”

Farrah in her respite managed to grasp tightly onto his nethers, and sent enough pain into Gladious to release his grasp. Both attempted to recover but rolled upon the ground. Gladious, quick to his feet took a lunge towards Farrah who's injuries weakened her ability to rise. Gregory swooped in before Gradious could reach, managing to break from his own fight to save Farrah. With this opportunity, Farrah used what energy she had to grasp Glarious's neck with her claws, digging them into his neck. “I didn't grow up all that nicely either.” Farrah returned. Talia screaming in the background. “Why do you still hold onto your prejudice when my kind is no more, you've already won, what more is there left?!”

In the voice that he could muster, Gladious with a deathly stair returned “If you lived as I have, you would understand why I still hold this grudge. That is why you do not understand my hatred, and though I wish that you could suffer the same, you never will... Understand... My...”

Farrah tightened her grasp, watching the pain flow in him. “Farrah, this isn't you!” Talia screamed in her ear, now firmly digging into her. “Do you really want to do this? Do you really want his blood on your hands?” Farrah ignored Talia, the anger overcoming all reason. “This doesn't make you any better than him. Don't do it Farrah, please! If you kill him out of hatred, you will be just like he is!”

Farrah awoken, fire still coursing through her. She didn't want to accept it. She knew he had to die. She would regret letting him live, he would only give her, and many others, trouble and threaten their lives. She saw the hatred still linger in her leer. He was a monster, as was she. She could accept damning herself, justly, righteously. Inside her own glare, she too saw the same look. It scared her. Just like him, his sense of justice was clouded, hers was blinded. The grip loosened. Farrah's will faltered. The monster leaving.

Gladious's lacky swooped in, knocking Farrah back. Gladious took to his feet, ready to assault but noticed fifteen men arriving to meet him. If he died now then all would have been wasted, his pride got the better of him and he shrugged. “Magpie, you live today.” Gladious treatened, still facing her as he ran off. “If I were you I would fly away from here, very far from here.” Gladious and his lackeys left quickly, turning themselves and running. In the air he leaped, escaping at high speed. In the distance, he uttered, “Because when I return, it will be with a royal army.” Farrah frantic, jumped, clinging to follow him but fell back down. Her energy was low, and her immediate injuries would not allow her to chase at much more than a snails pace. She grit her beak, cussing under her breath before crying.

The angry mob aided her, soon discovering the situation. Gladious was scarcely in sight but ten of the original mob split to chase him, the others to help Farrah, and Gregory. Just past the battleground, Leanna was found and quickly poured over. The three that found Leanna returned solemn. Farrah, turned away. She couldn't face them, it was too much to bare and the guilt of being followed to Haven almost killing her inside. Silence. Not one person could speak, except for one who was tending to the injured as he asked what hurt.

More villagers arrived. Someone called out to keep the children away but Farrah couldn't hear it over her own heartbeat. She was lost in her mind, reliving the moment, taring herself apart internally. She wallowed for what seemed eternity, though her medic tried to reach her, she simply shut out the world. Getting up, Gregory rushed to her and gave her a hug. Farrah took the moment to try and love back but failed, her heart couldn't accept it. She broke him off and walked away. “Farrah, where are you going?” Gregory asked. The medic fallowed, but could not reach her even still. Gregory gave up and told the medic to let her be, she needed to mend herself. It hurt Greg to see, to think, to put his pride away and let her go. He was helpless, but she still had Talia. Talia could reach her.