Enmity's Lost Prodigy: Chapter 6 - Shadows

Dark, moist, lost in a deep dense fog of smouldering ash that had mixed with water; Farrah continued onward not knowing where she was going any more. The path before her had long since derailed, and no matter how high she flew, the fog could not be escaped. The more they travelled the deeper the floor beneath them got. They took this time to rest on the peek of a shattered rock. Around here there are plenty of them, the split landslide went for miles off of the coast. Deathly deep and dangerously sharp, all the surfaces appeared to be held by thread along a steep embankment. Surely this canyon that fell into the depths couldn't be endless. From what they could see, there wasn't much to go off of, but it sure seemed to be unending.

They took into the air once more, trying to reach the surface, for the longest time it felt hopeless until finally they came on a stroke of luck. However the fog had a crippling effect on flight as Farrah's wings became damp and soaked causing her flaps to be more saturated and heavy. In the distance, there was a very small wave rolling over, a ripple to poke out of. After climbing some ways and gliding against the winds, they saw small pinholes of light in the sky and a few more along the shore belonging to the prison they had escaped from. They made a ruckus back there, and though Farrah laughed over it. Talia was still firmly horrified over the careless squawk and alarm. Never would she run covert with Farrah again, so long as her eight remaining lives could stop it. With somewhat of a better idea of where they were in mind, and the wind to guide them, Farrah took back to the depths.

In the fog, there was wind still, but not nearly as much. A rogue gale wind pushed her back. If she had a tailwind, her ability would have increased tenfold. All breeze seemed to rush to the shores, perhaps another reason why the land far away was so hard to find. Between the head on turbulence and her damp wings Farrah was facing a testament to her stamina.

An hour later, the lateness took fold and sapped away their strength. To be fair, the mist did most of it, and the continuous movement without stop gave no time to rest. Under the dark pale mist, avoiding anything she could see in front of her, she started to look for rather a place to hide for the night. Talia, had only woken up. “Farrah,” She said yawning, “Are we still flying?”

“Yes.” Farrah responded in an even more tired manner.

“I don't like the sound of that,” She gave another yawn. “It's getting late, and I rather not sleep down here. I'm getting bad rest as it is.”

Farrah understood but couldn't help their situation. “I've been looking, but nowhere really seems available.”

“I'm thinking we should have decided to take on a big flight earlier in the day, don't you?”

“Not much I can do about that now. I'm too tired to surface again.”

Talia squinted her eyes and bleakly mentioned having almost given up on her eight lives “There is a lot of things I don't like about this, I'm not sure I care anymore. If I find one more thing I don't like about all of this you can colour me surprised... But right now, colour me pale” Yawning weakly, she nestled back down and tried to relax. “I'm sleepy.”

“I'll try and find somewhere.”

“Somewhere without monsters is nice.” Talia said wearily

“Not sure I can.” Farrah admitted, ashamed of her lack of sight and planning.

“Do you see any monsters?”

“No, but I don't want to chance it.”

“Then anywhere is fine.” Talia muttered, passing out.

The ground had finally evened off, and worse yet, it started to rise making the travel harder. Some taller spires had formed, and small plates of fractured shale under the misty ocean. Here it oddly resembled the land above, only without trees or grass. The fog would be plenty to water it, but the sun however did not shine bright enough to pierce the soil. Most the things around here could not support life, no food nor nourishment, no one could live here; perhaps this was an area where they would not find trouble. The nervous apprehension turned apathetic and even this wasteland which seemed like a horrid storm to travel felt more peaceful to Farrah. On the top of one of the highest rocks, she perched just high enough to not be spotted. Here she felt at ease, and here she intended to sleep. Not well mind you, the bare rock was hard, but it was land.

Her eyes shut themselves and she quickly blanked out. Not utterly into sleep, but resting. She wasn't sure if her bed simply wouldn't allow it, or if there were other things on her mind. She heard noises, but nothing alarming, it sounded like rocks unsettling. Oddly, the thing she noticed most in this half awake state was how eerily quiet it was. She tried to force herself asleep but was still in a daze from flying and her tired sore muscles could not rest nor heal. All was peaceful, too peaceful, the loud shaking of shifting plates would be could be warmly welcomed in this pitch deafness.

She was certain that she had fallen asleep, but she didn't wake up when a small clawing sound came from beside her, she dreamt while still listening. Instead the noise manifested an illusion in her sleep though she wasn't sure where it came from. She was flying, two men chasing her, but she was far too fast for them. Talia had warned her that there were more on the way. This little dream state was shaken off little by little until Farrah was too agitated to retain her slumber. To her right was a figure, though her eyes were shut, she knew very well that he was there.

“Little girl.” He called out.

Casually Farrah turned her head and nonchalantly replied “I was just starting to rest.”

“You shouldn't be out like this. It's not safe out here at night for a feather folk like yourself.”

Farrah opened her eyes wearily and frowned, “No? Then you should run along yourself.” She hoped to turn the stranger away.

“Girly, I'm no feather folk...”

“Then you shouldn't have a problem here, let me go back to sleep.” She cut the stranger off, not fully in a proper state of mind. She closed her eyes, hoping it to all go away

The stranger walked up the rock more fully, and requested Farrah come with him to a place she could keep hidden. She ignored it and nodded back off purging the outer world. He insisted again, sounding more concerned, falling on deaf ears. The only thing more irritating than his desperate pleads was a wave of high pitch noise that was calling out, kind of like a kettle, probably some gas escaping somewhere.

“Look I can give you a bed, better than any old rock out in the open.” He begged. “ I don't want to see a little girl like yourself get hurt out here. There are some pretty shady figures around. They might want more than just a snack to eat. Folk down here don't wed.”

She opened her eyes again, knowing she was not going to get any rest, actually a lot of her sense came back as she woke. Partially swayed by the man's pleas and figured he might be able to help, partly still concerned about a hidden motive. For the first time really talking to someone after meeting Cedric, she felt at ease to converse; but in this place, she would be wrong to do so very lightly. Farrah took a moment to look into the man's eyes, crookedly from her horizontal fix, she had to focus to really see him. He was dark, but so was everything else. His head shined, either bald or hairless. 'feather folk' he was no bird, he didn't look like an animal, he had no ears. This person was something she never seen before, perhaps a resident here. The thought came to her that he may be a monster but she pushed it away, a monster would have eaten her before she even woke. Actually, her father spoke of many of 'gentle folk', maybe this was a folk with good intents. This was not be the first time she was approached in the night, however this stranger was strange. Her head tilted back slightly.

“So, why should I trust you?” Farrah asked.

“Have I done you wrong yet?” The hairless man riddled in return

Farrah noted, no he had not. “I still don't know you.”

“How course of me, Alundreer.” He said in a strange tongue, his name was pronouced with a drone noise, native to his kind perhaps.

“Farrah...”

“A lovely name I do say.” He replied, making a smile that could scarcely be seen in the dim light.

“I don't need to worry.” Talia spoke, seemingly talking in her sleep “They'll get full off of you before they get to me.” She laughed jokingly.

The stranger tilted his head. “We really do need to get you in...” He instilled hastily.

Farrah was still wary of him, wary of everyone. Sure he had no hand with the kingdom and no hatred for her kind, but down here had it's own threats. Why would he bring up a lot of the dangers, why bring up that he hasn't done her wrong, of course he hadn't, it's not like he needed to say it. She wasn't really ready to trust anyone from here yet, let alone in the dark. Something came to mind “How did you find me here anyway?” She asked, surely she was out of sights, maybe he was looking for prey. He didn't jump her though. She wished that she could think more clearly if not for that blasted kettle noise ringing in her ear.

“I could smell you, you have a unique smell that's not from around here.” He explained

“Then does it matter where I go?” Farrah continued explained “If you can smell me, can't everyone else?”

“What's the ruckus?” Talia asked, poking out from Farrah's side.

“I thought I smelled a cat.” The stranger muttered aloud

“I'M NOT A CAT!” She exclaimed. “I'm... Well, not fully one...”

“And one so small.”

“Okay, I'm out, this guy is getting on my nerves.”

“Yes,” Farrah agreed. “I'm sorry I can't take you up on that offer, but thank you for warning me.” She said, getting to her feet.

“No, NO!” The stranger pleaded, “Don't go, you don't know how dangerous it is out there!”

Farrah became rather nervous of his frantic reaction, he was desperate, she moved more cautiously. She swept Talia back to the nest and moved away not taking her eyes off the strange bald creature. She apologized again feeling sorry. She made an attempt to take flight but the man lunged and grabbed a hold of her feet. She was dragged down only slightly, he was very light, and his grip was pitiful. He must have been starving if he was a predator. If he was lonely, he was sure not lonely enough. She figured he would be easy to break free of, and she could escape his whining for good. Just a little kick, that's all it would take. Farrah was getting really irritated, and her head began to ache from the noise. She was about to break loose but something hit her. Out of nowhere a swift soaring and screeching creature rammed into the connection between the two. This hit knocked Farrah off balance, and Talia flung out from her back.

Farrah flew as fast as she could, not knowing what hit her. Quick to meet her was a dark winged fuzzy creature with large pointed ears and a female voice that called out “Are you okay? I just save you a doozy back there huh?”

“No, I think I had it under control.” Farrah assured a little offended, trying to slowly back away from the new stranger.

“Sure you did...” The figure replied in disbelief.

“Thank you... What are you anyways?” Farrah asked, trying to reassess her danger.

The fluffy savior smirked, and Farrah could tell from the proud posture the little hero made in saying so. “You are very welcome, I am Hollie the bat, 'Freer of the Helpless', 'Purge of the darkness'” She didn't look all that large, a little short and sounded like she was slightly younger than Farrah.

Farrah narrowed her eyes. “Is that so.”

“If you are all in one piece, then I suggest we loose this guy, these desperate types are pretty persistent.” She took a moment, out of curiosity and no longer bragging, Hollie asked “Wait... What exactly are you then? I don't see any birds down here, most of which are too smart.”

Farrah sighed, she was definitely awake now and just glad to be out of trouble, again. “I am a magpie, and my friend is a... Um... Tinder...” Farrah waited for her friend to break out and correct her. To her surprise, there was no response. “Talia, you there?” Nothing. “Talia?”

“A friend?” The bat intruded. “You don't suppose she's down there do you?”

“Oh, heavens no!” Farrah exclaimed “Please, don't tell me she fell off.”

“I'll go check.”

“No, you've done enough now.” Farrah enforced heading down help, but was outmatched by Hollie's eagerness which took a head start.

Talia wasn't too pleased at being dropped. She recovered in the air and once stable she shouted “HAY!” Flew to chase them but was quickly caught by the odd scaly lizard man. “I had to run into someone like you, huh?” Talia scowled

“I see your friends left you behind.”

“It'll only be a little while before they find out I'm missing... For Farrah that is, I don't know about the other one.” Talia explained, expressing a lack in Farrah's perception.

“And what if I eat you now?” The starved man mentioned, pulling Talia nearer “Will they save you then?”

“Any last words?” Talia requested wishfully.

“Go and say them if you wish.” He answered, Talia went to raise her finger but the man continued. “You're not much, but you are the first thing I've had in a very long while.”

“I meant for you,” Talia informed. The lizard lifted his bare eyebrow. “I'm heading off soon, and I'm not coming back to visit.” Talia remarked having wrapped her tail firmly around her captor's hand and began to ignite it.

He would have retorted at her remark, he would have let her go once the searing fire got to him, but instead he was knocked out cold. Hollie had come to the rescue, diving at great speeds and colliding into his stomach, his grip was instantly released sending Talia once again hurdling into the air. “Congratulations!” Talia hollered cynically. “I found two more things I hate about this trip!” Before performing the astonishing acrobatic feat of accidentally landing one back of her hero, and digging in with her claws at full force.

“Agh!” Hollie cried “GET IT OFF ME, GET IT OFF ME!” She screamed repeatedly, picking up speed and flying faster, trying to break the grip, causing Talia to dig deeper while hissing and spitting.

Farrah laughed fullheartedly at the spectacle without remorse. The gung ho hero met her match before the very princess she just saved from 'bozo's' grasp. Perhaps she would be less cocky and arrogant once she managed to removed the claws stuck in her back. To be fair, Hollie just wanted to help. A few circles did both of them good as Hollie slowly spiralled to the ground, landed, and collapsed plastering them both to the ground. Talia lifted her face from the bat, and gasped for air. Farrah at standby to pick up her friend, and any claws left in Hollie's back.

“So, you are the one I have to thank huh?” Talia remarked.

“I regret nothing.” Hollie replied.

“Yeah, well I had it under control.”

“No you didn't!” Hollie jumped up to her knees. “He totally had you!”

“Na-uh. I was letting him have his last words.”

Hollie stood proud, “Because you totally knew I was going to save you.” She boasted triumphantly

Talia pulled her ears back, “No, if I couldn't break free, Farrah would have his face for breakfast.” She bragged

“Enough!” Farrah interrupted. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome” Hollie basked with an adorable look of praise. “So you are Farrah, that is a lovely name.”

“Thank you... Again...”

“Glad to be of service!” Hollie replied brushing herself off, and checking her back.

Talia climbed back to safety, and fully under the hair in case of any more acrobatic stunts taking place. “I'm tired still, if you want to really be of service, find us a bed trickster.” The cat demanded,

“Talia!” Farrah disciplined.

A great star shone in Hollie's eyes, she chucked “Sure thing!”

Farrah looked shocked “Are... you sure?” She asked.

“Yup! And we don't eat people, just bugs.”

“Bugs are people too...” Talia remarked. “Say!” She said aloud. “Is it true that bats can't see very well?”

Hollie stunted, and felt a dark shadow loom over her. She was irked by the stereotype, and preferred not answer, but with her composure she only remarked. “No, no, I can see just fine, tell me, how much can you see down here?”

“Didally. I just hear it's a thing is all.”

“No, it's not a thing, my screeching just helps me hear where I am, not sure why everyone's gotta... Think I'm blind or something.”

“Huh, really? You really can't tell a thing when you hear one anymore, I would have swore that was a thing. Thanks for clearing that up for us.”

“No problem.” Hollie muttered “Now, to my home.”

Hollie lead them straight to her abode. Along the way, they noticed the land becoming much more splintered, and many uphills. They passed many of chasms, cracks and fountains of hot steam. Here was one of many deep portals to the underground cloud factory, still pumping out plumes of textured smog. Soon, things became normal, only with a touch of unnervingly thick fog. It was cooler here, like the summers night, pleasantly brisk and moist. The peace was broken.

“What?!” Hollie asked. “You decided to sleep there of all places?”

“Where tourists, eh?” Talia replied.

“Don't you two start it again.” Farrah interrupted, still tired.

“Anyway.” Hollie continued, “You know better now, and besides, you can rest at ease. Our house has everything from snacks to beds, to our own little entertainment. On occasion you can see my brothers fight over a single doll, and watch them bicker for hours.”

“Amazing.” Talia sarcastically remarked. “I just hope they don't keep us up with all that.”

The road became a wall, though there was no road to begin with, there also appeared to be no home either. Hollie sure seemed to know what she was doing and where she was going. “In here.” She beckoned. Farrah followed, finding a small cave that appeared almost invisible from below. It had a small landing pad before the entrance and a ragged cloth door with patches put in, and holes that needed more patches. “Here is our luxury estate.” Hollie continued.

Farrah entered. Before her was a carved home, a cave that was modified to house many people. On the sides were melted wax stains and one dim candle up ahead. Hollie walked up to the kitchen's table to where her mom was fixing some sort of grub for children. Farrah hoped it was for children, no adult could stomach looking at it very much. Mix of greens and purples with white in between. “Hi mom. I brought friends over.”

“So you have, very odd friends in fact.” Hollies mother replied.

An older voice, male and raspy called out in warding. “It better not be another boy, I had to chase the last one out.”

“It's a girl honey.”

“Carry on.” He replied in a more mannerly tone as though returning to his nap in the other room.

Farrah took instant liberty of their chair. She held her head up and watched the mother prepare the mash. A thought of her stomach came to mind but fell, she wasn't that desperate.

“So where did you find this one at?” The older woman asked.

“She was being attacked by rogues.” Hollie replied.

The mother looked up and asked Farrah “What really happened?”

“MOM!” Hollie intruded.

“Just a predator.” Farrah replied void of character.

“So, a rogue.” Hollie reinforced.

“Well, I'm glad you are safe.” The mother consoled. “Things have gotten a little ruthless out there lately, more so than it has been in my time.”

“That's why I'm there. Saving damsels and kicking baddies before breakfast.”

“Hollie! Their not bad people.”

“Yeah, well they do bad things!”

“They are starving out there and you know it.” The mother put down her mortar and pedestal. “Not everyone has the luxuries that we have. I agree, they shouldn't be doing what they do, but they have no choose...”

“But...”

“I understand.” Farrah interrupted. “They really are desperate...” She said, tethering some shred of empathy in her weary appearance.

Her mother smiled. “Your friend understands.”

Hollie pouted. “Mom, they shouldn't be aloud to go around hurting others like that, who knows what they would have done to poor Farrah.”

“No, you did right to get her out, but you can't be blaming them all the time. I would do the same if we were in their state right now just to keep you and your brothers alive.”

Hollie turned away. “I'm grown up and can feed myself.”

“What is the problem anyway?” Talia popped out, giving Hollie's mother a heart attack. “I mean, why is everyone in such dire straights?” popping her head out from the top of Farrah's hair ominously.

“Oh my... What...” The mother replied, staring.

Talia continued regardless. “Is it just because there is no food that grows down here?”

“No.” The woman continued to stare. “Partly yes. There is no where else for them to go. It's here or fight their own kind over food. Even in other places, there is little to go around. The shendaloulians are very nice people but, anywhere else, they are shunned back here.”

“Shendawhats?”

“Where we are, where the fog reaches.”

Talia tilted her head. “We call those the shadow downs.” She said trying to pull out of Farrah's mane.

“You will come to know that this world is still in shambles, since the tables tilted, everything will take many generations to fix and settle to what it once was. I fear we may never truly escape it though.”

“I'm sorry.” Farrah asked “Where might I sleep?”

Hollie's mother looked at Farrah, studied her. Even placing her hand on her forehead to see if Farrah was well. “You are a night sleeper aren't you?” Farrah nodded. “I can prepare you the couch, or Hollie's room if you please. We don't really have much here.”

Farrah nodded more, just so long as it got her rest. Talia agreed and tucked away into her catnap. Moments later, Farrah found herself falling into the bed, and though it wasn't much, it was still the best bed she had since she was home. For over a year, she was free to roam, but hardly pleased about being homeless. Tonight would be a blessing before the long trip to the haven across the tides.

In the night, they woke once to find a little bat at her bedside, holding a small doll and dancing it around. One of Hollie's brothers no doubt, she shut her eye's and went back to sleep. Talia, soon after, hid completely. She did not like kids, too unpredictable. Besides, Talia looked like an oversized doll to boot, she did not want to be played with. Eerily she peeked over Farrah's unconscious body like sandbags in a war setting every time she heard a noise, then lowering her head slowly to avoid notice.