Enmity's Lost Prodigy: Chapter 9 - Storytime

Morning struck early, but by the time Farrah awoke it was breaching noon. Her arm felt numb, tired and complaining to the world. Her other arm was less sore but bruised. Farrah tried to lift herself but her back gave no strength and she laid back down. Farrah smiled, she sure got herself into quite the pitiful state. Rolling over, she found Talia nestled in her plumage, passed out asleep. In the distance, Farrah heard the noise of someone walking around. The floorboards creaked with each passing of whoever was out there, it gave a strange homely feel. Sun shot down the hall from the window in a warm glow, accompanying the smell of used air. Farrah pulled up the blankets that she had laid on all night and wrapped herself gently. The homely feeling started to seep in as she covered her face and vividly remembered her past.

It was morning. Aunt Karine was changing the towels. Father must have just had a shower but she couldn't smell it while tucked away. Maybe if she stayed there long enough, Aunty Karine would come by to wake her. She always had funny things to say. “Deary” the voice called. Are you going to sleep in bed all day?” Farrah was silent. Maybe if she didn't say anything Aunt Karine would come in. It was dim lit under her covers, perhaps the sun went behind a cloud. Farrah frowned, she hated when the sun went behind the clouds, she wished it could always be sunny. Moments passed, Karine didn't come after all. Farrah peeked out from the blankets.

She slowly crept out of bed. The floor was cold again, Farrah fret quietly dancing foot to foot, adapting to the icy floor's touch. She stopped as the sun returned. Dust flew sparsely in the blinding light, a surreal moment of their ballet that Farrah enjoyed greatly. She started to move with them, swaying left and right, the floor became irrelevant and she too felt like she was flying. In her blunder she almost ran into the dresser. It reminded her, she was hardly dressed. There was nothing inside though, Farrah turned away and headed for the closet. Inside there were many garments, most of them fancy and lame. Inside was her favourite dress. The silky feeling it had when she took it off the hook reminded her of precious moments that seemed so long ago. They were merely only yesterday but to her they were history. They were more than history. Those memories were a history she lived every day, blissful. She was filled with nostalgia and joy. What a lucid moment, it was as though nothing was wrong.

Farrah left her room, it was quiet. Aunt Karine must have left to tend to her garden. She remembered, “Right, I was going to sneak up and surprise Aunt Karine.” She continued to sneak but childishly she failed to remain quiet. Farrah looked into the study. Illuminated, quaint and full of wonders yet empty, her father was elsewhere. Maybe her mother would be near by. She heard voices, maybe they were in the dining room. Farrah tip toed along but no matter where she went the voices never got louder, still quiet. She stopped to listen carefully and she could hear faint words.

“So, how is our guest?”

It sounded like her Uncle Artheour, not her actual uncle but he always felt like one. “Guest?” Farrah thought. Maybe it was Cedric, his family was known for staying over. Maybe they came in the night, it wouldn't be the first time they came past bed time. It was a long travel from the kingdom, at least to a child. She never went there herself but she wanted to one day. Cedric told many tales about how big their house was and all the things they did there. Father didn't want to take his family there, it was not a place for loved ones. “Then why does Cedric and Tammy, and Jossphica live there?” Farrah remembered asking her father, he couldn't tell the answer.

“She is still in bed.” replied a woman's voice.

“Maybe it's Jaeny...” Farrah thought. “I really hope it's not. I don't like her, she's always snooty and hates fun.” The voices were odd, faint, but she knew who they were alright. They had to be Uncle Artheour and Aunt Karine, they had to be. Farrah peered in the kitchen, she didn't know how she got there though. Sure enough, it was her uncle and aunty. They were sitting around the table. Farrah tried to sneak up but was caught.

“Good morning Farrah.”

“How did you know I was there?” Farrah asked

“There are some things I just know.”

Aunt Karines voice was different now, quieter but Farrah could still make out the words even easier.

“Where is daddy?”

“He's outside, he had to go look at something. You shouldn't bother him, hes busy.”

“I won't” Farrah replied heading to the door. Maybe he was in the court yard. She didn't want to bother him but still wanted to see him. Maybe she would bother him if he wasn't too busy. Outside the air was still, the feeling of sun no longer beating down on her. It must have been spring but she wasn't cold. She danced around, everything was as it should be. She couldn't deny that something was different but it wasn't time to worry about it. The sun began to feel warm again, in fact she began to sweat. Careless she felt herself slipping away as though she was leaving her own body. The feeling returning to her, small pins laying on her side, the blanket still over her eyes as she played in the garden. The dream was over.

Farrah awoke calmly, returning to the dim light linen, unable to pull herself back under it's spell. As she pulled the sheet off of her face, a small,cold, stagnant tear fell off her cheek. Talia resting beside her, paws opening and retracting. What a strange dream, it felt so real at the time. The voices, almost real. Leaning up sideways, rested but still sore, Farrah set herself to leave but couldn't bare let the still present memory fade. She still felt the slight emotion she felt as a child flow within her, not wanting to let it fade too. Farrah looked up to see the foreign surroundings and like that it was gone. Farrah asked herself if she would know that feeling ever again. Voices still talking in the other room, Farrah turned to it, returning to her maturity.

She crawled out of bed and made her way down the hall. “Ah, there you are.” A young woman spoke to her. Farrah still not fully herself yet, only nodded, curious who this woman was.

“We were just talking about whether you were going to get up at all.” Kalin added, At last it started to make sense.

“Nice to meet you.” The lady introduced. “My name is Saren. And I'm sure you met my husband Kalin last night. What is your name?”

“Fare...” Farrah stopped, recalling her somewhat secrecy.

“Fare, that is a lovely name... You are a Magpie aren't you?”

“And you would be?” Talia butted in, returning to her biological heater.

Saren astonished, mouth slack. “Oh my, aren't you... Unique.”

“Ain't I though?” Talia replied finally accepting the fact as she missed the landing and climbed the rest of Farrah half awake.

“This is Talia. My best friend.” Farrah explained as her friend folded over the bird's shoulder bonelessly. Cats often find the oddest times and places to sleep relentlessly.

“Well...” Saren segued “How did you meet our son? He seems quite occupied this morning, and he didn't come back last night until well after supper.”

Food sounded pretty good right about now. Farrah almost rudely asked before catching herself. “Mmm... Supper.” Talia mentioned. “When did we eat last anyway? I know Leanna gave us a biscuit or two but I'm starving.”

Quickly Saren leaped to the pantry and withdrew some food for the small creature. “Here, have some. As for you miss, you look like you've been famished for weeks.” Talia didn't care what it was and couldn't really see anyway.

“We've been travelling for much longer.” Farrah informed. Talia rolling off towards the table. “Normally we have something but the shadow downs are scarce.”

Saren procured her head and softly astonished “My, you must have been through a lot.”

“That's putting it lightly.” Talia butted in between bites.

“Greg helped us make the last hurdle here.” Farrah continued, sitting down to join Talia.

“Help? We wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for him.”

“My son did?” Saren admired.

“I thought you didn't like Greg?” Farrah questioned Talia, taking the morsel from her mouth to speak.

“A hero is still a hero.” Talia pointed out. “But a stud is still a stud.”

Farrah managed to fit a few bite in before being questioned farther.

Saren was ecstatic, curious. She'd not had such intriguing guests before. “Where did you come from? What is it like there? What brought you out here?”

Farrah rather forgo the questioning until after she could satisfy her hunger but answered anyway. “I'm from homeland and...”

“Saren, don't you think you should let her answer before bombarding her with more questions?” Kalin remarked.

“Yes, sorry.” Saren apologized.

“What? It's like you've never seen outsiders before.” Talia stated.

“Not in some time, say, dear do you know a man named Daven?”

Farrah did, she nearly choked when Saren said it. It was expected, she would have to say it eventually. Guiltily Farrah frowned.

“I'm home!” Greg barged in.

“Where have you been all this time?” Kalin asked.

“Foraging a gift for my lady.” He announced, making a brisk entrance.

“When did you become a gentleman?” His father dumbfounded

Greg chuckled guiltily. “If you don't mind, I would love to take my girlfriend for a tour of our homeland, she only got here last night.”

“Sit down son.” Saren beckoned. “I haven't seen you all morning.”

“Sorry, I need to head out.”

“But?...” Saren stuttered, trying to retrieve a hug from her son. Farrah promptly retracted herself from the table, and bowed gratefully just as quick as she left.

“Youngsters eh?... Remember when we were like that?” Kalin reminisced.

Greg pulled Farrah off the balcony into the air below, and they took flight. Farrah was weak at first but got her strength back in their decent. She was far from resting her wounds. “You know, she's not your girlfriend.” Talia menitoned.

“No, but it sounds that I came just in time, again.” Greg answered, tightening his grasp on his gift.

“Who are those for?” Farrah asked.

“These, a gift for my hopefully girlfriend to be.” He said, charming a smile. Talia pouted.

Farrah blushed. “They are lovely, but can we wait until we land first?”

“Of course... Where would you like to go?”

Farrah gazed down below her. Life was sprawling. It seemed as though everyone was out doing something. At the bottom was huge roots with ponds in between, a giant swamp almost. It was bright, and the light of the nearing-high-noon sun made it hard to see much more. They descended, gliding between and around the trees. At last, Farrah no longer fought the glare of the shimmering water. Farrah landed on the top of a large root that arched over a small cliff. It overlooked a few ground structures, even more astonishing was the life below the canopy. Many walks of life gathered for lessons, games, bathing and recreation. Kids were playing in the pond, splashing each other, playing tag. Even some reptilian creatures existed, newts and salamanders, all living together with the furred and feathered folk alike. Of all things in homeland, reptiles were considered low life, shady, conniving and worthy of prejudice. Here they seemed welcomed, accepted, indifferent. Talia peeked out. “This place seems nice... Apart from all the water everywhere.”

“It is nice...” Farrah replied

“It's home.” Greg answered, having just landed. “It's always been this lively since I was young. Lady Leanna has brought many people together and her mother more so. She united many peoples to live here, each finding their own place to exist. When Leanna was younger she would take me and the other children to the outskirts and teach us about life. She's far too frail for such travels now but she often comes down to the basin below her home to tell stories to the children. Maybe soon we can visit and hear one of them. Oh... And these are for you.” Greg handed the fresh picked flowers over as promised.

“Thank you.” the magpie accepted

“There is much more where that came from.”

Farrah flustered “Oh, I don't need them, really.”

“Please, have them.” Greg insisted.

Both of them looked into one another for a moment, Farrah awkward as a child. Gregory, noticed the details of her face. Farrah's white mask and freckles, her blue eyes, the curl on her left, the hair draped over her right eye. Long, beautiful, straight hair, a very quiet cat sitting on her shoulder looking away. “You've been quiet, haven't you.” Gregory commented.

“It's none of my concern...” Talia replied, still occupied.

“Come now, lets see if Lady Leanna has a story for us.” Farrah nodded her head.

Gregory took flight, passing over a vast lake, Farrah soon following. “Don't push it now.” Talia begged. “You don't need to prove anything. We can relax here without racing for a while.” Farrah knew this but had a pride no one could break. Besides, she wanted to see Leanna again. Their last visit left a rather depressing note. Farrah felt at home mostly by her own kind, she had seen plenty of everyone else but felt readily extinct for some time now.

Slowly Farrah felt her strength come back to her, however weak she became, overcoming the stinging pain. Farrah saw the tree ahead, it was Leanna's tree, the one erected into the plateau. From here it also adorn two even more astonishing streams than before that became silk waterfalls and shaped the cliff side. Along it was a path carved into the side that came to a lower platform at the basin of the tree, still elevated from the rest of the valley floor. On the path was a small dark figure puttering their way to the bottom. A long elegant dress reached for the ground beneath her, and what appeared to be something in her arms. It seemed they were just in time. Sure enough, below them ran a herd of children about to make the climb to the higher platform.

“Come.” Greg beckoned, landing by some seats. “Lady Leanna usually tells the children from here. We should wait for her.”

Farrah sat down on the bench, a small thick block of wood that was carved with a small back rest. For her, it was only enough for one and left her tush sore at it's shallow edges. There were many other seats like this one and they looked quite heavy. By a fenced lookout were some adult sized seating but it was far from the story place. Talia popped out to enjoy the scenery before the rugrats showed up. Farrah had still been holding the bouquet in her tired hands. She wanted a place to put them so she wouldn't loose them but Farrah did admit to herself that they came with their own burdens. She couldn't impose, they were for her, but she rather not carry them. “Hey” Talia poked. “Greg, aren't you a little old to enjoy children stories?”

Greg laughed. “Some time's it's not the audience but the morals that make the story. Many parents come to listen too but they've heard most of these stories already. Often when there were kids, Lady Kawli, used to tell those same tales.”

“I get that but, their just silly dumbed down stories that kids aren't going to cry to, right?”

“Some times even adults disregard lessons even children know. We teach the young so they don't make the same mistakes we have. Some of us still make those same mistakes even now.”

“Huh... Never thought of it like that...” Talia admitted, “Say, what mistakes do you still make if you don't mind my asking?”

“I often forget people have their own burdens... I... Often find that a lot of people are surprisingly more like me than I think. Things like that...” Greg tried to answer, not really well analyzing himself.

In the distance, Leanna was finally making her way to the flat but not before the screams and laughter of young listeners. Up they came, Talia hiding to not stir trouble. “Where is she?” Asked one of the youth,

“Over there. Come on!” Another said, leading the brigade. They rushed up ahead to meet Leanna, dancing around her, impatient and ecstatic.

“She's quite loved, isn't she?” Farrah asked rhetorically. A smile adorn and brightened her face. What a lovely complexion Greg thought to himself. The normally reserved, quiet young lady became much more lively in front of him as she began to open up without realizing.

“Alright everyone.” Leanna asserted. “You know what time it is. Sit yourselves down, gather around...” Leanna noticed Farrah and Greg, then gave a confirming gesture and sat herself on the big log.

“Ooh, look.” A child said point rudely at Farrah. “And old person.”

Talia poked out and grimaced with her tongue stuck out. “Yes child.” Leanna confirmed. “They came to listen too.”

“What are you going to read us today?” A young girl came forward, walking on her knees.

“Lets see here.” Opening her book, Leanna passed through the pages. “How about the Little Pig Parade.”

“No, we've heard that one.” A boy cried.

“Alright... Lets see...” Leanna peered, she remembered a story she was told as a young girl but it wasn't anywhere in this book. She couldn't put her finger on it, merely hoping that she would stumble on it. A smirk came about her. She looked up, Leanna saw the small, hiding little friend she met yesterday. “Dear.” she called out. “Did you tell me yesterday that you were partly phoenix?” This instantly got Talia's attention. Peeking out, she nodded. “I think I may have one that no one has heard before.”

“Really? A new story?” Some children astonished, others too busy playing.

“Yes, a new one. It's the Lost Nest.” Leanna began to recall, remembering it from her childhood. She loved that story because she always wanted to help the poor bird. “A long time ago, Shamlul cracked. It was said that when it did, a magnificent creature had pour out of it's fiery core.” Often Leanna would have to pause to remember what happened next. “A great, fiery bird emerged. It soon calmed down as the flamed dimmed down and on it's vibrant orange back was a flame painted on it in beautiful feathers. It was regal, majestic, and alone. He decided that he would make a nest, an amazing nest. In his nest was... Let me think. Ah, gold cups, gems, and... mantles.” Leanna enchanted the audience, some weren't actually sure what a mantle was so they made up something else in it's place.

Leanna continued. “He loved these things, he had collected them over many years. He was indeed the king of his domain. However these things did not fill his sadness for he still was the only of his kind. He wished that one day one of him would come by but he realized that they may be just like him, waiting for him to come to them instead. He decided, he wanted to leave his nest. One day he would find his friends. He knew his land well, he could never forget it, he could never get lost. But this world was vast, he searched and searched but never found another. He passed man and woman, business man and traveller as himself alike but no one had ever even heard of him before.

One day he returned to his home but it was gone. Everything had changed, the hills had fallen and the streams they had turned a different path. He noticed things that he remembered but never could he return. It was as though his nest had been swallowed up. The peek of the highest hill was no longer there. The world changed without him. Again he left, maybe another search would help him find his friends but alas he still did not find them. He was sad, his home was missing and no matter how hard he looked he could not find what he was looking for.

One day he came across a travelling man who told him that he had met another phoenix, he was looking for his kind just like him. The phoenix was rejoiced, but it wasn't meant to be. Eventually he settled down, his dreams may have left him but he found a new life. A young lady he met along his ways took him in. They fell in love. Each night he wished he could find them but it mattered less and less. The friend and home that he longed for was not anywhere in particular but the peace that he found himself. No treasure could bring him joy and no fantasy could replace his love. The things he thought would bring him joy, he did not need. The things that would bring him joy were things all around him and his friends were the people he met long the way. No one knows what became of him, some say he is immortal and will never die. Maybe he still searches for his immortal friends or he may have flew back into the fiery core to sleep. His legend lives on.”

The crowd was a little underwhelmed. It wasn't often they heard stories that didn't have solid endings. The uncertainty got to them. “Granny,” One of the kids asked. “Isn't there more? What happened to the phoenix?”

“No one knows, it's a story older than I am young one.”

“Did he find his friends? I want him to find them.” The child insistingly asked, sure that there was something more, wanting there to be more, yearning to know.

“Maybe one day you might meet him, and then you can ask him. Wouldn't that be exciting?”

“But...” Another child asked, a young girl barely able to speak fluidly. “Whyd nyu tell a sad story gamma?”

Leanna slipped the book to her side, having never needed it to retell her childhood favourite. She thought on it, in the way that a child could understand. “It's not really a sad story, he didn't find what he set out for but he found something else. He found friends along the way. Some times you don't need what you think you do, sometimes you just find it.

“I wish he could find his friends.” Many of the children cried

“Some times the stories that end without closure are the best of all. They make you think and wonder. It's fun to make your own ending to a tale. When I was your age, I played pretend all the time where I would go on journeys with the phoenix and help him find his kind. It was so much fun, maybe you can help him like I did. He could always use some more friends like you. Now carry on, lets see if we can't find those phoenixes.”

Some of the kids dispersed, ready for a hunt. Some went in groups, while others simply sat and wondered what Leanna had said. “I found one!” One kid said, gathering a bunch to his side to see what he found.

“Gramma, will you help us?” Said a little girl, reaching out for Leanna's hand.

Leanna smiled, placing her book down, she lent her hand to the child. They looked all over, as far as they could along the plateau. Their journey seemed endless, the fiery determination, the wonders of youth.

“Quite adorable aren't they?” Greg asked, looking over, reaching out.

Farrah nodded, and left leaving Greg surprised. “I think I'll join them.” She announced

Greg chuckled, “Aren't you a little old to play pretend?”

Talia peeked out, “Not a chance.” She said, returning to safety.

Greg had to admire Farrah's spirit. She was mature, fit, talented and of course free spirited. He had not realized also how childish she was. Unfortunately for him, he left the days of fantasy beside. He was a grown man, proud, mature and sad. He watched all their youth overflow, unable to move, having killed his own ambitions long ago. Farrah returning to him, ignorant, offering her hand.

“Do you want to play too?” Farrah asked.

Greg not sure what to do, only got up and followed quietly, shy, scratching his head awkwardly. Beside them, a small group gathered as someone dancing before them, acting out how he figured the story should have gone, finding clues to where all the other phoenix had went. Greg always admired their ambitions. Maybe he didn't completely loose them after all.

Hours later, most everyone cleared out. A few kids remained, hoping their parents wouldn't arrive to pick them up and take them home. Leanna could finally rest. She took her place at the bench overlooking the valley, looking quiet exhausted. Greg joined, Farrah leaning on the fence.

“I haven't seen you have that much fun since you were young.” Leanna admired.

Greg feeling more liberated, had a cleaner voice than when he started. “Yeah, Farrah is quite the adventurer.”

“She is quite the spirit isn't she.”

Gergory admired it. “Yeah... She is.”

Talia fluttered out, staring off at the haven beside Farrah. “Is this really home now?” Talia asked

“I guess so.” Farrah replied, “It has to be.”

“I'm kind of glad... I enjoyed seeing the world and maybe I'm just traumatized but I'm glad we can finally settle somewhere. This crazy kids fantasy is a little more than I bargained for.”

“It's nice to be around people again.” Farrah said gleefully.

Talia added. “It's nice have a bed to sleep in.” She turned to Leanna. “You are like a grandmother to them, huh?”

Leanna smiled back, “I'm related to everyone apparently. Getting old has it's benefits I guess.”

“It's nice...” Farrah said, turning around, catching Leanna's attention. “...To have someone who cares...”

Leanna smiled, Greg noticed a glow from Farrah's face, the brightest he'd seen. A fluster overtook him, in a moment he felt her happiness. Swallowing a pit, he realized how much that happiness meant to him. His face cracked, hard to hold in the expression. Talia raised an eyebrow and adored, smirking. “Hm, you're a goofy boober aren't you. You look like you're in love.”

Greg somehow, through his feather coat, shot a tone more red in the face than it had ever been before. “Talia, stop. You don't have to say it.” He replied, guiltily cracking at the seams.

Leanna laughed. “To be young again... Farrah... You had something to speak with me of, yes?”

Farrah's complexion melted a pale frown and looked away. Everyone was quiet, the breeze blowing by in this quiet valley could be heard just louder than one's breath. “I guess...” Farrah started. “You are probably wondering how I found this place from homeland...” For the first time, Farrah felt as though she could talk to someone again. After all that happened, she knew that her troubles were behind her. It was pointless to really say anything, life would go one. Still she yearned to finally rid her burdens. They could not hurt her now. She pulled her cheeks together to grin but the facade was too blatantly obvious. It was hard to smile but she pulled through. She needed to get it off of her chest, the pain needed to disappear. “It should be obvious, my father is gone now...”