Little Miss Wingless

Kyro’s face was as white as a sheet and full of dread as the group of four headed toward the lake. His hair, back in his signature ponytail, bounced enthusiastically from the waves still affecting it- a result of being in braids overnight.

Tabastian held his brother’s hand tightly as they slid down the slope towards the mossy rocks. They were covered in a powdery white snow now, but Melanie could still see slithers of green poking out from the top of the frosty coating.

Kyro’s vision was intentionally transfixed elsewhere, unable to look directly out onto where he’d almost drowned the day before. But Melanie gazed out at that exact spot. Ice had sealed over where it had been smashed free, hiding all traces of the danger it once was.

The older boys kept leading the children along the lip of the frozen water, the place of Kyro’s trauma gradually faded smaller and smaller into the distance, and so did his anxiety.

Melanie tried to empathise the amusing crunches of snow under her feet as she walked, while Kyro remained nonchalant to her childish antics.

They stopped walking as they came to another large stretch of the frozen-over lake. It was mostly clear here of the combination of evergreen and bare winter-stripped trees and shrubbery. The untamed wilderness and mountains beyond were clearly visible in the background offering quite the sight.

Other villagers were here too, scattered about around and on top of the lake. The groups of people emitted laughter and chatter as they purposely slid atop the ice. They used their outstretched wings to direct and control their movement and speed, gliding along like elegant- and some not so elegant- ice skaters.

Melanie watched in wonder with her mouth agape, along with a hint of jealousy due to the fact that she was missing the appendages to participate in such fun. Kyro stared nervously between the families and friends having fun on the ice and at his big brother, who was still holding onto his hand tightly.

“Shall we glide on the ice together?” Tabastian asked him.

“No,” Kyro answered instantly.

“I’ll be with you. And I promise it is safe.”

“No,” he said again.

Melanie went to say something to aid her friend, but Naul tugged her by the back of her coat. He placed a finger to his lips, ushering a shushing motion, and grinned slyly. Melanie stayed silent.

“Are you scared?” His older sibling asked Kyro gently as he knelt down next to him.

Kyro stiffened. He remained silent and averted his gaze to his feet.

“This part of the lake has been frozen for a long time and will be solid for a long while yet. That’s why there are lots of people here today taking advantage of it.” Tabastian tried to reassure Kyro, but his gaze still did not move from his boots.

“It was so scary.” He mumbled quietly.

“I know,” Tabastian whispered back. “But do you want to know a secret?”

Kyro squirmed sheepishly, but managed to look his brother in the eye.

“All H’traen are just a little bit scared of the water.”

“Really? Even you?”

“Yes. Our wings make it very hard to swim. If it were me in the same predicament, I would have been scared too. But you can’t let fear control you. There are people out there that would use your weakness to their advantage.”

Kyro hesitantly peeked over at the other participants gliding on the ice. When he turned back to his brother, his ruby gaze transfixed on his brother’s wounded cheek and his somber deepened.

Tabastian noticed immediately, reading his brothers' mood.

“Kyro. Stop it. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Kyro asked meekly.

“The lake can be dangerous. But it can be fun too.” Tabastian continued reassuringly.

“Mm. You promise you’ll stay with me?” Kyro asked, still unsure. His breath came out in misty clouds against the chill in the air.

“How about this-” Still kneeling, Tabastian turned his back towards his brother. “I’ll do the ice gliding and you just hang on. Okay?”

“Okay,” Kyro mumbled clinging sceptically onto his brother’s back between the gap of his wings.

Tabastian stood and flared his large white wings out. He backed up to get more of a running start, focusing his attention on a vacant space of ice. Kyro nervously clenched at as his brothers’ shoulders, and before he could say something or change his mind Tabastian dashed forward.

The brothers floated in the air for just a moment as Tabastian leaped. Then Tabastian landed on the hard frozen surface. He stabilized his legs and they smoothly took off into a fast glide atop the ice.

Melanie stood next to Naul and watched the brothers. As Kyro’s confidence grew and his fears subsided, he attempted to glide along the ice all on his own. Sometimes he fell, but each time he got up and tried again.

Tabastian was encouraging and a smile of glee gradually returned to Kyro’s face, his laughter even blending with the other groups sharing the makeshift skating rink. But Kyro still insisted his older brother not let go of his hand for the entire duration of their little lessons.

Melanie began to shuffle her feet impatiently. She curled a finger into one of her pigtails. She’d done them herself this morning, and although they weren’t as flawless as the ones her mother usually did for her, she was pretty proud of the results. After all, she’d been practicing a lot lately.

Melanie was happy for her new good friend, but she was admittedly jealous that the two brothers were having all that fun without her. She stared longingly out onto the ice, let out a huff and tested her luck, stepping out onto the slick surface. And instantly slipped backward.

Melanie caught a clear view of the cloudy sky and then Naul’s face as he caught her.

“Whoops.” He grinned at her.

Melanie pouted.

Naul helped her upright and continued to stare at her. Unlike most H’traen people who eventually averted their gaze on her with some combination of fear, confusion, and contempt, Naul did not.

“Does your horn hurt? Why does it look like that?” Melanie blurted out. She eyed the discolour and the misshapen carved out shape curiously.

“This?” He pointed to the misshapen horn in question. “A little bit. It was growing at the wrong angle, so I had to train it back. If it tries to grow back into my face again, I’ll have to wear horn weights.”

“Oh.” Melanie didn’t totally understand his answer.

“Can I ask you a question now?”

“Okay.”

“The brown hair. And the weird eye colour you have. Is everyone's like that where you’re from?”

“It’s not weird! They’re hazel. And no. Everyone is different. There are lots of colours. My mum has dark brown hair and blue eyes.”

“What about your father?” Naul asked, intrigued.

“I don’t know. I don’t have a dad. Mum doesn’t know who he was.”

Naul’s head tilted, but before he could speak again Tabastian and Kyro returned from their adventure on the ice. Kyro was wiping the wet from his pants and the bottom of his coat and the fear was gone from his face.

“Were you watching Mel? I did it on my own! And I only fell down four times!”

“I want to try too, Tabby!” Melanie raised her hands up in the air, signalling for him to lift her up.

Tabastian blinked. He paused raking his hand through the ends of his wind-swept hair.

“What?”

“I want to try going super-fast too!” Melanie elaborated excitedly.

“No, I meant, what did you call me?”

“Oh. Tabby! Tabastian is too long. So I gave you a shorter name.” Melanie smiled cheekily.

“That means you’re friends now,” Kyro whispered loudly in his brother’s ear.

Naul emitted a hearty laugh. “Oh, that absolutely suits you,” he grinned at his friend between breaths.

Tabastian returned an exasperated expression.

“Alright Little Wingless,” Naul lowered himself to Melanie’s level to speak to her. Recovering from his laughing fit, he wiped back the lingering tears of laughter. “What’s say were team up to race the royal brothers?”

Melanie mimicked the older boy’s contagious smile.

“Yeah!”

“Again!” Melanie yelled from atop Naul shoulders. “Let’s race again!”

The thrill of whooshing along on the ice so high up had been quite exhilarating. It was higher than being on her mother’s shoulders, the icy wind blasted against her face, along with the sound of Naul wings rippling as she hung on had combined into an excitingly fun experience.

“I don’t think I’ve got another one in me!” Naul wheezed, exhausted from the repeated challenges against his prince friend. “You’re heavier than you look!”

“Rude! I’m as light as a feather! C’mon Naul we were so close!”

Naul huffed as slid off the lake and walked back up onto the slushy land. Sweat stuck his fringe damply against his forehead.

“Says Little Miss Wingless. I think I know a bit more about feathers than you do. And two out of six wins is not close.”

“Seems like you need some more practice, Naul.” Tabastian remarked, equally as puffed but looking far less dishevelled, while he and Naul bent down to lower the younger children from their backs.

“Maybe you shouldn’t skip so much of your ground forces training.”

“Yeah, Naul. You’re too slow.” Melanie taunted.

“Why you cheeky little brat-” Naul pretended to chase her.

Melanie squealed playfully as she fled from him. She grabbed Kyro’s hand as she did so and tugged him along.

“C’mon Kyro. I know something else fun we can do!”