The Little Fairy

I woke up in a daze, unsure of where I was. The sun was beaming down on me and I could tell I was in the woods because of the twigs sticking into my back which was still sore. I looked at my body to see I was still wearing my gown from the Ceremony which was now drenched in dried and sticky blood. I sat up best I could given the circumstances, my body screaming at me to resume my spot on the ground. I had to get up and I had to get away before anyone spotted me.

I found my way to the old Farmer's house, peeking through the clearing I saw his chimney going so I knew he was home. I somehow made my way to his porch where I collapsed yet again, hearing the collie barking frantically at the door before I blacked out again.

The second time waking up, I smelled something unfamiliar… something cooking maybe. the warmth of the fireplace in front of me and a wool blanket covered my beaten body. “Good, you’re awake.” A gruff voice came from behind me. The old man emerged from around the corner with a cup of some warm liquid that tasted bitter but perked me up. “I didn’t call the police. I know who you are. You and that fella come and steal my veggies all the time.” Luckily fairies have evolved our language to match the humans so I could understand him.

“My… My brother.” I said hoarsely, my voice sore from misuse.

“Your brother.” He muttered, sitting in a chair next to his companion by the fire. “Why were you covered in blood? I don’t know exactly what you are, I just know you’re some sort of being that exists out of human knowledge.” He paused again to give the dog a scratch on the head. “Is it your own blood?” He looked disgusted by the saying, hoping I didn’t just do some sort of sacrifice.

“Yes..” I started. “It is my own blood. I am what humans would call the Fae, or..” I paused, trying to think of the word. “A Fairy.” I looked away ashamed, covering myself more because what I learned in the Lessons is that humans don’t like seeing the bare body.

“A Fairy..” He looked at me in wonder. “Where are your wings, little Fairy?”

“That’s why I’m covered in blood. They broke and ripped from my body when they emerged because I crossed the barrier when I wasn’t supposed to. I came to your house because I knew you would take me in, or hoped that you would, without question.” I looked at him sadly, hoping he wouldn’t kick me out into the cold.

“Well, it looked like you need a shower. I put some clean clothes and a towel for you to dry with. I’ll have supper ready when you’re done.” He got up from his seat to show me where he kept his tub which he called the ‘bathroom’, which makes sense, it’s where you bathe. “We can go shopping in the morning for proper clothes. Leave that in the hamper for me to burn later.”

“No! We can’t burn this. My mother spent years making this.” My eyes started to fill with tears at the thought of losing the only thing I had left of my family and my old life.

“I’ll figure out a way to clean it. For now, throw it aside for me to deal with.” He started to walk out the door before turning back to me. “You do know how to use a shower, right?”

“Oh, um, no actually. I don’t.” I shifted on my feet awkwardly, trying not to meet his gaze.

He sighed and turned it on for me using 2 silver nozzles at one side of the basin. “I’m just going to run a bath, I’m not sure you know how to use the shower head yet. My daughter and son are coming home from college in a few days. They should be able to show you the ropes.” He finally exited the bathroom and left me alone with my thoughts.

So he had children. Why had I never noticed that before? My mind was still spinning as I entered the tub, turning off the water when it got full enough like he showed me, the water instantly turned a muddy red. There were little vials of a flimsy material on the side of the basin with words like ‘Shampoo’, ‘Conditioner’, and ‘Body wash’. He didn’t tell me how to use those, but I saw a bar of soap and I knew how to use that.

After cleaning myself up, I headed downstairs in what I’m assuming was an old night gown of his daughters because it fit me almost perfectly, just a little bit too big because even in our ‘human’ form, faeries are still quite petite. “Thank you for being so hospitable to me, sir.” I cowered in the doorway, unsure of what to do next.

He motioned for me to sit at the table which was neatly made with table linen and ceramic plates. “How old are you, anyway? That nightgown was from when my daughter was twelve years old and it looks like it's even too baggy for you.” He chuckled to himself and continued stirring something in the kitchen.

I pondered for a second trying to explain that although I was about his age, I was still considered a teenager. “I’m seventeen, sir.” I crinkled the dress under the table, unsure of what to do with myself.

“You’re pretty small for seventeen.” He poured a soup into a few bowls and placed one in front of me. It was a dark brown soup with what looked like some vegetables and meat in it. “Are all fairies small like this?” He took a loud slurp from his spoon, eyeing me carefully.

“Yes, sir.” I carefully dipped the spoon into the soup and lifted it to my lips, taking a gentle sip of the brown liquid. A savory and salty taste met my tongue. It was something I had never experienced before. My eyes widened in excitement and I brought the bowl up to my lips and devoured the soup within seconds. The Farmer just looked at me in amazement because he had given me a serving as big as his.

“I didn’t think something so little could eat so much.” His spoon had barely made it to his lips for his second serving before I had already finished mine.

I blushed in embarrassment. “Sorry, mother taught me to have better manners than that.”

“What is your name, by the way? I’ve just been calling you ‘that girl’.” He took out a piece of the meat and gave it to his companion.

“Kreya, sir.” My face was still hot from the incident; I couldn’t even look him in the eye.

“Call me Don.” He said plainly as he finished up his meal. “I’ll teach you a little bit more about what I do here in the morning. For now,” He took both our plates and placed them in a metal sink, “I’ll show you where you’ll be staying until we can figure something else out.”

He showed me up to a room where he had already put a pair of clean clothes on the rocking chair for the morning. It was a decent size room, big enough to hold a bed, a dresser, and a writing desk. The sheets on the bed were made of cotton dyed light pink, and the quilt he had put on the bed was a multi-pattern from what looked like scrap pieces of fabric. “Thank you, Don. I really appreciate it.” He nodded with a small smile and closed the door, leaving me to my thoughts.

I wonder what mother and father are doing; what they’re thinking. The absolute worst happened when my wings came in. I didn’t know what was going to become of me or my family now and I’m just hoping that they’ll come to see me soon. I hope at least Tyber knows where I would go.