Wingless Mors

Don’t fly

Before they could even get close to the first village outside of the empire, Thistle and Flutilia were stopped dead in their flight. The queen had still not said a single word to her younger sister not ready to face the subject that plagued their minds.

But now rain began to pour from above and they had no choice but to take refuge within a log. Thistle fluttered her wings as she went back and forth on one part of the log before hearing a frustrated sigh from both of them in the air, neither had mentioned why Flutilia had suddenly taken Thistle to the furthest parts of the empire she realised she had never been past the inner towns.

"Why are we doing this? Like why are we travelling so far out of the empire?"

Flutilia tried to resist groaning at the questions,

"Thistle you will understand once we arrive, I can't tell you or show you until we get there."

"But why?"

Flutilia held in her breath before finally giving a slither of information, her fingers trembled as she spoke softly.

"I promised Mother and Father that should something threaten our existence and the empire that I would take you to a place in the outer skirts of the empire, there you will gain answers to all your questions and...learn more. That's all I can say until we arrive."

Thistle groaned as she had barely gained an answer at all, Flutilia touched a raindrop that had landed on the log catching a sideward glance from Thistle but she knew what she was doing enough to make sure that the water didn't touch their wings. She rubbed the rain between her fingers and nodded to herself, a curse leaving her lips.

"What? What is it?"

"This rain isn't letting up anytime soon if anything it might get worse to the point of a storm."

"Can we ride it out?"

Flutilia shook her head as she had Thistle cut down two great swallow leaves, she sighed, of course, the Queen would have a small sewing kit with her on such a trip although it was in case her scrolls got damaged on the trip.

"No. If we tried to stay here through the night if it doesn't continue, we would be flooded by dawn,"

She pointed to the ground of the forest and log that was already starting to fill with water.

"If we leave now we can reach the outskirts by midnight, tomorrow latest."

"What about our wings? if they get touched by rain not only can we not fly but we could get them ripped so bad we turn to dust!"

Flutilia touched Thistle's shoulder and held it there until she released a deep breath and relaxed her haunched back, Flutilia raised the sewn together leaves and carried the scrolls in her arms. she spoke calmly yet her lip trembled,

"Stay close, stay alert and don't stop."

Both of them flew in a calm pace into the rain, the leaves holding together steadily as the light rain patted against it. The light was easy but it was only a matter of time before the rain would get harder, Flutilia silently hoped that when it did come not only did the leaves hold together but that both of them would stay calm enough to handle it together.

{•°•°•°•}

"Brother? Why does Mother fret so much about beyond the Grotto? Surely it's not THAT dangerous out there?"

He shrugged as they fixed their beds made of cotton and leaves, he stayed silent knowing that it was better if she knew nothing.

Meanwhile, she gazed up at the moon that rose higher, softly whispering to herself.

"One day I'll go past that grotto, I'll make sure I do!"

Her eyes grew heavy as she yawned.