Little Miss Wingless

Melanie received a small fright as the sound of loud scratching suddenly made her jump.

Kyro looked rather happy as he crawled over his huge bed towards the boarded closed window and unlatched the wooden panels. As they creaked open a chilly wisp of wind blew through. A pair of big ears followed by a furry little head with beady lilac eyes popped up from the other side of the sill.

The long-bodied critter leaped over the gap from the window onto the piled bed covers. Its short stumpy legs bounced on the soft surface excitedly. The grey colour of its fur was speckled with vibrant white markings.

“It’s so fluffy and cute!” Melanie cooed. She grabbed at the creature and it squeaked in protest as it wriggled in her hands. “Is this corgi-ferret-looking thing your pet?”

“Her name is Bik and she’s an erzata. She climbs up here to see me sometimes.” Kyro replied.

The little creature escaped from Melanie’s hold, running up her arm and then jumping onto Kyro’s shoulder. He scratched under the creature’s tiny chin and it responded with a soft crackly purr, before it rolled back onto the bed and then proceeded to joyously ping around Kyro’s bedroom.

Melanie was distracted from the erzatas shenanigans by the sound of commotion outside. She glanced down from the window to the view below of the cheerful town. With the sun having set now, the fires and many shining lanterns decorated the area. Far more stalls had been set up now. And there was music, dancing, and laughter and the town was flooded with patrons.

“Is there a party?” Melanie asked as absorbed the joyous atmosphere.

Kyro joined her by the window. “Kind of. It’s the Lanera Festival. It’s a three-day celebration before the weather becomes too cold and the snowstorms start. Traders come from different regions to sell things and there are events, performances, and dancing. Today is the last night of the festival.”

“It looks like fun!” Melanie stared down in awe as she watched some other children laugh and play, festival toys and food in hand.

Kyro fell silent. Melanie could feel him staring at her.

“What?” She remarked, looking back at him.

“Do you want to go?” He asked nervously.

“Can we?” Melanie asked excitedly.

"Mmm. Yes.” Kyro mumbled back, still sounding uneasy. But he retrieved two thick coats from one of his clothing trunks and passed one to Melanie.

There was a panel at the back of the coat that ran down the middle, then split and tied at the front, leaving slitted gaps to cater for wings that Melanie did not have. Kyro also lent Melanie some large boots that were woolly on the inside. She instantly loved them, kicking off her school shoes to replace them with the warmer alternative.

“What are doing?” She asked as Kyro hoisted his leg up over the window.

“Taking you to the festival.” He answered simply.

“Do you normally fly out the window?” Melanie asked while she peered down at the excessive height.

“No. I walk along the window ledge and then use that tree”, Kyro answered, pointing to the thick-branched, leaf-bare tree that leaned close to the tall building.

“You only have to jump a little bit onto the branch.” He continued while he helped Melanie to the outside of the building.

“Aren’t you scared you’ll fall?”

Melanie was a little frightened being so high up, but with the meek Kyro not seemingly worried she tried to brush her fears away.

Kyro popped the straps loose of his braced wings as they shuffled along the ledge towards the branches.

“No.” He replied. “I’m not supposed to use my wings yet. But I can glide down if I slip.”

Melanie felt at a disadvantage as she watched Kyro ease himself to the edge, then skip onto one of the tree branches, catching his weight on the thick centre trunk. Little icicles that had formed on the limbs crumbled free.

Melanie gulped as she followed suit and tried not to tremble.

“You’ll catch me if I fall right?” Melanie asked the boy. But did not wait for an answer before she leapt.

The branches were slippery under her feet and she harshly forward, slamming into Kyro. He wheezed as the wind was knocked out of him, but held Melanie tight to stop both of them tumbling out of the tree.

“Are you alright?” Kyro asked.

Melanie grinned back at him in response.

Melanie laughed with excitement as her boots finally hit the ground and they headed over to the festivities.

Melanie felt tiny mingling in with the rest of the crowd. Indeed, everyone was of taller height than she was used to. They all had various tones of white hair and amber eyes. Up closer she could see each of the men having different lengths and unique curving shapes of horn.

Melanie would have certainly out of place if she hadn’t been so distracted by the event. There were some uneasy stares in Kyro and Melanie’s direction, but the bulk of the festival attendees seemed far too preoccupied to take much notice of the two children.

Mel and Kyro watched musicians and dancers perform in a sectioned-off makeshift stage. Colourful outfits and wings were shimmering with detailed jewellery. Some dancers spun and juggled batons and hoops, their bodies spinning and swaying along with the rhythm of music, exotic to Melanie’s ears. As the dancers finished their routine, they began picking people out of the crowd to invite to dance with them, and Kyro quickly pushed Melanie along.

Melanie was equally fascinated as they briefly watched soldiers demonstrating their skills by participating in a miniature tournament of clashing wooden swords. These men and women wore a mix of thick leather and silver armour in between their cloth garments, dressed up for the event but still practical for fighting. Unlike the extravagant dancers, their hair and wings were secured back firmly. And although their movements unintentionally cascaded along to the beat of the festival, their moves were fierce and precise.

The cheering and roars of the crowd washed out as the two children next approached the clutter of artisans. Many were selling their wares; a vast collection of things including traditional artwork, pottery and ornaments, fabrics, trinkets and accessories. But Melanie was only momentarily enticed by the shiny display of stock as something else had caught her eye.

A lengthy strip along one of the buildings where market-goers were encouraged to participate in drawing upon the walls and footpath with a chalk-like pigment. It was smeared brightly like paint on the damp stone to create a rainbow collaboration featuring different levels of skill and design. Melanie’s fingers twitched with excitement as she and Kyro waited in the queue to collect the supplies to also join in the event.

Sharing the few colours they were rationed, Melanie tried her best to draw Bik, while Kyro drew beautiful patterns and swirling designs that blended in between the other artwork.

After they were finished with their masterpieces, the delicious smell was too enticing, so Melanie insisted that they head to the food stalls next. As they walked through the rows of vendors eagerly offering samples, Kyro unexpectedly ducked behind a barrel.

“Why are we hiding?” Melanie whispered to him as she mimicked his actions. Even with such a busy crowd, the air was so frosty and crisp now that she could see her breath.

“My brother in there,” Kyro whispered back as she tugged Mel closer towards him and less out of view.

Both the boys Kyro pointed towards were much older than he was. The teenagers leaning against one of the food stalls were easily double his height. They were too far away to hear, but Melanie could see they were politely conversing with the chuffed marketeers as they piled tasty treats onto rustic-looking napkins.

Both of the boys had wooden swords attached to their support braces, and their wings were still loosely restrained back, suggesting they may have been a part of the evening’s tournament event.

Mel guessed the taller boy out of the two was Kyro’s brother. He had a more mature, but obvious resemblance to Kyro in facial structure and the same elegant length of hair. The pale bulk of it hung back in a ponytail and his fringe naturally parted out of his face, the longer strands ends were braided together hanging down both sides of his cheeks.

His horns were a gritty ivory and emerged from behind his hairline, curling back, slightly twisting sharply downwards before continuing to curve. The clothing he wore along with his light armour was in shades of red, white and yellow, and he had a broad silver cuff on one of his ears.

The other young male had shorter, choppy hair that was a more ashen shade of white. His horn growth started further forward and grew at a higher pulled-back angle before starting to curl. There was a diverge in colour where it looked like they had been filed down to train them to grow at a more desirable angle. He had a far less stern expression compared to his friend, and as he happily accepted the warm food he was offered, he shot the young server lady a toothy smile that made her blush.

“Everyone likes Tabastian. I wish I could talk to people like he does.” Kyro sighed sadly as he watched the teenage boys hand over some silver coins and then continue on their way, walking back into the flow of the crowd.

“Why can’t you?” Melanie asked, watching the same food stall take a fresh batch of curious little round buns out of the fire. “You should ask for some of those round things too.”

Kyro looked horrified.

“They smell good. Don’t you want some?” Melanie suggested.

“Um... Do you want some?” Kyro shifted his weight nervously.

“Yeah!” Melanie admitted eagerly. “But I think they’re more likely to serve you than me.” She added as a couple glanced in her direction with displeasure and whispered insinuatingly to each other.

Melanie pretended to ignore the harsh attitude of the strangers and intertwined her fingers with Kyro’s. He said nothing but clenched her hand tightly as Melanie dragged him closer to the counter which his brother had just vacated.

Melanie gave him a push to encourage him, her staying at an inconspicuous distance, while his boots scuffled forward. Kyro stared up at the pretty server lady who returned him a similar worried expression.

“H-hello.” Kyro’s voice wobbled.