Sky Flyers

~ Part IV ~

            Pari’lin held tightly to the reigns of his serp’dol, enjoying the rush of the wind in his face as they plummeted earthward towards the smoke. The Flyer did not dare close his eyes as he wanted desperately to see everything and anything he could from these new heights. There was absolutely no one in the grove who could say they had flown so far and had seen so much- it was absolutely exhilarating.

            A squawk emitted from the serp’dol to let his rider know they were ready to land and Pari’lin gripped the reigns a little tighter yet in preparation for the touchdown. The serp’dol made a very smooth landing, one that the Flyer hardly felt, right into the verge to the west of the smoke’s source. What Pari’lin saw nearly stole his breath- he had seen campfires made before, but none were ever thisbig! Why, it had to tower at least seven feet above his head! Then again- Flyers are very tiny people compared to humans- so perhaps seven feet is a bit of an exaggeration; it is likely that it was only two or three feet above his head.

            “My goodness, look at how bright it burns!” Pari’lin exclaimed, his voice no more than a whisper to the ears he did not know was listening.

            Only a short distance from the posh green surroundings, sitting right in front of the fire, was a young woman roasting some sort of meat over the flames. The young Flyer turned and told his mount to stay behind and it did so, curling up to rest before their flight home. Pari’lin crept out, walking slowly around the fire in a wide arc to keep from the intense heat emanating from it, and lit his eyes upon the young human woman. He gazed in wonder- he’d often heard that there were people, big people, so much unlike the Flyers, wandering outside their grove. He had never seen one before but the fin’dol always sang of human stories.

            Pari’lin stood there, amazed at the sight.  The woman was dressed in a pale blue wrap, her hair dark as night and tightly curled, pulled back to fall gracefully upon creamy shoulders. If she were to shrink to his size and magically grow a pair of beautiful wings, Pari’lin imagined that the human woman would certainly pass as a Flyer. He found that this human woman was really almost no different in appearance beside her size and lack of wings.

            “She’s stunning,” he breathed, his feet taking him closer to her.

            And then the woman moved, grey eyes catching the Flyer’s minute form beside her, and she gaped, blinking with disbelief. From her expression Pari’lin drew that she had no idea what the woman thought she was looking at. The Flyer froze, not quite sure what to do. He had not intended to see what he had when first setting out from the Grove- in fact he never expected to see a human, of all things!

            “What is this? Are you one of the fae folk, little one?” The woman spoke softly, leaning her head down to have a better look at Pari’lin.

            Pari’lin almost felt inclined to be insulted. The fae folk were stupid and frivolous while Flyers, despite their names, were more down to earth. However the annoyance melted- how could she know any better if she’d never seen one of his kind, before?

            “I am no fae,” Pari’lin replied, placing his hands on his hips defiantly. “I am a Flyer!”

            The woman canted her head to one side, puzzled. “A Flyer…what is that? Where do you come from?”

            Pari’lin grinned, “I am a Flyer that is what one is. I hail from a grove on top of a hill, hidden to all eyes but mine and my people. Are you a human?”

            The woman seemed to ponder upon her answer and at a length spoke. “I am a human, yes. How strange- I have never seen something like you before. Why, I did not even think the fae folk existed!”

            “Oh they exist, but don’t be so disappointed to not have seen them.” Pari’lin mused. “Flyers are much friendlier anyhow.”

            “Is that so?” the woman smiled.

            The Flyer spoke with her for a while longer, learning her name was Neptune, quite an unusual name, but for humans it was commonplace. She had gone on a trip and was returning home after a moon’s time and stopped to rest a while when Pari’lin had come across her. They spoke of many things- Pari’lin telling of Flyer traditions and of our speech, and she complied, answering his questions about human folk.

            The day soon grew late and Pari’lin gazed at the sky to see it shift from blue to a slight orange. At that moment he’d remembered he needed to return before the sun finished setting and he began to back away from Neptune.

            “Where are you going? I would still love to hear more stories, please don’t leave!” Neptune pleaded to the Flyer prince.

            Pari’lin waved his hands, wings shaking lightly. “I really must go- I am expected home soon. It was a pleasure to meet a human, Neptune, perhaps we shall meet again.”

            As the Flyer turned, he heard a short cry escape from the young woman’s lips. It was obvious she’d become enamored with Pari’lin, for she instantly placed her hands over him before he could get too much farther. Feeling a bit panicked, the Flyer glanced up to see Neptune’s eyes hovering above the tiny opening between her hands.

            “I don’t want you to leave- surely they won’t miss you. I think you should come home with me, my friend.”

            Pari’lin felt much panicked now and shook his head in protest, not being able to go anywhere because the human woman had picked him up by the back of his tiny princeling cape. No matter how much he beat his wings and squirmed, he could not escape her two pinched fingers’ grasp. The Flyer shouted to his Serp’dol for help, but alas, the beast was still slumbering and it usually does not have the keenest of hearing anyhow.

            And so, Neptune stood to stomp out the fire before turning to proceed through the woods toward her home. Pari’lin was quite beside himself now, for the sun was setting and he was getting farther and farther from his Serp’dol and from his home.  The woman said nothing more to Pari’lin, her only sounds being the sweet humming escaping her lips. He’d had found the song lovely if he weren’t being carried off to unknown territories.

            “Won’t you please let me go, Miss Neptune?” he pleaded with her after some time had passed. The sky was now dark, the stars alight as a velvet blanket studded with countless diamonds and the full moon as a large pearl outshined them all. “My mother and father will be worried; they are waiting for my return.”

            Neptune ceased her steps and held Pari’lin up to better see him, a frown crossed her lips.

“I like you, little Pari’lin- I only wished to take you home and listen to more of your wonderful stories about your home.”

            The Flyer squirmed a little bit, “Let me stand in your palm, Miss Neptune, and I shall think this situation over. I promise not to try and escape.”

            Taking confidence that this being would be true to his word, Neptune allowed Pari’lin to stand in the palm of her hand. He paced over the slight curves of her palm, his feet treading so lightly it tickled the human woman’s skin. At last, a bright smile crossed the Flyer’s lips.

            “I know how to solve this problem! If you would kindly release me, I promise to visit you twice a month in the same clearing we met in today. And then I will be able to tell you stories upon stories each time. You can share all my stories with anyone you wish as long as you promise to never to follow me home or try to find it.”

            Neptune was very intrigued by the Flyer’s offer but still had her doubts. “How will I know that you will come back if I let you go? And how can you be sure that I will not try to follow you home?”

            Pari’lin smiled and gestured in the direction of the clearing. “I suppose you just have to trust me. I will trust you enough to keep your word if you will trust me to keep mine.”

            Time seemed to pass slowly as the young woman thought and Pari’lin grew worried that she would not accept this offer. He began to think about what might happen if she never let him go, if she brought him home with her and put him into a cage to confine him forever. As his wings began to shake with nervousness, Neptune replied to him at last.

            “Then I shall trust you, my friend. You and I will meet again with the half moon’s rising and then once more when it is full. I will bring you back to the clearing and see you off.”

            Very much relieved, Pari’lin smiled and flew to Neptune’s shoulder where he would sit until the clearing was reached. When the pair arrived, the Flyer’s Serp’dol was waiting patiently in the bush…waiting right beside a strange feathered creature that could only be a nightly bird of sorts. Neptune was amazed at the sight of the silvery reptile while Pari’lin had only eyes for the bird. He knew it was one of the rarely seen creatures of the sky- every once in a while one would land outside of the grove searching for insects to eat.

            “That is my ride,” Pari’lin found his voice at last and hovered in front of Neptune, “he is the Serp’dol I told you about…I will tell you more of him on our next meeting, friend, but right now I must really get home. I am already dreadfully late.”

            Neptune smiled, “Have a safe journey little one.”

            Without so much as another word, Pari’lin glided to his Serp’dol and mounted him, eyeing the night bird warily. However, the bird- the Sky’dol- made no move to try and eat him. Rather it hooted, ruffled its tawny feathers, and spoke in the language only Flyers could comprehend.

            “Your friend has told me you might possibly be lost…hoot-hoot…I am going to guide you home to the hill- my eyes are far better than both of yours.”

            The Sky’dol hooted twice more before taking flight and the Serp’dol lifted from the ground with ease to follow it…

*   *   *

            When Pari’lin finally returned home, he was first greeted by the many people who had heard of his trek, and then greeted by the Shu and Sha. They embraced their son first, having been worried sick when he did not return when he was supposed to, and then proceeded to scold him for being late. The prince Flyer quickly explained everything that had happened- he told them first how wonderful it felt to rise above the grove’s canopy, that the sights to see were something that should be seen at least once by every Flyer. He told them of the smoke and the lonely young human woman who had tried to take him home with her- the Shu’lin and Sha’la seemed wary of this until Pari’lin told them of the deal he’d stricken with Miss Neptune.

            Surprisingly, the king and queen did not have a negative reaction. When they noticed how happily (and safely) their son had returned, they decided to decree that every Flyer would have the option of rising above the canopy to do as Pari’lin had. This was partially because they were curious to rise above the ceiling of the grove and see the wonderful view for themselves.

            As time passed on, Pari’lin kept his promise to Neptune, visiting her twice every month. He eventually became Shu’lin to Butter-faeGrove- the name that Miss Neptune had decided upon calling her Flyer friend’s home. Pari’lin ruled without a Sha’la by his side, which some thought strange and others believed was because he had fallen in love with the human woman and would not want any other in her place. However, he was a just and kind ruler as his parents had been and grew to be even more loved and adored and doted upon by his people.

            Pari’lin would never meet the mother that birthed him nor the Flyer that fathered him, but perhaps it was for the best for they were not fit to be anyone’s parents, let alone someone with such a good heart and spirit as the Shu’lin. It is rumored that when Pari’lin passed away it was soon after the death of his dear human friend because he could not bear being without her.

            The tradition of the Flyers’ coming of age flight above the canopy would be held by every Shu and Sha from the time of Pari’lin to ours, for none could slake the curiosity of seeing the treetops with their own eyes. The stories of how the world above appeared changed as the outside world changed, as is only natural…

            Neptune never did try to follow Pari’lin back to the grove- she kept her promise to him though did tell his stories to her friends and family, who would pass them on for all of time…

***

            The Stone Pond’s waters once again ran clear as the images faded from them and Tan’rin’la lifted her chin to gaze upon the beautiful Sha’la before her. There was a smile upon the child Flyer’s lips that the Sha only found glee and satisfaction in.

            “And that, Tan’rin’la…is how the humans have come to know of our kind.”

            Silent for a moment, the child stood up, gazing at the Stone Pond and the silently swimming Fin’dol. She then returned her eyes to the queen.

            “One day, I will see all that Pari’lin saw for myself…and I promise to come back and tell you all about it, if you want me to.”

            The Sha’la smiled warmly to the tan’la and placed a hand gently upon her shoulder. “I should like that very much, young one…I hope I have answered your question well enough.”

            “Yes, majesty, you have,” Tan’rin’la replied with earnestness. “It was a good story…but I have to go home now, Mama will be worried about me.”

            Nodding, the queen began to lead the child from the magically laced room and an idea came to mind.

            “Tan’rin’la…what if we made an agreement?”

            The child glanced up with mild curiosity, eyes rounded. “Like Miss Neptune and Pari’lin?”

            “Yes,” the Sha nodded, her smile broadening. “If you keep your promise to never tell the story of Pari’lin then I will promise to have you return here twice a month to tell you more stories by the Stone Pond.”

            Tan’rin’la was delighted- her eyes lit up with her innocent grin and she bounced on her heels. “Come back for more stories about Pari’lin?”

            The queen laughed softly, “There are some more to be told of him, yes…and some others about different Flyers’ journies. Is it a deal?”

            Bouncing on her heels once more, Tan’rin’la nodded vigorously. “It’s a deal! Twice a month, just like Pari’lin and Miss Neptune, I promise. I have to go now…I’ll come back soon. Thank you, Sha’la.”

            Tan’rin’la left the smiling queen, treading happily along the paths toward her own home, seeing that the grove had changed since the time of Pari’lin, much like the outside world had changed. For this, she was glad, and began to wonder just what she would see when it was time for her to rise above the canopy. But until then, there would always be stories…

**A/N** That is the end of the story! I hope you enjoyed it- I know its not very long, but fairy tales usually aren’t…so this is as simple as a story you shall ever see from me, dear readers, thank you for taking the time to do so.

And to Princess Chloe- I do so hope you liked the ending ^_^

~Celebria