008 Those Who Watch the Sky - 08
08 – Children Cursed
by the Sky 5
“A-a monster!”
Squawk could not contain himself from screaming as he
pointed an accusatory finger at the girl who stood beyond the wreckage of the
machine sentry that had but a moment before been threatening his, Link’s, and
Elliot’s lives. The red-haired girl seemed confused and looked over her
shoulder for any sign of the monster that the nāti spoke of, the large blue
beads holding her hair on either side of her face swinging gently as she turned
revealing the long ponytail that ran down her back. As she looked for any sign
of a monster her long and slender while feathered tail twitched about and the
look of her confusion deepened under her straight cut bangs.
“I don’t see a monster… What about you Link? ~♪”
“I’m afraid that he’s talking about you Melody…”
“Huh? Me? I’m not a monster ~♪ What a silly nāti ~♪”
Drawn by Elliot’s voice the girl named Melody turned back
to face the group and offered them a happy smile. The sight of her mouth
falling open joyfully left Squawk trying to scramble backwards up the tree
behind him and was only stopped as Link groaned and drove her hand into the top
of his head. Squawk clutched at his suddenly throbbing head and scowled and
screeched at Link with watery eyes.
“What was that for you idiot?!”
“For not being able to tell the difference between Melody
and a monster.”
“What part of that is not a monster?! Do you see those
wings?! And those talons?! That is most obviously a harpy?!”
“Ugh~!”
Link groaned again and walked over to Melody but not before
clonking Squawk on the head again, though to less effect as he was still
clutching his head. The motion was enough to get Squawk to continue glaring at
her as she approached the white bird-winged girl with red hair and massive blue
eyes and note if not for the girl’s stilt like feet that ended in her head
crushing talons she would not have stood as near Link’s height as she did.
Melody was also thin enough herself to make Link look more filled in, though
like the other girl she was reasonably shapely all the same though her bosom
was not as developed.
“I’ve read a fair share of books Squawk and Melody here is
definitely not a harpy, most likely.”
“Most likely?!”
“Well we can’t really be sure if she is or just a member of
a chimeric race we aren’t familiar with.”
Elliot tried to offer Squawk a bit of reassurance with a
smile but his blood soaked face did not serve him well under the circumstances.
Looking at Elliot aghast, Squawk stammered in disbelief.
“Do you hear what you’re saying you idiot?”
“Um… Link, why does he seem so upset?”
“Because while he’s accusing Elliot of not hearing his own
words he hasn’t heard a thing that you’ve said.”
“Really? ~♪ Well if that’s all I just need to introduce myself ~♪”
“Melody, wait!”
Whether she was purposely ignoring her or honestly did not
hear Link, Melody walked up and extended a mid-thigh length, brown stocking
clad leg towards Squawk. She turned her talon sideways as though to shake hands
but all Squawk seemed to notice were the razor sharp claws that extended from
her uncovered toes beyond where the stocking ended. Staring at the lethal
implement that tore through solid metal effortlessly and glistened in the fire
light of the burning woods Squawks eyes watered in terror. Melody didn’t seem
to understand and offered him a big smile as she introduced herself.
“I’m Melody, and you must be Squawk ~♪ It’s nice to meet you ~♪”
“Keep away from me you foul beast! I won’t be swayed by
your honeyed song only to become you’re next meal!”
“You really don’t need to panic like that Squawk. Melody
doesn’t eat people, and eight years of being her friend since Link and I found
her wandering the woods alone attests to that.”
“You’re also obviously ignoring some of the more obvious
differences between her and an actual harpy. By the way Melody, sorry about
this.”
“Huh– ?! Eek~! ~♪”
Melody was unprepared as Link walked up behind her and
grabbed and released the seat of the white leotard that she was garbed in
causing it snap against her rear. Placing her left hand on Melody’s shoulder
Link leaned into her back and looked down angrily at Squawk.
“I hope you saw that and remembered that harpies don’t wear
clothes, or have big blue ribbons in their hair. They also don’t have icaran
legs but rather actual bird legs and are totally covered in feathers. And
didn’t you notice her ears either?”
Bringing up Melody’s ears Link ran her fingers up the long
ears that emerged from the sides of her head and all the way to the white down
covered tips well above the top of her head.
“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha! ~♪ Stop that Link! ~♪ That tickles! ~♪”
Melody tried to pull away as she giggled from the sensation
brought by Link’s fingers against her ears but was suddenly embraced tightly
from behind.
“Huh? Link?”
Turning her head to see Link resting hers on her left
shoulder with closed eyes that failed to stop the tears that ran down her
cheeks Melody grew even more confused. Turning to Elliot for answers he was not
much better off than Link though he managed to at least smile earnestly at the
perhaps harpy. No immediate answer was coming forth from Link either as she
continued to chastise Squawk.
“And then I can’t believe that you don’t recognize my
handiwork Squawk. The toe rings to secure her stockings along with the thigh
clasps. These beads in her hair and the clasps on her leotard. Even just her
clothes in general were all made by me. Being able to make clothes for Melody
is one of the few times I’ve been glad for all of the training I’ve received
for anything but adventuring.”
“You’ve definitely gotten better at Link ~♪ The first few outfits you made
me never fit right but this one fits so well it’s like I’m not wearing anything
at all ~♪”
“I don’t even care about that right now Melody… I’m just so
happy that someone else from Cross asides from the three of us is still alive…”
Tightening her embrace of Melody, Link allowed herself to
start bawling into the maybe harpy’s shoulder. The scene brought a bit of
jealousy to the boys though Elliot did a better job hiding his than Squawk who
finally seemed to be accepting Melody.
“So where’s my hug and tears you idiot?!”
“Shut up Squawk… You were making fun of us as soon as you
saw us so you don’t get a hug.”
With a mighty harrumph Squawk finally straightened himself
up and crossed his arms in disapproval. The obvious joy displayed on the faces
of Link and Elliot though softened his demeanor, if only ever so slightly. It
was still Squawk after all and that meant he had another complaint or more
ready for the world to hear.
“Well whatever the case we’ve met up with your pet harpy
even if it just ended up rescuing us instead of whatever it was you had planned
Elliot.”
“You’re kind of mean, aren’t you? ~♪ That’ll make it hard to get
along ~♪”
“I’ve no intention of getting along with you beast. I’ll
acknowledge that these two idiots trust you and that you destroyed the machine
sentry, but you are still a beast as far as I can tell.”
“You could at least use my name though ~♪ It’s Melody by the way if you
didn’t hear me before ~♪ Link and Elliot came up with it
~♪”
“I don’t see why a monster needs a name–”
“Because she’s our friend and not a monster.”
Turning to glare up at Elliot, Squawk had a rebuttal ready
to fly out from his beak but the shadow cast over Elliot’s smile did not escape
him and he changed what he was going to say.
“Are you so sure of that Elliot? I do believe that’s–”
“Shh…”
The shushing sound made by Elliot almost went unheard over
the sound his sword made as it was returned to its scabbard. It did not need to
be heard though as something about the way that Elliot looked at Squawk with
such a kind smile silenced the nāti uncomfortably. Having taken over the
conversation Elliot turned his attention to Melody and Link, who had all but
lost all of her strength and was fully supported by the maybe harpy.
“I think it’ll be best just to let him continue calling you
a harpy Melody. I know it’s neither flattering nor likely accurate, but at
least it still makes you special since it’s unlikely that there are any harpies
in the world like you.”
“You can’t be sure of that you idiot. She has to share
traits with her parents at least, unless of course she’s a Sa·B·er. It’d
explain quite a bit, except maybe how a child was able to maintain their human
will.”
“I wouldn’t know either way ~♪ I’ve been like this for as long as I can remember and
everything else I know Link and Elliot taught me ~♪ Except for how to fight ~♪ My instincts have always been
all I’ve needed there and even Link has learned from me ~♪!”
“I guess that would explain those useless kicks you were
throwing out earlier…”
“You weren’t much help either Squawk…”
Link offered Squawk a pout as she looked up from Melody’s
shoulder and was rewarded with a loud harrumph. Not knowing if she was going to
be caught in another unpleasant surprise Melody simply smiled awkwardly just as
the fire that engulfed the wood where they stood reminded them of its presence.
Surprising everyone the fire ate through enough of the tree they had been next
to and brought it crashing down around them, the last vestiges of the
protection spell Squawk had cast mitigating most of the damage they would have
suffered. Melody was the exception but her quick reflexes allowed her to jump
out of harm’s way almost instantly even though it meant knocking Link onto her
rear.
“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha! ~♪ Sorry about that Link ~♪ It might be too dangerous to stay here much longer though
~♪”
“We definitely should seek out shelter, but where? I’ve no
idea where we are and between the fire, the Foreigners, and the machine
sentries being hostile our options aren’t particular clear right now. We only
came in this direction because I believed I saw you fall from battle with the
Foreigners above us in the clouds Melody.”
“The icky things? Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha! ~♪ Don’t be
silly Elliot~♪ Those things aren’t
dangerous at all. I only fell down because the air is really angry, unstable,
and hard to predict ~♪ You weren’t
having any trouble with them were you?”
“Not particularly, but Link’s leg
needed tending to so we couldn’t continue fighting
indefinitely.”
“I figured you wouldn’t have
any trouble ~♪ Especially since the other two
I saw seemed to be doing okay ~♪”
“Other two?!”
The efforts of LInk, Elliot, and
Squawk to distance themselves from the fallen tree came to a sudden halt as
they all leveled Link with questioning looks and the words to vocalize their
shared question. Suddenly the center of attention again Melody laughed
nervously.
“Yeah… they
were further south following a really broken metal hallway through a bunch of
cliffs that didn’t used to be there. I didn’t talk
to them though because you two warned me that people would probably get the
wrong idea about me, just like I guess your friend Squawk has ~♪ Ah,
ha, ha, ha, ha ~♪ That and the four-legged one
was really scary looking the way he was wielding his swords ~♪”
The jab against Squawk went
uncontested as even he was filled with hope at the description that he
recognized along with Link and Elliot. He was however still the first to speak
up.
“My word, someone who actually
knows what they are doing is still alive! And from the sounds of it he’s
probably in terrain that we can catch up to him in!”
“Well, there’s a
bunch of the icky things between here and there, though the forest wasn’t on
fire that far south at least ~♪ By now though they’re
probably clear of the forest ~♪”
“That’s fine
Melody. I think Elliot and I have rested enough to fight off some more
Foreigners, and I agree with you that’s it’s not
safe here anymore. So do you think you can take us them?”
“It’d be easier to find them again
from the air, but I think the wind can guide me well enough ~♪”
“Then please lead on Melody.”
“Okay Elliot! ~♪”
Copyright © 2019 Joshua D Tarwater
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