I arrived at the Bell Church right as the church bell was rung. The morning was a cold one, hinting at the harsh winter that was likely to soon be tormenting this region.

  Although I was finally here, I paused a moment at the edge of the forest. On the small dirt path that faded a little just behind me. I studied the distant buildings. The church. The library. The community center, and the houses and storage buildings throughout the fields and opening in this dense forest. There were a few distant people walking around, heading for the church. I knew they were the stragglers. The ringing bell was not to wake people up, or to summon them to the church but to let everyone who wasn’t in the church to know it was time to bow their heads and pray alongside the rest. The sermon had finished.

  Good timing on my part.

  I was glad to find the village fine. I had ran through the area decimated by those fires on the way here, to both check once more on Angie’s home for anything I had possibly missed, and also to see if both the fires still raged and also if the creature or person who had started them would be there. Sometimes such individuals did return to the scenes of their crimes.

  Sadly neither anything new had been revealed to me upon searching the bison’s burnt home again, and also I found no hide or tail of the monarch responsible for the fires. Or any other strange individuals like Cat and her people. On a good note though, the raging fires had died down. They had genuinely decimated several hundreds of square miles of forests and fields, mostly in patches, but there didn’t seem to be any more still burning flames. A small storm had formed not long after I had returned to Telmik, based off what I’d seen. The grounds had been mulchy and murky. What had been thick and dense forests were now slushy mud piles.

  Still…

  Shifting a little I glanced away from the buildings and to the farmlands nearby. I could see some of the cows in the distance, grazing. They were those stocky ones. Ones not for milking but instead their juicy innards and meat. I knew beyond those pastures would be pigs, chickens and many other farm animals. Enough livestock, and farmland, to feed the many people here and then some.

  Stepping forward, I sighed again at the headache I was about to endure.

  Not only was I here to deal with Fly and her situation, I was also here to speak with Plumb. About multiple things. Some things that the Chronicler and Randle hadn’t even realized, or cared to, even.

  But how could they? They were too concerned over their own lives. Their own passions. Their drama.

  Their petty schemes.

  Walking forward, I strode into the village calmly as the last rung of the bell echoed away, fading into obscurity.

  It’d not be long and people would start to pour from the church. Plumb though, like most of the other elders here in this village, would be in that church for a few hours more. They’d pray and worship a little longer than the rest. Being so devout, and elderly. So instead of doing my usual, of going to the eldest of the location first, I instead decided to go to the opposite.

  Glancing around at the houses, I made a tiny bet on one in the distance. Not the farthest building, but also not the closest. It was a two story building, but was smaller. Only a few rooms large.

  “Will I be right?” I mumbled as I headed for it.

  Of course I had no idea which house Fly was living in. Nor did I see anything outwardly visible to imply that was the one she was in, or living in, but I liked to trust my instincts. And right now my gut told me it was that building.

  “Oh my!”

  I paused, turned, and smiled and greeted Braid as she hurried over.

  “I heard you might be coming, Vim! Welcome back!” Braid happily greeted me with a huge smile as she gave me a deep bow. As she bowed her thick braid rolled along her shoulder, falling forward in front of her.

  “How’ve you been Braid? Read anything interesting lately?” I asked.

  “Why yes, of course I have! The fourth installment Vim, as I’m sure you’d know!” Braid happily said as she laughed at me, finding it hilarious I’d even ask such a thing.

  Right. Of course. “I myself didn’t care for it,” I said.

  Her happy laugh turned into a wry smirk. “I bet! I knew you’d say that!” she said.

  Glancing over her shoulder, I noted the other folks in the distance. Near the church. A few had noticed us, but as of yet no one else was approaching. Not too uncommon here. Many here were old, old enough to no longer grow too excited or surprised when I randomly showed up anymore.

  Braid tilted her head, glanced over her shoulder at what and who I was looking at, and then sighed and nodded. “Sorry Vim,” she then said.

  “For…?”

  “Not being able to properly take care of her. Fly. I mean, my apology is honestly not very genuine. It’s not like I actually tried to do anything to make her feel better, keeping my distance and all, but… you know…” Braid shrugged, seemingly feeling bad as she realized she was apologizing for being a bad person.

  “It’s okay. I’m to assume Fly is fine still? Still here?” I asked.

  She nodded. “She sleeps the mornings away. I think it’s her way of hiding from the church bells, and everyone else. A lot of the people here try to always get her into the church, if they see her out and about during morning sermon. They’re not forceful but they are pushy about it,” Braid said.

  I nodded and sighed. “Yes. I figured. Is that her home?” I asked with a point to the house I’d been heading to.

  “Hm? Yes. She lives with Limb. Or well… had lived with Limb. Limb’s now staying with Olivia,” Braid said gently.

  Limb… the girl with the missing arm. “Is she the one Fly got in fights with?” I asked.

  “Huh? No. Not at all. Limb though couldn’t handle the bullying, for trying to be Fly’s friend. I’ll be honest I’m not sure how it started, or who or how many were involved… but Fly’s gotten into a few fights with several people. Notably the younger ones. From what I understand she and another one of the girl’s butted heads a lot, and from there a tendency of bullying grew. And once Limb moved out and Fly got a whole house to herself it made some of the older adults get involved too,” Braid explained.

  “And why is that?” I asked, feeling annoyed.

  “You know how some of them are here, Vim. We’re supposed to share. A single person having a single home isn’t fair… at least in their eyes,” Braid said gently, as if she herself didn’t see anything wrong about such a perspective, but also didn’t agree with it. Like usual she seemed to be keeping a distance. Detached.

  All she ever cared about was that library. Her books. Never much else.

  “I see. Would you mind letting Plumb know I’m here? I want to go see Fly first before anything else, though,” I said, asking a small favor.

  “Sure! Before you leave though please come see me. I have a request,” Braid said.

  “Another book?” I asked.

  She nodded quickly. “I’ll give you the list!” she said as she turned to hurry away.

  I sighed at her. That had been why she had approached in the first place then. Likely had been waiting for me. Usually she missed the morning sermons as much as Fly likely did.

  Oh well. I didn’t care for her indifference but I had to at least respect the woman’s dedication and hobby. She had likely not helped Fly, or even considered it, but at the same time she had undoubtedly never bullied or done anything rude to her either. The lesser of the evils, in a way.

  Turning away myself, I headed for Fly’s home. Before anyone else could hurry over and bother me. It was a good thing that although still a village, they had larger distances between all the buildings. As to make each little home its own reclusive area, what with gardens and even small farmland patches.

  Approaching the building, I slowed as I neared the front garden… and realized something a little sad.

  The garden was well kept. Flowers. Bushes were tidy. The grass was a little long, but not so bad considering they really only had scythes and animals for lawn care here. Plus there were little pots and baskets around the front door. Not gifts left by others, but rather someone’s attempt to decorate. You could tell whoever had done the decorating was new at it. Unaccustomed. There was no sense of order, or color coordination. it looked like something I'd do halfheartedly just to be left alone.

  Fly’s attempts. To make her home comely.

  She had pride in her home. In her possession.

  Pride of ownership was not common for someone who wanted to leave…

  Taking a small breath I stepped forward once more, and reached the door. I debated just opening it but then remembered the young girl… even if covered completely in feathers was still just a girl. A young woman, even.

  Knocking on the thick wooden door, I noted the sound of something clanking against the other side of the door. Something had been hung up against it? Or maybe was resting against the door? It didn’t sound like a chair or box being pushed against the door, it had clanked too loosely.

  For a few moments I heard nothing, but then I heard a tiny creak. Glancing up, I leaned back just enough to see the feathered head peak out from one of the windows above me.

  A pair of sleepy eyes, joined by a frown, glared down at me.

  “Morning Fly,” I greeted her.

  “Vim…?” she asked groggily, and I heard and saw her quickly waking up at the sight of me.

  I nodded. “How’ve you been?” I asked.

  A huge smile planted itself on her face and I felt my own eyes go wide alongside hers as she leaned even farther out of the window. I quickly stepped back a few steps, as to catch the girl who had just leapt from the window with a gleeful shout.

  “How’ve you been!” Fly shouted happily as I caught the bundle of feathers.

  Doing everything I could to be careful, and not hurt her, as I lowered her to the ground I sighed in relief as she giggled up at me and wrapped me in a hug as her feet touched the ground. She hadn’t gotten hurt by me.

  “It’s been forever!” she said as she hugged me, and I patted her on the head instead of hugging her back. I was now worried over accidentally hurting the girl, since she was as tiny and thin as I had remembered her.

  Though… definitely more jubilant. Hadn’t she been rather demure before? Maybe this place had done her good even with all the issues.

  “It’s been a little over a year, yes. I expected bigger feathers by now, what’s with you? Are you not getting enough food?” I asked, teasing her a little.

  “Huh! No way! Look I’m totally taller!” Fly stepped back, raising her feathered arms to show off her half-naked self. She only wore a large toga type shirt, likely since it was easy for her to wear… and likely because she had just been in bed. Some of her feathers on her head were tilted at odd angles, akin to bed hair. Did that hurt?

  “You sure…?” I wondered as I played along. Honestly she could be taller, but I couldn’t tell.

  “Definitely! At least by a few feathers! I used to not be able to reach this little hole thingy! Look now though!” Fly turned to the door, and promptly reached up to touch the peephole.

  As she did I nodded, she could indeed touch it even if she was stretching with all her might to do so.

  “So uh… Fly,” I frowned as she turned and beamed at me, proud of touching the thing she supposedly hadn’t been able to do before.

  “Huh?”

  “The door. It’s locked,” I said. I had felt its latch upon knocking on it.

  Fly frowned and then turned… and her feathers slowly lowered all over her body, hugging her closer, as she realized what she’d just done.

  “Shoot… um… well… The back window should be open,” Fly said as she smiled sheepishly at me.

  I smiled and nodded. “Let’s check,” I said.

  “I could just climb back up there too, you know,” Fly said, unbothered by her mistake as she lead me around the house to the back.

  “I’ve no doubt,” I said as she led me to a large double framed window which led to the kitchen. It was shut, but it hadn’t been latched. Fly easily opened them, and grinned at me as if she had just accomplished a mighty task.

  “Go on in, let me in. I once showed you my room it’s only fair you return the favor,” I told her.

  “Oh yeah…!” Fly grinned at the idea as she hurriedly clambered up onto the window’s banister, and then into the house. I watched her climb through the window, roll along a counter, and then fall to the floor in the kitchen with a light thump. She was fine though as she hurriedly stood and then hurried out of the kitchen and out of sight, rounding a hallway and heading deeper into the house.

  I glanced at another door. One nearby. One that had likely led out here, to the backyard and shook my head at the bird. She could have just opened that one for me.

  Typical bird.

  Rounding to the front, I found the door open and Fly hurrying around as she cleaned up. She was in the middle of picking up small cushions off the ground, putting them properly onto couches and chairs. I glanced around the small living room, and once again realized the truth as I closed the front door behind me.

  She was a clean person. The tiny mess she was cleaning up wasn’t a mess at all, but instead her just properly organizing the few little things out of place. Birds were sometimes clean-freaks. But this wasn’t her trying to clean up just because I had shown up unannounced… this was her wanting to show me her home. In all its full glory.

  She was proud of this home. Proud to show it to me.

  And it wasn’t just a place she kept clean, either.

  “So uh… well… wait! Is Renn here with you? Isn’t she um…” Fly paused a moment as she put down the last pillow onto the couch, and worriedly glanced over at me.

  “She’s banished from here, yes. So no. She’s not with me. She’s fine though, and told me to tell you she misses you and looks forward to seeing you when she can,” I said.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  Fly beamed me a happy smile as she stood up and quickly nodded. “Yeah…! I’d love to see her again!”

  I tried not to notice the pure joy in her voice. That hadn’t just been a child’s simple joy, but outright relief.

  She missed her friend.

  “So. Which chair do you think would survive me?” I asked as I looked around at the couch and chairs. They were all wooden, and honestly not that well made. Simple things, although covered in thick cushions and pillows. One even had a blanket neatly draped over it.

  “This one’s the sturdiest!” Fly said as she stepped over and patted the cushion of one of the chairs.

  “Then let us see,” I said as I stepped over to it.

  She giggled as she stepped aside and I sat down into the chair. I made sure to leave my feet firmly planted, using them to alleviate some of the burden off the chair. Even with me being super careful, it still shifted and made noisy stressful complaints.

  “Want something to drink? Eat? I got snacks! I can make you breakfast too! I got eggs last night,” Fly rambled as she hurried away, heading back into the kitchen without even waiting for me to answer her.

  I sighed gently as I listened to the young bird rummage in the kitchen, gathering up cups and plates of food and drink.

  “Just a drink and some snacks. I’ve not worked up enough of an appetite this morning yet for a real meal,” I said.

  Fly giggled from inside the kitchen. “Funny!”

  Had I said something funny…?

  It didn’t take long for her to return. She had a small platter, which wobbled a little as she placed it down on a nearby table. She didn’t place it on the small coffee style table in front of the couch, but instead a taller table against the wall. She quickly went to handing me a small wooden cup full of some kind of juice, and then went to putting a few tiny plates on the coffee table. They had tiny bread items upon them, from muffins to scones.

  “Learnt to cook have you?” I asked. I remember her struggling one time with Renn and the others at Lumen, trying to cook a proper meal. She hadn’t been too apt at it back then, having grown up in those sewers scrounging for food.

  “Yeah…! Uh… Limb. She taught me,” Fly told me as she grinned and nodded.

  Taking a small drink of what was undoubtedly some kind of apple juice, I smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”

  Fly beamed me a happy grin and nodded as she grabbed her own cup and went to sit on the couch nearby. I noted the way her talon-feet hung just a bit over the floor, confirming she was still small.

  “How’ve you been Fly?” I asked.

  “Great! I have my own room! My own house! And it’s warm, and even when a hard storm comes I don’t need to worry about getting soaked. My feathers don’t even get damp anymore,” she said happily.

  Nodding slowly, I tried to not pity the poor girl too heavily. Not just because I was about to ask, or rather demand, she abandon this place she now called home… but rather because I now pitied her for another reason.

  She hadn’t known what it was like to go through the wet season without getting actually wet. Or damp. The mere fact she was able to remain dry, even while during a harsh storm, was a wonder to her.

  Just how were people mean to her? How did they stomach it?

  “Other than the warm bed, anything else you like about this place?” I asked gently.

  Fly nodded quickly. “The stories!” she said without hesitation.

  “Stories…?” I asked.

  “The ones grandmother Plumb and the rest tell. I love listening to them,” she said with a smile.

  I see. She likely didn’t just mean the religious sermons, but the teachings the elders gave to the young. They did seem like stories usually, I saw how she could dub them such a thing.

  “And I like to work in the big kitchen, with the others. Though it’s a pain to get the flour and stuff out of my feathers,” Fly said as she lifted her arms to shake them, as if they had clumps of dough and flour in them now.

  “Feathers do like to get dirty,” I said.

  “Right? They take so long to dry too if I have to get them too wet,” she complained with a smile.

  Oh…? Must not be a waterfowl then. I never really considered what kind of bird she could be, since although covered in feathers and with talons for feet she was pretty much human everywhere else.

  Those like her used to be normal. Common. Everywhere.

  Now she was likely one of a handful.

  “How’s Renn? Where is she? Does she still blush like crazy?” Fly asked before I could ask more about her supposed home.

  I blinked, and at first was a little stunned. Was this her trying to distract me from what I’d been asking, or pure and simple innocence? “Renn’s fine. She’s actually heading up north, on a small mission. She’s escorting a friend back home, someone who sadly needed the help,” I told her the truth.

  Fly grinned and nodded, happy to hear it.

  “And yes. She still blushes mightily. On saying goodbye to her, she had tried to tease me and all it had done is make her face flush in the process,” I said as I remembered that look on her face. It had been wonderful.

  Fly laughed at me. “So you two are still flirting then? That’s good!”

  Oh…?

  Oh. Right…

  I shifted the small cup in my hand as I realized something a little odd.

  Back then, during that Lumen incident… Renn and I had not really been as close as we are now. We had been on the precipice of it. The step just before our relationship, but not there just yet. To Fly we weren’t a married couple, or maybe not even a couple at all.

  A part of me wanted to correct that misconception, yet at the same time I hesitated. To admit it, especially to such a little and innocent bird such as her would be the same as cementing the fact in history.

  I mean, it was a fact. I saw Renn as she saw me, as she claimed herself to be. My partner. But…

  “Vim?” Fly tilted her feathered head at me, and I sighed and nodded as I tucked the odd feelings away.

  It felt good to feel so at odds with myself. To want to shout my love for Renn to the world, yet also hide it away forever, but this was not the time to indulge in such emotions. Not the time or place.

  “I’ve heard you’ve gotten into fights Fly,” I said.

  Her happy grin went still, and then her whole body displayed her heart to me. The grin died. Her eyes softened, and with a few blinks went from happy and wide to half-closed and lowered in depression. Her shoulders slumped. She lowered her cup to her lap, mid-drink. Her feathers, all over her body, folded down and into her as if to hide herself and make herself as small as possible.

  I’d just hurt the girl.

  “Yes. A few, actually,” Fly then whispered.

  “With who?” I asked.

  Fly took a deep breath and sighed. “Mostly Cynthia. But I’ve also gotten into fights with some of the other girls, even one of the older sisters too,” she admitted.

  It seemed she knew full well why I was here. To talk with her. Although obviously distressed and hurt, she spoke of it readily.

  “Did you at least win?” I asked.

  Fly perked up, raising her head to better look at me. She frowned, her eyebrows shifting, and then her feathers lifted a little as she smiled. “What…? Win?”

  “Yeah? The fights? Did you win them or not?” I asked as I took a drink of the juice.

  “Well… a couple, I guess. But I’d not really tried to hurt them, Vim… I just… wanted them to stop,” she said as she gulped, but not because she had taken a drink from her cup. In fact she’d not taken a single drink from it yet.

  “Stop what?” I asked as I was about to finish my own cup. I wasn’t thirsty, of course, but the sooner I drank it all the sooner I could put the cup down and ignore it.

  “Talking bad about Renn.”

  Pausing mid drink, I lowered the cup and frowned.

  “What?”

  She nodded and sighed. “It started not long after Renn left, leaving me and Wool here. At first I tried not to pay attention to it… I mean… I get it. Renn’s family did something bad. I wasn’t… I’m not one to say anything, considering where I come from, but!” Fly sat up straighter, her feathers going stiff as she grew agitated.

  I kept myself calm as I realized what she meant, and did so rather quickly.

  The people here had spoken ill of Renn. After hearing Plumb’s side of the story, and likely maybe other stories about her too. Like her other banishments, or the chaos in Lumen.

  Those here didn’t take kindly to predators in the first place, let alone those who brought chaos with them. Many here had suffered under such people’s wrath. Yangli and Prasta’s mother was here. That lizard especially hated such people, since her son had been one of the worst of them.

  “You got into fights over words, Fly?” I asked softly, and carefully. I had to tread carefully here.

  Even if I was stupidly proud over hearing this little bird having done such a thing as defend my wife’s honor, it was still a problem. Still an issue. A mighty one.

  You did not attack other members. That was one of the cardinal rules.

  “Well… no. Yes…? At first I just ignored them. Then they started to be mean to Wool too… but then… well…” Fly groaned as she shifted, and suddenly the girl wasn’t just unhappy now… she was about to cry.

  “Wool’s started acting like them, Vim! And even Limb! I get it… I do… if you don’t agree with them they don’t hang out with you. Won’t be your friends. Won’t come over for snacks, or let you listen to their stories or read with them or…” Fly began to reveal more, and very quickly with every word she spoke she began to break a little more. Tears began to fill her eyes. Her feathers began to lower flat, hugging her as they shook. She had spilled a little of her juice onto her lap as she shifted and sniffed at me, growing emotional. “I get it. But Renn’s not evil! I’m not like those in the sewers either! Yet they all think we are!” Fly then said, raising her voice as she frowned at me.

  I see. She had avoided, or spoken out against, their accusations and assumptions… and by doing so, likely again and again without giving in as Wool had, those words had turned into bullying. Bullying that was more than just them wary of her, or her connection with Renn.

  Odds are the bullying wasn’t even about Renn, or Fly’s allegiances anymore. It was likely just the mere fact that she had opposed too many for too long, and was now ostracized in the village. Her roommate, Limb’s absence, was proof of that.

  “You should know how scared people get, Fly. Of others. Of things they don’t understand,” I said gently.

  Fly hesitated, and her frown deepened. “But… she’s not even here, Vim. And there’s no terrible master to threaten anyone. No dinner table to be tossed into!” Fly said.

  I nodded. “Yet all the same, you can’t fault their fear. They have a right to it… just as you have a right to cherish Renn. Everyone in the Society has a right to their own opinions and beliefs,” I said.

  “I don’t want to be friends with people who hate the person that saved me,” Fly whispered.

  My jaw clenched as I held the young bird’s eyes, and their gleaming steadfastness within them.

  The young bird was almost daring me to say otherwise. She almost looked ready to fight me here and now, if I started badmouthing Renn she likely would… or at least try to.

  How wonderful. What beautiful loyalty.

  How come I never got those eyes, even when I bled and killed? Even when I did the impossible? Those eyes so rarely looked my way… yet here Renn was, getting them again. It wasn’t fair, almost.

  “So their bullying started, the fights happened, over their disgust and hatred for Renn and those like her?” I asked to confirm it. I knew she was full with emotion, so it was the perfect time to ask.

  “Yes. But I swear I didn’t try to really hurt anyone! I was just tired of them pushing me, and trying to pluck my feathers!” she said.

  “Pluck…?” I asked with a frown. So it wasn’t just over words?

  “Cynthia and the rest kept saying I was a predator. Like Renn. Since I got angry when they plucked my feathers,” she said as she shifted and looked down at her hands, or rather the cup within them. She had calmed down a little and realized she had spilled some of her juice onto her feathers.

  I kept a sigh from escaping as I nodded and understood what she meant.

  She meant it literally of course. This Cynthia, and others, had very likely literally tried to or did pull her feathers out. On purpose. To see her reaction.

  If Fly had reacted physically, with violence, they had likely claimed it was proof of her violent nature. That her reaction to such a thing proved she was dangerous, like Yangli, for growing violent over a tiny little slight.

  Something not too uncommon amongst the Society members, regrettably. Few anymore today had traits such as Fly, so they didn’t comprehend it. To them, they plucking Fly’s feathers was the same as say… plucking a few strands of hair. An annoying, slightly painful, form of harassment.

  To Fly however it had likely been terribly painful, enough to make her want to defend herself. Especially if such bullying was accompanied by harsh words and criticism. Of not just her, but Renn. The woman she saw as a savior, a friend.

  “Did the elders not try to stop it? Did you talk to them about it?” I asked. Although Plumb and the others here were odd, they should have known better than to allow such things to happen.

  “I… I did. I talked to Plumb. She said she’d scorn the others, and I think she did… but…” Fly shifted again as she reached over to put her cup onto the coffee table. She didn’t want to hold it anymore, it seemed. Or drink from it.

  “But it didn’t stop?” I asked.

  She shook her head quickly. “It did! In fact… lately they haven’t done anything. No one has. I even a few days ago ate dinner with everyone and no one said a thing. Or did anything,” Fly said.

  I frowned but nodded. So Plumb had handled it… but…

  Was that because she had handled it properly, or because she had told everyone that Fly would soon be leaving and to just keep their distance until it happened?

  Leaning back in my chair a little, I sighed at the problem. It was honestly a common one. Especially for those like Fly. Those who had more non-human traits usually did find it hard to blend in and adapt. Though by the sounds, and looks of it, this was more on the rest of the community than she herself. Even if Fly had reacted violently to their taunts and harassment, who could blame her? Their plucking of her feathers had likely been painful.

  Plus no one had mentioned Fly had truly hurt anyone, as far as I was aware. I’d have to confirm it first but as I recalled neither Plumb’s original letter or the Chronicler, nor even Braid just now, had mentioned any deaths or maiming.

  Though… could Fly even cause much harm in the first place? The poor girl, although very non-human, was rather weak. Comparatively.

  “Vim…? I’m sorry. I really am. I… I…” Fly began to apologize to me, and as she did she finally broke. She sobbed as tears began to flow freely, and she started to stutter. She kept trying to say more, to tell me more and apologize for it all, but nothing but sobs escaped her lips.

  Slowly standing up, I stepped over to the couch and sat down next to the young bird. I made sure not to break the couch as Fly quickly went to crying in my lap while wrapping her arms around my waist. I patted the young girl on the back, mindful of the girl’s feathers as I did so.

  “It’s all okay, Fly. I promise. It won’t just be okay, it is okay,” I said gently to the young bird.

  She squeezed me, but I barely felt the grip. She really was weak. Nothing like Renn, at all.

  As she wept I glanced around the little living room, and wished I had brought Renn with me after all.

  This would have been a great moment for her. Not because the moment was a good one, of course, but rather it would have suited her. Fly would have likely much preferred to weep in her arms over my own. I mean look at me, I barely said anything to comfort the poor girl at all yet!

  “I tried…!” she cried into my lap.

  Gently patting the bird, I nodded. “I know well how hard you try, Fly. So I believe it. I know you did,” I said.

  She had run into that sewer after all. When Renn had been kidnapped. In Lumen. That night, while I had been in those sewers searching for Renn… Fly had left the safety of the Animalia Guild as to find and rescue Renn. All by herself. The act had gotten her stripped of clothes, beaten half to death and thrown into a pit. A pit that had held her master, or at least one of them. A monster. A giant creature that fed on anything that moved.

  She had risked her life. To help Renn. Without hesitation.

  It had been why she had been so readily accepted into the Society. Even though she had originally, alongside the rest of her people, tried to capture Renn as to feed her to that very monster in the beginning.

  I’d not verified yet what had honestly happened. I hadn’t spoken with Plumb, or the others. I haven’t talked to this Cynthia yet, or Wool and Limb who would also know more. But I didn’t need to. I had no doubt of this bird’s loyalty. To not just the Societies ethics and rules… but Renn.

  “I tried,” Fly mumbled as she began to stop crying as she began to fall asleep. The great emotions had taken their toll. Likely thanks to my waking her up but a few minutes ago.

  Her arms slowly softened their grip, and her whole body relaxed as she drifted off into sleep. Her feathers also relaxed, going flat against her body as they did.

  “I know,” I whispered softly to the young bird.

  I knew her struggles. Her emotions. I knew them well. As did Renn.

  She had thought she had found a home. A place to live. In peace. In happiness.

  And instead had only found another hell. Maybe not one as bad as the first, anywhere near, but…

  Sometimes this hurt even more. To find people, and a place, you thought was better… only to realize it wasn’t. The high expectations sometimes made the realization hurt even more than it really should. It was likely that very disappointment, that very disgust, which had fueled the drama. The fights. The disagreements. Their comments had drawn out her anger not just out of her loyalty and affection for Renn, but her disappointment and disgust with her supposed new friends and family.

  Little Fly had expected this place to be better than the sewers she had grown up in, and had found them wanting. Or even worse, had begun to question herself.

  We've lost many to suicide under such scenarios. Those similar to hers. Because they eventually begin to blame themselves. To feel lost, and alone. It was why those in charge, the elders of each location, were so quick to request a move of residence for those unable to adapt and fit in. It wasn't just cruelty, or a lack of heart, it was out of concern.

  “Renn…” Fly mumbled a barely audible name as she fell asleep, and even began to snore.

  I think this was the first time I’d ever seen her sleep. Maybe. I couldn’t remember. I had watched over her during those visits last time I had been Lumen, but I had allowed Renn to take charge of her then. On purpose.

  Renn… was it? Was she thinking of her because she had wanted to see her? Had my presence brought Renn to the front of her mind and memories…? Or was she apologizing to her instead of me, since it was in her name some of those supposed fights had occurred…?

  Either way, I knew that feeling. I knew it well.

  “I know, indeed,” I whispered quietly, letting the girl sleep.

  I knew how it felt to be disappointed. To feel what she felt now. Maybe not the bullying and ostracizing, since such things couldn’t and wouldn’t bother me… but I knew full well the feeling of disgust and disappointment. I felt it every day, almost.

  I knew it. I understood it.

  I knew.

  But I didn’t know how to fix it.

  Not yet, at least.

  Not the way I wanted to. Or felt like I should be able to.

  Hopefully Renn could figure it out before it was too late.

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