Crescent Moon

by David Partelow

  Finally, Domas spoke. “This is our daughter Elizaeth,” he said before pointing to their company. “Elizaeth, our guests here are Handuin and Deeva. They have brought with them Ana, who may be staying with us depending on how this meeting unfolds.”

  Elizaeth gave a curt bow to their guests. “It is with pleasure we meet,” she said, though there was no pleasure in her voice. She then crossed her arms, still staring sternly at Ana. “Though I will not lie, I am not fond of the thought of sharing a room with her, father. I am used to being alone. And if I am to be a Ranger, then I must also be skilled at it.”

  Domas responded quickly. “That is not for you to decide, Elizaeth, yet there would be no such burden in this house. We have ample room to offer Ana a place of her own. I would ask you to remain respectful for the duration of our guests’ visit.”

  Elizaeth nodded reluctantly. “Yes, father,” she said.

  Taking a deep breath, Ana slowly walked towards Elizaeth. Giving a soft bow, the young girl extended her hand. “Hello there, Elizaeth. I’m Ana and it is an honor to make your acquaintance. I really hope that we can be friends,” she said.

  Elizaeth’s eyes narrowed further as her arms remained crossed. “My mother is correct. You don’t look different at all. You must simply be a troublemaker,” she replied quickly. In that moment she sounded much like her father.

  Ana shook her head, fighting tears. She had done this dance in the past often. “I promise by all that I am that I am not,” she said.

  Domas sighed, feeling that enough of his time had been wasted. “I think we have seen enough, Handuin. I do not think this arrangement is going to work. I am sorry, but Ana will have to go somewhere else.”

  Handuin nodded slowly. “We understand, Domas. Graciously, we thank you for your time.” Handuin then looked down at his charge as he guided her toward the exit. “Let’s go, Ana.”

  As Ana was being led out of the room, she planted her feet firmly on the ground, refusing to budge. “Wait! There is something you should see first!” She exclaimed. Ana then marched right back in front of Elizaeth and her parents.

  Deeva began to rush to the little elf. “Ana, this is not necessary,” she said.

  Domas held out a hand, indicating for Deeva to stop. “Stay your hand, Deeva. Let us see what the little one has to say,” he said. As requested, Deeva stopped her advance.

  Looking again at Elizaeth’s eyes, Ana geared herself for what was to come. “I’ll show you what makes me different. What happens next is not for me to say,” said the young girl. It was then that Ana dropped the blanket that was wrapped around her upon the floor. The gasps of Elizaeth and her parents soon followed.

  Elizaeth and her family could not move or speak. The three of them watched spellbound, for their minds could not wrap fully around what they saw. Free of her blanket, Ana stretched out fully, never taking her eyes off Elizaeth. Finally, Elizaeth pointed at Ana with a shaky hand.

  “You have wings!” Elizaeth gasped.

  Ana nodded as she flapped those wings, relieved that they were finally freed. Elizaeth could not stop gazing at this new surprise. Ana stood silently as her gossamer wings sparkled in the light. Ana shrugged softly to Domas and his family as Handuin and Deeva prepared for the worst.

  Domas stepped forward, placing himself between Ana and his family. “What form of dark magic has befallen this girl? Handuin, what have you brought into my home? I demand an explanation this instant,” he barked.

  Handuin held up his hands, hoping to maintain calm. “Please, Domas, hear us out. There is no cause for alarm. Ana is simply...special,” he said.

  The daughter of Domas could not contain her curiosity. “What manner of creature are you?” Elizaeth asked as she looked from behind her father as he shielded her.

  “I assure you that I am an elf,” said Ana.

  “You look like a fairy to me,” said Elizaeth.

  “I’m that too it would seem,” replied Ana.

  “This is an outrage!” Domas fumed as he pointed to Handuin. “You dare you endanger my family with unknown potential for consequence? Had Ana been troublesome I could have dealt with it, but with this you go too far! None of us are equipped to handle such a creature!”

  Deeva stepped forward. “This child is not dangerous,” she said in Ana’s defense. “She did not ask for her ailment and she is blameless for it,” she said.

  Ana turned, placing her hands on her hips. “I don’t have an ailment and I am surely not sick! This is just me!” Ana then turned back around and took steps toward Domas. The stern elf found himself retreating as the young girl approached. “I am not here to harm you or your family, good sir. I simply want you to know what you were getting with me! I am different and that is all! All I ask for is the chance to earn my way into a family that would give me the opportunity. When people look at me, all they can see are my wings and never all of me. My wings help shape who I am, but they do not define me! I am no monster, I’m simply Ana. Please, can’t you see that?”

  Ana’s words were met with silence. Handuin prepared to take Ana away from Domas and his family. Yet as he approached, he paused, for Elizaeth slowly made her way out from behind her father. She took cautious steps towards the elf fairy, yet was soon stopped by her father’s hand upon her shoulder.

  “That is far enough, Elizaeth,” said Domas firmly.

  Ana lowered her head as her wings sagged in defeat. “I tried. That is all I can do,” she said.

  Elizaeth stared hard at Ana. Her hand raised to touch the younger elf before she quickly returned it to her side. She then looked again at Ana’s wings before setting upon Ana once more. The future Ranger tried to speak, but no words found their way out of Elizaeth as Ana sighed. Behind them, Handuin picked up Ana’s blanket and put it upon the young girl.

  “Come, Ana,” said Handuin. “Let us be gone from this place. We did our part and tried,” he said softly.

  Yet neither Ana nor Elizaeth moved in that moment. Handuin tried to nudge the elf fairy towards the exit, but he found her stuck in place. Ana looked at Elizaeth with hopeful, pleading eyes, wishing more than anything that this time could be different. Myriah looked at her husband for guidance, but she could see that Domas had no idea what to do or say.

  Finally, it was Elizaeth who broke the silence. “So, you are an elf that is also a fairy,” she said.

  “Yes,” said Ana, nodding.

  “And you are a magical creature, different from all others?” Elizaeth asked.

  Ana offered a shy smile. “Well I haven’t met anyone else like me yet. Have you?”

  Elizaeth nodded. “And you have no place for none will welcome you. You are an outcast among us elves, forever destined to be different. And for that I only have one thing to say,” she said before turning and leaving the room.

  Ana watched her go as hope left her eyes and was replaced with tears. As Handuin urged her away, Ana shrugged him off. Holding to the blanket around her, Ana fled from the room. Handuin called to her but Ana did not stop. Soon she was free of Domas and his family as she ran down the street and deeper into Lunamorn.

  Ana did not know where she was going, but she refused to stop. It was an act that became more troublesome with time, for the tears were still flowing. Ana now found it difficult to see, yet she ran faster still. She no longer cared about the ruckus she was causing, or the elves that stopped to pay her notice as she fled.

  Turning a corner, Ana ran even harder as it became painful to catch her breath. As she did, she saw a group of children in front of her walking her way. Ana was going to collide into them. As the children froze in place, Ana did her best to avoid them, pulling her weight to the right, Ana leaned and was able to avoid crashing into the group. Yet the movement put Ana off balance and she fell.

  “Ow!” Ana crashed on the floor painfully, crying out. As she did, her blanket fell off her. The young girl did her best to pull herself up as she wiped at her eyes and nose. Trying not to focus on the pain, Ana tried to pic
k herself up, yet her ankle hurt. She rubbed at it a moment before she realized that things around her had grown very quiet. Looking up then, she realized that all eyes were upon her.

  One of the children pointed at Ana. “Look at her! She’s got wings!”

  Another joined in. “How did she get in here?”

  “Don’t get too close,” said another. “She might be dangerous!”

  Ana was about to stand and defend herself, yet sadness bested her in that moment. Instead of rising, Ana pulled her knees up and hugged them. The young elf continued to cry as a crowd slowly formed. Ana was tired of fighting and trying to explain herself to others. All she wanted to do now was to be far, far away from Lunamorn and all its judgments.

  “Get out of here, you overgrown pixie,” said a young boy. It mattered not that Ana knew he was more scared than anything.

  “That is enough!” A strong voice called out as another elf pushed her way into the crowd. Ana looked up at the approaching voice and was surprised to see that it belonged to Elizaeth.

  Ana watched as the crowd backed away from Elizaeth and the look in her eyes. Elizaeth placed herself in front of Ana as she looked angrily at the crowd. Soon her hands went to her hips as she started casting dark glances at each child present. None of them could hold Elizaeth’s gaze for very long.

  Finally, Elizaeth pointed an angry finger at the crowd. “And who are you to judge Ana? You want to know what a monster is? A monster is someone who can’t see past this girl’s wings to see her. You all should be ashamed of yourselves for how you are acting,” said Elizaeth. Behind her, Ana could not believe what she was hearing.

  The first of the kids to react to Ana spoke up. “We’re sorry, Elizaeth. But we’ve never seen anything like her before.”

  Elizaeth took quick steps at the kid speaking and they in turn backed away from her. “So why does that instantly make her the bad one? How does her being different make you better? Do you find safety in being a bully?” As some of the children shook their heads, Elizaeth continued. “Well this girl is with me now. She is coming to be a part of my family, so anything you say against her means you are saying it against me. And if you do so, then I promise you that we shall have words. Am I clear?”

  Ana watched as the crowd of kids bowed their heads and backed away. Some apologized, yet within moments all had dispersed. Elizaeth watched them go, still lecturing them as they went. Yet Ana could not hear what she was saying. The elf fairy was still in shock but the turn of the events that had just unfolded.

  Satisfied that the crowd was gone, Elizaeth turned to Ana. Looking down, she offered her hand to the young girl. “Are you okay, Ana?”

  Accepting Elizaeth’s hand, Ana let the young woman help her up. Ana stared at her a second, still confused. “Yes, I’m fine, thank you. But why did you just help me? I thought you didn’t like me either,” said Ana.

  Elizaeth looked hurt by Ana’s words. The older elf knelt, looking up at Ana before speaking again. “No, Ana. You simply did not let me finish. I’m sorry that I was so quick to judge you back at my home, but once I saw your wings I think I understood. You are not a troublemaker, you are simply extraordinary, and people don’t realize it! Look at those wings! They are beautiful. If people cannot see that, then they are blind. I was not scorning you earlier, Ana. I simply retreated to my room to fetch you this,” said Elizaeth as she offered something to Ana.

  Looking down, Ana saw a beautiful bracelet made of leather. It housed a luminous gem within its center and shimmered at Ana as she looked upon it. Ana accepted it slowly, still fixing her gaze upon it as Elizaeth placed a hand upon her shoulder. Ana then looked up at Elizaeth’s smiling face as she showed Ana her other wrist which wore an identical bracelet.

  Still smiling, Elizaeth continued. “These bracelets were a gift to me when I promised my father that I would be a Ranger one day, meant to give me luck. Yet I have always wanted a sister. The thought of having one felt like the greatest luck in the world. And I think I may have gotten my wish today. I hope that you wear this bracelet and let me have the chance at being the sister you never had. For I promise you, Ana, you are welcome with me in my home. I will be there for you and I will always, always look after you. So, what do you say? Will you give me a chance?” Elizaeth looked at Ana hopefully.

  Ana looked down at the bracelet in her hands again, switching her glances between it and Elizaeth. The elf fairy didn’t know what to say as tears began to swell again in her eyes. With no words to offer, Ana did the only thing she knew would get her answer across. She reached out and threw her hands around Elizaeth. The two hugged for a long, long spell then.

  “Thank you, Elizaeth! Thank you so much for this,” said Ana when her voice finally returned.

  The older elf shook her head. “No, thank you for giving me a chance, Ana. And please, call me Liz,” said Elizaeth.

  Pulling from the hug, Ana offered her a grin. “Okay, Liz,” she said. “So, what do we do now?”

  Elizaeth stood and offered Ana her hand, for which the young girl gladly took. “Well I suppose we should go tell my mother and father the news. And after we get you situated, let’s take a stroll through town. I think it’s time that whole of Lunamorn saw you for who you are. No more secrets,” said Liz.

  “Are you sure?” Ana asked.

  Liz nodded. “I am sure,” she said.

  A devilish smile slowly formed on Ana’s face. “Then I have a better way,” she said.

  Elizaeth stopped then, soon matching Ana’s own grin. “Then I am all ears,” she said.

  “Okay then,” said Ana as she motioned to Liz. “Turn around and hold your hands above your head.”

  Elizaeth chuckled, doing as Ana asked. “Are you planning on robbing me, Ana?” She joked.

  Ana laughed at this. “Not at all. But one more thing. Hold on tight,” she said.

  “To what?” Liz asked but quickly enough she got her answer.

  As she spoke, Liz heard the fluttering of strong wings and a gentle gust of wind. Soon she felt Ana’s arms around her chest and she instinctively grabbed onto Ana. Before Liz could react further, Ana pulled her into the air, taking flight and heading back to Liz’s home. Liz gasped as her feet left the ground. Ana grunted at the weight, but simply flapped her wings harder.

  “This is not what I had in mind, Ana!” Liz screamed.

  “I know,” said Ana as she grinned. “But this is more fun!”

  And she was right.

  Soon, Elizaeth was caught up in it too as she began to laugh. Ana carried her higher into the air, flying for the first time in what felt like ages. The elf fairy carried them over the houses and streets of Lunamorn, grinning more deeply as people began to stop and point. This somehow made them both laugh harder as Ana continued their flight.

  Ana flew faster still, and Liz held on tightly as she cheered Ana on. Soon they noticed Handuin and Deeva walking down the street. It was clear they were looking for Ana. Ana swooped down and the two elves parted as the new friends zipped between them. Liz said hello as they passed and both girls giggled some more.

  Ana made a few more circles around Lunamorn. As she did, Liz enjoyed the view that such an opportunity gifted her. She looked past the gates of her town, gazing then upon the Vastly Mountains and the descending Firestar. Her only regret of their ride was the fact that it would have to eventually end. After veering from the gate and more gawking town folk, Ana finally turned and headed toward Liz’s home.

  Nearing Liz’s house, Ana slowed her flight and got close to the ground, as she did, she let go of Liz and the young woman touched down upon the road, taking steps to slow herself. Liz then waited for Ana to swing back around and land near her. Liz offered Ana a grin that the young elf gladly returned.

  “You were right, Ana. That was fun,” said Liz.

  “Told you,” said Ana a little smugly.

  Liz looked about, satisfied. “I couldn’t think of a better way to tell the town, though you know we are going to hear
about this soon enough,” said Liz.

  Ana shrugged. “Somehow, after everything that has happened today, I think it will be worth it,” she replied. The young elf fairy then motioned to Liz’s front door. “Well you better get back inside. I don’t want your parents to worry.”

  Liz shook her head. “No, Ana. Let’s both go inside to our home. You are a part of it now,” she countered.

  Ana hesitated. “Are you certain, Liz? This won’t be easy. You should probably talk to your father first.”

  Liz chuckled. “You heard him earlier, this is my say. And I can’t imagine anyone I would rather have around than you,” she said.

  Ana smiled. “Well if you are sure, then I look forward to new adventures with you,” said Ana. She then offered Liz her hand. “Friends?” She asked.

  Liz shook her head, hugging the elf fairy. “No, Ana. We cannot be friends. Not now or not ever more,” she said, squeezing tighter. “We must always be more than that.”

  “And what do you propose that we should be?” asked Ana.

  “Sisters,” Liz replied. “Now and for always.”

  The Right Thing

  Puercelor

  As the Firestar vanquished cloud cover in the distance and gave light to the land, Puercelor the imp did his best to keep up with his kin. The youngest of the bunch, Puercelor was small even by imp standards. The young imp squinted his yellow eyes, happily taking in the Firestar’s offering of warmth. Perking up his pointy ears, Puercelor took in the sounds of the world as he stopped to enjoy the moment.

  “Hey, runt! Keep up already or we are going to leave you here!”

  Puercelor snapped out of his little moment and sped up to catch the others. His little clawed feet moved swiftly and soon he was with the other five imps. Most of them looked at Puercelor with impatience and annoyance. All of them wished they had not dragged him along. The little imp could tell this easily from the anger in their eyes and the shaking of their heads.