Tale 14- The Fairy's new wings

 The Traveler found herself in a dark part of the woods, searching for an exit in order to get away from the thicket of trees and shadows cast by them, shadows which could easily hide all sorts of enemies and adversities. Clutching her cloak, she tried to hide her trembling as she walked, faster and faster. A sudden snap of a branch frightened her, the girl freezing in place as footsteps started to echo through the forest. Heart starting to pound, she began to run, feeling as if he was right behind her. Sprinting to lighter patches, she suddenly spotted a small cottage, rushing toward it and out of the forest, not even looking back and instead clutching her hood until it was practically over her eyes, heart racing and thoughts clouding her mind. Her panic caused her to drop to her knees, trying to control her fear and loud, sharp breaths. Hands shaking, she stayed in place for a moment, relieved when all she heard was birdsong and the rustling of leaves from the nearby trees. Then, someone ran toward her, the Traveler instantly backing up, before staring up and realizing who the person was as she held out a hand. Before her stood Sarafelle, looking pleasantly surprised to see the Traveler, and helping her up. Deciding to lead her toward the cottage, Sarafelle noticed she seemed afraid and gently put an arm around her shoulder, the Traveler tensing for a moment at the contact before slowly relaxing due to the slight reassurance. Pulling out a metal ring of keys, she unlocked the iron gate to the garden and led the Traveler through, showing her the flowers and benches dotted around. It was clear the garden was cultivated by Sarafelle, and maintained extraordinarily well considering she was constantly busy. Sitting down, Sarafelle smiled at the Traveler. “I heard a new story, the tale of ‘the Fairy’s new wings.’”

‘Once, in a field of flowers, there was a group of fairies living together amid the buds. One of them, the littlest, was born with a torn wing, and thus could not fly like all her peers. Some of them even mocked her for it, the little fairy one day running off alone due to the teasing being so unbearable. Crying by the lake, she was suddenly approached by a beautiful bird, a robin, who sat beside her, enquiring as to why she was crying all alone. The fairy explained their mockery, so the bird had a wonderful idea and told her to hop on his back, offering to fly her around in exchange for her friendship. Before the fairy arrived, the bird had also been in tears, due to his nest deserting him and leaving him all alone to survive, so he found it easy to sympathise with her loneliness and sadness. The fairy agreed instantly, pitying the bird, and he introduced himself as Harper, before flying high, much higher than any of the other fairies were capable of. Soaring above the world, the two began to smile, then laugh, until the peals of laughter echoed all around the meadow, finding joy and comfort in one another.’

Sarafelle finished her story and smiled, before going inside for a moment. The skies grew darker, clouds blocking out the sun and rain starting to pour, the Traveler deciding to stand and lock the gate, which Sarafelle accidentally left open. Suddenly, her eyes rested on a nearby barrel, placed just inside the garden, with a message scratched out into it: ‘I’M WATCHING.’ Eyes widening, the Traveler scanned the area, before turning for a moment. Sarafelle would understand, surely. Rushing off into the rain, she didn’t wait for Sarafelle to come back with supplies or kind words, for the only thing she wanted to do was run.