Friendship

For the next week or so, my life developed and unusual pattern. I would gather berries in the morning, when it was still cool and the dew made them taste extra sweet. Then in the afternoon, when the sun was at it's height, I met Rhys by the spring and we talked.

We told stories of our adventures, of my living in the woods and his living in court. I discovered humans can be very sensitive, and in court one wrong word could mean a knife in the back, real or otherwise. I looked forward to every new discussion, eager to see Rhys and hear his voice.

"Sometimes I feel very alone." Rhys told me one day.

"Why?" I asked. "You have friends, don't you?"

"Yes, but they don't understand what it's like to be me." Rhys explained. "They don't have all the pressure of being a prince, of being Prince of Alidra. They don't have my responsibilities." He stopped, suddenly quiet. "That was selfish of me." He said.

"What?" I was completely thrown by the statement. I climbed down from the branch I was sitting on.

"You lived out here all your life with no friends or family." Rhys said. "I shouldn't talk about how lonely I get."

I shrugged. "I suppose there are different kinds of loneliness." I said. "It just depends on your situation." Rhys smiled.

"I think you might be the first person who truly understands me." he said. "Who accepts me for who I am." I blushed slightly. "It's nice to have a friend like you."

I pondered the word. Friend. Yes, I suppose we were friends. I liked the idea, and quietly said the word to myself.

When I arrived back at my camp, I was startled to find Antares waiting for me. She stood as soon as I landed.

"Hello, Blackfeather." She said, embracing me. "How are you?"

"Good." I said, struggling to control my unease. Did she know about Rhys? If she did, what would she do? Would she be angry?

"Where have you been?" She asked. "I've been waiting."

"I was out exploring." I lied. "I was thinking about it, and I realized i've never traveled very far from here. I wanted to see the rest of the forest."

"Well, if you're to be off adventuring, do not go too far west."

"Why?" I asked puzzled.

"There is a human camp about ten miles away from here." Antares said. I put a frightened look on my face, but inwardly sighed with relief. She didn't know about Rhys, I was certain of it.

"Should I move?" I asked. "What if they come this way?" I tried to make my voice sound as shaky as possible.

"You will be fine." Antares patted my shoulder. "They will not venture too deep into the woods. They are afraid."

I nodded, and breathed a sigh of real relief. I wasn't sure how the other humans would react to my presence. Antares moved on, talking about the creatures of the forest as i prepared dinner, a hare that I had caught on the way home. Antares didn't stay long, and I went to sleep.

They next day was cloudy and bleak, with gray skies and wind. I shivered slightly as i waited for Rhys. Finally he appeared, looking as bleak as the weather.

"What's wrong?" I asked when he sat down next to me.

"We break camp in two days." He said. "We'll be heading south, to the Plains Villages." My heart sank. "I don't want to leave." Rhys said.

"I don't want you to leave." I answered. A black cloud settled over the two of us. Rhys was my only true friend, and I didn't want to loose him.

"Blackfeather?" his voice was quiet.

"hm?"

"Can I- can I touch your wings?" He asked awkwardly.

I looked at him and nodded, extending my left wing. He hesitantly reached out his hand, and settled his palm on my feathers. He smiled.

"They're soft." I nodded absently. A sudden thought struck me, and I jumped up. Rhys tumbled backwards, startled.

"Do you want to see my home?" I asked, excited. Rhys smiled, but then the smile faded.

"What if someone comes looking for me?" He asked.

"You've been spending hours out here everyday, and no one comes looking for you." I pointed out. "We won't be very long."

"But you said you were ten miles away from here." Rhys said. "it'll take us at least an hour."

I grinned mischievously.

"We'll fly." I told him. He looked at me anxiously. "Don't worry, it'll be fun."

"Okay." Rhys said with misgiving. "Just promise not to drop me."

"Don't worry." I laughed. "I've carried heavier loads than you. Climb onto my back."

Nervous, awkwardly, Rhys did as he was told, careful not to bump my wings. He wrapped strong arms around my neck.

"Not too tight." I said.

"Sorry." Rhys said. I spread my wings. Just before I took off, I caught a flash of brown to my right. I turned, but whatever it was, it was gone. I put it out of my mind, and took off with a powerful downward ******. Rhys yelled in surprise and fright, his arms tightening around my neck. I laughed in joy, and Rhys laughed as well.

"This is wonderful!" He yelled. "How can you ever walk?"

"I do get tired." I laughed. "And it's cold up here."

Within five minutes we were in my clearing. He unwrapped his arms from around my neck and fell to the ground with a slight thud. I laughed at him laying in the mud.

"That was fun!" He said. Rhys tried to stand, his legs shaking. I pulled him up and steadied him.

"So, this is your home?" Rhys asked. He looked around with interest. My 'home' was a hollowed out tree, wide enough for me to curl up in and fall asleep. I had a waterproofed leather covering over my fire pit, and two logs serving as seats.

"Doesn't it get cold in the winter?" Rhys asked.

"A little." I agreed. "But I have furs to keep me warm." Rhys didn't say anything, just wandered around the clearing, interested. He found my store of fishing supplies and skinning knives.

"What are these made from?" He asked, fingering the knives gently.

"Bone." I answered. "They wear out easily, so I have to re-carve them often. Lately though, hunting hasn't been very good."

"You are very skinny." Rhys said, his eye glancing to my middle. My ribs could barely be seen through my top.

"I get by though." I said. There was an odd silence. "So, what do you think?"

"It would take me a long time to get used to it." Rhys said. "But i suppose if you lived like this all the time, you don't have to get used to it." I nodded.

"Would you like something to eat?" I asked. "I have some blackberries." Rhys nodded. We sat on the logs and ate berries, saying little. I was sad that he was leaving. Humans weren't at all as I had imagined them. At least Rhys wasn't. I sat in a brooding silence.

"What's wrong?" Rhys asked. I shrugged.

"I don't want you to leave." I said. "You're the only friend I've had." I sighed. "I knew you wouldn't be able to stay forever, but still...." Rhys tentatively put his arm around my shoulders, surprising me. I went rigid, but then I relaxed, leaning into him.

"I feel the same way." he said. I was about to close my eyes, but then I heard something. I sat up, rigid. It was the soft footfalls that made me panic.

"oh no." I whispered.

"What?" Rhys asked.

"It's Antares!" I pulled Rhys to his feet and pushed him towards the tree. "Get inside, and don't make a sound." I ordered.

"Blackfeather, what's going on?" Rhys demanded.

"It's Antares. She's a nymph, and she hates humans. If she sees you.." I trailed off. "Not a sound."

I closed the leather flap to the tent and quickly went back to the fire. I struck the flint, but the wood was wet, and i was having trouble getting the spark to catch. That was how Antares found me, struggling with the tinder.

"Hello, Blackfeather." Antares said. Her voice was cold.

"Hello." I said, keeping my voice normal. "It rained here. The tinder won't light."

"Yes, it rained here." Antares said. I looked up. Her face was hard, her eyes a dark, dark gray, almost black. I swallowed.

"Is something wrong Antares?" I asked. "You look angry."

"It rained here." Antares repeated. "While you were off talking to a human." I froze, numbness spreading through my body.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, swallowing past the lump in my throat. "Humans? Humans are dangerous, killing monsters. You told me to stay away from humans."

"And yet you go to them and make friends with them!" Antares yelled. I cringed. The sky overhead blackened, and the wind picked up. I backed up until I was pinned against a tree. Antares advanced on me, he face dark and frightening.

"How dare you betray me!" she yelled. Her voice was dark and echoed around the clearing. I pressed against the tree-trunk, wishing I could melt into it. "You traitor! You minx! For years I have protected you, looked after you! I saved you when your own parents tried to kill you. You owe me your life! And this is how you repay me! By throwing your lot in with Humans!" The last word reverberated around the clearing. I was trembling with fear.

"You have two days to leave my forest." Antares said. "If I ever see you again, I will tear off your wings, and you can live among your humans. Understood?" I nodded feverishly. She disappeared, but the threatening clouds lingered.

Now that I look back, I realized it was an omen for what was to come.

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