Page 42 of Ruby
17
Szhe’ka
Today’s travel has felt much easier than the other days; the weather is extremely nice, the tree seeds are sweeter than I remember and the gift of Red’s true name is fresh in my mind.
Ani. I had no expectations for what her name would be but I knew that it would suit her, just like red does.
It is not merely a note in the bright plumage that crowns her crest, not only a shimmer of hue that catches the sun. It is a harmony that dwells in her inner weather as well. The same tint that glows along her feathers sings within her spirit: warm as late-day thermals, fierce as a sudden sky-squall, and quick to flare like dawnlight upon the wing.
Despite being directed at me more often than not, I have grown fond of it. Fond of all of her, in actuality.
All of her great efforts to conceal herself from me have only found ways to make her more vulnerable and though we havenot said much to each other, I have heard the songs her heart sings and they are beautiful.
She is walking beside me, her hair bouncing around her and her mouth moving as she throws tree seeds from her black pouch into her mouth.
Everything I have come to learn about her from my near constant observation has only served to endear her to me in the most curious of ways; I have come to enjoy the sound of her voice even when it is strained with anger at me, I appreciate the way the sunlight filtered through the great leafy canopy above dances on her soft skin.
She has all of my attention and I find it maddening; even such a simple act as eating a tree seed has a way of affecting me greatly. I start to recall the first time I had similar seeds; Nnaiv and I were adolescents with the bravery of an army.
Well, he had the bravery of an army, as he enjoyed flying off cliffs and the edge of waterfalls, things that were considered dangerous for our small forms. I never liked to follow him because I was frightened. We already had to protect ourselves from danger and guard our new found aeries; I didn’t have enough in me to do that and live life so dangerously.
One day, he decided to explore a section of the jungle and I went along with him. We got lost pretty quickly when his wing rammed into a low hanging tree branch and fractured. It was the only other time I had been grounded and I had to take care of him.
He shrieked out in pain a lot and there was not much I could do but sing soothingly to him.
Eventually he fell asleep and I was able to wander off. Inquisitive and hungry, I picked curious looking seeds from a tree with green and brown leaves. I’m not sure what I expected it to taste like, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Nnaiv had some and loved them so much that he continued to recount the tale long after it happened, when we were safe back in our aerie.
Nearly all of our brothers at our aerie knew of it by heart. The memory of my dearest brother is quick to sadden me as I recall that he is only that and I find my demeanor shifting. My mind remembers the unfortunate incident of that day—his limp body, his death song, and the sticky odor of something else.
Still, it warms my heart to find tree seeds on this planet.
I wonder why they are on this planet?
They are native to my own, filling the jungle with a sticky, sweet scent when they start to ripen at the same time. The presence of them should bring some kind of warmth to my heart, a sign that the spirit of my brothers is here with me but it only makes my heart bleed.
I wish for a way to connect with them again, even if it is for a single moment.
I force myself to shake the thoughts away and glance over at Ani. She is fascinated with a short black stick that I’m sure shepicked up from the ground and it amuses me watching her wave it around.
We have almost returned to where I must meet Ree and I am unable to shake the foreign stench permeating the air. Ani does not look bothered and I imagine that she cannot smell it and I don’t expect her to.
With a nose that small, I’m often surprised she can breathe properly.
I start to slow down, forcing myself to remember where I recognize the stench from and then I remember all at once.
The Hunters. They are here.
I cannot tell if they are close or have just passed the area but that does not serve me any kind of relief. If they are truly here, it will mean trouble for Ani because I am still wounded and I do not know how much I can fight to protect her in this state.
I have to be sure before I startle Ani but her steps are quiet. My footsteps are a little unsteady but I make myself stop focusing on the pain. Instead, I begin to look around me, straining my nose to see if we should be worried. My species has impeccable smell and sight and although our hearing pales in comparison, it is still much sharper than other creatures I have come across.
They are just perks of being a creature of the sky, as we can smell the change of seasons before they come, to let us know when to migrate and see potential predators in the air before they see us. Although there are not many creatures in the air bigger than us.
“Szhe’ka, what happen?” Ani’s dulcet song startles me back to reality and I beckon her closer.
“Is all well?” she asks again, whipping her head to look around us and letting out a worried sound.
