Winged

~~5~~

The reflections quickened her breathing, her shadow of woman and bird morphing with the uneven surface to only retreat as she lifted her eyes once more to the blackness ahead. Miles passed by beneath her, marking the years of loneliness that she was putting further and further behind.

Thunder. Lightning. Sudden bursts of light that shattered the rain-drenched canvas of sky and ear-shattering claps that rocked her off course. Shockwaves charged through her body, lighting up each cell with electricity before depleting her every last bit of energy. She was destroyed.

Shards of pain seared and crackled in her limbs, rendering them useless.
She was falling with the rain, but she no longer cared. Plummeting, she closed her eyes to the light that sporadically blinded her, she shielded her ears against the thunderous assault, and wrapped her body in her drenched wings, her only solace that silence would finally engulf her once she sank below the ocean's choppy waves.

Peace.

Waves of peace washed over her, rolling through her body like an incoming tide. A sense of security. In her protected cocoon, it felt like nothing could touch her. No stones or harsh words, no taloned claws or scratching branches, no arrows or flaming darts could reach her now.
Warmth seeped into her every sense even as the icy wind fluttered the tips of her wings, tugging, beckoning them to spread and soar once again.

So they did, the shocking wind blasting her face and displaying a rocky coastline below. Involuntarily, she threw her arms in front of her face for protection, and like a parachute, her wings snapped open. She drifted down, spiralling in circles that resembled drifting snowflakes in a blizzard—untethered, destitute, blowing every which way on a whimsy.

Her body tumbled and rolled. Jabs of pain prickled her skin. Branches slapping as her wings brushed into trees. Her head ached as she finally came to rest, the darkness of night enveloping her.

The pitter patter of soft rain drops fell on her upturned face, caressing her stinging skin.
Heaving breathing summoned her awake, and she scrambled back.
"Who's there?" Her voice came out as a screech, her breaths hitching as the shadow moved in front of her.

A spark of fire lit up his face, the torch bursting to life in his hand. The light danced across fair features, blonde tangled hair and a firm jawline.
"It's alright. I don't mean to hurt you," he reached out his fingers to brush the curls from her eyes. She flinched at his warm touch, her wings shifting behind her.

He jerked back, a look of alarm twisting his features.
"What are you?" he growled, hostility pulsating in his darkened eyes.

"I'm Changed," the words whispered past her lips, a crack of thunder punctuating her dreadful admittance.

Heartbeats. His shuddering, hers shredding, the desolate ache returning with vengeance. Why had she thought he would be any different? She recoiled at the frown aimed at her. It may as well have been a sharpened dagger. Why had she dared to allow a tiny flicker of hope spark to life, a prayer that he would see beauty in the ruins of her body?

"I'm sorry, she mumbled, turning and crawling away, struggling through the dense shrubs and fallen twigs.
Each movement sending pain shooting through her body, a wounded animal bleeding into the night.