Trapped in the Featherlands

Reliance in the Badlands

A twinkling nocturn blanketed the grassy knoll on the West end of the Badlands. Lilly caught her head swirling as she gazed into the celestial nethers, streaked with colorful lights and heavenly bodies beyond. Stars twinkled like angels smiling down on her. Lilly breathed in the night. She held her knees into her chest as she sat against the grass. She brushed her palm against the blades. They twisted beneath her touch, shifting to brush and tickle her skin on natural impulses. Lilly smiled in lieu of giggling. The sensations came with a pleasant comfort that she had forgotten tickling could bring. The feeling brought her back to the day that she arrived, never knowing what she would be in for or how it would change her life.

The murmurs of her friends in their own conversations carried forth without a care behind her. Lilly looked back from the field. In the meadow, Flick spoke to several of the fairies, tickling their necks and ears with his forked tongue. Other fairies felt the fur of a blushing Tucker. Most of the tribe sat around talking amongst themselves, fashioning weapons and armor out of collected timber. The Elder sat by himself as well, reviewing his tomes. Erica was surrounded by a large pack of her sisters. They laughed and hugged with fewer cares than could have mended. Erica had spent the latter half of the evening tending to their wounds and preparing them for combat. The shine in their eyes when they looked back at her was one of great respect and admiration. Lilly smiled, seeing Erica so loved and cared for. Her place in the Featherlands seemed so solidified with her family. A tear built around the corner of Lilly's eye as she gazed onto Erica being able to be with her sisters.

The girl looked back across the field. Tickela's castle towered in the distance, nearly invisible behind the cloak of night. Lilly bared herself from ever imagining what kind of torments the Badland castle had reserved for her sister, but she knew this would be a truth to be faced on the horizon in front of her. She grimaced, sniffling loudly, before returning to the shimmering comfort of the night sky.

"Hey," Erica said from behind Lilly. Lilly wiped her face.

"Hey," Lilly replied.

"Can I sit?" Erica asked.

"Of course." Lilly looked back and smiled, patting the earth. Erica took the seat designated by Lilly's gesture. The girl returned to the sky, with Erica following shortly after.

"It's beautiful," said Erica, gazing up at the same stars as Lilly.

"It really is," Lilly said softly. "On my world, we call them stars. They're these big balls of light far, far away."

"Balls of light?" Erica asked.

"Well, there's more to it than that, but kind of," said Lilly. The girl looked over to Erica. "What are they here?"

"People say different things," said Erica. "Some say that they're pure souls taken too young who watch over us and bring good fortune. Others say they're the spirits of wartime, trying to reach out and teach us how to live peacefully."

"What do you believe they are?" Lilly asked. Erica smiled and shook her head.

"I think... no, it's dumb," said Erica, shifting in her seat.

"Come on, tell me," said Lilly. Erica sighed.

"Fairies," said Erica softly. "Great, big, beautiful fairies. They live happily together as sisters. Help each other. Help us. Comfort us in the end, when we're apart of their family. And we can always fly. Just fly forever and ever." Erica wiped her eye. "We share a lot of sisters, them and me. I miss them so much. I hope they're taking good care of them. I hope they'll take good care of me." Lilly placed her hand on top of Erica's. The fairy looked over.

"I think that's beautiful," said Lilly. "And I think you're right. Something this breathtaking has to be apart of your sisterhood." The two shared a smile in each other's eyes. "But that won't be for a long, long time. I'm going to keep you safe. They'll all be waiting for you, but they're going to have to wait a little while longer. I need you here with me first." Erica looked away, averting her eyes downward. She sniffled into her hand, drawn from Lilly's touch. Lilly sat up. "What's wrong?"