Author: Ms. Autumn Rennie

…I followed the current through the air and over the withering treetops, and sang to the egg to guide the way.  Dry paths of sunken ground wove throughout the forest. The yellow waves of the current led me to the patch of acacia trees I saw earlier. As I closed in, I saw the peaks of the Mer keys sparkling in our hot star’s rays that found their way through the clouds. What remained of a stream led to a drained riverbed.  The overgrown trees hid the bottoms of the keys. What a desolate place. It only needed water, like the rest of the land.

…Down I drifted into the clouds. They yielded eagerly to the will of my wings. The underside of the clouds pouted, dark and heavy with rain that would not fall into Sleep.
After I floated down and out of the clouds, I turned my focus to the ground. I saw around me clearly, but my eyes remained shut. I focused on our hut as I descended.

…I came to as I crashed into the Edge. It took all my strength to move. The Edge thickened each time I tried. Warmth seeped into my skin. I stopped fighting and let my arms and legs rest.  I resisted the urge to open my eyes. Instead, I curled up inside my wings.  A strange comfort gripped me. A dangerous comfort.

…he silhouetted man leaned his head back and took in a long breath.  The wind changed around me despite our distance.  He let the breath go and released more star space.  I shielded my ears as a screech surrounded us. He had blown away half his size when the screeching ended. He paused a moment, shaken from the transition, before releasing a smile and making his way to me.  “How are your wings?” He closed the distance between us.

…The air pushed hard against me as I flew straight up through the thickening clouds. They thundered and shuddered my whole body.  My new wings flapped open as if they had always been there. The ground melted out of sight. Bright light surrounded me. I wished Mother could see this.  I tried to slow down to feel the damp clouds, but a strong wind seized me. I sank. I sank up.

…”Wake up, Sera! You’ll break all the pots!” The fog in my head told me it was too early for this. I must have really done it now. Mother poked hard at my leg hanging over my bed. I tried to shake her hand away, but I fell over right onto the floor. I searched the room to get my bearings. The barbed baskets seemed a bit lower this morning.

…The path home was a cold and dark one. I wouldn’t miss this long walk.  Maybe things would be better when spring came.  The sky was dark as clouds gathered, hiding the starlight. I kicked off my dusty shoes outside our home and went inside. Mother tied down the last wrap over the top of the roof. I had left it open since the last moon. Tonight’s Hunger Moon had grown full, but I could not see its light.