IoQ: A Flying Lesson

It was a nice afternoon, things seemed to be settling down and the summer sun was shining bright outside. Thumbelina had finished cooking some bacon and eggs for her children as well as some sliced oranges she had picked from the outskirts of the desert. In addition she had made a cake with dried berries and lemon zest. As her guests always seemed to expand and contract, she had made far too much. But she remembered that Waldor had moved in next door and thus she packed a bit of everything into a basket before heading up the hill and knocking lightly on the Owl's door.

There was literally no light inside his hous. The windows were covered with heavy drapes and no candles were lit within so when Walor cracked the door open and sniffed it seemed almost as if the darkness of his home clung to him. A moments pause preceeded him opening the door a fraction more. "Mrs. Belmont."

"Hello Mr. VonBartok.. Though.. You do not need to be so formal. Thumbelina is fine." She smiled lightly as she presented the basket to him. "I brought you some lunch.. Though I assume you already knew that." There was a pause as the fairy fretted before asking. "May I come in?"

"Hmm...I do." Walor stood there a long moment before opening the door further to allowed Thumbelina into the gloom. "If you desire to enter you may. I do not know of how it looks. If something offends your eyes I suggest you fix it or refrain from crying over it."

"I am hard to offend so easily." Thumbelina walked in, easily able to move by the light her form let off. She was unsure if Waldor could tell light from dark with his blind eyes.. but within his dark space her glow was obvious. Her steps seemed to have a floating quality to them and as always she spoke with an honest and sincere tone. "I see you had the house fixed up, I hope it's working out well for you." When she found a table of some sort she placed the basket of food down. "I didn't know your preferences.. but You seemed like one who would like meat.. So I packed some smoked bacon, eggs, oranges and cake." Again she assumed he probably already knew that..

"Indeed on both accounts." His wings shifted around him some as he followed her then stood a few feet away whilst she explained the contents of the basket that he was already aware of. "What do I owe you for these items?"

"Nothing." She seemed suprised that he would even ask. "I said I would bring you food, and I had made to much.. so here I am." A faint smile remained on Thumbelina as she tilted her head. "Besides, I want to get to know you better."

Feathers along his collar fluffed some as he stood there, unsure of her true intentions. He had reaffirmed his 'sight' earlier with the women and beasts in the who-knows-where he'd been and found that he was still an impecible judge of character but this woman's aura and demenour still threw him. "....why."

"Because, I would like to be your friend." Her words were simple and straight forward. She had no motive beyond simply wishing to brighten the grumpy fellow's day and perhaps help him find happiness... It was the kindness and love others that helped her so much in her life, so she always wished to do so for others if she could. It was obvious she was watching him, though not in a staring way.. but rather a concerned attention to body lauguage as she tried to understand what things she should and should not say around him.

He was back to being a puffy owl at this point. Waldor stayed quiet for a long moment before finally responding, "Mrs. Belmont, while I believe you may be in earnest with your desires to befriend me I must warn you that I have never had a 'friend' before and do not know the formalities surrounding the title, therefore it is difficult for me to accept such a suggestion."

"Thumbelina. Just call me Thumbelina." The fairy smiled softly as she usually would. "And do not worry, I'm sure you'll be just fine. Just tell me about yourself to start and you may use titles as you feel comfortable with them." Her head tilted softly to the side causing her bangs to shift, a faint sound he would likely pick up on. "Is that much acceptable?"

He let out a soft harumph but nodded and moved some to pick through the basket of items she'd brought. Thankfully his feathers had settled down some allowing his hands to emerge from the cloak without too much issue. "As You know I am Waldor VonBartok, Strix. I am sightless in the way you see but I am gifted with othersight that I may know what is to come. It is how I knew I was to arrive here and why I was a prisoner for much of my life."

"Is that so?" Thumbelina watched his expressions curiously as to see which he seemed to like or which he seemed less than intrested in for future reference. "Does that give you prior knowledge about people you meet?"

Waldor pulled an orange from the basket and sliced through the peal easily with his talons. "On occasion. I do not control what sight I am given nor who or what I see. I have known I would come here for several weeks but knew the place I was being held captive would be destroyed for many years. It is all relative to the importance of the vision."

"I see.." She giggled ever so slightly. "I was just curious if it had told you anything about me. There wouldn't be much good in offering to tell you about myself if you already knew."

Waldor paused because he had indeed seen her, though only a glimpse. Enough to show him that she did indeed have spider being children. Spider children. This world was a strange place indeed. "Only your appearance. Continue." Feathers shifted around him as he perched on what was effectively a block of wood that he'd moved into the house. It was easier for him to sit on than traditional furnature though, so most of the other items in the house had been shoved against one wall so he wouldn't walk into them.

"What would you like to know?" She stood in a very lady-like manner, hands held on top of each other over her lap with a straight back. Such had been expected of her for so long that.. she just still did so out of habit. "I am a sort of nature fairy.. My true size is close to that of a thumb.. I was raised till my early teens by a kind human before I was stolen away... Hmm.. I don't think I have any particularly impressive talents.. I can just do fairy things.. such as flying and using plants to protect myself.. but I don't think it's all that impressive."

The orange slice he had been about to eat stilled just before his mouth as Waldor froze. "You....can fly?"

"Well... Yes... Is that odd?" Perhaps it was the magic of it or the stressful situtaion that had brought her magic to the surface... But for her, as soon as her wings appeared it was like second nature to her. She had never thought it to be anything worth noting.

Waldor frowned then set the orange down before standing and stepping off the perch to move closer to her. "Do so please."

Thumbelina nodded lightly, creating a small shift in the bangs beside her face. She did not make him wait long though, her large fairy wing fluttered in a way similar to that of a butterfly as she rose to eye level with him. She was wary to go much higher as she had no idea how high his ceiling went.

Waldor paused and a serene expression crossed his face for the briefest of moments. "Do you believe you would be able to teach me?"

Thumbelina returned to her feet genuinely suprised. "You can't fly?"

His face shuttered a moment and he hissed before snapping his mouth shut so he'd not say something impressively rude. One eye twitched before he finally managed to talk in a calm tone. "No. I was enslaved as a child and kept chained in a tower as I grew until my wings were so unused to moving for flight that I cannot."

"Then I would love to assist you." Thumbelina spread her arms out to her sides with a large smile. "Just tell me when you would like to do so."

"As soon as you are able and free of obligations." he was still huffy but trying to calm himself. The woman had accepted his request, he should try to be less angry.

"I'm sorry for offending you. Truly, I had no idea on your situation.. I was just.. suprised.. Your wings are quite magnificent.. I had just assumed." Thumbelina returned to her formal standing, bowing her head lightly. "Please forgive me."

Waldor sniffed delicately then nodded, placated by her apolgoy. "It is understandable. Strix wings are large and strong. I am...unfortunate in that I cannot use them as they were meant to be used."

"Well I am free for the rest of the day if you would like to try now." Thumbelina allowed herself to straighten, though she continued to stand rather formal. "I think it would be lovely to see you high above the tree tops.

He gathered his wings to him a bit more as he stood straighter then nodded. "Yes."

Thumbelina walked back to the door, holding it open for him as she exited.

Waldor followed, tapping the door shut with one of his wings. He listened to her movements as he followed and waited for her direction.

The truth was.. she only knew how to teach babies. Thumbelina had taught her babies to fly and walk.. so she supposed this would be vaugly the same? She held her hands out to Waldor, an action he would have easily heard from her sleeves moving. "Take my hands and try to flap your wings as best you can, I'll help hold you up."

He hesitated but both hands appeared from his cloak and wrapped around hers. He was extremely careful with the motion, considering everyone of his fingers ended in a vicious talon. Thick wings shifted and unfurled from around him but he paused again. "Are you sure?"

The Fairy nodded. "Yes, It's how my children learned so.. Don't worry about hurting me too much.. I have a high pain tolerence.. and I'm a healer.." Her wings started to move, holding her lightly above the ground as she waited for him. She remained calm, though there was a hint of excitement from her. She wanted to see him succeed.

Waldor nodded then shifted his massive wings again and beat them slowly. He was so unused to the movement though that he was having to focus heavily on moving them properly. Dust and small stones whirled around them from the heavy wing beats but the man stayed right where he was.

"Wonderful!" Her enthusiam was genuine and a large smile spread across her face. "They're quite big so try moving them faster."

His look of concentration increased as he focused on moving the giant things quicker. A soft chirp left him when his feet started to lift and he gripped Thumby's hands a tiny bit tighter.

Thumbelina didn't say anything, but the sight warmed her heart. She held on tight to his hands in response, she wasn't going to let go till he was ready. She let herself float a bit higher to encourage him up.

He could feel that she'd moved and frowned some, thinking he'd lowered on accident. Heavy wings beat just a bit fast and higher he went but the movement left him disorented as towards where he was.

"You're doing great. You're.. maybe half your height up." Thumbelina had the same way one would expect of a child at christmas. He had seemed so excited at the prospect and he was doing wonderfully.

Waldor chirped again despite himself and squeezed her hands just a bit more as though he needed to reassure himself she was there. He tried to listen to get his bearings but the sound of his wings moving threw him off even more and he dropped some in the air and hissed.

Thumbelina held on tight, not allowing him to drop too far. "I got you."

The hissing contiued for a moment then settled into a faint grumble as he beat his wings faster to get back up somewhere near where he'd been. "I cannot hear anything over the beating of my wings and the air moves too quickly for me to know where I am. I feel as though I am stuck in a vortex. How to you navigate as this?!"

The obvious anwser was with her eyes, but that wasn't response he needed. But.. she wasn't quite sure how to anwser... So there was a pause after his question. "I'm not sure... But perhaps with some magic we could make something to assist you in navigating?"

Annoyed chirping slipped out of him but then he paused as the sounds came back to him. "Speak again. Just have you have been."

"Just as I have been?" Thumbelina smiled softly, still holding his clawed hands as she fluttered in place. "Are you starting to hear better around the wind they create?"

Waldor nodded and listened as she spoke. "I can judge where you are some but not well. The ground I cannot yet nor the buildings though I know they are there for we did not walk far and have not moved anywhere but upright....or so i believe."

"You are correct in your aproximation." The fairy continued to smile, delighted with his progress. "I suppose we could try and create something simmilar to how Bats navigate.. by bouncing sound off object?"

He grumbled over the concept of being compared to a bat but made a grunt of agreement. "I acquired some gems earlier. Would whatever artificier there is in town be willing to take them in trade? I have little other means of payment."

"Artificier...?" Thumbelina was not familiar with that word.. but she did know a lot of people with varried skills... She was sure that combined they could create something.

"Craftsman of skill. Does this word not exist int his place?" He was almost getting used to using his wings in this way though he knew that simply being able to hover like this was nothing compared to actual flight. Then again, he really didn't care since he was in the air under his own power.

"Oh, Well I am friends with a great many people of varried skills I am sure if I asked around something could be constructed." Thumbelina never really had a strong grip on money, generally she just traded her assistance for the assistance of others.. after all she had just given over a million gold to her pregnant friend for house upgrades.. and would freely help others in collecting things or projects where they required help.. but she would probably just pay if gold was needed. "Don't worry about it."

"I am...unused to recieving assistance of any kind. Is there something of which you desire I could acquire for your help?" He honestly questioned himself as he offered and thinking back he's not sure he could ever recall a time when he had been the first to offer in a trade of any sort. Usually when he needed something he simply demanded it from the tower guards or stared at the 'assistant' he'd ben assigned until the man ran away and got whatever it was Waldor had required.

"I can't think of anything at the moment. I'm just glad to be able to help." The fairy fluttered in place while she thought. "Would you like me to lead you around above the buildings.. or would you prefer to land for now?"

As much as he would like to land and regain his bearings Waldor couldn't help but accept the proposition. "If you think of something, tell me. And...around." Nervousness flitted across his face a moment but he knew he had to continue to push himself out of his comfort zone or he would never be able to fly properly.

"Of course, though to be fair it would be more likely I would just show up with something.. unless you were about in town while I was going around talking to people.. Though if something is planned out and is in the process of being crafted, I will be sure to let you know." Thumbelina looked up and around a bit before starting to rise, she didn't know how fast he could do the same.. so she moved at a slower pace, encouraging him to follow her up.

"Ah, thank you." His chirp was nervous but he followed her, never once letting go or loosening his grip on her hands. The feathers along his throat and face-for those were tiny feathers rather than true hair-fluffed and his feet opened and closed with envy for the ground so far beheath them. "Will...will you tell me where we have gone so I may map it in my mind?"

"Of course. At the moment, we are just above your house. Is there a sort of area you would prefer to fly above? To your right is the town, past that would be the swamps, the mines and the desert. In front of you past the houses would be the lagoon and the woods. To your left is the valley. " Thumbelina held steady at the current altitude.

As she spoke Waldor made a point to affix things in his mental map so that he could navigate better. He judged which direction they were facing by the feel of the sun on him and finally managed to orient himself in space. "Ah...what wildlife roams the valley? Do you have cow-beasts here? Sheep or horses?"

"Yes, The Valley has cows, chickens, dogs, sprites, something called a Sable.. which is like a rabbit/ferret.. They also have a sort of slime monster, butterfly dragon and fluffy fox, though those are found similarly in all areas." Thumbelina pondered. "There are also some fruit trees."

"....butterfly....dragons." He was in hell. A low 'hmmmm' left him. "The valley then. Do you not domesticate these creatures or does their sentience keep you from it?"

"Oh yes, I have many animals domesticated. When I arrived Ivan domesticated a Corgi for me.. I have a cow.. A chicken.. A puff moth.. Two foxes and an Earth sprite. Do you have a fondness for animals?" She led him carefully towards the Earth Valley, taking care not to move too fast.

"I have a fondness for meat. I do not care from whence it comes nor do the Strix as a people." He was still focusing on flying but kept also trying to keep some notice on where they were headed. He would likely have to make the journey back by himself considering the gentle nature of his companion.

"Oh, my beloved was a primary carnivore as well. You won't want the sprites then, they just disolve into essence when killed. Would you like me to look out for a specific animal?" Thumbelina spoke casually, she didn't care for violence much, but killing animals for food wasn't startling to her.. she had been raised on a farm.

"Spider being, yes? Your daughter is of violet skin, yes? And...a cow. I have not had a proper meal in a long time."

"He said they were called Spider-born?" Thumbelina laughed lightly at the idea of purple skin. "Oh no no, Both of my babies are an ash-grey color skin. She has my purple-blue eyes though.. but sclera is also colored like her father's.. Neither of them inherrited his extra eyes though."

"Violet-sh then. When you have no normal sight it is difficult to know how one defines colours. Though to be true, I caught only a glimpse of her in passing." Waldor could feel the strain in his wings from the extended movement. His muscles weren't used to moving in this way and he was very aware he would ache for the coming days which is why he was very set upon finding a cow to crush and drag back with him. He would require something to gnaw upon as he healed.

"There seems to be a lone cow to the east slightly. There aren't any trees near by.. I think if you got a good scent on it you could use it to land solo if you wished?" Thumbelina waited his response, she didn't want to preasure him, but she could feel the desire within him to fly solo.

Waldor hesitated then nodded, taking a moment to breath deeply and try to locate the beast she indicated. With the assistance of the wind in the trees he did for the most part and ever so slowly let go of her hands. "I am apt to make a fool of myself. Please refrain from mentioning how poor I am at this and I will present parts of the beast to you in return."

Thumbelina giggled lightly and shook her head. "True fools are too afraid to try. I'll stay close though, just in case you need any help."

Hands finally free of hers he nodded once more before a few hard wing beats put him above her and heading eastwards. For all his fears he was doing well, but it was still difficult for him to tell exactly where he was. Waldor hesitated a moment but the sound of the animal he was weeking walking drew him back to his target and instead of landing gently the owlman dove at the beast, shifting to smash his taloned feet into the things spine and use his weight to bring it down.

Thumbelina followed at a distance behind. She wanted to give him the focus to do.. well actually she expected it to go like that.. It was why she suggested it. The cow would give him an easy target for landing and would pad the impact. The fairy landed in a far more graceful manner behind him.

Waldor snapped the things neck to assure himself it was dead though the sounds of it's body dying were already apparent to him. A predators courtesy if you will. One taloned hand felt along the underbelly of the thing before slashing through skin, sinew and muscle to rip out the heart. The owl stood in a gracefull movement and held the thing out towards where he had heard his companion land. "As promised."

"Thank you, but I think I will decline. I don't actually much care for meat myself. You enjoy it though." She smiled, tilting her head softly. "Would you like company walking back?"

Waldor 'looked' at Thumby then harumphed a bit and ate the thing as it was, nodding as he chewed. He bent some to grab two of the cows legs and toss the beast up onto his shoulder. He grunted from the weight and shifted his wings to keep the blood from dripping down to his clothing before turning back to Thumby, one hand definitely still holding the half eaten heart he was munching on.

It was almost comical.. he seemed so much more comfortable with her though. Thumbelina chose to ignore the blood as they started walking back. "Would you like me to see if I can heal your wings after you reach home? If they ache I may be able to lessen it?" She had noticed his breif discomfort before he had landed.

Waldor paused just before he took another bite and 'looked' towards Thumby as he walked. He would regain some health from eating the creature he'd crushed but perhaps testing the woman's fairy magic might be in order. Then again he would rather witness it upon someone else first but..."Yes, Mrs. Belmont. Though I would not care to trouble you farther."

"I've told you, It's never a trouble. Besides, I offered." Thumbelina hummed faintly to herself as she thought, rather content with how she'd spent her day. "Do you enjoy it though? Being able to be on your own up there?"

The cow carring bird kept pace with her, but with his wings back she could likely see that he stumbled on occasion from the uneven terrain. "I enjoy being free and that is true freedom."

"I'm glad you had fun." The fairy returned to her light humming while she tried to think of things to say.. but maybe if she stayed more quiet he would say things on his own.

Haha, he would not say more things on his own. The owl went back to munching and quickly finished the cows heart. With his other hand free he adjusted how he was carrying the thing and kept walking, listening to Thumbelina's humm. "Do you sing?"

"Yes... For the longest time it was the only thing I thought I was any good at.." She smiled over to him. "Would you like me to sing something?" She didn't actual know if he cared for music.. so she had tried to stay quiet.

Waldor hesitated, "If you intend to belt out some obnoxious nonsense I will pass. But if it is gentle music then yes."

"I do not know what counts as obnoxious to you.. but.. I like older songs my mother taught me. If it does not fit your taste you can ask me to stop. She sung softly the song she had previously be humming, and older song by the name of 'Lavender's Blue'.

Ah, this was one he recognized from the workers in the castle. He doubted they knew he could hear them but sometimes at night it pleased him to perch on top of his tower and listen to the goings on below and the melody his companion sung had been one of the few songs he could tolerate.

Seeming as he had not stopped her, she sang her song to it's end before stealing a glance at his expression.. had it been to his tastes then?

"I am familiar with that song and you sing it well, Mrs. Belmont." The terrain changed under him and Waldor sniffed briefly then listened to determined how close they were to his home.

"I told you, you needn't be so formal with me. Please just call me Thumbelina... but thank you.." Thumbelina sighed, stepping aside so that he could unlock his door. "My mother would sing it in the garden when I was a child."

"It is difficult for me not to use your formal name. Using your title is...a way to display respect."

"At least try saying it." She waited.

Waldor sighed heavily and slowed his pace before opening the door to his home to allow her entry. "...Thumbelina. There I have said it once. It will likely never happen again."

Oh if only he could have seen how happy that made her. It made her feel so much more like they were friends then such titles did.. though perhaps he could hear it on her voice as she said "Thank you." Then she entered the house once more, waiting for him to find his perch again.

He snorted and dropped the cow carcas off to the side of the door and clicked farther into the room before climbing up onto his perch. He paused when he was up. "Is this acceptable for you or should I stand?"

"This is fine, just relax." Thumbelina summoned healing magic into her hands, causing them to glow more so than the rest of her. Ever so gently  brushing them over his wings, following the way they fell. As she did so they started to repair and the aching subsided.

Waldor jumped slightly as his wings were touched and the things fluttered a little before settling. He sat patiently as she healed him and examined the process as best he could from a patients standpoint, mentalling noting things as the pain of his wings subsidded. "This is something you do with frequency?" If this wasn't a practiced skill he'd be shocked, then again this woman had managed to surprize him repeatidly already.

"I wouldn't say with frequency... I prefer to not have people hurt around me.. But I have done it quite a bit while I have been on the island. I am much better with magic related to plants." She finished the first wing and moved on to the other.

A nod preceeded his words. "And are there others in this place with such gifts?"

"Depends on what you mean by gifts.. If you only mean healing.. I know that Ana can heal.. and that Matches has healed herself with a sort of ice magic.. but..." The fairy shrugged, smiling lightly. "They are many different types of people here, many are quite plesant..."

"I sincerely doubt that." He stayed still so that she could finish, but his talons tapped against his perch. "How populated is this island?"

Finishing her task, she walked back around to stand in front of him. "Fairly so? Less than 50 people I believe... But I haven't particularly counted."

"Small enough that I may somehow be spared speaking with many. This is pleasing." Waldor flexed his wings, moving them a little in the somewhat confined space. "This...is well done. Thank you Mrs. Belmont."

"I'm glad to have helped. We should go out again sometime." Thumbelina wondered if he would prefer she left.. but he seemed to like talking to her somewhat? She wasn't sure.

He nodded. "Yes, I will require more practice." Waldor sat a moment then turned his head some to 'look' at her better. "I am unfamiliar with the formalities here, am I to take you to your home?"

"Ah! No, I can take myself home. Though, I'm going to give you a hug goodbye first." The fairy smiled.

The owl huffed then stepped down from his perch and held open his arms as he had before. "Is this to be a regular request?"

"Would you be opposed if it was?" Thumbelina smiled, moving forward to give him a gentle hug.

Waldor clicked his tongue against his teeth and hugged her back gently as he has been taught earlier. "I will endevor to become less confused by it at the very least."

"I understand, that's why I asked... Usually I just hug my friends." She let go, taking a few steps back. "Well, you know where to find me... Goodbye for now." With that she made her way out of the house.

"Good night, Mrs. Belmont." Waldor waited for the click of his door then resumed his perch and stares at the nothingness in front of him. After a long while he turned to the carcass he'd drug in and went to work. It would not do to be wastefull.