Practice

Nothing compared to the outdoors, not to Dyani Jones the Wendigo. The birds singing some shit about what a great day it was, the hot sun pouring down on the large midday clearing, and the girl herself chatting amiably with a deer. She was a mother of two, both young deer had grown up and left for their own territories and mates. Alone now without her mate (who had been eaten by some forest creature only found on the island a couple months back) she was looking for something and anything to do. As is turned out, Dyani was looking for someone to talk to just as the deer entered the clearing. Before she could flee, the Wendigo called after her in her own language, so she stayed.

The conversation was bordering on forest gossip (Dyani's favorite kind), when there was a noise far off. Approaching stranger, coming to the clearing, had gotten rather too close for comfort. Close enough to hear the exchange, and likely even see the disguised Wendigo chattering with the wildlife. Dyani flushed scarlet from her forehead to her neck, quickly sitting up and putting her hands behind her back guiltily. The deer fled, leaving the embarrassed supernatural to stand there and wait for the person watching to say something. How humiliating.

The first glance of the boy was cursory, right up until Dyani saw the wings. Spread like those of a celestial being behind the white-haired boy, they seemed to take up more space the longer she looked at them. Soft, downy-looking feathers were lined in neat little rows on each wing, making patterns and tessellations that left her at a loss for words. She thought her antlers were something special, but they didn't compare to appendages that flew their owner. For a moment that might be rather awkward for the boy, she simply stared and attempted to restart her brain.

"Hello. Nice day for enjoying nature, isn't it?" Dyani asked, trying to regain some of her dignity and breath. The deer called her from the edge of the clearing, asking if she was alright, and it was everything she could not to respond. Forbearing making some odd deer noises in front of this new person, she readjusted her hair clip shyly and smiled. Back in her groove of her disguise, she tilted her head slightly and looked back at the wings again. "I'm sorry if it's rude to ask, but are those real?" she asked, motioning for a moment with her arm to the wings before dropping it back to her side.

New here, like she was. This was comforting. By his casual manner, he had by some freak of good luck not noticed her having a conversation with the wildlife. That was also very good. His smile was nice, friendly. Not menacing. He didn't seem to fear her or want to eat her, both good signs. There was something about the way they communicated immediately, like they understood eachother. Dyani had never noticed this with humans. Interesting.

When the boy extended his wings to their full length and then offered one to her, she only hesitated a moment before walking forward slowly. Her arm extended, she carefully ran her fingers in between the soft white down, rubbing her thumb over the silky feathers. With every caution and care, she moved her hand to the top of the wing, brushing the edge and watching the movement of the tendons under the feathers. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen, because it was natural and yet completely foreign. "They're absolutely beautiful" she said softly, truth and awe in her voice.

Since she was so busy examining the wing, she barely heard him introduce himself. Dyani blushed slightly and grinned at Soren. It was a nice name, ancient sounding. "My name is Dyani Jones. I am also new to the islands" she said "It's very nice to meet you as well, Soren".

Her hands stopped when Soren told her she was more beautiful than the wings on his back. She seemed to be having a rather hard time thinking, or breathing. After what felt like a century, she continued stroking the wing and looking at each feather. They were like the feathers of a bird, but somehow even more soft. When viewed from afar, the smallest feathers weren't even visible, the patterned slightly ruined by monotony. This close though, Dyani could see where each one met the other and then blended perfectly in with a million others in sequence. It was like looking at a painting, one so complex you had to look at it many times before you could really see every detail and quirk. "I disagree, but I thank you anyways. They're incredible. Can you fly with them?" Dyani asked, managing to look Soren in the face even though she was blushing.

Dyani raised her eyebrows and tried not to look too impressed. He could fly? Actually fly? "I would like that very much" she replied, smiling back at him and trying to regain her cool composure. This Soren, he was not like humans. He was not assuming, not shallow or dangerous. He had the ability to fly, and he was offering to fly her in the sky. For a fleeting moment, she considered telling him what she was. Showing him. But the fear crept back in and stopped the words in her mouth. What if he hated her for it. What if he told the humans. They would kill her.

Dyani laughed at his embarrassment gently and shook her head. "If I could fly I would want to share it with others as well. I'm just honored you offer" she said. The birds had told her about flying, about the feeling of weightlessness. Now she might experience it herself.