Tuning to the rhythm of life is an art. Master it to turn difficulties into an adventure.
~Yaris.
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"Ara, keep away. She is scared of you."

She tapped on his knuckles to make him unleash his hold.

"You sure, Saga?"

His eyes questioned beyond his lips but she kept it subtle with a nod.

"I will get it. Try me."

Her clear chirps echoed in his keen ears. But his lips weren't leaky. Not even a sigh. Knowing the card was hers to turn, she held the curvy holder of the glass as she flew.

"There it is. You will feel better."

She stirred the clear liquid to let it pick a vibrant tornado as the spoon steered. Sniffing the drink for one last time she tapped on the glass.

"Huh!"

Her rejection was evident as she turned her torso away. She clutched her hands tight to her coat as if it were the only thing she trusted.

"A is for alcohol at a bar. Of course, no story begins with apples. But this is just a lemonade."

She pushed the glass to her elbows as she stretched her watchful wing at once.

"I am clear. I don't need this."

She clutched her angry fist on the caked top of the black table quaking some wares. Even if it did make them turn their heads, it couldn't do much to ensure any response.

"Calm down-"

"Oh common! Just let me go."

"Only if you let us do it."

Her hands sneaked inside her seams, her way to snatch her deal. As her hands kissed the empty sews, she scoffed.

Ridiculous ripe for a betrayal!

As the smirk on the feathery face brightened to that of the moon amidst the stars, she knew she must play nice to get what tickles her heart.

"Questions? Shoot me with them. I can be graceful."

"Good. Tell us who are you?"

Her brows thickened to crease her lids. She shrugged her shoulders to heave out a sigh.

"That Mayavi already knows everything. I guess he can entertain your little brain better. He owns you after all."

Her cranky fingers spidered in the air to draw some curves as she spoke. Once she concluded she fisted her arm towards the man across the counter.

"Graceful, you said. We don't like it like this."

Tides of sombre washed her face pale. Her stare narrowed as she sharpened her nares.

"Sweet bird. You are making it tough. I don't do words. Didn't that Mayavi warn you?"

"O-kay, Ms Knifey. No more boohoo. Ahh, seems like I have to spill two gentle cues."

Those two taps of the claw made her arch her curious brows while she pulled those parched lips in to chew.

"One. We aren't dark wizards. Maybe you deserve an explanation but this is a sphere that's beyond the scope of human understanding."

"Ewew. Such a fatiguing disclaimer."

She sealed her lips as she flapped her wings on them.

"I'm not done yet. Two. Haven't you heard that when the little chick needs the peas it nods nicely? So stop all the huff-woof-poofs."

"Eh?"

She hit her wings on her beak as she looked like a totally burnt nut that she would never chew.

"Keep your clucks to-"

"Oww. Cluck cluck! How much I love them. What if I double it?"

She took the glass to flip it. To her stupefaction, the contents didn't spill down. Not even a drop or a humble trickle.

"Additional hint, don't push us too much. I don't spell kind nice."

"Stupid bird-"

The rim of the glass got stuck between her lips. Before she could realise she saw the wings whirl as if steering to tilt the glass. Without a warning, the liquid reached her lower throat leaving her glands straining to salivate as her tongue despised the sour sense. She ran to the counter to gulp some water and she saw the man sitting quietly to observe everything around.

"It's all your work. Huh?"

"You think she isn't wise enough. What a waste for a mistake."

He clicked his tongue as carelessly as he could enough to make her thoughts shrink to the size of a numb pea.

"Tant- Argh! Fine."

"Progress I see. Now be a good girl and behave."

She flew towards them to land between the dead branch that housed a few seeds for her munch. Saving it for later, she shook her plumages to wither the dust as she dodged her head to him. Giving him a quick wink, she settled.

"What do you want from me?"

She crossed her arms to straighten her back. Masking her eyes to keep off the curbs, she tossed a few nuts.

"That's a good sign. Whatever it is tell us only the truth."

"After all these, you expect just truth?"

Her split laughter nibbled their fury. Keeping it cut through their smooth grunts and some deep breaths, he leaned forward.

"Spit the truth. You get a chance to live."

"Don't fool around. I didn't die."

Strayed ounces of curious gazes shifted between the eyes. Gentle like his stare, he leaned.

"Then sweetheart, what's bothering you to be bound to this abode for the dead."

⚫️⚪️⚫️⚪️⚫️

The breezy winds carrying the scorches of the sun weren't pinning her opaque skin. She kept moving, minding almost nothing.

"Cover up for Her Highness! All hail our protector."

The random phrases of her disciples barely reached her ears. But her thoughts were spiralling upon that one fact. That one delicate fact of commotion that she could never pretend low about.

"The divine mother? Me? Seriously."

Her fingers kept fidgeting with the little sigil as she stepped ahead. The once dull metal was radiating a faint beam.

How clumsy can life get in a day?

She kept chuckling and slaving to her muses while dragging her steps akin to the popping issues she had to chew. Dismissing them was indeed fun. She did it only to bring them to resume until she felt sick. Again and again. Taking the last turn, she entered the pavement.

"Alright. These can wait for some time!"

She then seethed into the amassed shades to sneak into the home. Slowly she neared the door careful to not create a mess that would double her job.

Creeeeaaak!

"Damn! I didn't mean to-"

Her eyes widened as she was greeted by a half-naked and bereft empty bed that was least covered with its crumpled floral sheet.

"I did leave her for a few minutes!"

She looked beneath the bed and the long dancing floor-length curtain to ensure she wasn't fooled.

"Devi, she isn't here."

A tender voice from the little yard behind drew her attention.

"You saw her go out?"

The bunch of leaves whispered a loud yes in unison, making her tighten her hold upon her ears.

"Alrig- Right. Can one of you tell me where did she go?"

She knelt as the leaves were picking up their confused shift of stares.

"The youngest one saw her. From his position, he can know better. He will answer."

A comforting voice declared, making her look amidst the bunch to decide who would that be.

"She is the goddess and she doesn't know it?"

A tweeny baby leaf dodged the tip making its shadow wriggle under the shimmer of sun on the mud.

"Oh my. Why would kids be like him these days?"

"Apologies, Devi. He is such a pain in the stalk."

The speaking leaf curled its body down, tapping him to quieten his irks. He grunted and shook his tender stalks, making the baby hair stand erect upon them.

"Can you tell me-"

"No!"

Her brows were split wide apart on that strong rejection.

"Earn it than demanding."

His tightening temper rose an enormous commotion amidst every vein that brewed life, only to transmit it faster to the peak.

"Excuse-"

"You know that I know doesn't qualify you for me to help you on demand. It's been weeks, since we were fed. Winters don't mean we can thrive just like that. It weakens us than summers!"

"I really don't have time for-"

"You did cook for her. So we are the burden. Then why do you pretend to love all the greens of us?"

A sweep of guilt blurred her vision as she looked at the browning stem that spoke the depth of what he meant.

"I'm so sorry, leafie. I promise with all my heart not to repeat it."

She took the plastic mug that lay beside akin to the lonely statue to fill its empty slopes. As it brimmed with ebbing trinkles, she quickly quenched the thirst of every herb and shrubs. They relished in peace as their droughting thirst was quenched.

"Was that worthy enough?"

"Maybe. Wish that happened easily."

He tossed the drop of water to break them into dews as he bathed to wade the heat waves.

"I'm in a hurry. Can I know where she went?"

"Can you fill the mug again?"

His words made every leaf bend to intimidate him. She shut the annoyed stares behind her lashes to ease them with a roll.

"Hey hey. I'm just helping her out."

His shift of tone convinced her to try it once. Just this once.

"If I end up late that could be disastrous."

She reminded him as she pushed the half-filled mug to him.

"Drop that low-fading symbol in."

"How do you know about-"

He looked below to cast his tip to the dancing veins of opaque curtains.

"Oh well, but what does this do?"

"It helps you know whatever you have to know. That's your power, Devi."

His dawn on her twilight sparkled like a star waiting for its turn. Before she could dip the sigil into the water, she looked at him.

"Oh! Every new leaf has a purpose to serve and mine was this. Just this."

"What do you-"

Before she could ask him, a strong beam of the sun shot its embers, burning his tip. Perhaps he would find his place in the soil later, but his procession had already commenced. And so had hers.

Terms:

Mayavi: A Tamil word which means a man who is a sorcerer or wizard or anything related to it.

Devi: The Tamil word to address a goddess.

With riddles,
🧩..Yaris..🧩