(2017)

She stood hidden by the leaves of an Asori tree, silent and still.

Waiting

Watching

The object of her attentions knelt, no more than three wings away, blissfully aware of her watchful gaze as he dipped long fingers into the lazy flow of the Azrad River. She studied his lean body with a slight frown as she took in the site of his long limbs and smooth skin, its color as dark and rich as the coco beans it resembled and in sharp contrast with the pale lathered tissue of his six wings that rasped softly as the slander joints brushed together every time they shifted to keep their massive size balanced with his smaller frame. His eyes were closed and she wished he would open them so she could see what they looked like. When he did her breath caught at their coloring, they were the same shade as the braided strands of his silver hair.

"I should have tried to teach you"

The regret was clear in his voice as the sound reached her ears and she wondered who he spoke to. His head tilted as if listing to a response. Whatever ever he heard caused a smile to tug at the corners of his wide lips and revealed the sharp points of his canines.

"No" he mused "you never did like the water did you"

Her frown deepened and she searched their surroundings for a clue to identity of his companion and a shimmer caught her eye. She focused on it and could just make out the shape of a young girl. Her wispy form faded around the edges but her much smaller wings were still visible and showed that she belonged to the same demonic tribe as the man she hovered so close to but only two of the four horns of the Ocawona people adorned her small head. She leaned into her companion as if to whisper something in his ear. Whatever the child said made him chuckle and her shoulders shook with laughter but they sobered when he reached for something hidden in the blades of the lush green grass. Both the demons studied the object but she couldn't make out what it was. suddenly the girl spun away from him and began to dance and skip in wide lazy cycles as he released the object in to the rivers hold before He stood and turned to watch the small incorporeal creature faded away.

He stooped to pick a small bell shaped flower, twisted it slowly as he inhaled and gave one last sad smile "No" he sighed "you were meant for the sky"

With that he launched himself upward. His wings spread, each almost twice his height across, to catch him and with each powerful beat he rose higher into the air. She watched him as he turned and flew away before shifting her gaze to object bobbing along with water. She approached the water and plucked the object from its wet embrace.

She studied the mess of twisted twigs and leaves then smiled softly at the childish toy.

It was a boat.