Free Feather’s Blossom by Viola Grace

 
     
    Tyhana flew over the fields, looking for the missing sheep. She passed the flattened grass where Tomas had been frolicking with his girlfriend and made a note to mention it to him. She didn’t mind his love life, but her brother had to attend his duties when it was lambing season.
    She found the stray just as the sun began to dip. The little bleater was curled in a ball and calling weakly.
    “Easy, short stuff.”
    Tyhana settled on the grass, and she moved carefully toward the lamb. There was a wolf pack three hills over, and they were heading toward the plaintive bleat.
    Ty scooped the lamb into her arms and stood, using her wings for balance as she pushed off with her mind. After a few awkward moments, they were on their way back to the farm, nestled in the most inhospitable valley on all of Orion’s Rest.
    She found the worried mother and put the lamb down next to her. Ty watched as the weak baby toddled over to its mom and started to acquire dinner. She sighed in relief as the mother and baby renewed their bond.
    Ty brushed at her gown and returned to the farmhouse. Her family looked up from the dining room table as she entered and she gave them a quick thumbs-up before she washed her hands.
    Dinner was placed on the table as she returned, and she took her place at the foot of the table. Some folk thought that it showed her lack of place in the family by putting her at the foot, but in reality, the reasoning was far simpler. It was the only seat where her wings didn’t get in the way.
    She sat across from her father, and when the entire family was assembled, he gave the nod for the family to start.
    Food flew, plates filled and cutlery clattered. Fruit water circulated around the table, and there was silence for ten minutes.
    Ty spoke to Tomas, “How is your courtship of Wendiala going?”
    Tomas froze. “Fine. Why do you ask?”
    She smirked and said two words. “Crop circles.”
    Tomas was suddenly the focus of his younger siblings asking for an explanation.
    Ty’s mother smiled and looked at her, “Did you have a nice flight?”
    “It was very nice. I here that there is going to be a meteor shower this evening. May I fly to the peaks to watch it?” Tyhana took the dark vegetables off Leonara’s plate with a casual move.
    Her sister smiled in relief.
    Ty looked around the table at her six siblings and had to rejoice in her luck in being found by Niira Roper. Ty had been in her small shape at the time, and she had been lucky that the keen-eyed Niira had spotted the baby in the flowers outside her kitchen window. The moment she had touched the tiny fairy in the flowers, a winged toddler had appeared.
    Ty still enjoyed switching from large to small form, but she didn’t have clothing for when she was tiny, so she kept those shifts for the warm summer nights and daylight hours.
    “When will you be home?”
    “Dawn. If I am running later, I will send you a ping.” As the eldest of the family, Ty had privileges that her other siblings did not.
    Orwait looked down at her. “Take knives and the master com. I want to know if anything happens of note. In fact, take the compact vid camera. I believe your siblings would benefit from a little more education than we can provide.”
    “Of course; though, if I pick up too much stuff, I might not be able to lift off.”
    Her brothers and sisters laughed at that. She could lift close to two hundred pounds.
    Dinner finished with dessert, and by the time the dishes were done and everyone finishing their lessons, Ty was ready to go and watch the meteor shower.
    She had her pack of supplies slipped over her arms and settled on her chest. She tucked in the youngest two and headed out through the window that had been expanded into her own personal aerie.
    She stepped out onto the tiny balcony and carefully closed her door behind her. She looked out at the night, and she fell from her tower, spreading her wings and gliding away to approach the peaks that guarded their