Chapter 18 Conquest of Chimera

Chapter 18 Conquest of Chimera

 

   Ironically, the first creature to greet Kian and Kia when the forested hills of Wayferra’s coastline came into view was an Avian. Canna a four- foot tall seagull with human eyes short spindly arms and boney hands swooped down unannounced clenching the starboard railing so tightly in its talons they actually left scratches. Silently eyeing the strange visitors, he hopped from the railing and unto the deck, without invitation.

   Kian walked up to him offering his hand and a smile.

  “Your hand is empty.” Canna screeched through his long beak.

  “Canna, watch ye matters,” Captain Marks warned as Brue dropped anchor and the rest of the crew prepared the away boat. “He’s one ah ye’ own afta, all. He owes ye no gift.”

  “Nothing from the stranger, huh, and where’s his wings,” Canna replied, “he comes from far away; surely he has something to share, show but preferably give.”

   The Captain grinned, his fangs gleaming in the bright sunlight. “Show ‘em lad. A scavenger he be, like most all the gulls, always wantin’ sumthin’.”

  “Well I get nothing from you but sharp words,” Canna snapped.

  “The truth be rarely soft to dee ears. You want, ye work, ye lazy feather head.”

    “The Avian’s will hear of this,” Canna squawked. “Ye can’t talk to me like this.”

  “I just did, show him ye wings lad, that’ll sate im’”

  “What oh, yeah sure,” Kian said as he hunched and spread.

   Canna squatted cowering beneath the massive shadow of Kian’s great wings. Chopping the air with his beak, Canna spread his wings and hopped about in an inexplicable frenzy.

   “That’s all I wanted.” He said. “Welcome to Wayferra brother bird.”

  The Captain grinned, “Gulls, an odd lot they be.”

  “We rule the skies Marks; all you rule is this chunk of waterlogged driftwood.”

 “Hey watch it bird,” Kian yelled. “And that captain Marks to you!”

  Canna cowered beneath the now menacing shadow of Kian’s wings, which arched over the seagull like feathery fangs.

  “Forgive me sir,” Canna cried, “How I could I know you call him master.”

  “Well,” Kian looked over at Kia who was struggling hold back a giggle, “now you do.”

  “Then I can leave in peace?” Canna asked still groveling.

  “Yes, if you do it quickly.”

  Canna wagged his beak and flung his body toward the sun.

  Kian shrugged, “that was weird. Why was he so scared of me? “

 “Ye wings be bigger din his. Plumage counts fer much wid his kind.” 

 “Are all Avian like him?” Kian asked as he watched the strange bird disappear behind Wayferra’s heavily wooded hills. 

  “Oh no lad, tis just a gull thing. A thing I dina’ care to understand. They be a petty lot, not worth ye worry or mine, come the away boat awaits, as does Wayferra.

  Hidden from view by a large outcropping of rock the smooth sandy bottom of Wayferra’s shallow bay climbed gently out of the water where it became a bone white apron; a beautiful slope of sand that curved a quarter mile inland.  

    An ancient red wood forest towered over the beach shading it and forming a sturdy framework for an intricate network of treehouses that peeked out of the branches with eyes of glass and brows of cunning woodwork. Jutting from the center of the magical treehouse city a huge wooden deck looked out over the sea from its’ lofty thirty foot perch. The city’s numerous and varied residents simply called it the common. However, from where Kian and Kia sat there was nothing common about it.

 “Wow!” Kian sighed, “I never seen anything so beautiful. That deck is huge and are those glass windows?”

  “Aye,” The Captain smiled as he spoke. The Ferrins are most creative and resourceful.”

  “But glass,” Kia asked.

  The Captain looked up from his rowing, “To keep out de wind and de rain me dear, de’ dey not have glass winders where ye come from?”

 “Oh yeah we have windows,” Kian answered, rolling his eyes as he remembered the membrane window of the egg, “but how?”

  “Dey have dare foundries. De Ferrins be most industrious. What ye be lookin’ at is just dee diamond in dee ring, a wonder to behold to be sure, but there be a band of metal what holds it up for all ta see.”  

  “Can’t wait to get there,” Kia cooed.

  “Dat’s good ‘cause me oars tis scrapin’ sand and I’m not much for diggin’ deethces. Time to git me feet wet.”

  “No Captain we going to help you pull the boat up aren’t we Kia?”

  “Of course.”

  “But ye pretty dress…”

  “Will dry,” said Kia as she hopped into the shallow surf.

   “I’ve a daughter fer sher,” Said The Captain, joining her in water.

  “Yes you do,” said Kia pretending to wipe away sea splash when it was really a tear.