Villainess From the Stars

21. Two New Companions

It was after Vienna had retrieved her pack that she realized she had a couple of little followers that were tagging along her journey through the Wilds.

She was eating her dinner one night when the pair came peering through the leaves of the tree, their glowing wings creating little halos of light around blossoms. Her lips tilted up in a small smile. That night had been one for the bittersweet feeling of homesickness.

She curled up in a perfect little alcove near the tree's base. There was foliage found already within it and several of the tree's branches reached in from down below. Her tears had been falling down her cheeks in long rivers as she tried to stop the sobs from choking her.

The reassurance she felt embraced by the wood of a tree's embrace wasn't enough that night. Her heart yearned to be back home with her father, who was safe. The world was so much larger than she had imagined it to be, and it was terrifying to be on her own. At first, it had almost been fun, like being on some grand adventure, but then reality sunk in.

She was distracted from her homesickness when the two little ones arrived. They fluttered around the top of the tree, peering down at her, one a ball of golden light and the other an icy blue.

"Hello."

They ducked back out of sight on the other side of the trunk. She waited, but they didn't come back, so she curled up and went back to sleep.

The following day found her walking through the forest. There was an odd shine in the trees and the little balls of light which had followed her rushing past her. Shouts followed after them. Vienna blended into her surroundings. The three from before passed by with an odd sort of lamp that seemed to reveal the Elemširdis own camouflage abilities, but not her own.

This time Vienna knew what to do, and she knew what she had done wrong last time. She rushed ahead of them, using the pathways from above, jumping from one branch to the next until she jumped down in front of the Elemširdis.

"Come here, I'll hide you. Stay still in my arms. As long as you stay hidden there, I'll be able to protect you." The pair looked at each other before flying into her embrace and she tucked them into her front tunic's wide pockets, "I promise I won't hurt you."

As soon as Vienna heard the malachite Terrans crash through the forest's brush ahead of them she camouflaged herself along with the little ones in her pockets. She sifted out a couple of shiny metal coins from her pockets. Then she waited until the right moment and as the hunters passed before, she used her shepherd's sling to shoot the coins in opposite directions. She watched as the shine caught the light and spun through the foliage, catching the hunters' attention.

"There!"

"No, there is one!"

"We'll split up!"

Meanwhile, Vienna went up into the trees, climbing to the top of the tree line where it was safe, and watched as the hunters lost track of the Elemširdis. Once the hunters were quite a distance away and wouldn't overhear, she looked down at the little ones.

"Are there any others on the run that need help?"

It surprised her to find the two little ones weren't twins as she had suspected. In fact, she didn't think they were even related. The female had sharper features, with light almost white hair and midnight blue eyes. The male looked as if he were sunshine incarnate with golden hair, and tan skin that sparkled as if it were inlaid with gold dust. He had gentle golden eyes and the smallest of mischievous smirks on the tips of his lips. The female shook her head at the blonde.

"Is there somewhere safe I can bring you two?"

This time the snowdrop-looking Elemširdis nodded and flew from Vienna's pocket. Her pale hands pulled at a strand of brown hair none too gently while her partner tsked her and gave Vienna a 'follow me' gesture.

Vienna followed them. Occasionally they'd hide within her embrace, as she'd cloak them when a hunter would show up on the path. They did this for several sunsets and moon-rises until she found herself at a familiar-looking dead end in the Wilds.

This time, though, she looked at it with more detail.

The path seemed to lead past the wide space of rock. Yet something about it didn't seem to be like the other stone faces Vienna had seen guarding or dotting the wilds. The rock face seemed to almost blend too well into the forest, the moss growing up its sides swirling in patterns up its sides to mimic the trees' boughs.

Brown eyes narrowed before she glanced at the little 'snowdrop' and 'sunshine' Elem that resided in her front pocket.

"Was it all a trap in the end?"

The little ones flew from her pocket before the male pointed toward Vienna. She tilted her head at him and glanced between the two as she saw only curious gazes. She got the sense he was asking for her name.

"You may call me Blossom or Flower if you like."

The world had always seemed to operate more on elemental rules rather than magic but Vienna believed she could never be too careful when giving her name to the little winged beings. She held back a wince when she remembered her apology; when she kicked the whole basket full of Elemširdis when she sought to rescue them.

The little one full of brilliant golden light nodded his head and seemed to glitter before pointing to the both of them.

Vienna tilted her head to the side as she looked down at them. "Do you wish me to give you both nicknames as well?"

She glanced towards the snowdrop for assurance whose icy features melted with the smallest of nods and a head tilt that mirrored Vienna.

Vienna hummed under her breath. As she looked at the male, she spoke, "You look as if you could summon the sun in your brilliance." His little head raised and his hair flared even more golden. "Would Aelius suit you?" He shimmered as he nodded.

Vienna turned toward the ivory-haired winged lady. "You look like you can be as gentle as a snowdrop but as fierce a snowstorm. Would Eirlys suit you?"

The little 'snowdrop' glowed in appreciation.

Vienna watched in amazement as she flew from Vienna's safe embrace to the 'dead-end' rock face along with her partner.

Their light, one a bright golden and the other luminous, both lengthening and growing as soon as they placed their tiny hands on the rock face. Their smiles were joyous as they peered back at her, and their individual colors seemed to shimmer even more. Vienna almost felt a cool breeze rush past her and swirl around the two.

Both grew in size, and Aelius provided a burst of warmth that sent a rolling sense of nostalgia through Vienna. Warm fireplaces and her father nearby working. Hearths with fresh biscuits ready for Ezzie and the twins to devour. Tears filled Vienna's eyes and her breath caught in her throat.

Shouts from behind them in the deep forest caused all three of them to go rigid.

The two beings set their glowing hands upon the moss-covered rock face and Vienna watched transfixed as it shuddered and crumbled beneath their hands.

A new pathway lay before them towards a city the like of which Vienna had never seen in any of her lives—shimmering towers of ivory light and walkways laden with flowers in full bloom.

Both beings reached out a hand toward her. "Come Bhelfl'ōr. It's our turn to save you."