V O L L E R E I ' S . A D V E N T U R E
Solo: Learning to Fly
Words: 1249
Vollerei looked at her Kinfa companion. Zweil had been with her through a lot... she’d found him when she’d first left Juahur…. And he’d been with her through everything. Bandits, being captured, several wars, getting a kid. Never really realized just how big he’d gotten, Vollerei thought as she watched Zweil attempt to sidle up to the doorway into her home. He was far too big to enter now; a fact which he refused to acknowledge as he tried to find a space large enough for him to crouch upon the walkway and slid through the door.
“Hey bird brain.” Vollerei said with a chuckle; “You’re too big! Keep trying and you’ll ruin my door! And walkway.” She got up from her branch and hopped over to the walkway that lead to her house. Zweil looked up at her and squawked sadly. No longer could he peep adorable; his body was far too big to produce the soft cute sounds of a baby Kinfa. Instead he was loud, loud and confident…. and shrill when upset. She smiled and ran a hand over his chest feathers, giving him scratches and pulling out some loose feathers.
“I’ll build a room on, just for you silly feather ball.” She said as he leaned on her. She had to brace herself to keep from being pushed off the edge. He had always slept in the house… so apparently not being able to enter it was distressing. I’ll have to do so soon. Now was the time of the festival though, or it would be in a few days and she didn’t think she had time to do so.
“Wonder if you can carry my weight.” She mused out loud, her voice muffled by his long blue feathers. She knew Kinfas could… but she was very heavy herself. It bore thinking about!
The Next day, she wondered over to where she had seen other large adult Kinfas flying about; perhaps they had owners who knew how to fly and train a Kinfa. She was not going to do this alone! I’ll just get hurt and so will Zweil, she thought as she watched one Kinfa came flying in, slowly circling as it came down. Luckily for her, the bird had a rider on its back, a much lighter Sister stepped off and gave her mount a friendly pat.
Vollerei walked forward as she called out; “Mind if I borrow some of your time?” The younger girl turned to look at her, a bit surprised.
“Ah.. Sure. Is there something you needed?”
“Just wondering how one went about training a Kinfa. My Zweil’s about reached his adult size….” She said as she walked up, eyeing the Kifna. It was slightly smaller than Zweil, and lacked his large barrel chest. Perhaps Zweil will be strong enough to carry me, she thought. Since his muscles appear to be sturdier than this ones.
“Oh! You own one?”
“Mmhmm. Zweil’s been with me since he was a lil fluff ball that could fit in my hands. Never thought too much about riding him but… Lately he looks large enough to handle my weight.”
The other girl grinned; “Well… you are on the heavy side, elder sister! How big is… Zweil?”
In response, Vollerei gave a shrill whistle; she knew her friend was nearby. He tended to stay near her even on the island. Probably had a scare from when’ he’d been stolen and disliked being a way too much. As she expected, her large blue feathered Kinfa came hopping down between some trees.
“What, too lazy to fly, feather brain?” She asked fondly as he hop-skipped awkwardly up and cocked his head at her, one bright eye looking over the small Kinfa and Alkidike. Seeing him next to another Kinfa told Vollerei just how large her boy was; he easily weighed half as much and she bet his wing span was that much longer as well.
“Well… seeing him up close I think he might just be able to hold your weight!” The girl said, slightly impressed. “Let me get my Mother.. Sazi here is actually hers, but she lets me fly with him.” Vollerei nodded and waited, watching the two Kinfas butt heads and chirp and squawk at each other.
“You two know each other then?” She murmured as she watched and waited. Normally Zweil was more curious and not as casual as he was currently acting. Guess being Kinfas, they meet each other in the sky. That part of her Zweil’s life she knew nothing about…
She heard a dry chuckle and turned to see a woman about her age, maybe a bit older, approaching. “I was a bit surprised when my daughter came to tell me a supersized Alkidike and matching Kinfa were here.”
“Mother!” The young girl blushed a deep red and looked nervously at Vollerei. She just laughed and patted her wide hips.
“Is good living and a healthy appetite! Zweil and I have matching appetites… though I tend to be able to outlast him in a contest.” She knew that some considered her fat, too big, and unhealthy. But under her heavy curves were muscles that were used to running all day carrying her weight; and if she did eat more than her fair share, she also hunted for everything and fought or trained daily. She may have been overweight, but she was not un-healthy. “All you skinny sticks need to eat more. It stunts your growth not eating enough, it does.” Her eyes twinkled and Zweil clacked his beak questioningly. He heard food; did that mean mommy had food on her?
“No bird brain, I don’t have food so don’t go begging.” She said affectionately before turning to face the newcomer.
“The name’s Vollerei, and I’m interested in trying to at least learn how to fly with Zweil. Though if I am too heavy for him to fly properly, than don’t worry about speaking up and saying it.”
“Anila.” The woman said, holding her hand out. “And I think he can hold it... problem is convincing him of that!”
They started that day… and Zweil apparently didn’t mind trying to learn. Vollerei and Anila had expected him to balk; but he didn’t. To him, this would allow his mommy to fly… She didn’t have wings so he could be them! His bond with Vollerei was closer to that of a child and parent than beast and handler. Vollerei had carried him around all his life, fed him, talked to him, protected him and eventually fought side by side. Now he could do something for her!
Vollerei’s first time it he sky scared her, but the fear of falling soon vanished to be replaced by wonder; the whole world lay below them, only the sound of the wind through feathers and the flapping of his large wings could be heard. A beautiful tableau lay beneath them; the blue of the oceans surrounding the greens and blues of their island. She could see the white crests of the waves far out, the splashes of large sea creatures far out in the ocean. It was gorgeous. She was said when he fly down to land, and knew that they would need time and practice so he could build up his muscles.
That night she built the room for him; it was easier than she’d thought. A simple room with a large window cut into the kitchen and front room so he could watch those inside and be fed easier… be apart of the family. She fell into her own bed in the early morning; she had worked the night through to make his ‘stable’ and was exhausted. But the happy chirps of Zweil made it worth it.
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