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 Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:44 pm
It was an afternoon to relax. America had already stretched his wings as much as they could stand today and had decided to stop making deliveries. His lilac gaze skimmed over the bags nestled against the tree branches, “Bread, some old apples, and…berries?” Yep that had been it. Money weighed his pockets, but it was the free tips that he enjoyed collecting to bring home. Unlike that cold money they were random and edible usually…save for that one weird instance of a plunger…America shook his head slowly. Still he hated dealing with people in the human city so getting more food and less money for his work made life nicer.
And it was because he hated human markets so much that the rufflet preferred to use the net he had discovered along the river banks to try and catch their dinner. The huge empty warehouse that Edith and America nested in, long forgotten in the forest, was perfect for hiding any smoke from cooking fires. Smoked fish sounded delicious right about now.
Jumping down from his high perch America allowed his wings to unfurl and twisting in the winds with a rare smile the rufflet let the net drop gently from his fingers to skim the water’s surface and to reach towards the fish below. After a few swoops he finally caught something in the heavy cords and with a laugh America began to pull upwards. At first he thought it was an easy catch, but then the snag happened...
What the? What was so heavy? Gasping America managed to drag the net from the water and to the shoreline. Did he catch a dead Garados or something? Feeling solid ground beneath his feet America looked at his catch of the day. It was….not a fish? “What…in the….EDITH?!” Shocked the boy immediately slid to his sister’s soaked side and rolled her over. Was she breathing? His heart was racing in his chest and tears burned his eyes…oh no no no no…
“Edith!” Shaking her he sighed in relief. There was some movement…she was still there. Pushing on her chest America just shook his head, “Get out of my sister you stupid water.” Frowning he propped her up against a tree and smacked the back of her neck lightly once then twice. He knew nothing about CPR, but surely this would help…right? Oh you silly sister of mine... Worry gnawed at his gut as he swore to beat anyone who had gotten his sister tossed into the lake like this.
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:55 pm
The fall had been something out of Edith's darkest nightmares. She hadn't been able to stop it anymore than she could stop the panic attack that induced it. If she'd been able to scream she would have, but the only noise that came from her was the gurgling that followed desperate attempts to breath. She hadn't stayed conscious long, barely long enough to register her bad situation. before everything went black.
It was when she felt the first few pounds to her chest that Edith started to pull around. Her chest burned so badly that she wanted to go back to sleep....But she started spitting up water when the pounding wouldn't stop and moved to her neck instead. Edith coughed, leaning forward with enough gagging and gasping to get her lungs to function.
She opened her tired eyes to the world, finding it hard to concentrate on one spot before gliding up a pair of legs to...feathers? Feathers! She lolled her head back and saw her dear brother's face, which made her tear up in an instant.
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 8:05 pm
“You are so lucky that I came here today.”
He wanted to strangle her, throttle her for making him worry so much...well verbally at least. Yet as soon as he started to yell a sharp remark towards her America was stopped. His sister’s tears in her eyes made the rufflet forget his anger and instead he found his arms wrapping around her in a brief hug, “You...will be the death of me.” Pulling back he tore off his jacket and draped it over her damp form, “How in the world did you end up in the lake Edith? Did someone push you in or drop you?”
His gaze searched her face as he checked for any damages, “Are your wings hurt?” Surprisingly despite his gruff voice and frown the boy’s touch was gentle as he trailed it over his sister’s arms and wings. Everything seemed to be alright…that was good. Had she been blown astray then into the lake? Surely not…his sister could fly better than that. After all he would have never let her go alone otherwise.
Sighing America pulled back, “Okay, Edith.” He jumped up and flew towards the tree where he had left his belongings, “I’m taking this and you back home. Can you walk?” The rufflet just shook his head, “I would say fly, but that’s a horrible idea. Need me to carry you?” As usual his over protective nature was taking hold and the boy was willing to even piggy back his sister across the woods if he had to.
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Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 8:27 pm
Edith could only nod, leaning back against the trunk of the tree with an exhausted sigh. Her wings were dead weight at her side. She couldn't even begin to flap they were so soaked, and she didn't have the energy even put into moving them.
She was surprised, to say the least, by the contact. Wasn't he supposed to yell at her? Get mad for doing what she did? It only made her cry harder and cling to him. She didn't want to let go when he pulled away, even gripped his clothing, but she relented in the end. In truth Edith hadn't noticed she was shivering until she found his jacket around her shoulders. She pulled at the edges, wrapping them around her with a happy little sigh.
Shaking her head, she patted her wings to show that they were just wet, not hurt. And after a few moments of nervous fidgeting she pointed to herself with drooped shoulders. Then pointed downward. She had been the reason she fell. No one else; just herself. Even if she could tell him what happened she doubted he would be any happier with her. Edith hated that she caused the worry in him, and worse, that all of this concern was stemmed from something stupid she hadn't been able to control.
Edith scrunched up her face and stood up just to prove that she could. Her brave face betrayed the wobble in her legs but still she stood, as stubborn as ever. Her wings hung limp and soaked at her sides, but they would dry with time. She held out her arms, making 'gimme' motions to show that she would help him with the load.
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:14 pm
America sighed as he studied his sister's wings. I'll definitely start a fire once we get back home. He just hoped she wouldn't get sick from this...his heart was secretly still pounding away in his chest. What if he hadn't caught her in his net today? Would...would he have ever known what had happened to his sister? Would she just have been another mystery in the bottom of the lake? His stomach knotted at the thought.
"Edith..." America's gaze softened as she clung to him, "It'll be alright." The gentleness of his touch was only for his sister and even that went away as his anger, really worry, peaked. "You? How? Edith!" He caught himself and shook his head, "I just worry...maybe I should work harder so you don't have to do all these deliveries..." He nodded, "I don't need to sleep so much at night! Maybe a nighttime job?"
As Edith stood stubbornly before him America just shook his head, "Alright I'll leave that discussion for now...but here take these." He easily handed them over before looking back at Edith, "Now let me carry you." The rufflet grinned, "I need the strength training! So piggy backing you will really help~ Please Edith?" That way through 'training' with him she was helping him rather than him just babying her.
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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:48 pm
Edith stuck out her tongue when he mentioned working more. She even smacked his arm and stomped her foot in the moist earth. What was he thinking?! They worked equally, that was always the rule. She may have been physically weaker than him, but she was faster, so they did different work. It was going just fine until she made that stupid blunder, so he might as well just suck it up! Her brother meant to much to her just to watch him overwork himself because she couldn't keep up.
She'd just have to make sure never to fall again.
Taking the load with an accomplished grin she was left slack jawed when he turned it all around on her. How....why...but...no! The rufflet sure knew how to ruffle her feathers. Still, if he wanted to carry her that badly...She supposed he could use the training. Looking over him she noticed he was on the shrimpy side of what he could be, so Edith sighed and climbed onto his back.
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 9:08 pm
At her protests America just shook his head, "Fine...fine." But seriously he was thinking about it. Whenever she slept so heavily some nights...maybe it would be a good idea to see if he could sneak in some late night work. Most nights the boy was up pacing anyways making certain that their home was safe from intruders. The last thing he ever wanted was for his sister to get harmed. Which was why today's incident ruffled his feathers even more.
Seeing Edith's reaction America just grinned. He knew he had her there with his argument! As she climbed onto his back the boy had to brace his legs, but was soon walking at a steady pace beneath the tree line, "Are you warmin' up any?" Wiggling her further up his back the rufflet weaved through the trees. One, two, three, four... Counting each steps he did his best to hide his own tiredness from a day of work. Big brothers never faltered though!
"Almost there~"
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:55 pm
Edith pouted.
Her wings were too wet to fold properly, so they hung limp down her back, and she couldn't get comfortable, so she kept shifting. When she would find a spot that worked, Edith would end up pinch his wings, and then when she wasn't it wasn't comfortable! Finally, after what felt like forever, she settled in.
The rhythmic pace did it's job. His own body heat warmed her hollow bones, and caused the little Starly to yawn. She snuggled her face into his back, burrowing it into the comfort provided by his feathers. Even after the worst of days all she needed was her Big Brother to tell her it was going to be alright to make it truly alright. She could have been on fire, and all it would take to calm her would be her sweet brother.
I have to do more. Work harder, fly faster, anything to keep him from having to work so hard to pick up after me. But not right now. She could be carried by her brother a little longer.
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Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 1:47 pm
America smiled as he felt Edith settling down on his back. Despite the strain of having to carry someone the rufflet was happy. As long as he knew he had his sister safe and sound he would always be happy with things. His heart still clenched from the fact that he had just saved her from drowning, but the mix of fear and relief was slowly fading. I'll just keep a closer eye on her from now on. Because without Edith...he truly would be all alone in this world. As much as he protected her she protected him too.
It was quiet back home as he slipped into the abandoned warehouse. Smirking at the mazes of huge boxes that they had collected to make their own fort in the building America shifted so that he could lay Edith down on some blankets. Keep sleeping so you can rest Edith. Patting her head lightly he removed the bags and placed a warmer blanket across his sister's body. Soon enough he would prepare a small bite to eat and have a warm fire going to keep both of them warm.
It wouldn't be long until he would give into exhaustion too and sleep right next to his sister where he could protect and keep her warm.
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