A Stroke Of Originality

“Dad, why won’t you teach me to fly?” Zun asked.

His dad turned around with a massive grin on his face. “Because, if I teach you how to fly, then you will leave the nest, and my poor heart won’t be able to take it.” He answered.

“But Dad, I won’t run away as sister did. I’ll go up there and find her so I can ask her why she left us.” Zun disputed.

His dad gave a slight chuckle and patted Zun on his head. “When the time is right, I’ll teach you how to fly, but until then, I don’t want to hear any more about it. Okay?”

“Yes, sir.” Zun frowned.

“Now go play in the yard, while your mother and I go get food for the day.” His father said as he walked out the door to meet Zun’s mother.

Zun walked in the backyard, upset that his father wouldn’t teach him to fly. Although his mother or father wouldn’t teach him, Zun was determined to fly, no matter the cost. He walked towards the fence and watched his mother and father sprint before they took off. Zun took notes of everything they did as they soared into the skies. Once they were out of view, Zun took deep breaths as he ran around the yard and fluttered his wings as fast as he could. He slowly began to rise off the ground but fell almost immediately. Zun stomped the ground with anger.

“Come on, Zun! If Erca can do this, then you definitely can do it!” He spoke out loud, comparing himself to his sister.

Picking himself up off the ground, Zun slowly went into another full sprint towards the fence and closed his eyes as he got closer to the gate. Pain thundered throughout his body as he forcefully fell to the ground. Opening his eyes, Zun realized he ran headfirst into the fence. Blood drizzled down his forehead as he stood up to try again. Zun… You got this, don’t give up. I can do this he encouraged himself. On the next try, Zun gave it all he had and ran as fast as his little legs would carry him. His wings moved at a rapid speed, and his body finally took off towards the sky.

“I did it!” he shouted. “I really did it!” 

Zun was so proud that he was flying, he wanted to surprise his dad. He navigated towards the way his parents took off in hopes of running into them. As he flew, Zun started to hear weird noises that he couldn’t make out. The sounds grew louder and louder until he finally saw what it was. Fear roared throughout his body as he glanced down and saw his parents and the other Fae, fighting against humans. Zun started to lose his focus and began to descend towards the ground. 

“Dad! Help! I’m falling.” He called out while trying to flap his wings.

Zun’s dad looked up, confused when he saw his son fall. “Hold on! I’m coming!” 

“You’re not going anywhere. Shoot the kid!” A man yelled to his troops as he kept Zun’s father occupied. 

“Linda! Get to our son!” He shouted.

Linda looked around, perplexed. “What are you talking about, Zilo!” She shouted back.

Zilo pointed up towards their son, who was now in full panic mode. Linda’s eyes widened as she leaped from the ground with tremendous force, and soared towards Zun. 

“Gotcha,” Linda said as she caught her son.

Zun opened his eyes and felt a sense of calm come over him when he saw his mom. She gave him the biggest smile.

“You learned how to fly, all by yourself.” she beamed.

“What’s going on down there?” Zun asked.

“I’ll explain it to you when I get you home,” she replied.

Zun started to respond until he noticed his mother grasping him tightly in her arms. 

“Mom?” he paused and waited for a reply. “Mom!” he frantically shouted as he felt them descending at a fast speed.

Zilo saw something falling in the corner of his eye, and when he turned to look, he noticed his wife falling towards the ground with an arrow in her back.

“Nooo!” He roared, digging his ax into the man that engaged him.

In a hurry, Zilo tried to get to Linda, but she slammed into the ground before he could. When he arrived at her body, he shook with fear as tears raced down his face. He saw Zun slowly crawl out of her arms.

“Dad!” Zun screamed.

Zilo kneeled and grabbed his son’s shirt. “Listen to me, son. I need you to be a big boy for me and fly back home.”

“But…” 

“No but’s, I need you to fly as fast as you can, away from here.” Zilo cried.

“What if I can’t?” Zun asked. “Can’t you just come with me?” 

“You see those humans over there?” Zilo asked. “I’m going to stop them from shooting you down when you fly away. Now let me see you fly, show me how fast you can be…”

“Show u–us, h-how fast you can be,” Linda grunted as she slowly picked herself up.

Overwhelmed with emotion, tears began to fall down Zun’s face.

Zilo stared at Linda as tears slowly began to form in her eyes, then he turned his attention to Zun.

“Now go, and don’t look back,” Zilo commanded, pushing Zun away.

Zun turned around and ran as fast as his legs would let him. He closed his eyes and focused on moving his wings as fast as they would go. Once again, he took flight, not knowing if his parents were ever coming home.