Wings & Wires

Clove crawled through the trees, her dark purple wings tucked tightly against her sides. The moon was barely a sliver in the dark sky and the sprawling city erased all traces of stars. A thin strip of dying grass was the only thing separating the forest from the concrete jungle. She went still as a spotlight scanned the treeline. White light leaked between leaves highlighting the violet lines of her scales. She held her breath.

The droid beeped the all clear and moved towards the next sector. The humans were getting bolder, sending their machines this close. But that wouldn’t be the case for long. She pounced as soon as the sensor faced away, her sharp teeth ripping apart metal and wire.

Clove left her ‘kill’ on the grassy strip and retreated to the woods. Watching, waiting. The next one came within the hour.

She dismantled that one too for good measure.

A cry rose from deep within the forest, sharp to her ears. Clove’s head shot up, wires hanging from her mouth. That sounded human.

She took off, taking the risk of flying for the added speed. What was a human doing here? She banked as a drone fired at her, the net falling away to the ground. Branches scraped her sides when she dove beneath the canopy. Humans had kidnapped, experimented on, and killed their kind and they still dared to set foot here?

The crying was louder now. She had to be near its source.

Clove crept forward, following the sounds, ready to pounce. A small girl, robed in little more than a torn up pillow case, lay curled upon a bed of ferns. She peered up through her dark, matted hair with wide eyes.

Clove sniffed her, her breath blowing the foliage. Definitely human but a harmless baby. An image of her own hatchling flashed through her mind. They’d have been around the same age if a droid hadn’t got him. The tension left her body. “Hello, little one.” The child lifted her head, lip quivering. “I won’t hurt you. What’s your name?”

“A-Ally.”

“Ally, I’m Clove. Are you lost?”

“Mm-hmm.”

She didn’t flinch as Clove reached out to her. Instead she climbed on her talon. How a human child had gotten all the way out here, Clove didn’t know. Her clothes suggested she hadn’t been cared for in awhile.

A high pitched siren shredded her eardrums. Lights broke through the canopy, washing the color from the leaves. Clove shrunk back, holding Ally to her chest.

Thunk. A blur of silver stuck inches from her tail. A chrome dart pinned a fern to the dirt.

More rained down. Clove wove between trees, zigzagging as fast as her three available legs allowed. Pain shot through her back. Her head spun, vision going hazy as she ran.

Another struck her neck.

Her legs buckled. She rolled to keep Ally from being crushed when she went down. The child didn’t make a sound. Clove’s muscles turned heavy, impossible to move as the drones circled in.

Small voices tittered around her head. The spotlight blinked out and the siren ceased. Clove barely managed to lift her head, an eye cracked open. A familiar fairy with silver hair and a dress of rose petals landed on her snout. She winked and patted Clove’s scales. “Sleep now. It’s in pieces.”

Clove let her head fall as the darkness embraced her.

***

“Momma. Momma wake up!”

Clove opened an eye to peer at the insistent being that decided that dawn was an appropriate time to be up. His yellow and pink scales glowed in the morning light, his heart shaped birthmark on his brow filled her view. “Boaz …”

His head shot up, a triumphant grin spreading from ear to ear. “Play time.”

“Play time? What about sleepy time?” Clove huffed a laugh at the way his nose wrinkled. Apparently there would be no more sleeping for her. Boaz hopped excitedly, flapping his wings, as she stretched. She barely had time to think as he tagged her and flew off. His tiny form hopped from branch to branch to branch while he sang. His voice bright and clear as a bell.

Clove chased him through the trees as he slipped from sight, his singing fading.

***

Clove stirred. A child’s laughter, bright and unrestrained, echoed in her ears. A phantom of Boaz’s song played in her head and the scars lacing her wings burned like they were new. She swallowed the forming lump in her throat, grounding herself. It had been awhile since she had dreams like that.

The laughter continued. A child’s babbling filled the air, pushing back the lingering tendrils of the dream.

Clove stretched and groaned, squinting in the sunlight. She’d forgotten how the human’s sedatives made her head pound.

Ally played in the foliage nearby, fairies fluttering around her. They’d fixed up her hair, braiding the mousy strands with colorful flowers. Fresh dirt smeared her cheeks. Her gaze locked on Clove and she scurried over. “You’re up!”

Clove caught her as her little feet caught on a root, setting her upright. The fairy from last night settled on Clove’s snout again. With her head finally semi- clear, the fairy’s name came easily. “Thank you, Sylvia. You guys saved us last night.”

“We did. Usually I’d say you owe us one, but in this case I’ll say we’re even.” Sylvia smiled at Ally who was mimicking them, sticking flower petals to her dress with mud.

Clove chuckled. The easiest way to a fairy’s heart was flattery.

Sylvia’s second in command Iris approached. “All clear in the skies.”

“Good.” Sylvia dismissed her with wave. “If you’re taking the child to her own kind, I’d do it now.”

Clove glanced at Ally. She hadn’t thought that far. It was obvious she hadn’t been cared for by her own people. Could she really send her back to that? “And if I brought her to stay with our kind?”

“She’s human.”

“She’s a baby. She could learn our ways, grow up with our children.”

Sylvia studied the girl, hand on her chin. The silence stretched. “The camp moved north-east five clicks last night. She might have a future there.”

Five clicks … Roughly fifteen miles. It wasn’t a scheduled move, but then again she hadn’t exactly been paying attention recently. She hadn’t even looked at a camp in months. “Thank you.”

Sylvia nodded. A whistle and the fairies all gathered, most of them tapping Ally’s nose or forehead in farewell. It was only a moment before they were all gone.

Ally called after them, eyes filling with tears when they didn’t return. Clove scooped her up. “Shhh. It’s alright. You’ll see them again.”

With Ally cradled in her talon, Clove realized her words were true. She may not have been able to protect her hatchling years ago, but she’d protect this girl. Making sure Ally was comfortable, she flew low to the north-east.

With the wind swift and sure beneath her wings, and a smidgen of luck, it only took a couple hours of evasive flying. Clove landed a few miles away, circling around to lose any tailing robots. Colorful lanterns swayed on branches. The shapes of tents were barely recognizable between the trees. Clove lifted Ally by the scruff of her dress to help her over a log. She’d demanded to walk for awhile and Clove was amazed her tiny legs hadn’t tired yet. They’d been walking for at least a mile.

Clove’s scales tingled. The sound of voices, clatter of pots, and popping of fire greeted them as they passed through the ward.

Ally cried out, toppling over.

Clove scrambled to pick her up. “Are you okay? What happened”

Ally’s limbs were stiff and unmoving as Clove held her. Fear filled her big brown eyes, one of them staring unseeingly ahead, as she gasped. “Clove, help. Hurts.”

Clove’s stomach clenched, she didn’t know what to do. Ally’s heartbeat sounded off. Was this normal for humans? Tears streamed down Ally’s cheeks as Clove tried to calm her. The chatter of conversation ceased as curious creatures approached.

“Outta the way.” A dwarf pushed through the gathering crowd. He was middle aged. A rugged scar cut from his hairline to his chin, nearly taking out his left eye, and stubble coated his jaw. He assessed them with keen eyes.“I’m the main healer here. What’s going on?”

“She just collapsed and now can’t move,” Clove said.

He didn’t even blink at that, just gestured into the camp. “Three tents down and to the left. Place her inside.”

The directions lead her to a circular tent that was larger than the others. Red symbols stood out against the white walls and smoke rose through a hole in its roof. The coarse fabric brushed her scales as she pushed the flaps aside. She could barely fit her arm and head inside.

The interior was bright and welcoming. Furs and cushions lined the inside, broken only by a simple worktable.

The dwarf pushed past carrying a crate of jars and vials to set on the table. “Set her anywhere.” Clove gently laid her close, nuzzling her hair until she calmed. “I’m Everett by the way. And she is?”

“Ally.”

“Alright, Ally. Mind if I take a look at you?” He knelt beside her. Ally’s gaze darted over him, her lip quivering. Clove did her best to soothe her while Everett examined her. He talked as he worked, his voice a calm cadence. “How did you end up with a human child anyway?”

“I found her.”

“And decided to keep her?”

Clove shrugged but realized he couldn’t see the gesture with her wings outside. “She’s only a child. I couldn’t leave her to starve.”

He made a noise of understanding but his attention was drawn away. He checked Ally’s pulse, first at her wrist then at her neck. His brow furrowed in confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure.” He produced a scalpel, bring it toward Ally’s arm. She squealed.

Clove growled, baring her teeth. Everett lifted his hands placatingly. “It’s okay. If my guess is correct this won’t hurt her at all, but this is needed to help her”.

She hesitated, feeling Everett’s stare as he waited for her to decide. Finally she nodded. He took Ally arm and made a small incision. Clove braced for her to cry out … but she didn’t.

The cut didn’t bleed either.

Instead of blood the cut revealed steel and wires. Clove’s heart skipped a beat. How could that- It was impossible. Robots had never been able to mimic human scents. “She’s a robot?”

“Partly. She’s a cyborg, a human with robotic pieces.”

“… What?” Clove stared at the child whose eyes were filled with terror. The color was draining from her cheeks, her chest rose and fell with wild breaths. Even a cybrorg, she was still only a helpless child.

He wound clean bandaging around the wound and tied it off. “She is human. However parts of her were replaced with robotic copies. They simply stopped working when she entered the ward. We need to get her out.”

Clove blocked his way as he reached for her. Everett frowned, “If her technological parts don’t start working she’ll die. Outside the ward is her only hope.” She stared him down. Ally choked, wheezing and huffing. “Last chance.”

Clove moved aside. Everett scooped Ally up and rushed out the door. The familiar tingle ran over her scales as they passed through the ward’s barrier. Ally gasped, trembling from head to toe.

Everett gently laid her in the foliage, checking her over. After a moment her fingers curled, her legs bent. Her arms wrapped around her chest as she curled up. It took all Clove’s strength to let Everett finish his examination. The moment he stepped away Clove was back beside her, sniffing at her hair. The sharp scent of fear still lingered on her.

Clove rubbed Ally’s back, humming softly in a sad attempt at the lullaby she’d heard elves sing. Everett quietly watched, rubbing his chin. “She’ll be fine but can’t go into the camp again. The strain on her might be too much.”

“Thank you.”

“Glad I could help. I have some rounds to make but I’ll come check on her in a bit.”

Clove barely noticed his footsteps as he left, her focus entirely on the child beside her. Ally was finally relaxing, though her cheeks still flushed, as she drifted off.

The next few hours passed quietly, disturbed only by Everett’s check-ins. A tent and small bed were brought out from the camp. All kinds of fairytale creatures donated things to keep them comfortable and Clove couldn’t express her gratitude enough. Children even brought toys to play with Ally.

She hid behind Clove’s leg at first, watching them as they tried to coax her out with different toys. It was a spinning top that finally lured her out.

Clove watched them run and play, listening to their laughter and chatter. She remembered when her son had run with children like them. The way he smiled.

She missed him every day.

Ally’s squeal drew her back to the present. An elven boy spun her around then playfully fell over. The pain in her heart dulled. Ally deserved a loving mother, and that was something she could do.

“It’s good to see you smile.”

Clove glanced over her shoulder to see a familiar face she hadn’t seen in a long time. “It has been awhile.”

Sora’s face was creased with laughter lines and her eyes danced with merit that never dimmed. The billowing sleeves and skirt of her bright robe seemed to float just above the grass.

Ally ran over to drop a hand full of flowers by Clove’s talon, grinning from ear to ear, before hurrying back to her friends. A simple, soft pink dress, embroidered with delicate vines, flowed around her. One of the other children must’ve changed her from that old pillow case she’d been wearing. Clove would have to find and thank them later. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I arrived last week,” Sora picked one of the flowers and started weaving it into her snowy white hair. “… How have you been?”

Clove looked back at the children. There was hesitation in Sora’s tone, and she didn’t blame her. The last time they’d seen each other Clove hadn’t exactly been kind. It wasn’t long after her son was taken that she’d nearly bit off Sora’s head when she had stopped by. Shortly after that, Clove left the camps and never looked back. “Better.”

“Does that mean you’re back for good?”

Clove weighed the question. “I don’t know.”

***

The children played until the sun started to fade. Fairies went torch to torch, lighting up the camp. Dragons and centaurs brought food while brownies and elves cooked. Dwarves, gnomes, nymphs, and all other creatures set up a table through the camp barrier. The scent of roasting meat and vegetables soon wafted on a breeze and music filled the air.

Clove carried barrels of water from the nearby river, for the nymphs to treat. Ally was so quiet, where she sat on Clove’s back, as she played with the spinning top the children had given her. Clove turned to check on her passenger at the five impatient taps on her neck. Ally clutched her toy, looking very satisfied to have her attention. “I hungry.”

“We’ll eat soon,” Clove chuckled. She’d been repeating the same thing for the past ten minutes and doubted Ally would accept that answer much longer.

As predicted, Ally’s tapping and poking continued until Clove let her slide down her wing. The moment her little feet touched to ground, she was scurrying for the table where food was just being set out.

Clove made sure she was at the table before going to drop off the water. Their ‘kitchen’ was a collection of fires, crates, barrels, and cauldrons set in the middle of camp. Nymphs, a couple sprites, and some dwarves came to take the barrels from her.

She’d just set the last one down when a low whirring made her ears twitch. Drones.

Clove waited for them to pass over head, her talons digging into the soft ground. Her eyes roamed skyward to the dark canopy above. A lone scream tore through the air.

She launched towards the sound. Towards the place she’d left Ally.

The peaceful scene she’d left minutes ago had dissolved into chaos. There were names and instructions being screamed and bellowed. The sharp tang of fear assaulted her nose. Fairytale creatures fled in all directions, some nearly getting crushed beneath her talons.

“OUT OF THE WAY!” Clove bellowed. She frantically scanned the crowd for Ally’s tiny form. Spotlights broke through the trees, casting the approaching soldiers as silhouettes. The whirring grew louder, grading on her ears. How did they find us here? Her heart threatened to burst from her chest. “ALLY!”

“Help!” Ally’s soft voice was barely audible.

Clove spotted her a short distance away, hidden beneath a giant overturned bowl. Tears left streaks in the fresh dirt smearing her face.

Clove darted for her. She had to get Ally away. Get her somewhere safe.

Pfft.

A dart struck a branch inches from her head. Clove skittered to a stop before Ally, whipping around to face the attackers. A low growl reverberated in her throat.

Soldiers were closing in. The barrels of their weapons glinted in the torch light. Captured fairytale creatures lay bound, humans swarming them like ants. Their screams echoed through the forest.

“Ally, come here.” Clove snapped at a soldier that crept forward, crunching the weapon with ease. They retreated with a satisfying yelp. She wiped out the approaching line with her tail, sending them flying into trees.

A small hand grabbed her talon. She scooped Ally up, noticing how she was shaking like a leaf. She wanted to tell her it would be okay but she couldn’t. Not yet.

They had to go now. She clawed down all soldiers within reach and sprang into the air. Darts peppered the branches in her wake as their comrades focused on her.

Leaves brushed over her scales as she broke through the canopy. Sharp pain shot through her back. She winced, beating her wings harder and desperately zigzagging. White light blinded her, seeming to come from everywhere. More darts found their mark.

No, no, NO!

The world swayed beneath her. Her wings faltered. Clove fought against the fog creeping into her head. She had to get Ally to safety. She couldn’t lose another child.

Netting ensnared her back legs and a wing. Her struggle only entangled her more as she began to fall.

Her vision blurred, eyelids growing heavy. It took the last of her strength to roll over, shielding Ally with her body, as everything faded.

***

Boots clomped on the ground. Constant beeping and muffled voices didn’t leave a moment of silence. The stench of humans was everywhere. Chains rattled as Clove shifted. What was that?

When she tried to stand she found herself locked down. Her eyes shot open.

She was in a cell, her view obstructed by bars. Metal bands were clamped over her wings and tail. Chains held her mouth shut.

Where was Ally? Clove moved as much as her restraints allowed but couldn’t find her. No, Ally couldn’t be gone. She’d been with her hadn’t she? Clove thought so but the last thing she remembered was falling …

“Clove.” Ally appeared on the other side, her face pressed against the bars. The flowers had been taken from her hair but she still wore her new dress, the pink bright against the cement walls. The dirt had been cleaned from her skin.

“Mrrph!” Clove strained against the restraints. She was alright! Clove sigh of relief caught in her throat as another figure approached. It was a young dragon with scales the color of lemons and cherry blossoms. A heart shape marked the center of their brow and a steel headdress of technology wrapped around their horns.

Her heart stopped. She’d recognize that mark anywhere. It was burned into her memory in both her happiest and worst moments. Boaz.

Her son was here. Alive.

Ally’s face lit up as he nudged her shoulder. “Olin!”

She climbed onto his back, clinging to his neck. Clove could only stare. That’s why Ally hadn’t feared her. She’d been around Boaz, even though she knew him by a different name. Part of Clove withered knowing he’d forgotten the name she’d given him. Did he remember her at all?

“Baaaz?” She wished her mouth wasn’t clamped shut. There was so much- Boaz met her gaze, silencing her thoughts. He had her eyes, electric blue with flecks of silver, and his fathers horns that curled every so slightly.

A buzzer sounded. Ally and Boaz whipped around, standing with their heads bowed. The sharp tang of their fear had her fighting a growl. She had to get free. Metal dug in, tearing through her scales.

“You’re making a mess,” Someone drawled. Their voice was little better than nails on a chalk board.

She glared through the bars at the person who dared to terrify her children. The man standing there was little more than a finely dressed twig. His fancy suit was as blandly colored as the cement around him and his spindly fingers tapped on the gemstone head of his cane. His hooked nose cast a sharp shadow across his face.

He smacked Ally with his cane, making her yelp. “To your cells. Both of you.”

Both of the children ran, disappearing down the hall. Clove snarled.

“You didn’t like that, did you?” The man had the gull to seem intrigued. She lunged at him, chains going taut. He tisked, “Now, now. You won’t last long behaving like that. Let me give you a little advice, beast.

“Forget the child. If you haven’t figured it out, she’s the reason you all are here.”

She stilled. What? That couldn’t be. “Nfff.”

“Oh. You’re right. You deserve half the thanks. Without you, how would our dear little Ally have found the camp?” He inclined his head with nauseating sincerity. “Let me thank you on behalf of all humans. You’re contribution will insure our reign for millennia to come.”

Her stomach rolled, threatening to evict her dinner. The man’s words settled like rancid meat, connecting the dots in her mind. Ally. Her name was a smack in the face. A human taunt. They’d turned her, a child, into their weapon. Their ‘ally’. Their spy.

Anger burned through her veins. The man pressed something on his watch and a metal door slowly descended from the ceiling. The last image she saw as darkness closed in was the man’s boots and two small faces, a dragon’s and a child’s, peering at her from a hidden nook.

It was in that moment Clove made her choice. She would escape this place and take both her children with her or burn it down trying.