Page 8 of Chased By the Fairy

“That’s better.” He felt Cypress move as though he’d looked over his shoulder at Sorrel. “You can open your eyes too. The view is nice – I want you to see it.”

Sorrel peeked them open to see how high they were. They hadn’t been in the air long, but they were already crossing the meadow and approaching the bordering fence of the farm.

“Oh,wow,” Sorrel gasped, his fear giving way to awe.

The stream was below them, reflecting the white light of the moon. They were going over the hill, and he looked behind them to see the house disappearing.I’ll be back before you even know I’m gone.

Cypress followed the stream until they were leaving the farm’s property. They went through the forest, large trees rushing by as they sped along.

The air was cold, but Sorrel didn’t mind it. Not when he was able to nestle in tighter to Cypress and steal his heat.He smells so nice.Like basil and lemongrass – his favourite parts of the herb garden.

Blushing at himself for pressing his nose against Cypress’ back to take in a deeper draw, Sorrel looked over the man’s shoulder when he saw lights.

In the distance, a town came into view. He’d seen a human town a few times by hiding in Greta’s pocket when she went to the markets, but this was the strangest thing he’d ever seen.

“It’s all made of human toys,” Sorrel commented.

Perhaps to a human it may have appeared like a dump of garbage, but Sorrel could tell it was organised.

On the pond’s edge, hidden in the forest, were a few boats – some wooden, others plastic. There were little painted huts and houses, nothing as fancy as his own doll’s house or as big, but they were obviously big enough to hold many. Cloths were strung up by sticks or attached from low tree branch to low treebranch. A bright-yellow rubber duckie sat at the water’s edge. There were boxes, food tins, and lunch bags that acted as more buildings.

Reeds and grass had grown between the buildings. There was also a large plastic cruise boat off to the side of the town, a small distance away from the rest of it.

Inside the hollow of a tree’s base, where the rest of the town moved to surround it on one side, he could see lights. The closer they got, the more he could hear music and chatter. Battery operated fairy lights were strung around, bringing on a mystical and welcoming vibe.

“This is amazing,” Sorrel said with a smile when they landed, allowing Cypress to help him off the sparrow.

Cypress cupped him under the crook of his armpits while Sorrel’s hands pressed against his companion’s shoulders. Sorrel was too busy looking around to get off by himself.

They were on the outskirts, and the moment Sorrel’s feet touched the ground, the bird turned into a torrent of flapping feathers before it flew off. It landed in the tallest branches of the town’s tree. Sorrel imagined Cypress could call it with a whistle again when he wanted it.

“I wanted to show you this place before winter destroys it,” Cypress told him. “It takes them all spring to fix it back to how it is now. They’re holding a celebration, as it’s the last night of autumn.”

Then Cypress grabbed Sorrel’s hand and dragged him between an archway of shrub branches. A sign attached by grass rope was painted with the words ‘Pond Town.’

Sorrel laughed as Cypress showed him around, excitement thrumming in each of his steps. There were more people the same size as him and he couldn’t believe it! They were talking, laughing, being joyous together.

They were different, though – odd.

“What are they?” Sorrel asked, eyeing a woman who had the shape of a human, and yet she was covered in fur like a rabbit.

Long, floppy ears swayed, her face humanoid besides her upward pointed bunny nose and two long front teeth. Her bosom was large and fluffy white, and he wasn’t sure if that was her breasts or just fur. Sorrel thought she looked rather cute, especially with her brown dress that matched her fur.

“They are sprites,” Cypress answered, pulling Sorrel to a food stall that was just a small kitchen bar outside. “They’re fairies who can talk to animals, whereas we can’t. They help to prepare the animals for the seasons.”

While Sorrel was busy being thunderstruck by everything he saw, Cypress bought something from the chef. Eventually, a stick with pieces of cut-up fruit stuck on it was presented to him.

“Sprites,” Sorrel repeated, his eyes wide as he processed the revelation.

He gawked at a lizard man who passed. He looked almost human, besides being covered in scales, and had strange individually moving eyes. He walked on his back legs, while his elongated arms swayed at his sides.

The town was magical and the sparkling fairy lights gave the impression the stars were closer than they appeared. They constantly flashed at the edge of his vision as he took in this strange new place and its people.

“I never imagined something like this could exist.”

“You didn’t really think you were the only one in the world our size, did you?” Sorrel’s face flushed as Cypress turned his observing eyes to him. “If you exist, of course others like you have to exist.”

“Of course!” Sorrel quickly agreed, not wanting Cypress to think he was silly or naïve. “I just meant the town.”

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