A Whisper of Wings Read Online Free

disastrous day of dance. Javïra’s taunts festered deep inside her like a set of poisoned barbs.
    There were fruit balls and lily bulbs stacked beside the hearth, and honey cakes were arrayed in bowls for the taking. Shadarii fed the fire and unhappily began to eat.
    Shadarii was plump. The very thought of it made her miserable. The other dancing students were all slim and svelte - a fact they pointed out at every opportunity. The unhappier Shadarii felt, the more she ate; the fatter she became the more miserable she felt. It was a cruel circle.
    One of the village wives had come to tend the chieftain’s fire. The woman sat by the iron skillet, her hands busy as she arranged meals into individual works of art. On the fire behind her, fat white wood grubs toasted on the flames. From time to time she turned the crispy delicacies with her chopsticks, sending juices sizzling across the grill. Shadarii licked her lips and reached out for a crisp, fried grub - then jerked away in guilt as Zhukora stormed in through the door. With no catch in hand, the huntress seethed inside a dark, brooding cloud. She shot Shadarii a withering glance, then helped herself to a cup of lily tea.
    Shadarii retreated outside of the hearth hut. The village bustled with the warm activity of evening, and the air swirled with the woodsmoke of a hundred cooking fires. Beside the council lodge the evenings dancing had begun. Mistress Traveesha had been quite firm; tonight Shadarii’s services were definitely “not required”. The girl sighed and kicked her feet, stung by the sound of distant laughter.
    A tiny creeping orchid clung to the gigantic house tree. The little plant seemed strangely tired and wan, and Shadarii made a silent ‘aaaaaw’ of disappointment. She held the twisted, wilted leaves and filled her heart with sorrow.
    The girl closed her eyes and stilled her mind, reaching out to feel the flower’s pain. A gentle, unseen wind stirred softly through Shadarii’s fur as she bent down to kiss the flower, stroking at the petals with her loving little hands.
    For a tiny, fragile moment the forest seemed to hold its breath.
    The orchid sighed beneath Shadarii’s sweet caress, drawing strength in from the dancer’s glowing ïsha field. Bit by bit the petals slowly straightened, and the tiny plant spirit stretched in joy. It crooned and danced in gratitude, patting at Shadarii’s soul with little tendrils of delight.
    Shadarii smiled; for once her troubled mind lay quite at peace.
    The curtain to the hearth hut opened with a crash. Shadarii gave a guilty jerk and swiftly hid the orchid flower behind her wings as Zhukora stormed out from the hut, a struggling long-necked tortoise dangling from her claws. With a scowl she thrust the hapless creature into Shadarii’s hands.
    “You! Do something useful for once in your life! Kill the beast and clean it.”
    Shadarii looked unhappily at the tortoise, but Zhukora shoved the little dancer on her way.
    “Well go on! Father’s waiting for his meal. What are you doing out here anyway? Eating again, eh? Rain’s blood girl, don’t you ever stop?”
    Zhukora raised her hand, and Shadarii flinched away in fright. Zhukora ground her fangs and gave a snort.
    “Oh stop cringing! Just go clean that tortoise!”
    On a stump nearbye, a broken branch slowly grew a pair of glowing yellow eyes. The frogmouthed owl shed its motionless pose and gave a yawn, blinking as it contemplated a night spent on the wing.
    Zhukora sighed and ignored the creature; gazing aloft, the long, lean huntress irritably tugged her hair.
    “I’m going up to see father. There’s a meeting of the clan elders tomorrow. If he’s going to preside I’d better make sure he understands the issues.”
    Zhukora brushed her hands off against her leggings. She looked around and seemed annoyed to find Shadarii still standing in the shadows. The red haired girl held the tortoise with a horrified expression on her face, and Zhukora gave an