Greater Easthaven A little bird that has broken out of the egg

[Algy Trevelyan]

The area surrounding the airstrip where the flight school and tours operated was a blend of fields and woodland, stretching out to all sides before it hit smaller townships and then Easthaven itself in the distance. With the McCoy farms towards the east, Algy sat in a pocket of idyll that was both far enough from the city that he escaped the concrete jungle but close enough that it was easy to get in when he needed to. Out of the way, but not remote.

It was later in the day, and the morning and afternoon classes were finished, replaced by the hobbyists scattered around taking care of their light aircraft and talking shop. Algy was walking the perimeter, checking that there wasn't anything that might blow onto the airfield and ruin someone's day. The treeline had been cut back enough that it wasn't likely to get in anyone's way unless they flew dangerously low.

He'd completed a circuit, finding nothing to be worried about today, at least. Standing on the edge of the airfield, Algy looked over the woods, the height of the treetops and longed to fly. A birds-eye view of the world was the best to have, but the dragon knew not to try it in the middle of the day, however tempting. Maybe if he found an enchanter who could fix him up something for illusion, maybe then.

A glimmer of something over the treetops had Algy looking a little closer. Was it a drone, maybe? Some enterprising youth who didn't know better. Or a piece of shiny paper caught in the air. Enough of an excuse to get distracted, he thought, as he tucked his hands into his pockets and sauntered off the airfield and into the woods.

Going deeper into the woods, Algy wandered along the path. In his worn jeans and loose button-up, he wasn't dressed for a hike, but it would just be a short detour, or so he suspected, so he didn't worry about getting dirt all over his shoes. It became comfortably cool as he went deeper, and the woods thickened, the overhead branches shading his path. It looked beatific with light dappling down and sprinkling the ground with speckles of sunshine.

He was hardly thinking about the reason for his wander by the time he'd come deep enough in that he might run into whoever had been there, but the dragon's focus was elsewhere. A little brook bisecting the path, running clear and free, signalled what he vaguely remembered as the border of the land he owned, butting against some state-owned land and a collection of farmsteads. Stepping over the chuckling brook, Algy headed in deeper. He'd only walked a few more steps before hearing a racket in the thicket, catching his attention as firmly as the sparkle from the suspected drone.

Far from alarmed but ever curious, Algy spun to look, eyes scanning the ground. “Hello? Anyone there?”

[Fayette Tempest]

Faye needed to practice her flying. She knew this all too well, knew that her life could even maybe depend on it if her sister ever came after her, and so, here she was, out in the woods all on her own. Of course, she'd done some research and had found an area that seemed ok. Sure, there was a flight strip nearby, but she'd even looked into what flight times were booked! She'd thought the odds that she'd be seen were relatively low.

Unfortunately, expectations and reality were, as always, completely different. She'd climbed one of the bigger trees, thinking it would be best to get some height as well as the fact that she had some experience gliding, summoned her wings and taken the leap.

For a few, glorious seconds, even as she'd flapped frantically to try and keep some semblance of control, Faye had actually been flying! Briefly rising above the treeline, she'd felt exhilaration course through her veins, and she'd laughed aloud in delight at the sensation!

And that was when her sister's spell had kicked in. The pain in her mouth and throat had been immediate, and crippling. Faye had lost control, plummeting back into the trees and desperately trying not to fall too fast. The tree branches had helped there, as she'd slammed into what had felt like every single branch on the way down, but there was no softening the impact when she did, eventually, land.

Faye lay where she'd landed, too winded and hurt to even think about curling into a ball. Years of being hurt by her sister and mother kept her from crying with the pain, but it was a close thing. It took a couple of minutes to catch her breath, but once she did, she carefully, cautiously sat up in the bush she'd landed on, wincing as her body announced the sum of its hurts all at once. Cuts, bruises, maybe a sprained ankle, but hopefully nothing worse. She'd just had time to realise that her sweater was ripped over her right shoulder, revealing her feathers, when she heard the voice.

Her head shot up in alarm, her immediate first thought to run! but she knew she couldn't, not in her current state! If she tried, she risked making her injuries worse! And it wasn't like she could tell some stranger what she was, she didn't even really know herself! Faye's eyes shot around the area, desperately trying to find a place where she could hide and utterly failing. Well, even if she couldn't hide, she needed to try and move!

Except, when she did, her injured ankle gave out under her weight and sent her sprawling. “"Ah!"”

Faye curled up in a ball, her body unable to do anything else, and prayed to whichever Gods might be listening that whoever was looking around for her, hadn't heard her cry out. Just... please! Don't let them have heard!

[Algy Trevelyan]

There was no answer and nothing immediately apparent in front of him, but Algy had heard the crash and knew something had crashed nearby. Maybe the drone had collided with a branch and gone down? With that scenario the most likely in his mind, Algy stepped off the path and into the thicker brush.

He'd just pushed through a thicket of ferns, one hand holding a branch away from smacking him in the face, when he heard the gasp of pain. Unmistakable, but nothing so urgent as a scream, he still pushed through the brush and stepped into a more open space. There, among the gnarled roots of old trees, earth, and leaves, was a young girl. Algy put her age in her early twenties, barely into adulthood from his perspective.

It was still unexpected, Algy pausing in muted shock as he took her in, curled up in a ball and looking distressed. Her ripped clothing implied she'd had something of an accident, the torn fabric revealing–well, wasn't that interesting–blue feathers.

In that split second on discovering this wayward girl–possibly exploring something newly discovered, as Algy had in his youth–Algy snapped out of his momentary freeze and stepped forward, kneeling by her to touch her shoulder gently. He withdrew at once rather than keep touching her, as he intended to make sure she knew he was there.

“Are you quite alright, love?” The Welshman asked, concern clear, even as he tried to get a better look at her face. “You made a bit of a racket. Did you fall?”

[Fayette Tempest]

A hand on her shoulder, and a voice overhead, snapped Faye back to her surroundings and her situation. Her head shot up, her immediate reaction one of mind-numbing fear as she attempted to move away from the hand, but... wait.

What?

She gaped at him. There was no mistaking what he'd asked, but... what? He must have seen the feathers poking out from the rip in her sweater, but he hadn't said anything about that and had asked if she'd fallen instead?! No accusations of being a freak, no spat instructions to hide her ugly feathers, no name-calling or hair pulling... what was going on?!

Ok, yeah, she'd known other people wouldn't be like her sister and mom, but still, this was such a 180 from what she was used to that she answered without thinking. “"I... yeah..."”

Pain made her gasp, hunching over a moment as her hands lifted to her mouth. Tears sprang to her eyes despite herself. She'd so rarely cried, even when her sister struck her! What was wrong with her today?! Confusion and pain and fear just swirled around in her mind as she tried to make sense of it all.

Unfortunately, she was so focused on that that she never even heard the creeeaaaaak from overhead, not till it was almost too late! “"Look out!"”

[Algy Trevelyan]

Strike to avoid complete success
Cinder air, complete success

Algy caught the flash of fear, how she curled away from him where she was on the ground and immediately straightened to back off. Her fear lingered, but it changed, morphing into something more akin to shock. The rapid switching of emotions told Algy of someone who had expected something–a blow, a shout, vitriol of some kind–but experienced the disorientation of not having it delivered as expected.

She was forthcoming enough to answer his question, although she ended it with an alarming gasp of pain. The signs of oncoming waterworks were easy to spot, even with her hands obscuring her face, and Algy's own expression went stricken. He could deal with many things, but weeping women had always been one where he tended to feel out of his depth.

And then, like a disastrous saviour, the crack of branches overhead had him whipping his eyes up a split second before the girl warned him. He scrambled back, falling on his ass but well away from the crash zone, but he was quick enough to flick out his hands, urging a powerful gust of wind to flow through their little clearing. Algy's loose shirt fluttered, the wind tugging at him, and it caught the girl's hair as it blew past, catching the falling branch and blowing it into trees, cracking harmlessly against a thick trunk.

“Well, blimey. Quite the pickle you got yourself into,” Algy couldn't help but say, sounding a little breathless at the quick thinking and small fall, the wind still gusting around them, coming back to curl around Algy. His gaze was directed upwards, searching for any more falling branches he'd need to redirect. He glanced at her, seeing how the wind was tugging at her hair and her clothing, playful but possibly frightening with how suddenly he'd made it arrive. With an easy gesture, he sent the wind upwards, away and back to its natural course. “Sorry about that. Sometimes, the wind has a mind of its own.”

[Fayette Tempest]

The man fell back from her, his hands going up, and suddenly, there was a blast of air blowing the branch away from them! Faye gaped at the sight, trying to make sense of what she'd just seen. She'd known there must be others out there with abilities, too, but to meet someone like that so soon?! What were the odds?!

His comment about the pickle she'd gotten herself into made her give the tiniest of smiles in response. As much as she'd like to laugh, her throat was still hurting from speaking as loud as she had. Could she trust him? That was the real question if she was honest. It seemed like she could, right? Faye chewed her lip a moment, and then made up her mind.

Picking up a black cherry that had landed nearby, she stared at it a moment until she felt what she could only think was magic of some kind activate, and it threw out a few roots and a tiny leaf. She held it out to him with a small smile, writing in the soil with a fingertip as she did. “Kind of like plants get around me, sometimes. I've only met one other person who had abilities like that, and she-”

Faye stopped. She frowned. She really didn't like thinking about her sister, but... “she wasn't very nice.”

Hello, understatement of the year!

[Algy Trevelyan]

Algy didn't need the confirmation of her abilities, considering the peek of blue feathers he could see over her shoulders, but it helped confirm the strong suspicion. It certainly was interesting to see the black cherry sprout roots, seeding even wrapped around its tasty shell. Undeniably magical to see something grow so fast, making Algy curious about her origin. The feathers were an essential hint to her ancestry, but he was an aviator rather than an avian enthusiast, so he would have to investigate that later. The dragon was undeniably interested, being something of an enthusiast in discovering all the magical variants out there.

As she held it out, Algy got back into his crouch rather than remain on his ass, gently plucking it from her fingers. He gave the sprouting black cherry a thorough look, a small smile in place. He ran a finger along the root, seeing the potential of a whole tree sprouting from it if planted soon enough. But his eyes were drawn to her finger, carefully writing out words. He followed the writing closely, the laborious task of writing out so many words taking some time, but the dragon was patient.

Algy wondered quietly to himself as she traced the words in the earth. Why was she communicating like that rather than speaking? She had spoken, but perhaps the gasp of pain had not been because of her fall but something else? Something connected to her voice, maybe.

As she finished writing her message, Algy got the whole meaning. That she knew of others and hadn't had a good experience with them did not shock Algy. As humans, those of mythical or supernatural ancestry could be just as if not more petty and cruel as humans. Some held themselves to a higher standard, which was true of humans as well.

“I'm sorry to hear that,” Algy murmured, glancing up from her written message to peer at her face, smile still in place. “I can't promise there aren't more of her like, but for now, amongst my people, there are none that are cruel. Let me help you up, please.”

He rose from his crouch, tucking the black cherry in his breast pocket for safe keeping, before brushing the dirt off his trousers. Then, he offered her a hand. There was a desire to ask about her voice, but for now, Algy left it. Better to get her off the ground and on her feet.

[Fayette Tempest]

Faye knew she shouldn't relax quite so quickly at his claim that his people, at least, weren't bad, but he'd proved it with his own actions so far, at least. She could still feel her own abilities swirling about beneath her skin, a sensation that always left her feeling a little itchy, almost, as if all that unbridled natural growth was just waiting for a chance to explode outwards, but she wasn't doing anything else with it, so it should subside in a couple of minutes.

Nodding her thanks, she reached up to accept his hand and get to her feet, completely forgetting that she'd suspected a sprain until she tried putting her weight on the foot in question. Faye felt the blood drain from her face and she swayed from the pain, free hand shooting out to steady herself against the nearest tree as she thought That's not just a sprain!

“I think it's broken.” She kept the words to a whisper, knowing that any louder would set off Aria's spell, and lifted the foot-her right one-off the ground. Could her luck get any worse?! That woman slapping her just the other day hard enough to bruise, and now this, too! And on top of that, it was going to make her work a lot more difficult for a while if she only had one good leg!

[Algy Trevelyan]

She was on her way up when she staggered, hand shooting out to steady herself against the tree trunk next to them. Algy stepped in closer, calm as he concluded that she had gotten hurt on her way down from the tree. Her ankle or foot, he suspected, confirmed as she spoke in a whisper.

“Oh, dear,” Algy murmured, moving to stand next to her, hand settling lightly on her back. “That's bad news. I can get you back to the airfield, and we can call an ambulance. I could carry you–” he suggested, knowing he had the strength to carry her without problem, even if he hadn't enjoyed higher-than-human strength. Algy stopped himself from acting on it, offering an alternative, “–or, would you rather I help you walk?”

The dragon peered down at her, only a few inches short of a foot taller than her.

[Fayette Tempest]

Faye swore internally as she tried to think what to do. Thankfully, she'd worn her hiking gear what with how she was coming out into the woods, but she'd left her backpack by the tree she'd originally climbed! Hopefully, they could find it, and then she'd be able to say she just tripped and fell out here in the woods, but still... talk about a situation to be in.

She also knew that she couldn't get very far on her own, so his offer of help was greeted with a grateful smile. Faye knew she'd have to swallow her pride on this, not to mention try to control her reactions to being touched. At least he was asking first, something that had never happened before, as far as she could remember. “Carry, please... I'm not sure I can walk far on it. If we go back that way, we can grab my bag, and then tell the EMTs that I fell climbing over a log or something.”

Was she overly cautious? Probably. But there was also the fact that she had another sweater in her pack, so she could change out of this torn one and keep her feathers hidden. The last thing she wanted was anyone else seeing them! It was bad enough that her rescuer had, even if he was like her!

[Algy Trevelyan]

It was a relief she'd gone with the easier option, Algy able to carry her faster than they could do a one-pair three-legged race. He was nodding at her request to go the way she came to find her rucksack. Wouldn't do to leave her belongings behind.

“I'm sure they'll realise it's not the sort of break you get from a simple fall,” Algy cautioned, not understanding why she couldn't simply be honest about falling out of a tree. Perhaps she had more injuries from the ankle, considering the falling branches implied she'd hit a few of them on the way down—more than simply tripping. “I'd tell them you fell out of a tree. You might have other injuries, after all. Now, allow me. If you put your arm around my shoulders, it'll be more comfortable.”

Algy leaned down, looping an arm around her back and touching her knee lightly as he waited for her to get ready for the lift. Once she had her arm in place, he'd put his other arm behind her knees and lift her.

[Fayette Tempest]

Not that sort of break? If so, then she could be in - wait.

She'd been thinking along the same lines she used to with her mother and sister. Yes, a cover-up so her feathers was a thing to do, but why did she need to hide the cause of the fall? He was right, it was better to just say she'd fallen out of a tree. Which was what had happened. Duh, Faye. You don't need to hide the actual cause of injuries anymore!

Faye had known that she had a lot to work through after leaving her old home, but she'd not expected this to be one of those things. Her cheeks burned red as she did as he'd instructed, wrapping her arm around his shoulder and hanging on so he could pick her up... which reminded her.

“So, uh... I actually have a hollow skeleton. Not sure I can explain that away to a doctor...” On the plus side, it meant that she weighed a lot less than a lot of women her size, which would be easier on him, but also, what could she say, when she literally had the skeletal structure of a bird? Doctors would want x-rays, x-rays would expose her bones for what they are, and her secret would be out. Aria had always paid doctors steep bribes because "it'll affect my image if it gets out she's such a freak!" but Faye couldn't afford to do that herself.

[Algy Trevelyan]

As her thin arm went around his shoulders, Algy scooped her up gently. He'd expected her to be light, but she was extraordinarily so, which she rapidly explained. She highlighted a little dilemma, but Algy wasn't too worried. If the medical field couldn't be bamboozled or infiltrated, the supposed lid would've been blown long past. In combination with the human instinct to constantly explain away the little oddities, well, Algy knew one conspiracy nut hardly mattered.

Making sure she was comfortably cradled in his arms, Algy began walking in the direction she'd indicated. Towards her bag, he would presume, keeping his attention on his footing and the path. It wouldn't do to have a tumble himself and make her ankle worse.

“I wouldn't worry, birdie,” Algy reassured, picking the nickname spontaneously. Hollow bones, feathers, and no name available, she'd have to suffer it for now. “Things have a way of resolving. But, I should introduce myself, since I'm being so bold as to carry you,” Algy tilted his head, looking at her with a crooked grin, “My people call me Algy. I own the nearby airfield.”

[Fayette Tempest]

Birdie? Really? Faye had to fight to keep from laughing out loud, though she couldn't keep from smiling in amusement. Huh. She actually quite liked that, even if it was a bit on the nose. And she supposed names would be a good idea in this situation, wouldn't they?

“I'm Fayette. But, I'd prefer Faye.” 'Fayette' brought back too many memories for her liking, none of them good. Better to make it clear she didn't want to be called that from the start. Thankfully, she hadn't fallen too far from her bag, though she wasn't sure if that was entirely a good thing or not, considering that she'd been trying to learn how to get further than a hundred yards or so. “You own the airfield? You must meet a lot of different people, then.”

For all that she lived a solitary life, Faye couldn't help but be drawn to other people. The problem was that she just... didn't know how to approach them. And meeting too many at once was definitely something she didn't want to experience-give her the open woods any day of the week over a crowded room!

[Algy Trevelyan]

As Faye introduced herself, Algy filed the 'I prefer' away as a simple personal preference rather than something more profound. The dragon was one to follow people's wishes if possible, and a name was always possible. He firmly cemented Faye among the new faces he'd met since settling down in Easthaven, next to the curious little factoids he knew about her from his observations.

The conversation continued, Algy stepping along the path and spotting a rucksack against a tree ahead. She'd not fallen too far from the tree she'd presumably climbed, but far enough that Algy suspected she'd been attempting to fly. Because she knew she could, or because her feathers made her think so? He wasn't one to pry, so he'd leave it up to her if she wanted to clarify.

“Ah, yes. I do. It's a flight school and a spot for hobbyists to keep and fly their aircraft, so I've seen many enthusiasts pass through,” Algy explained with a smile. Most of his unique acquaintances came from his work before this, but that was in the past. “Occasionally, we charter flights. Have you ever watched whales from a plane? An unmatched experience, if you're interested.” Algy winked at her, his sales pitch apparent, but his casual and cheery tone made it clear he was having fun with it.

[Fayette Tempest]

Whales? From a plane? Faye lit up at the thought, she'd always wanted to see more of the world but had never gotten the chance! And to feel the wind, too, possibly? She couldn't think of anything better. “I haven't, but I'd like to. Maybe once I actually learn how to fly, I can. It's why I was out here.”

She'd lost control of her wings so thoroughly earlier that it was a wonder she hadn't been hurt worse than she actually was, really, though she wouldn't be surprised if it did turn out worse once she actually got to the hospital. Seeing her pack, she sighed in relief. She'd be able to write out her responses, now, with the notepad and pen she'd put in it. “Maybe once I've healed up. Plus, I'll have medical bills to deal with, too.”

Not something she was looking forward to, to say the least. Broken bones, bruising, and any other injuries she might have picked up, as well as the ambulance? This was going to be expensive, and Faye's savings and insurance would only go so far. She'd still be able to continue working, at least, but tending her garden would be... difficult, to say the least.

[Algy Trevelyan]

Faye turned out to be quite accommodating to Algy's curiosity without him needing to utter a single question. It was a lot of trust to give a man she'd only just met, even if he'd summoned wind with a gesture. Algy took note of it and thought he might warn her to be a little more cautious, but now was not the time.

“There's always time in the future for those who deal in magic,” Algy said sagely, even as he kneeled so she could grab her rucksack. As soon as she had it in hand and settled comfortably, they could make their way back to the airfield. He continued talking, always interested when flying was on the agenda. “But, for the future, if you want to practice, you can do it on my property. There are some enchantments in place that obscures anything humanoid in the skies. Just avoid the aeroplanes and stay within the boundary lines.”

The offer was easy to make, Algy a proponent of safety as well as subtlety and secrecy. At least it'd rule out nasty falls from trees, but he wondered if she wasn't running before she could crawl with how hard she'd fallen.

[Fayette Tempest]

With her bag safely retrieved and secured in her lap, Faye was able to relax a little... at least until he said she could come practice flying on his land. There were enchantments? Were those literal spells, that kept the land hidden? Faye's mind spun at the very idea of being able to practice freely, openly, without needing to worry about whether or not she'd be seen.

Algy today, and Dune a couple of days ago. Spin, spin, spin. Why were people being nice to her after things went bad? That woman slapping her, her fall today, both times, if she'd still been in her sister's house, she'd have paid for it dearly by now in one way or another. Usually something painful.

Did they want something from her? Were they planning something?! What if they knew who she was, what if Aria was having people watch her, what if-

No. No! Faye gave herself a mental shake. Not everyone is like Aria and mom. Remember that. Remember! I can't let them keep controlling my life! A life lived in fear is no life at all, it's why I left!

She just felt so incredibly overwhelmed. And he was still carrying her. “Thank you, I'd appreciate that. I mean, I can glide quite well, but flying... that's another matter.” Which, well, she'd proven today. So many things happening at once, was it any wonder her head was spinning...?

Or maybe she'd hit it on the way down, who knew. She didn't remember hitting her head anywhere.

[Algy Trevelyan]

“Practice makes perfect,” Algy assured her as he resumed their walk, smoke tickling in his throat as a well-timed example. Habit would have him keep it in, wait for a more opportune moment, but there was no harm in letting a gentle stream of smoke curl up from his nostrils, faint but there. He continued speaking rather than linger on it, however.

“Are you new to town? I can't hear much of a local accent when you speak.” Or whispered, as she seemed to be careful not to raise her voice at all. Algy's accent was mostly absent through years and years of other influences, so perhaps she was simply a case such as that. Accent obscured through other influences or somesuch.

Algy kept walking as he carried on the conversation. He knew roughly where they were in relation to the airfield, and the woods were not so thick as to prevent them from meandering their way towards it. It wouldn't be a long walk, but Algy wasn't hurrying along.

[Fayette Tempest]

That made sense to Faye, that she just needed practice. It was what she'd come out here to do, after all. Wait... was that smoke curling from his nostrils?! What was he, some kind of dragon?! If he was, then that was incredibly interesting, but not something she was going to question him on right now because that would just be rude.

His question about her being new to the area brought her back to the present, though. Or rather, his noticing her lack of an accent, did. The fact that he couldn't discern one was good news to her, at least, as she'd not wanted to be pegged as a former Miami resident if she could help it. The drive up here, though, with all her plants? That had not been fun, with Faye driving all on her own. Still... it had been worth it, to put nearly 1,500 miles between her and her family.

“I did move here quite recently, actually. The drive was pretty scenic, so that was something, but sourcing enough water for my plants wasn't always easy.” Faye was justifiably proud of her garden, so she hadn't about to leave the plants she'd been growing behind to wilt and die in the Florida heat! Besides, bringing them with her had helped her feel a little better in and of herself. Maybe other people had old baby blankets, but Faye had her plants instead.

[Algy Trevelyan]

Algy had been right to think she was not local, although she didn't elaborate on where she'd originally come from. He couldn't hope to guess; he was not all that good at pinpointing American accents. So it wasn't a case of obscured accent, at least not over the local Massachusetts accent.

Where she was from was neither here nor there, Algy knowing the myriad places a person could call home. The next spot settled may be as much home as the last place.

“Ah, so you're a budding horticulturist?” Algy asked, holding her steady in his arms as he stepped over a fallen tree, the trunk overgrown with moss, nature reclaiming it on the forest floor. “Did they all survive the journey?”

[Fayette Tempest]

Budding horticulturist? Faye had to fight not to laugh, because honestly, if he could see her house, he wouldn't call her budding. There were plants quite literally in every room but one, and she'd even converted her garden for the ones she'd brought with her, too. “I guess you could call me that. And yes, thankfully, they did. I think they're settling into the new garden well, too.”

Plant talk always soothed her, and helped her feel a little more secure. She'd encountered a few people who'd found it odd that she was transporting plants rather than furniture to her new home on the way, but then, she hadn't had any furniture. She did have plants, however, so it only made sense to her. So what if she'd had to use a sleeping bag for the first couple of nights until she could get a mattress? She'd had her strawberry plants lined up on the windowsill, and that mattered far more to her than anything else.

[q]Digging them up and replanting them took a few days' work, but it was worth it, I think. I couldn't just leave them behind after growing them for so long.[q] Plus, some of them had even been named by her followers. Keeping them happy alone often took a lot of work in and of itself. Which... wasn't going to be easy with a broken ankle. It twinged with pain every now and then, sending shockwaves up her leg and into her hip. Well, at least it hadn't been her arm or something, she'd be in an even worse state then...

[Algy Trevelyan]

It was a short walk, but the conversation made the time pass faster. The concrete airfield was visible through the trees, the buildings of the office and the hangar beyond that. It was quiet, no one out on the airfield, just the susurration of the wind through the trees. A good thing, considering Faye's torn shoulder. Algy trusted his crew to know how to react, but he didn't always have control of who was visiting.

“Of course,” Algy offered, knowing how it was to treasure something enough to bring it with him, whatever the cost or effort. “It only makes sense. I'm glad they all survived the journey. I'm a casual gardener, not much of a green thumb, but there is something about successfully growing something.”

They now left the thicker woods into the relatively bare area surrounding the airfield. He'd been right about no one being outside, the place quiet and empty beyond the birds and bugs.

[Fayette Tempest]

Oh, Faye couldn't agree more about that! She loved that sense of accomplishment that came from growing something from a tiny little seed into a full-grown plant, and for her, even more so when that plant was one that she could harvest fruit from! The sun through the trees was getting brighter as the branches thinned out, and Faye shielded her eyes from the sun a moment until she could get used to it again, searching for any sign of movement on the flat grounds ahead.

Nothing, thank the Gods. She wouldn't be facing any awkward questions from anyone else or-a flash of blue, off to the right. Was that...?

It was!

“A blue jay!” She pointed it out, smiling. The gesture caused a couple of her feathers to poke out of the holes in her sweater a bit more. “Beautiful birds. And amazingly intelligent, too.”

[Algy Trevelyan]

As Faye pointed and exclaimed, Algy turned his head to catch the flutter of blue and white. The pattern on its wings was familiar, and the dragon had seen it plenty of times in the months he'd been living on the east coast. Even if he didn't follow birds and the local species, he could appreciate the beauty nonetheless. He had a name to it now, letting out a pleased, “Ah,” at the slight curl of delight at learning something new.

Admiring the bird flying off as they walked, Algy took in the pattern of its wings in the brief moment they were stretched out. It reflected the design on the little feathers along Faye's shoulder, but Algy knew better than to say something. It was an assumption, at best, and it wasn't polite to speculate on someone's ancestry.

“It's good to know a name for it,” Algy murmured, taking a long stride to step over the ditch separating the woods from the flatter earth and landscape of the airfield. “I believe there's one nesting on the hangar roof somewhere. Beautiful birds, the times I catch a glimpse of it.”

[Fayette Tempest]

Faye nodded, smiling. “They're also known for their cunning and are related to crows and ravens, too.”

She'd always felt a connection to the spunky bird and had bonded well with the ones around her secret cabin back in Florida. Even here in Easthaven, she'd begun getting to know the local blue jays, setting out their favourite foods for them in her garden. For that matter, she thought that there may even be a nesting pair in one of her apple trees.

The hop over the ditch did make her wince a little, but she focused on what he was saying to distract herself from the pain as they approached the building. “They must trust you, to let you know even that much. They're known for being incredibly secretive and protective of their nests.”

[Algy Trevelyan]

If he hadn't had an armful of an injured Faye, Algy might have shrugged. He didn't know much about the nature of birds beyond seeing their different varieties and knowing they made a racket in the morning.

“Well, I'll take that as a compliment,” Algy chirped as he stepped up on the concrete and started the direct line to the offices. The tarmac was clear, with no planes above or taxiing, so they had nothing to worry about. “Can't say I have much experience with blue jays, I've never seen them in Europe, just other jays.”

Hadn't he heard somewhere they were native to eastern North America? It made sense, considering he hadn't spotted them in Europe after a century living there.

[Fayette Tempest]

He absolutely should take it as a compliment. Faye smiled as she thought of her birds, and how aggressive they could be. Sure, they were perhaps a little smaller than the Eurasian Jay, but they were definitely not birds to mess with if it could be helped.

Right now, though, the sun was beating down on her a bit, though she would never take her sweater off in front of another person if she could help it, not even someone who was helping her the way Algy was. The first chance she got, she'd change this one, what with it being ripped now, but... she'd need to be alone first. The mere thought of it was enough to make her brow break out in a cold sweat... though that could also be the pain in her ankle regularly radiating up her leg, as well.

“I know there are some weight and size differences between the Eurasian and Blue Jays, but... that's about it.” She was trying to focus on anything else than her ripped sweater and painful ankle, now, but wasn't entirely sure she was succeeding. Her ankle was really starting to hurt, now, and she suspected that it might be starting to swell up, too!

[Algy Trevelyan]

With Algy's long strides, they made short work of the distance between the edges of the airfield and the office itself. There was a bench outside, not exactly comfortable for extended use, but sufficient for anyone who wanted to wait for their appointments in the fresh air or enjoy the sun. Their shared lack of knowledge on jays hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things, as they finally were at their destination, and Algy placed her gently down on the bench.

“Ah, here we go. Gently now,” the Welshman cautioned, not wanting her to flail while her centre of gravity shifted again and jostle the ankle. “Is there anything you need before I call the ambulance service?”

[Fayette Tempest]

Being placed on the bench was enough to make Faye's face turn white with pain, but she tried not to let it show that her head was spinning as she shook it no. “"I need to change sweaters, but... that's all."”

She was going to have a tough time at the hospital no matter what happened, and she couldn't exactly say that she was looking forward to it, but still. A broken ankle and a ripped sweater were always better than a broken neck!

Which reminded her... the stuff she'd seen on the internet about broken bones had said she needed to keep the ankle supported until the ambulance got here, right? In this case, her ripped sweater would be better than her undamaged one, and she needed to keep the ankle raised. This is going to hurt. Again.

Oh, wait! “"Could I have some ice...? That might help with the swelling."” Faye smiled in apology at Algy, thinking that she could change sweaters while he was gone if there was.

[Algy Trevelyan]

Algy spotted the signs of someone in pain, even the gentle movements arranging her on the bench jostling a painful broken limb. It wouldn't do to fuss over her, only get to a phone and call the ambulance, so she'd get back to the city and in the hands of doctors. The Welshman nodded at her mentioning changing her sweater, the only thing showing that which marked her as inhuman, and when she asked for ice, he was quick to give her an answer.

“Of course,” Algy said, knowing they had plenty of ice on hand and he could make up a cold compress for her. “I'll bring it for you, rest your ankle and try not to move it.”

Algy patted her knee before excusing himself to get the ice and make the call. He left her to change her sweater and get comfortable in peace, as much as she could with a broken ankle.

[Fayette Tempest]

Faye smiled in relief and thanked him as he patted her knee, then pulled her old sweater carefully off as soon as he was out of sight. Just as she'd expected, she had a few cuts and bruises on her torso, a few of which looked as if they'd need some attention at the hospital. Her face paled at the thought, but she didn't hesitate to still pull on her clean sweater, refusing to expose her feathers any more than absolutely necessary if she could help it.

Maybe someday she'd be able to reveal them to the world freely, but today was not that day! It wasn't even that long since she'd had her sister screaming at her to cover them up because of how ugly they were, after all. The memory made her face go pale and she shrank into herself briefly, her sister's voice reverberating through her mind, louder and louder and-

Ow!

Her ankle gave a particularly nasty throb, jerking her back out of her reverie. That's right. She wasn't in Aria's house anymore, she was sitting outside of Algy's airport with a broken ankle that needed to be supported. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Faye folded up her ripped sweater and carefully worked it under her ankle, gritting her teeth against the pain as she did. At least she wouldn't need to worry about the price of her medical bills-she still had some savings left, after all, so hopefully, that would cover it until she could claim on her insurance. Which was not going to be fun, to say the least...

[Algy Trevelyan]

Reaching the reception, Algy reached over the counter to pull the office phone out from where it was hidden, lifting it on the counter. Through the windows, he could still spot the top of Faye's head, but he wasn't worried about her wandering off on a broken ankle. First on the agenda was calling up some manner of transport. Through a call to the emergency room at the local hospital, they advised him to call a taxi service and informed him about waiting times. Algy took note, thanking them and moving to do just that. The taxi would take some time to get out to where the airfield was, but it'd be more reasonably priced than the ambulance service.

Then, knowing his business, Algy called the number he'd gotten from an associate. The local Exchange cohort, since the Americans operated so differently from their European counterpart. It was a simple process of asking for advice regarding people like them and a vis-à-vis with hospital care. A simple solution was on the table, as they knew medical professionals on staff, so she'd be in capable hands once Faye arrived. A slip-up would not be something difficult to deal with.

The last stop was the break room freezer and a plastic bag of ice cubes, which he wrapped in a kitchen cloth so it wouldn't be so hard and uncomfortable on her skin. Then it was a quick walk back outside to where Faye was sitting. In the time he'd been gone, she'd managed to situate herself a little better. Her ankle was up, supported by her torn sweater, with a new one covering those eye-catching blue feathers.

“Here we go,” said Algy softly, alerting her he was back. He offered her the wrapped bag of ice, knowing she knew best where to apply it rather than him placing it down on her leg and causing her more pain. “A taxicab is on its way, and it'll bring you straight to the hospital.”

[Fayette Tempest]

Faye accepted the ice gratefully, settling it carefully on her ankle as he spoke. A taxi? Well, that was definitely better than an ambulance, for sure. She dreaded to think how much an actual ambulance would cost for something like this. “Thank you. Really.”

She gave him a small, tense smile, not wanting to reveal exactly how much pain she was in right then even with the ice. It would take a few minutes for the cold to seep into her skin, even longer to reach the bone itself. The journey to the hospital was going to be additionally painful, for certain, but she'd been through worse. How dare you sing! I told you to never sing!

Shaking the memory from her mind, Faye shifted a little in her seat. Now that she was sat down and feeling calmer, her body was beginning to add up the sum of her hurts. To say that she was going to be rather bruised was, well, putting it simply, especially after a fall like that!

Speaking of... “Um. I think there's something stuck in my arm.” It had been paining her for a bit, but the adrenaline had been holding the worst of it off until now. Knowing her luck, Faye wouldn't be surprised if she had splinters to go with her bruises!

[Algy Trevelyan]

She hid it, but Algy had been around the block long enough to spot someone in pain. There wasn't much to be done. A painkiller would not do much, and he didn't want to give her anything stronger before someone with a qualified medical degree looked at her. Some pain before she got to the hospital would have to be suffered.

Discomfort anywhere else was something Algy could try to solve, however, so when she mentioned something stuck in her arm, he was quick to respond.

“Oh? May I see? I might be able to help you there, even if your ankle is beyond me.” The dragon gave her a little grin, reassuring and calm.

[Fayette Tempest]

Faye had been about to nod and try to pull her arm out of her sweater when she heard a car pulling up nearby-something that immediately made her stop, tugging the fabric back into place. It didn't matter how much pain she was in, she wasn't about to risk exposing the fact that she had actual feathers any more than necessary to anyone! Pale-faced, she gave him a nervous smile. “"Probably best it isn't pulled out, we don't know what it might do if removed."”

She needed help from both Algy and the taxi driver to get into the car, unfortunately, but once she was in and secured, she was able to breathe at least a small smile of relief. So relieved, that she almost forgot to get Algy's number so she could contact him about practising her flying skills in future!

Not that she'd be doing that again anytime soon. Faye knew she needed to heal first. A quick promise that she would let him know what the doctors said about her injuries, and then the taxi was pulling away as she hunkered down in her seat, dreading the journey a little. She knew it was going to hurt, but once her ankle was set, it shouldn't be too much of a problem... she hoped. I'm going to send him some of my best drinks as a thank you for today, she thought, gritting her teeth against the feel of the taxi hitting a pothole. It's the least I owe him!