A Glimmer in the Distance

It was a cool cloudy evening, the sun just dipping beneath the horizon when Viccy found herself waking. Something strange seemed to be up as even the moment she began to rise much like the moon, her arm not feeling the heavy weight she’d grown so used to over the past few months. If that wasn’t strange enough for her to figure out that something was up, the fact she could hear a rapid rustling and the tip tap taps of talons on the floor as if someone was running around.

That someone being her roommate/friend/pet, Al Chemist. 

For the past few months since she’d welcomed him into her home they had fallen into a new routine. Viccy getting used to waking up being snuggled up to, the weight on her arm where he could lay was at first rather strange and unnerving, but it became comforting as she adjusted. A reminder she was with a friend once it was no longer unusual to be so. She got used to having to float around a little slower as she made her rounds, Al, while being able to fly, enjoying the feeling of the soft ground beneath his feet and thus choosing to run along the ground beside the graves she went over. 

This morning however, rather then wake up warm and comforting, she woke up to a restless bird pacing around the room. Pausing every so often at the window and bobbing, fluffing up and prodding it as if trying to get out. Focused on something she couldn’t seem to see.

“Good morning dear. Is something the matter?”

Hearing her voice, Al ran over, bobbing eagerly.

“Okay, Okay dear. I’m getting up. You’re rather wired today, aren’t you?”

It wasn’t like him to be quite so energetic. Normally Al and her were rather alike in attitude, calm and collected seeming. Quiet and relaxed. It made them a good pair to live together as it was always a peaceful existence when it was just them. So to see him so eager for something, pushing at her with his wings and little tendrel arms as he clearly urged her to hurry up, seeming to be wanting to take her somewhere.

“Just let me straighten out my dress and do the morning’s dusting and I’ll let you lead the way.”

Immediately he was off, grabbing a dusting cloth with his little arms, using it to start helping clear as he seemed to consider his job. Helping her with her tasks.

“Thank you, love.”

It didn’t take long with the two of them doing the cleaning, and before long they were out the door. Al acting less like the bird he was and more like an excitable puppy. Leading her towards the forest that hugged the edge of the yard.

“I guess I can leave the work tonight to the old man.” She hummed, following him with a little pep in her float. Shadow dancing around them to keep a good eye on things. “It has been a while since I visited Faith, so perhaps we can say hi to her while we’re in there. I think you’ll like her.”

So into the woods they’d go.

~~~

The forest was not a safe place for most. It was known by the humans to be a place of monsters, of curses, of lives lost, and they weren’t wrong. However for one such as Vivccy, and apparently Al as well, it was almost homely. 

That’s not to say Hoodles were safe here, nor- Viccy suspected, would other of these strange goo headed beings be safe if there were others. Viccy herself was just one of the darkness and things many would call spooky, her shadow that she saw from able to cover a lot of space as needed meaning that she could see dangers long before they got to them and avoid them a majority of the time. Al on the other hand just seemed to be not bothered by anything, they would just avoid the odd little crow.

This made the walk in the woods a peaceful one, and it wasn’t too long before the scent of poinsettias drifted in the wind. Meaning they were close to the deep forest’s sanctuary, an old moss and ivy covered church that they slowly were able to see poking out from between the trees. A clearing with what appeared to be broken arches and ruins being where it rested, dead in the center, stained glass glittering in the moonlight even being as old as it seemed to be.

Al seemed curious about the colourful windows and mossy ruins, running his wing along the markings of one pillar as they moved past, slowing his excited pace down to a much calmer and curious one.  

“Do you like it? They are quite odd, never in any of my readings over the years have I been able to find out what the markings mean, but they clearly are writing of some sort. I suspect Faith or her guardians know, but never have they told me.”

He bobbed, and slowly so that he could feel and look at the ruins they pasted they made their way to the partly open door.  Slipping inside of the much warmer building and into the warm glow of hundreds of candles.

“Is that who I think it is?” A light joyful voice with a cheer not unlike ringing bells called out from the far end of the church. “Viccy?”

“Hello Faith.” Viccy said happily, pulling her shadow close to be safe from the light of the candles. It was a little hard to see like that, but better than to have it hurt by the light.  “It has been a long time.”

“It absolutely has!” She could hear the sound of something being placed on a wooden surface, and knowing faith she assumed it was from her tending to the candles. “How have you been? Nothing has been causing you problems at your yard has it?”

Finally the light pink and white Hoodle came into view, pale colours like the windows of the church along the edges of her scarf arms and dress. 

“No, in fact I have someone to introduce you to.”

She gestured behind her, assuming by sound that Al was still there. 

“Oh!! A jellhead!”

“Oh? You know what he is?”

Faith nodded, gently pulling them both to behind one of the pews and into a shadowy nook. Making it safe for Viccy to let her shadow back out and see once more.

“I actually have one that wandered into here a couple days ago. I believe she is in one of the side rooms at the moment… but Lucien said he’d heard of its kind before and thinks that the one that wandered here was an escapee from some lab or something.”

“How odd. I wonder if Al, that’s what I call him, may have come from the same place.”

Faith shrugged, moving over to offer her ‘hand’ to Al to see if she could pet his feathers. Something he was absolutely okay with.

“Well I do believe Lucien and Settia were planning to return later tonight if you’d be willing to spend the day afterwards? Perhaps they could give you answers I don’t have.”

“Hmm…” Normally Viccy wouldn’t want to remain away from her home long, however the mystery that was Al was a tempting one to solve. “Well Al has been oddly wired, so perhaps it will do him some good to spend a day away from the yard.”

Faith seemed to perk up at that, still not stopping her petting of the clearly happy avian jell.

“Oh him too? The one we found has been weirdly wired too! I would take them out for a walk, but you know I can’t leave this place…”

Viccy nodded, she knew how important her friend’s job was.

“Well why don’t I take them out for a walk? I can keep them safe and make sure we all return before too long.”

Faith seemed pleased by this idea. “That’s a great idea! Here, I’ll go get them for you.”

Al was a little saddened by Faith’s leaving, having been enjoying being pet, but that was quickly replaced by curiosity as Faith returned with a much larger being then Viccy had been expecting.

They were about the size of a mid-height human, however while their chest up to neck seemed human the rest was not. For instead of arms they had two large wings, and from what of the feet and legs she could see they appeared to be avien in nature. They were a harpy.

“They are much larger than I was expecting.” Viccy said, floating up to where the head would be of the other Jell, admitting the way the many coloured Jell glimmered in the candle light. The pieces that floated beside and behind them did not seem to move like Al’s but were purely decorative. “Still, I can handle them. They are quite pretty.”

“They are really well behaved too, so it shouldn't be that hard.” Faith added with a smile.

“Wonder if that’s a Jell thing. So is Al.”

The Jells in question seemed to be getting along, Al having flown up and landed on the other’s shoulder and was using his tendril to poke at their glittery jell and unmoving decorative bits. The harpy on the other hand softly used a wing to brush against Al, feathers against feathers as if amused by the fact they both had wings.

“Have you given a name any thought?” Viccy asked.

“No, but they had what I think was a name tag on them when they got here. It said ‘Kuro’,  and seemed awfully uncomfortable so I took it off.”

“Kuro huh?” Viccy watched as the name seemingly caught the jell’s attention and they looked at her. “Well what a lovely name. Do you wish to join us on a walk for a while?”

Their feathers fluffed, and so Viccy took that as a yes.

“Well come on you two, let's go before it gets too early. Yes?” 

Both seemed excited and when she began to drift towards the door eagerly followed.

“We’ll be back before dawn Faith.”

“See you then you three!!”

~~~

It was odd, a while after they left when they were deep in the woods once more the two of the Jells seemed to have a place in mind. Both wanting to head in the same direction, acting almost like a dog with a scent they wanted to follow.

“Now now you two, please slow down a little, there’s no rush.”

They did slow down a little, but seemed no less focused on whatever it was they wanted. 

As they went, Viccy began to notice the tops of the trees were broken, and the further they went the lower and lower the damage went.

“How odd.” She muttered to herself. Floating over to rest on Kuro’s shoulder since it seemed the two jellheads knew where they were going.  “I wonder what could have done that?”

Lower and lower the damage was on the trees, low enough that Viccy could reach out from Kuro’s shoulder and brush her hand against it, the shattered wood of the trees as if something had hit them at ridiculous speeds. Just blowing through them.

Looking forward it became clear as to why.

A low pit could be seen at the end of the damage trail, the plants around it looking charred where it went deep into the dirt. There the two gels looked very interested in something within it. Something that glimmered and shined.

“What did you find?”

She floated down, looking at what Al had used his arms to pull out of the pit and from the rock, a meteorite she assumed from the damage. A little shiny shard of a gem that had both the jell’s attention. Al in particular looking very eager about it.

“What a cute little treasure.” Viccy cooed. Finding his pride cute. “Come on you two, do you remember the way back? Let’s go show Faith. Yes?”

Now that their treasure was in hand, they were happy to head back. Pep in the harpy’s step and a happy little puff to Al’s feathers where he rested on her other shoulder. Holding their shiny in his little tendrel hands.

It was nice to see them so happy, so she couldn’t help a happy little haunting hum as she rested on Kuro’s shoulder. Letting them walk back to the church while she rested.

Knowing this forest she suspected that something was going to come from that fallen star, so hopefully Faith or one of her guardians knew what to do...because it was not her problem.

~~~

“Hale be thou little spirit tender. It is lovely to see thee once more.”

When they entered the church once more, they were met with the sight of the two forest guardians lounging up by the altar. Faith sitting between them happily. 

The one who had spoken was deer-like in appearance, large antlers with burning candles on them, fur like dripping wax, and eyes of glowing amber that flickered like his candles flames. His name she knew him by was Lucien, but he had many.

“One sees you’ve met our young guest.” 

The other guardian was more like a fox in her appearance. Soft and light coloured fur with red markings, many poinsettias scattered across her form and wrapped around her neck. She was the one who spoke second, nodding towards Kuro. Her name Viccy knew her by was Settia, but she too had many names. 

“Yes, they are lovely.” Viccy said, a polite nod at the two. “One hopes you two are doing well as well.”

“But of course, one has our dear Faith after all.” 

Faith smiled bashfully at the statement. “You’re too kind Lucien.”

“We simply speak the truth dear.” Settia said, nuzzling her before turning back to Viccy and the two Jells.  “But to business. Faith mentioned you wished to know what us two know of Jellheads?”

“Yes please. I found Al a few months ago and worry he needs care I haven’t been giving him. Not only that but before it slips my mind, we found what appears to have been a fallen star that they were very interested in. I felt you needed to know in case this little gem they took from it may have been a danger.”

“Thank you little keeper, One shall head out to take a look at the crash site. You said the jells lead the way?” 

Viccy nodded. “Yes. They seemed quite determined to go that way.”

“Very well. One shall take the Harpy with me to lead the way. Settia can help you with any questions you may have.” Lucien stood up, giving them a little parting bow before calling for Kuro to follow. Something she did without question, leaving Viccy and Al on the front pew with Settia and Faith.

“So spirit keeper. What is it that one can help you with?”

~~~

It was a long talk, but one that calmed Viccy’s worries. Settia didn’t know everything, but her many years of wandering had her overhear and learn many things, even about such creatures as the jell heads. She even vanished for a little bit as Faith and her talked, Al happily fiddling with his shiny that Settia had confirmed was perfectly safe. 

When she came back, she had a book balanced on her back. 

“You may have use of this with your friend.” she said, allowing Viccy to take the book. It was called ‘How to Train a Jellhead’. 

“What about you guys and Kuro?” Viccy asked. Looking down at the book, eager to learn something new but also worried about the other jell. “Don’t you need it?”

“Worry not about us. If the other chooses to stay we have other sources to learn from, but one suspects they will not remain here long.”

“What makes you think that?” The harpy jell seemed rather happy here in the church, and it would no doubt be useful to have them help Faith around the place.

“Yeah Settia? They seem quite content here?”

The guardian laughed lightly, but smiled at the two hoodles. 

“Call it one’s intuition. They have an air of wanderlust about them, one that has not yet been satisfied.” She stood, nuzzling lightly at Faith while she did so. “Not only that, but one feels that this is not the best place for them to be of use.”

She left not long later as the sun was rising, meaning it was time for Al and Viccy to sleep. Faith leading them to a comfortable nest of fabric she had for her rare fellow hoodle guests for them to sleep, and before long it was dusk once more.

“I wish we could stay longer my dear, but-”

“Work. I know Viccy. I am the last person who will question that.”

The two hoodles smiled together for a moment before they hugged, Faith giving Al one last pet before they were out the door and returning once more to their home. Shiny and book in hand.

“Did you enjoy the night out Al?” Viccy asked, floating with book in hand above him.

He fluffed. Rubbing his shiny treasure with his wings and hopping a little in his step. Clearly happy. 

“Here I thought you were a crow...but perhaps you are truly a magpie!” She laughed. “I’ll have to keep an eye out for shiny things for you huh?”

Al seemed eager at the idea of more shinies, and hopped some more. 

“I’ll be sure to do that then dear.”

It was good to find something he liked, and now with this book she could learn more about him too. So as the edge of the woods came into view meaning home was near, she could feel the spark of excitement at what new information it could hold. 

A new night of new potential.