lay quiet too. Only rumors of frightening forces strengthening within the small nation reached the outside. The Seraphi and Mieran rulers plotted against each other and simply observed the activities of Galara as they had for many years, waiting for war to weaken its nations.
A special night in Yantra would soon bring all of these international and interplanetary tensions to a boiling point and launch the young Princess Astrid into the middle of them.
II. Astrid
On hasty wings thy youth is flown;
Thy sun is set, thy spring is gone-
—Thomas Gray
Astrid sat on the river bank, kicking her feet in the water. The river bank was high from the accumulation of snow that had finally melted the day before. Astrid lifted her face up to the hot sun coming through the canopy of trees- a relief after a bitter month of winter. The birds sang happily around her and small critters rustled about in the bushes nearby.
“Do you know what to do if you get lost in the forest Astrid?”
Astrid looked up at her father who stood next to her, seeming very tall and powerful to the little girl.
“I’ll fly home!” Astrid replied, thinking it a silly question
Astrid gazed at her father’s magnificent wings folded back behind him, so large that they brushed the sandy river bank at his feet. The iridescent blue-green feathers on his majestic wings glimmered in the sunlight.
“I’ll be able to fly up above the highest lavender moosewood… so fast that no one could catch me. “
Astrid stared up at the trees towering hundreds and thousands of feet above her with trunks as wide as an average home. Dark purple berries were just beginning to grow in stark contrast to the scarred gray bark of the twisting branches. The leaves had already turned their pale, summertime lavender.
“You’ve got several years before then sweetheart…and lots of growing up to do.”
King Angus smiled at her and turned toward the fern-like bushes growing beside them. They were about five feet tall with long, bright green leaves and multi-colored blossoms. The king plucked one of the flowers and sat down next to his daughter, holding it out in his palm.
Astrid’s eyes widened when she saw it up close. The flower had long, spiky petals that fanned out in an array of dazzling pinks, oranges, and yellows. They formed a crescent shape.
“Canna spectralus,” her father said. “Hold out your hand.”
The king placed it in Astrid’s tiny palm. The flower felt sticky and smelled like the citrus candies her mother made.
“Eat it,” Angus said.
Astrid furrowed her brow at her father, but obeyed and took a bite of the petal. The petal was sweet and so chewy it got stuck between her jaws like taffy. Astrid thought it was great and stuffed the rest of it in her mouth. Astrid gave her father a large, gooey pink smile.
The king chuckled and mussed her hair up.
“Good right? Canna spectralus blossoms can keep you from going hungry if you ever find yourself stranded in the woods. Just listen for the river, or even a little creek and you’ll find them along the banks. You may need them one day, even when you have your wings.”
Astrid continued chewing at the petal and looking at her father, deep in thought. She reached out to touch the glossy feathers of his wing and tried to imagine what it would feel like to have her own.
“You will get your wings soon enough little princess,” Angus said, kissing her forehead, and then looked at her serious look.
“There will come a day when you long for childhood…when you’re all grown up and you have to face challenges you never thought you would. This world is filled with some nasty things and cruel people that you may have to protect yourself from. Your wings will grow just as you wish, but keep in mind that they won’t always keep you from harm, they will not defend Yantra. It’s your intelligence, your courage, and your kindness that our kingdom needs. You must work hard and cultivate these traits. Forget flying…it will come in due time.”
The king put his arm around his young daughter and she snuggled in close to him.
“Father…I could protect Yantra if I had to…don’t you think?”
“Without a doubt.”
……….
High up in the royal family’s Zuza tree, Princess Astrid awoke to the morning light coming through her gauzy curtains. Astrid brushed the tears away from her eyes. It had been awhile since she’d dreamed of her father.
The air smelled of both the jasmine and roses growing in a planter outside her window and of the Lavender Moosewoods nearby. A light breeze danced across the room, kissing her angelic face and mussing her long, brown, wavy hair. The princess rolled over, making one more attempt to block the light and return to her peaceful slumber. Astrid’s wings stretched wide across the featherbed that swung from hemp vines three feet above her Blue Eucalyptus Wood plank floors. Astrid ruffled her lavender and magenta streaked feathers and, with a yawn, opened her eyes just a little. Astrid laid there for a few minutes, listening to the wind chimes sing outside and thinking about her dream.
Ari, her beloved feline, pounced onto her chest with all of his might for Astrid’s morning wake up call. Astrid laughed, pulled the little creature off of her, and placed him on the bed beside her. As Astrid turned over to stroke his purple and gold fur, Astrid gazed into her deep, dark brown eyes and purred contentedly. The beautiful princess scratched his favorite spot and the tips of his two fluffy tails quivered.
Ari was a rare, purebred Naga Chanitha-a winged feline of sorts-with feathered paws and lovely, golden wings. Ari would spend hours searching for his favorite berries in the Lavender Moosewood trees, fly back home once the sun rose. Astrid carefully washed his face and paws every morning before cuddling, since the berries were toxic to Yantrans.
Astrid was in her bathroom washing Ari in a small wooden tub, when her best friend, Stella, snuck up behind her and shrieked, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
Astrid dropped Ari and her wings began smacking the air uncontrollably, barely lifting her off the ground. Astrid tumbled into her polished Moosewood bathtub and knocked over the perfumed oils and herbs in the basket hanging to the side. The little glass jars shattered on the plank floor and filled the air with an overpowering mixture of smells. Astrid turned in the bathtub and glared at Stella.
“Poor baby… still the clumsy girl we all know and love,” Stella said with a laugh. Astrid climbed out of the tub and composed herself. Astrid had hoped for better control over her wings, but they were too new for her to utilize properly. At this rate, Astrid imagined herself still flying into trees by her eighteenth year.
Astrid walked over to a niche carved into the light, polished wooden wall that held various bathroom supplies. As she pulled out a dustpan and began sweeping up the mess, Astrid turned to Stella who was braiding a few strands of hair that kept falling into her eyes.
“I don’t remember you swimming with grace and ease after you got your tail.” Astrid said with a smirk. Stella, a kyha, had gone through her metamorphosis last year during her eighteenth birthday. Stella’s smooth, moist skin changed from dull green to a magnificent fuchsia and turquoise and she grew nearly a foot. Her mousy-brown hair turned a golden-blonde, with teal and magenta streaks. The winged Yantrans of the Zuza trees were largely unfamiliar with Stella’s amphibious race and looked in awe at her transformation. Kyhas were commonly regarded as ugly, slimy and lowly creatures. Stella’s beauty and elegance challenged that perception. Everyone was most fascinated by the long, muscular tail she developed. It was the same mix of turquoise and fuchsia but adorned with striking golden sunburst patterns.
A large group gathered around the vast Marza Lake after Stella’s metamorphosis to watch her swim across. A little too hastily, Stella dove into the crystal clear lake and thrashed her tail back and forth wildly. The frenzied swimming didn’t get her far past the shallows and the spectators had to hide their giggles.
“Fair enough.” Stella said with a nod to Astrid. She remembered all too wel
l.
“Do you want to go with me to the mountain?” Astrid asked, “Celestine and Gemmeth want me to come by before my party.” Tonight was Astrid’s sixteenth birthday celebration and nearly everyone in Yantra was invited, however Celestine and Gemmeth would be missed. They were powerful sorcerers and trusted advisors to the royal family, but years ago, in the war between Vovros and Yantra that killed King Angus, Celestine and Gemmeth were trapped on Yantra Mountain by a curse.
Celestine and Gemmeth had to leave behind their beloved son, Zander, who was then raised by Zuza treehouse architects. Though he grew up in a humble home, Zander was a close friend of Astrid’s brother, Prince Maddox, and a regular at the royal house. However, as they grew older, differences in class and morality drove the two apart. Maddox began acting superior to Zander and haughtily reminding him of the correct ways to address a prince, especially when they were surrounded by other royalty. While Zander worked hard for his family, Maddox gallivanted about Galara embarrassing his. He often stayed in Seraphi or Miera, drinking and womanizing until his mother pleaded with him enough to return. Zander had no desire to participate the prince’s activities and too much pride to submit himself to regular insults.
Astrid knew Zander would be there tonight. She liked being around him more than anyone, but her crippling shyness hindered his pursuits. He