Loose feathers twirled in harmony with the cherry blossom leaves. Swords danced in spirals and sang its story to the wind. A wisp of its shadow dedicated its sole purpose to follow along. Not even arrows could stop her elegant dance, the bird froliced about the arena. Her balance never waivered, even as she pirouetted to swipe the arrows away like pesky flies. Such balance should be impossible, but not for her. For she was the guiding light in the dark; the shining armor to defend the weak; she was the protector of all things beautiful. Her body faded in the day but danced in the moonlight. Every artistic move she hand crafted with years of practice, every swipe and twirl calligraphed her life into art. As if she mimiced a dance whilst fighting.
This fight was like a catchy song for her.
Her sword soared towards her foes and demanded they kneel. A man clouded in petals and ash proved as an example for those who don't. It was smart of them to obey. The groups' knees fell as if they were mourning a mother. Such barbaric yet beautiful people. She stole their attention, "You men pillage and pluder our peacful home for what? Gold? Food? Glory? Such fiendish acts, have you no decency? Was simply asking such a strike to your egos you decided best to raid and murder instead? Begone from my sight!"
The bird turned around and mercifully skipped away behind the city gates. If not for the moonlight, the feathers she left could have easily been mistaken for shattered pieces of the sun. The army retreated.
Inside the town everyone sang praises. Children would walk up to the lady with adoration in their eyes. "Wow, that was so cool!" Some would say, "How do you moce like that?" Such curious little creatures. One even offered a canister of water. She could never deny an offer from such a cute kitten. Her wings splayed and cuped the bottle to her chest. "Merci beaucoup monsieur!" The child tightened their shoulders and avoided her gaze, "N-N-No, thank you." The child silently contemplated something for a moment, "O-One day I want to be like you Mademoiselle!" Stunned, the lady took a moment to carefully think out her next sentence. She kneeled down to match the child's eyes. "If you work hard and live well there's no doubt in my mind that you will become the best protector ever. And when the time comes I will happily dance alongside you." The kitten's eyes shined like the lady's feathers. Her voice sounded as if she was constantly singing to a tune of a song. the kid stood awestruck as the bird stood tall and shimmied away with the child's hope now in her hands.
"Chasseur Fleur, bienvenue!" Fleur's head flicked up, it was the tavern keeper, she was just thinking about going to see her. "Come, come, let us take a seat and chat." Fleur sang a prolonged groan as she froliced to the tavern keeper and put her sheathed swords down on the foot of a chair. She then proceeded to stretch out and bend her rear onto the leather chair creaking under her weight. So much fighting made times like these one in a few.
Followed by a cheerful aura the whole time, Fleur patiently waited for her furry, feline friend to sit down. "Who were you talking to just now?" Fleur's face stayed giddy but her friendly aura faltered and her tone lost its melodic tune, "Just another kid wanting to be like me…"
The tavern keeper went silent for a moment. "Are you still thinking about then? It has been years, there's nothing you could do."
"I know but… I just wish I didn't have to watch them die before me."
"Careful now~ your immortality is showing. I'm sure the kids will grow out of it. Eventually–you won't even need to fight anymore. Peace is approaching faster and faster every day. Soon you will be able to live in a lodge for the rest of your days. Find a new hobby."
"I don't have a 'rest of my days'. My whole life has been molded around fighting, I don't know if I'll even have the strength to do anything else."
"Nonsense Fleur! Just sit down and relax every once in a—hold on" The tavern keep held her paw up and motioned for a canine man with a lustrous pelt of black fur. "Could we get two cups of coffee? Make it black."
"Add a little sugar and milk to mine!" Fleur added.
"Yes mademoiselle, will that be all?"
"Uh… yeah, that's all." The tavern keeper waited for the man to wobble away, then continued, "Sometimes you have to relax, stop and smell the roses, take your time; you have plenty of it." Fleur began tapping her foot.
"Trust me, I've tried. But every time I close my eyes their faces come back. I just–just can't."
"You can't live your life running away and hiding from these things. Eventually you will need to adapt, such is the will of the world." Fleur furrowed her eyebrows. Her talon knocked on the stone floor as if it was a door.
"I'm not running, I just can't stand to see anyone else hurt. Is that hard to understand Camellia?" She shot arrows with her gaze as she continued, "Can we talk about something else?" The bird pleaded.
A waiter presented himself with two silver chalices. They sang steam smelling of beans and chocolat. The plate which held them had been hosted by large, crispy croissants, radiating with heat. Fleur wrapped a wing around the cup but quickly retreated her hand when she got stung by the heat.
"I know how you feel, and I get it—I really do! But sometimes you have to let go. Remember, people don't truly die, you should know that better than most. Have you tried speaking to Fu–" Fleur kicked the floor.
"Don't utter that name."
"Sorry… I forgot…" The entire porch went silent.
"I've tried to speak to them, but the bastard said I was interrupting their nap. It's been eons, they need to forget about it."
"Hmm…" Fleur darted her head up at Camellia.
"What?"
"It seems to me you may be stuck in your own world. Despite you three being immortal you all still act like children. They are just like you." The bird latched her hand to the cup of scorching joe and gurggled it. Her cup slammed on the table.
"I am no child! If anything, you are the one who is childish. You could never understand how it feels to live for perpetuity!"
The feline calmly raised her black paw to the sky before slowly patting Fleur's wings. "Perhaps I don't. But I know how hard life is. I know how it's weight pulls people down, that weight must be carried. But you must learn to carry that weight on your shoulders, lest you be crushed under it. Not many would wish to live forever as you have, do not force them to wish such things. Life is precious, we cannot tamper with the natural order."
Her words were cold yet warm. She had no right to speak about immortality but she spoke as if she had lived for an eternity. Despite her being the ripe age of sixty, she spoke as if she had seen it all. "You say that poor child needs to forget about their loss, yet you yourself are refusing to do so. They have dealt with the fact they are immortal, they have accepted their role in the hierarchy. However, I fear you have not. If you protect the flowers then you must also be willing to let them go when they whither away. Hundreds upon hundereds of seeds go on to sprout as their own independed flower. You must let them grow. There will be days where its hard to stand up, days where your life feels meaningless. On days like those it is best to remember the good ol' times, those who have passed would never want to see you like this." Camellia ended with a sip of her cup, "Just some food for thought."
Fleur sighed. Stabbed by her own words it was time to accept, Camellia was right. So many people would be sad to see this sorry state. They fought for peace much like her, she needed to accept that they did what they felt was right. It was not her place to trample on such grounds. She needed to accept the world she and her fellow friends created. Fleur stood up and gripped her swords, "It's best I start leaving." She searched for a few spare coins in her feathers and reached out to the table. Paws surrounded her wings and shoved them away, "Please, it's on me."
A smile creeped up Fleur's face. "...Thank you." She skipped away to the stone pavement. As she froliced in the city nearby people chattered and laughed to their heart's content. Of course Fleur was curious and decided to get a closer look. Music danced in the air, people twirled and swirled about, everyone was grinning from ear to ear. Torches lit up the floor with a sunflower yellow hue, allowing shadows to join in on the fun. And as she watched, one child with a long, lovely white tail lent out his hand. "Would you like to dance with me mademoiselle?" His face was redder than a watermellon.
It was time for a new hobby. Today, Fleur decided she would learn how to dance.
