IRIS

I felt myself pale at the mention of my home. Not because he was mentioning it per say, because it was known to be above Sugarland, but more that he knew my plans and what the hierarchy was thinking. I knew I was going to help these two, but I still hadn’t quite figured out how I would get them in without anyone finding out. Especially getting to the flower. I thought back to my teachings growing up. There was the dewdrop flower that held healing powers. One sip from the potent liquid and the ill could be healed of anything. The catch was, they also contained baby faeries, incubating them until it was time to be released as crawlers, making it hard to find a vacant flower. I knew the flower was an option all along, obviously, which was why I was taking them there, but I hadn’t quite thought of what would happen once we had arrived. 

I knew that my mother and the hierarchy were onto me, no doubt they would be waiting at the entrance when we arrived. What would we even do once we got there? What would Mother think? How could I explain the people with me? Who was I kidding, she knows who I'm with? I wasn’t even sure I could trust this creature, a fox, but what other choice did we have but to listen and obey? He knew my fate as well as I did.

When he had finished talking and instructed us to move to the next stage in the process, I looked past him to see a myriad of strange creatures looking back at me. This was going to be interesting. I turned my head over my shoulder to see my two accomplices with the same unsure look on their faces. I let out a sigh; this was going to be a long next chapter to our journey. 

We made our way to the next obstacle, two large dogs. One resembled the type that someone would have as a pet. A short, silky, silver coat and long floppy ears. The other resembled an estranged and very wild shaggy wolf. The two seemed very strange side by side. I wondered what they were doing here together. As we approached them, something nipped at my wing. I yelped in pain, pulling back instinctively. At my feet was a rogue lobster. I stared daggers at it as it scurried back to its protectors. I rubbed my wing protectively. 

Little sea monster.

The large dog let out a bellowing deep voice and my ears rang. One bad thing about having such good hearing was that loud noises, especially pitches outside the Isle, hurt my sensitive hearing. I was accustomed to most noises otherwise. He looked solemn, wise, and elderly. “Along your journey, there will be those who will approach you, encouraging you to stray from your path. There will be a trickster. He will resemble one of you. He will try to pull one of you away from the group. One of you will be tempted, though you must not stray, or it will lead you to your ultimate demise.” He remained in his position, laying on the stone pedestal that we had approached. No doubt he would try to pull Bear away. He would be easily strayed by these creatures since he was so unfamiliar, being human and all.

We all turned our heads to the wolf, though he did not speak. We waited an appropriate amount of time with no response before we moved on to the next figure in the line. 

Though it resembled a rabbit, it looked oddly different from any other I had come across before. It had hooves instead of paws and appeared to be holding a sphere. The closer we got, the more dignified the round object became. It was the colour of the ocean and had some green, as well as earthy tones sprawled across it. It spun on one of his hooves as he peered at it closely, his bucky front teeth visible through his parted furry lips.

“What is that?” Violet murmured in her small delicate voice that matched her small frame, unlike my own, which was strong and powerful.

“It’s the world…” Bear stumbled forward, observing the item with such care. This was the first I had heard him speak since we had arrived in this oddly placed circus. 

“Indeed, it is the world.” The rabbit chuckled. “I have the world in the palm of my hand.” 

“Hoof,” Violet corrected, the rabbit laughed. 

“Indeed, child.”

“How did you know that was the world he has?” Violet aimed her question at our human counterpart.

“I have seen it on maps… though, it never really looked round. It always looked flat… but the markings are the same.” Bear pushed some hair from his forehead and stepped closer. “May I?” He looked at the globe without so much as making eye contact with its possessor.

“Go ahead,” the rabbit replied.

“There…” Bear trailed his finger over one of the sections. “This is my home. I’m pretty sure at least.” “And there is the ocean. So that is where you are from, though I’m not too sure what part.” He looked at Violet, who squinted at where he was pointing. 

“And this is where you're going.” The rabbit hit a heavy hoof onto the clouded section of the sphere… my home. He looked at me with a wicked grin and his large eyes narrowed. “That is your home. And the destination to which you are seeking.” He looked at me unwavering, and the others followed his stare. “You will encounter troubles, not only on your journey but upon your arrival, as you look for clues to fix your predicament.” He looked at Bear, who was going through stages of good health and falling ill. It appeared to be happening in cycles. I wondered what encountering troubles we would come across on our journey to my home. 

The rabbit spun the world on his misshapen hoof. “You must hurry on your journey for each of you is needed back home. Your own homes.” He narrowed his eyes.

“What's going on?” Violet asked, worry spread across her face. She always had this look, like there was more going on in that small, perfectly shaped head than she was letting us know.

“Ha! Oh, child, I cannot tell you that. Well, I can… but I’m not going to. You must hurry back and see. Once you have finished your journey, of course.” He laughed, setting us off to our next destination.