Willowtrix; Reason to Dream

The sun sank low over the little village of Tree Garden. Willowtrix flew down the forest path a little lower than normal.

Today sucked.

He couldn’t shake the bitter self doubt that weighed his wings. It had been just another day working the Apple Orchard. Another day picking apples with his best friend, Vinifree. Yet, the only conversation today was Egriton’s open managing position. While they were picking, at the spring where the workers took their break, and during lunch. All anyone–especially Vinifree–could talk about was the open position. Vinifree interviewed for it, and rumor was she was the only one that wanted it. She’s gonna get it, Willowtrix told himself. It’s her dream job, why wouldn’t she get it? When they were kids, Vinifree always got distracted when they got close to the orchard. The adventures they went on were always cut short because she would rather stare at the orchard instead of chase down imaginary bandits.

Willowtrix slumped. “I’m happy for her. I really am.” Yet, the weight on his wings wouldn’t go away. Vinifree found her calling. She was following her passion, but him?

The solid shoulder of a burly faun knocked Willowtrix off his flight path. He let out a grunt and flexed his wings to catch himself in the air. When he looked up at who he hit, he flinched.

Lunber the lumberjack and oldest son of the village elder scowled down at Willowtrix. He crossed his furry arms and a sigh as rough as tree bark escaped his throat. “Willowtrix, don’t tell me you’re flying around in a daydream again. You fairies can fly anywhere and yet you choose to fly at the height of us fauns?”

Willowtrix brushed his brown hair behind his ear. A pit opened in his stomach and increased the weight on his wings. “S-sorry, I was…I was, uh…lost in thought.”

Lunbar stuck his square jaw up in the air. “Not with one of those ridiculous stories of yours, I hope. Don’t you realize there’s no profit in that? I was told about the open position at the orchard. You should go for it. The extra coin would help your mother.”

Willowtrix pulled his gaze downward. The pit in his stomach hardened over. I’m so sick of hearing about that position. Yet, he swallowed down his bitterness. “Vinifree is going for it. I…I wouldn’t want to upset her by going for it too.” It was an easy lie. One that worked well on everyone at the orchard, but Lunbar’s deepening scowl told Willowtrix the faun didn’t believe him.

“You can’t chase some silly dream about telling stories. If you think that’s what supported Alderheart through the years, you’re wrong. Stop chasing fantasties and grow some sense. You’ve got a good job at the orchard. You can grow there and get the coin to get your mother the help she needs. When are you going to see that?”

Willowtrix couldn’t look Lunbar in the eye. A knot twisted in his heart. Anger burned within him, but guilt threatened to drown him. Lunbar was making the same point as every other resident of Tree Garden. Willowtrix tightened his fists. “I have to go.” He darted around Lunbar and flew off down the path to hide the tears betrayed in his eyes. Lunbar didn’t say anything, but Willowtrix heard his disappointed sigh.

He made it to the tree knot he called home as fast as he could. It was a humble little place on the outskirts of the village. No fauns lived below them, but a few other fairy families lived a couple trees away. It was nice and quiet. What Willowtrix’s mother needed.

Willowtrix leaned against the door after entering his home. The cozy and warm hollow didn’t bring the same sense of peace he usually felt when coming home. It’s all that talk, Willowtrix told himself. Of Vinifree achieving her dream.

“Willowtrix?” A weak cough came from the bedroom. “Is that you?”

Willowtrix quieted at the sound of his mother’s voice. She sounds weaker than this morning. He took a moment to let out a sorrowful sigh before masking his face with a smile. Willowtrix fluttered over the front room furniture and landed promptly in the doorway to the bedroom. “Mother,” he smiled at her. “How was your day?”

The beige light that illuminated from his mother brightened when she spotted him. She laid on her side in the bed, one arm resting under her head and her other weakly reached for him. Rings sunk under her eyes from an illness no one could explain. Willowtrix’s heart cracked at her motion and he walked over to kneel beside the bed. “Are you feeling any better?”

“The pain lessens when you’re here.” She cupped his cheek and love replaced the woe in her eyes. “Did you have a good day? Tell me, has Vinifree gotten the position yet?”

Willowtrix laid his hand on hers. “They haven’t announced anything. I think they’re waiting for the right time. There’s a new rumor we might strike a deal with a shop in Flora to sell our apples there too.”

Her eyebrows raised. “Flora? Already? Didn’t the orchard already strike a deal with a shop in Dira?”

Willowtrix nodded. “Last year and Dira’s a bigger city. I think the orchard owners want to make the announcement for the position when they strike a deal with Flora. That way, there’s lots of good news going around.” Willowtrix shrugged. “I know they’ll pick Vinifree.”

“She deserves it.” His mother adjusted so she sat up further. “That girl loves the orchard. No one else will take care of it better.”

Willowtrix absently nodded. “I’m happy for her.”

“My son.” A sterner tone crossed his mother’s voice. Willowtrix flicked his wings when he met her knowing look. “Your eyes tell me something’s bothering you. What is it?”

Willowtrix sighed. As much as he tried to be strong for her, she could always see right through him. He shifted and leaned against the bed, taking her hand. “I ran into Lunbar.”

She huffed. “That thickheaded brute? What did he say this time? That you should have gone for the position? Pish posh. That faun doesn’t know how to see beyond his own eyesight.”

Willowtrix glanced away. “He had a point, though. If I got the position, I could better care for you.”

“Now, you listen to me, Willowtrix. You weren’t put on this world to look after me. I’ll be–” She cut off with a coughing fit.

Willowtrix helped her sit up then fetched a glass of water. “I need to look after you.” He helped place the glass down once her breathing eased. “What will I have if I don’t have you?”

“You’ll have your stories.” She smiled softly and pointed right at his chest. “And your dream. You’ve got such a wonderful talent, Willowtrix. It makes you happy and that’s all I want for you.”

Willowtrix shook his head. He sat down on the bed beside her. “It’s not practical.”

“So what?” She squeezed his hand. “Better to be rich in heart than rich in hand.” When Willowtrix smiled she slunk down into the blankets of the bed. “Tell me one of your stories.”

Willowtrix rubbed the back of his head, his wings fluttering. “I dunno.”

“Come now,” she teased. “You can’t tell me you don’t have a new one you want to try out. Who better to tell it to than me?”

Willowtrix chuckled. He pulled his legs on the bed to sit cross-legged. She used to be the one telling him stories. He was all tucked in bed and ready to hear her next adventure. There was nothing more calming than their glow warming the darkening night. “Alright, then.” He took a deep breath and his lips stretched to a smile at the thought of telling his newest tale. “Once upon a time…”