Of Past Days

Of Past Days


The wheat field was their favourite place. Being young, small and playful they were able to hide between the tall gold stalks, catching mice or fooling around.
He was named Soreth then. He can remember those times vividly, and wished he couldn't.

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He met Takoda in that wheat field. They were barely ten years old, practically hatchlings. He and Saphron were racing through the ripe plants, grains sticking to their scales when Soreth collided head-first with another body.

Thrown backwards onto his wings he jared the joint on his shoulder and winced.

"Watch where you're going!" A female voice reprimanded him. It wasn't Saphron's.
Soreth grunted and struggled to his feet, scowling at the invader. "Why don't you move out of the way!"

The female growled at him. Her markings made her look like she was wearing a mask, her green eyes bore into his purple.

"You look like you're wearing a mask." Soreth spat, trying to get her to move.

She planted her claws in the dirt firmly."And you look any better? Your turquoise hide will attract predators from the other side of the planet! Not to mention that blue mark under your eye. You look ridiculous."

Soreth riffled his wings in an irritated way before he sat down. Saphron came up behind him, she observed the new comer with interest. "Hi, I'm Saphron." She stated cheerfully, completely aware of Soreth's rude behaviour.

"I'm Takoda." The new comer replied.

"Soreth." He introduced himself with a grunt.

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Tiki shook his head to clear it. Now was not the time for memories. The day was lazy, he had nothing to do, so he left the Great Tree early and sat at the edge of the forest near the beach, watching the sun reflect off the water and sand as the day moved on. Several times he saw Markus, Blu's youngest hatchling, chasing Otto. Otto had settled in quickly and Tiki learnt to get along with him, having learnt much about him they left each other alone most of the time.

Other times he saw crabs come up out of the water. Huge crabs, at least a meter across, and since they were part of the ocean's food chain Tiki caught one and proceeded to eat, cleaning the meat from the shell he crunched on the empty shell later, to pass the time.

Towards noon Boomerang walked along the beach, Gammon in tow. They were laughing cheerfully. Boomerang looked into the forest and caught Tiki's eye. Tiki blinked slowly once, Boomerang did the same dipping his head slightly in greeting before he and Gammon took flight.

Tiki sighed. He lay down on the fallen leaves and closed his eyes, and he dreamed.

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Takoda was playing with a hatchling. Icarus. Soreth and Saphron's son. Icarus was no more than two years old and was already giving Takoda a run for her money. He was even more mischievous than her.

The scene shifted and Soreth found himself flying for his life, Takoda following, he held a small bundle in his front claws. It was Icarus, bloody and beaten within an inch of his life. Soreth was covered in blood, some his own, some not.

"Where's Saphron!?" Takoda called over their frantic wing beats.

"Dead, Takoda, DEAD!" Soreth screamed back at her.

Once again the scene shifted and Soreth found himself standing belly-deep in sea water. Takoda was on the shore watching him. "Soreth, please-"

"Don't call me that." Soreth spoke, his voice low and strained. "Please, don't call me that."

"Then what do you want me to call you?" Takoda responded, walking into the water to look him in the eye.

"What was that name you gave me all those years ago?" Soreth asked.

"Tiki."

"Then call me that."

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Tiki woke with a start. Night had fallen, he thought about those memories, shuddered at the less pleasant ones. He chuckled to himself at the thought that no one but he and Takoda knew the origins of his name.

But the thought of how it had to come about was saddening and filled him with guilt. Tiki stood, shook himself, and started the long walk back to the Great Tree. The path back was littered with bioluminescent moss and mushrooms, even some tree leaves glowed. He passed a patch of wild flowers, some glowing others not. Walking into the patch he found a small blue flower with white flecks on its petals, plucked it from the ground and decided to fly the way back to the Tree. Once inside he rocketed up to Takoda's nest, a few meters from his own.

Blu saw him and called out. He shook his head urgently and she left him alone.

Takoda was curled up in her nest, a collection of gems and trinkets littered the bed. She wasn't asleep, not yet. She raised her eyebrows when Tiki alighted on the edge of the nest.

"Wrong nest, Tiki." She started, her voice quiet with sleep.

"I don't believe so." He said and offered her the flower.

Takoda raised an eyebrow again and looked at Tiki sternly. He moved his nose forward a fraction, manoeuvring the flower into Takoda's field of vision.
When Takoda made no signs of taking the flower Tiki placed it on the nest in front of him.

He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well. I'll leave you to your business. Good night." Not bothering to fly further up to his nest he instead gripped the vines and foot holds on the edge of the tree and climbed up, settling into his nest littered with scrap metal, clocks and rubies. He soon drifted to sleep.