Twice a year, sometimes more, fireworks lit the sky over Joaquin’s land. When he was younger, and much dumber, he’d wanted to steal some of his own.
Until one landed in one of their best producing pecan groves. That year had been drier than usual. The spring grass had yellowed and wilted, providing kindling, ready for lighting. Trees full of ripening pecans burst into flames.
Joaquin’s wings shivered, feeling the heat from the memory. It rolled up his back, tingling with a growing warning that it could happen again. Only this time, they were ready for it. That year, they’d had a rough winter without the pecans that made up most of their food stores.
Naiads perched in every tree when the fireworks flew, tasked with intercepting any of the human’s celebratory toy rockets should they fall in their land. While they waited, they gazed at the spectacle, oohing and ahhing as long as the explosions remained high in the sky.
For as much danger as they presented, Joaquin gazed at the sky with them, captivated. Red, green, gold, silver, and blue. So many dazzling colors against the star-studded canvas.
“It’s amazing how they aren’t the same every year,” Aria said, perching on the limb beside him. “I like the red ones that dribble golden stars. What about you, bubu?”
“Manita, they’re just lights in the sky. Nothing permanent or lasting,” he grumbled, unable to look away.
“Yet you’re staring at them like they’re magic.” She laughed, flicking her bird-like wings.
A loud boom from above radiated through the trees. Joaquin’s heart fluttered as it passed through him. As terrifying as thunder, it made his skin crawl with delight. There was no harm in most of it, only a growing excitement that it’d get better…if it didn’t get worse.
“Fire!” The call came from far away. It traveled from tree to tree, Naiads shouting and rising into the air.
Joaquin leaped off the branch, joining them as they moved as one toward the south. Aria followed, cupping her hands around her eyes as if it helped her see better. Smoke hung in the breeze as the explosions continued overhead.
Where’s the fire? Joaquin squinted into the darkness, unable to see any sign of any smoldering trees. Did the Naiads already put it out? Then why are they moving and not staying still.
“Ridge Vale’s fields are on fire! Everyone to the border!” Mami appeared overhead, coming from the south. Her wings with their shiny translucent feathers glimmered in blue and green. “Joaquin! Ariadne! Fly ahead and make sure they dig the fire break wide, starting at the western border. That’s where it’ll touch first.”
“Yes, Mami!” he called out, tilting and turning to the west. He spread his wings, far larger than the dragonfly-like wings of the Naiads.
“Race you!” Aria sped past, her shorter wings slapping the air quicker than his. Once she got ahead, he’d never catch up to her, but in a time like this, it didn’t matter. They would end up at the same place and have a night full of work ahead of them.
Dozens of Naiads fell in behind them, adults and children. When it came to defending their land, nobody held back.
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Why yes, he needed a really cutesy nickname from his sister that he obviously tolerates BECAUSE she’s his sister. And yes, that will come back later. Figuring out Joaquin and Aria was much faster than Char. They are twins, but not named that way for ‘reasons’.
Realized I didn’t note what genre this is. Contemporary Fantasy, although it doesn’t take place in the human world, obviously it’s in a modern time period. This is not a romance. It’s a classical style adventure suitable for all ages… However, the series, of which this is technically a prequel, because I already wrote the next book, will contain more adult themes. For me, that just means you get a lot of fade to blacks and closed doors.
Oh, and I figured out the actual TITLE of the novel. Wrong Turn at the Spring. My placeholder title page will likely change a few times as I toy with it.
TC Ross