'Reminiscing'

Reminiscing


"The darkness took away everything she ever cared about and all that she fought for. Beaten, broken, and filled with great despair she was dragged through the conquered city to the feet of Lord Nilogen. He smirked wickedly down at the once so proud warrior now too filled with shame to even look him in the eye. He let out a dark chuckle before spreading his arms dramatically to the crowd of terrified townsfolk and speaking in a booming voice..."

"Granna! Why are you stopping! We want to hear the rest!" ,one of the little children exclaimed while bouncing in their spot around the old wizened woman's feet. They were eager to listen to more of the story as was the other six children. All wide eyed while listening to the tale. The woman smiled and leaning back in the large comfy chair she shifted her slightly grayed reddish wings. Her old hands shaking a bit as she rubbed her chin as if thinking.

"Now I could finish but then you would have to miss your mother's wonderful cooking now wouldn't you?" ,she let out a chuckle as a couple little stomachs growled at the mention of cooking. "I will finish the story another time my little ones. Go on to the kitchen...time for lunch."

With that a few little groans greeted her slightly frayed feathered ears but their feet still scurried quickly toward the kitchen. Smiling contently as she relaxed in her chair she turned her head slowly to grin at the young woman now standing next to her chair. "Hope you cooked plenty. Those little ones worked up and appetite." ,she spoke with her eyes twinkling in amusement.

The younger woman smiled sweetly at her and put a slightly tanned hand on her shoulder. Her own oddly mismatched eyes shimmering in the dim light of the fireplace roaring nearby. "From listening to your tall tales no doubt Granna Rose. What were you telling them this time?" ,her head tilted curiously as she moved to gently sit on the arm of the large chair for a moment. Rose smirked at the question and chuckled softly.

"I was just telling them the story about how your mother became the great hero dear." ,one of her shaking hands reached out and patted the young woman's knee. Said girl looked at Rose with a soft and gentle smile while remembering that same story being told to her many times by her mother and father themselves.

"Mum used to hate when Poppy would tell it. Cause he would always over embellish everything." ,the odd lilt of an accent in her voice was always noticeable when she talked about her mother, father, and grandfather. The old memories making her feel emotional. "I miss them."

Rose gently squeezed the girl's knee and nodded knowingly with a sad smirk. "As do I my child. But you know that your mother would skin us both if she caught us being so gloomy over such things. Now go on and make sure those great-grandchildren of mine are fed. Can't have them starving can we?" ,she let out a hearty yet slightly raspy laugh. The young woman laughed as well and tucking a loose piece of her dark golden hair behind her ear she leaned in and kissed Rose's cheek.

"Alright Granna. I'll get going now." ,smiling once again she got up and headed for the kitchen hoping the kids didn't already start trying to eat everything in sight. Rose watched her leave and let out a soft sigh while turning toward the fireplace. Looking to the mantle where a long elegant sword and a crossbow sat framing a painting of two other Avians. She smiled warmly at the pair who were grinning in the picture while the woman in it held a small bundle in her arms. The baby's eyes were wide open in the painting and the artist captured their intriguing color perfectly. One eye a dark red color while the other was a beautiful dark blue. The pupils slightly slitted like her mothers who's bright green hair and feathers also stood out in the picture.  

Her own reddish eyes looked to the man in the painting and  she chuckled at how proud he looked. Grinning like a fool and his handsome white wings slightly mantled around the other two protectively. His little girl had taken plenty from both parents, hair from her father and eyes from them both. Even her wings showed who she came from. The feathers a mix of eye catching white and brilliant green at the top and tips. They all made a handsome and happy family. Thinking about it sometimes made her sad and her old heart would feel the same ache that plagued it since their passing. But right now she felt happy seeing their faces in that painting.

"You would be so proud of Ashlin now my little Lilly. She's become so strong…just like you wanted. Though I'm sure Nathain would be jumping mad seeing her getting into danger." ,closing her eyes she smiled. "Wish you could be here now to see our little family now…"