Beyond the Firefly Field by R.E. Munzing Read Free Book Online

As much as she loved the little fairy floating before her, she didn’t want to be anyone’s prisoner.
    â€œHe meant that I would be charged with keeping you safe.”
    â€œWe aren’t safe?” Clayton inquired, his eyes quickly darting around.
    â€œYou’re safe for now. My father will explain. Don’t worry,” she insisted.
    â€œWhere did your wings go?” Karl inquired. Clayton couldn’t help but smile. Karl was always interested in the structure of things.
    SeeLee turned around, revealing her folded wings against her back and hanging limp like a flag devoid of wind. The color and the golden veins were absent without the benefit of light, and her wings looked like extensions of her long, yellow hair.
    SeeLee turned back around as a firefly landed on the branch in front of her. She bent down and scooped the little bug in her arms. To the fairy, the bug was about the size of a small house cat. She cradled it with one arm and gently stroked its wings.
    â€œSee? I promised you would fly again.” The firefly flashed its yellow light as if in thanks, and the tip of SeeLee’s wing peeked around and flashed a spark of yellow back. She lifted her arm slightly, and the firefly flew off, flashing happily.
    Penny suddenly realized that she was still holding the jar with dozens of fireflies frantically beating against their glass prison. Turning away from SeeLee, she uncovered the jar and dumped its contents. Secreting the jar into her waist pack, she casually turned back as if nothing had happened. SeeLee looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but said nothing.
    â€œDo you live here?” Penny asked as innocently as she could, blushing profusely and knowing she had been caught in the act.
    â€œYes, we carved our homes into the dead parts of the tree.”
    â€œThat’s so cool. We made a tree house, and you should come see it,” Penny quickly interjected as she turned a lighter shade of pink, having successfully changed the subject.
    Dozens of fireflies suddenly fluttered toward the tree’s branches, distracting Clayton’s attention for the first time. His attention had been so intensely focused on SeeLee that his vision seemed to blur. He thought he was seeing other fairies flying amid the higher branches, shooting spots of colors as they moved. Shaking his head to regain focus, he turned his attention back to SeeLee.
    Just then, another fairy floated down from atop the branches. Clayton quickly presumed he was the father of the other two. His face was more mature, yet lean and smooth. His hair was long and a slightly darker gold. Like his children, the older fairy had a long, thin nose and high cheekbones. A triangular chin and chiseled jaw gave him a stern appearance, with a prominent forehead and bushy eyebrows adding to the impression.
    The older man’s eyes, however, spoke of a subdued brilliance with an air of authority. The gleam of his intelligence came through his gaze, as did a twinkle of mirth that seemed controlled, lest it take over. His eyes glowed with a deep, dark blue, and a shimmer of maroon appeared at certain angles when he looked away. He seemed to radiate benevolence and welcoming warmth.
    His wing colors—both the gold veins and the colors in the membrane—were slightly darker. Maroon hues spread from the base, as peach stripes wove slender threads, fanning to be the dominant color at the crescendo of the wing. Flame-shaped blues, greens, yellows, and reds spread toward the edges with flickers of bronze licking the ends of the flames, as one might see staring at a blazing fire. Some flame tips broke away, moving to the outer edges of the wing before fading away. It seemed to be a more mature and controlled display of color, but just as mesmerizing as the wings of the younger fairies.
    The older fairy’s clothing appeared more mature, too. His tan pants were longer and looser, and his sleeveless tan shirt reached his waist. It