A piece of Ella

"And who are you might be?", asked the man in brown while pointing his sword at the tip of Alyce's nose. "My name is Alyce sir", replied Alyce. No last name, a common thing among commoners, only nobility held on last names and proudly held their head up high.

Hazel scooted in the middle flapping her arms around the man in brown, signaling him to move out of the way. She then spun toward her father and said, "Alyce has been protecting me Father. Can I keep him?" she asked innocently. Keep what? Alyce exclaimed on his own, was he a pet all along to her? I mean I get it, with all my ears and tail showing, he scoffed then perked one of his ears up. "Hazel, where is Ella?".

"Oh...she's on the--", "You idiotic brat! How dare you call the daughter of a duke by her name?!", shouted the man in brown cutting off Hazel who was now pouting. He went out to raise his sword, nearly slicing the boy into half when it wasn't for the duke himslef to cut in.

"Mr. Peep I get that you are extremely aware of the ettiquette and manners but you, yourself don't have one! Haha!", buttted in, while he dusted the ground and sat on the floor. The man in brown was about to throw another nagging, the duke having his face scribbled with "this is annoying". Went to grab the man's tie and pulled him down to the ground. The man in brown faced the dirt with his hands covered in white gloves now soiled. "I know you squeak at the slightest errors many had made but do not shout at the guest this time hmm Mr. Peep-squeak?", he finished with a smile.

The shadow of the duke pointed at the north where only his yellow lime eyes glimmered around the dark shadow on his face. Mr. Peep stared at the ground, not wanting to look back at the duke's eyes. He replied with a nod and the duke, Mr. Hatter simply let go of Mr. Peep's tie. While Mr. Peep quickly zip his mouth and dusted himself.

The duke then walk up to the boy and crouched down. His layers of silk wrinkled as he reached for the boy's cheeks. Mr. Hatter held Alyce's face and inspect it, Alyce held his breath when the duke's eyes stared him head to toe. What and where is he looking exactly? "Hmm...what a beauty! Good pick my little chestnut!", the duke beamed in joy as he let go of Alyce. The little girl chirped in joy. Finding a playmate perhaps.

Alyce tried to stand up, stumbling and failing for a bit. Hazel told the boy not to move but Alyce insisted he should go look for her, the little lady not wanting to see her new friend groan from his wounds she spun and ran on the other direction. Yelling for Ella's name, she was headed to a green tent where Ella, responded to the little lady by poking her head outside the tent.

"Ella! There you are!", "Alyce is awake!", the lady shouted. Ella heard the news slowly went out the tent. Alyce, oh boy the look on his face when he saw bandages around the girl's arms and legs. She was like a mummy covered with spots of faded dark brown of dried crimson. Alyce even had his eyes popped when he saw small fluttering wings on the girl's back. Some were uprooted, pulled, and dirtied, but still found its way to shine under the sun's light.

Ella was a winged creature? Was all he could think of. Pretty he thought, from what he heard from Hazel, Ella protected her just as he wished to. Poor thing she trembled at the sight of him, what did she exactly go through along with the lady for her to look like this? "It was my fault...", he carelessly said. "Hm?", the duke beside him heard what Alyce had just said.

Alyce, perked up one of his ears suprised that the duke who had a short distance between them heard him. Though he didn't mind considering the duke just asked with no commands or force he answered and blurted his thoughts. "Its my fault, if only I haven't left them for the fat guy, they've gone out unharmed", he mumbled and gave a heavy sigh. His eyes darted at each wound he could find at Ella's body, all were in bad shape especially her neck; bruised and swollen. "I dont think so", the duke answered.

"It wasn't your fault anyways blame the bad guys over there", the duke pointed out over the area with only few blocks away from the camp, a group of men dressed in green jade suits surrounded the men along with the woman he fought awhile ago. "And thanks to that look at her, all blossomed and grown dont you agree?", the duke look back at Alyce, bringing his arm down to his side. Alyce didn't answered back and look back at the girl, Ella awkwardly waved her hand and started walking.

Ella slowly took her steps going forward to Alyce. The little lady cheered on the girl, giving the loudest and energetic cheers. Earning looks from the other children and adults around.

Mr. Peep placed his hand on his forehead and scratched it, "She got a long way to go".

Ella finally arrived on the thin mattress Alyce laid on. She slowly bent down and slowly look to the blonde's eyes.

"Alyce...I-", she started "Nope, dont say a word", Alyce cutted her. "Let me just-", didn't continue his sentenced when he brought his arms around her back and pulled her close. Scent of herbs was all he smelled along with his stinking body that hasn't been washed for days he suppose, he doesn't mind.

Ella sat in shocked, "It was scary right? Good job protecting our friend". He mumbled softly to her ears while keeping his eyes close, her eyes began to fill up with tears, she tried to hold it but didn't held on. It streamed down her face as she smiled and nod, replied with a "mm".

Her arms also embraced Alyce's back and tightened her hug. The little lady who pouted at the corner got invited by Alyce who opened his left eye to peek. Staring at the girl who stayed at the sides then giving a warming smile and nod. Lil Hazel sprung back in joy and fell on her own towards the duo. The duke laughed softly, while the other scoffed off but said nothing.

Their embrace were later disturbed by people crowding the camp. It was time the soldiers opened their gates to welcome the mothers and fathers, families had crowded the whole area calling for the names of their children. Many embraced their lost ones and many cried for their loss. Alyce was just happy he was able to see Ella and Hazel safe and sound.

Around the corner were two maidens, in their long white dresses and full-grown wings behind their back. Their presence is what made others step back, gossiping to one another. Two rare creatures showing up in a crowd was an uncommon sight. Their heads turned in each directions until one layed on Alyce's place.

They pulled their hands to their mouths and gasped. Ran towards the group and slumped on their knees in front of Ella. "Sister!" and "Ella!" "Do you know how worried we are when you disappeared for a week?!", one shouted as the other cried. Pulling Ella to their front for a hug, Ella willingly joined.

Alyce watched the others, adults cried and kids sobbed. How he wish someone old will cry for him, welcome him home in their arms and asked them to come home. He chuckled.

There's no place like home

like the shouts of couple of kids

to the barks of his dogs, Coal and Gnome

the clanging of pots

to the lovely tastes of his morning oats

He misses his past life, not that he wanted to go back to the boring school life, but he meant his friends and relatives. The warm showers, the mobile game battles between him and his friends, the smell of bacon and eggs that his aunt cooks for him. But definitely not his alarm clock.

Now he was always greeted with strangest creatures, a supposedly human being with animal ears. The smell of rotting wood, the loud noise of metal clashing unto one another. It was a huge change for him, but that doesn't matter now. His guardian and brother was long gone by his side, but he met two wonderful people. That said, where is he going to live?

His parents are dead, and he has no idea where he is except for the information that he was in a Red Heart's grounds. He was shaken away from his thought when Ella was telling her goodbyes. Sad that Alyce couldn't spend more time with Ella but he shouldn't keep her for too long. Her sisters were there waiting patiently for Ella to say her goodbyes. Hazel was the most affected, her snot ran down from her nose and kept a whiny attitude. "Stay with us Ella! Or perhaps just join me for a cup of teaaa!!", the little lady blurted out with her words passing through her cries and unidentified words.

"I'm sorry Hazel, but this ia where we must depart. My family is waiting for me back home and I miss them to death", Ella said. Ella thanked the little lady but turned down her invite, said that she will consider the lady's invite when they meet again.

Ella walked over to Alyce and thanked him. Alyce thanked her too, someday he knows he'll meet her again, not tomorrow nor next week but somewhere someday. Ella thanked the boy many times, she enjoyed the time spent with the boy even held captive under the bad men. Before she go, she turned to her back and brushed off her fingers to her wings. Spreading her hands as it ran across almost her entire two wings, looks like she found what she was looking for. Her eyes popped in realization then suddenly plucked out a feather from her.

"Eek!", she blurted. Alyce startled. Small dot of red formed on the part she pluck the feather but payed no mind. Ella handed the white feather to Alyce. Is she okay?! Alyce gave a short scream, panicked, why would she do that? The boy unknowingly held his palm high, she drop the feather to his, and it floated down to his. The tip of the feather, when touched Alyce and layed on his hand, his ears and tail began to shrink, down to the roots of his head and back, it shrunk as if disappeared...like he has no additional attachments to his body at all.