Little Miss Wingless
Chapter 6: Icy Water

Melanie quickly discovered saving someone was much harder to do than it looked in movies.

As Kyro’s body slammed against the fragile film of ice, a large circumference of it shattered and he disappeared into the frigid water of the lake.

The small boy did not idle or fight on the surface. He was just gone.

Melanie’s heart sank just as dramatically as Kyro did. She instantly ran without a second thought, dodging past the conflict between Ito and Tabastian.

Melanie kicked off her borrowed coat and boots before she glided along the top of the lake to reach the shattered entry point. The ground was slippery and felt gritty against her now damp, soiled socks. The frosty bite of the air nipped at her skin. Down inside that hole was dark, with no indication of how deep or what else could be down there. But that didn’t stop her. She jumped in with a splash, following the bubbles and ripples of disturbed water to reach for the sinking boy.

The visibility would have probably been zero within those silent depths, if not for the little charm that Kyro wore around his neck. The jewel glowed a vivid purple, encouraging the silver metal that encased it to gleam. It floated at the end of its chain like a little beacon, guiding Melanie to follow.

She had him. He had not yet sunk far and her fingers wrapped into some of the many layers of his upper body. Melanie secured her grip and then alleviated her swimming back in the direction she came. Her breath threatening to lose its hold, she swam back to the surface with every ounce of strength and speed she could muster. But she was immensely struggling physically against the pull of the stinging cold water.

Both children gasped a loud, jolting inhalation as their heads broke above the water’s surface. The panicked splashing was accompanied by Kyro’s croaky coughs and terrified sobs as he tried to keep the air coming in and the water coming out of his mouth.

Melanie kicked with all her might, one hand was clinging to Kyro as he continued to panic, and the other was desperately trying to hold onto the constantly breaking-off edges of ice.

Kyro was heavy and his wings were cumbersome to manoeuvre around. Melanie simply could not pull herself out with Kyro’s additional weight clasping desperately to her, flailing for dear life.

In addition to this, Melanie could not get any words of reassurance out. Every time she opened her mouth, icy water gushed in from the thrashing, bobbling movement. The only noise that did escape came out as gurgles and gasps.

The water was so cold Melanie’s body tingled, and she was tiring fast. Melanie could only take notice of chunks of the unfolding scene outside of the lake as she relentlessly tried her best to keep her new friend and herself afloat.

She saw Tabastian try to rush over to aid her and Kyro. Panic distorted his voice as he called out his brother’s name. But Ito held his weapon out and blocked Tabastian with his larger frame to prevent him from approaching them. A duel between them ensued.

As Melanie continued to ferociously kick to keep up buoyancy, Tabastian over extended and Ito’s blade slashed towards him, the sharp hooked shape snagging his flesh and slicing into his cheek. Ito laughed as Tabastian instantly recoiled from the pain, causing him to drop his own weapon to his feet. Tabastian clenched his hand firmly against the fresh wound. Blood drizzled in between his fingers and dripped to the ground.

Melanie lost her rhythm momentarily as another big chunk of the ice she was clinging to came away. She recomposed herself, pushing to break through the water’s surface again. And when she looked back, Ito was standing over Kyro’s brother with dominant superiority. It seemed grim, but Tabastian suddenly moved, taking advantage of Ito’s expressive ignorance. He charged and rammed the man, head-butting him straight to the gut. Ito let out a winded gasp, dropping his sword, as the force flung him backward.

Melanie smirked briefly at the well-deserved blow. She had begun to feel dizzy. Little spots danced in her vision and her limbs ached in protest.

Back on land, yelling had intensified as a group of soldiers also now made their way down the embankment. Even with it difficult to see, Melanie recognised King Kerbahn immediately as he led the party. Tabastian’s friend had also returned. His silhouette was anxiously watching from the top of the hill. Some additional soldiers were preventing him from following the reinforcements coming to aid.

Ito raised his arms to surrender as he was instantly surrounded by soldiers. King Kerbahn barely glanced at the detainee and headed straight for the drowning children instead. He carefully ran atop the thickest parts of solid lake, adjusting his steps when the layers underfoot threatened to crumble under his weight.

As Kyro’s father approached. Melanie could hear the enthusiastic crackle as ice threatened to deteriorate further still from his additional mass.

Kerbahn heard it too and he purposely lowered himself. He ripped his wing braces free, then outstretched said wings to distribute his weight more evenly atop the unpredictable surface. Melanie felt a gust on her wet face as the massive white appendages flapped downwards into position. Kerbahn’s expression was determined, but additionally fuelled by the adrenaline of fear for his endangered son. He reached for Melanie as she shakily attempted to hoist herself up onto the unreliable ice with her elbows. She slipped against the slush, but Kerbahn’s hands gripped under her shoulders and he heaved her upwards.

Finally, with Melanie’s strength depleted, and now struggling to breathe, she felt herself being dragged out of the freezing depths. The seconds in that water had felt like forever and the relief of it being over brought tears of overwhelm to her eyes.

Melanie greedily sucked in the clear night air as Kerbahn held his son close, in turn along with Melanie as Kyro refused to detach from her. Kyro’s nails dug hard against her currently goosebump-ridden skin. His breathing was a consistent mixture of loud gasps and wheezes and he trembled from much more than the shock of the cold.

Melanie did not look back as they left the deathly hole in the ice behind them. She let out a shaky sigh as her body drooped against the dry, warm person who had rescued them.

King Kerbahn’s arms were full trying to support both the young children as he walked. Ito glared at the sight as the king went to pass the now-restrained assailant. Anger still simmered on his face.

“One day you won’t be able to protect him.” Ito sneered with malice. Kyro flinched at the sound of the man’s voice and dug his face further into his father’s shoulder. His fingers twitched against his hold on Melanie. Ito scared Melanie too, but she hugged her friend tightly to reassure him.

“One day he won’t need me to protect him. He’ll be able to kick your arse all on his own.” King Kerbahn spat back at him.Melanie was inclined to stick her tongue out at Ito for extra effect, but could not manage it through her chattering teeth.

“Keep him, and any traders he came with, under arrest until I feel like dealing with them.” The king instructed the men and women under his command.

“Even though Lord Ito was the only perpetrator?” one brave soldier piqued.

“Attempting to end my son will not be taken lightly. Anyone here that could be associated with Ito will be thoroughly interrogated, and punished accordingly. ” With his face darkened from the low light, along with the anger in his voice, King Kerbahn was almost as scary as Ito. “Now move quickly, before they flee back to the west.”

With his soldiers slinking away to do as commanded, Kerbahn then turned to his older son. Tabastian had positioned himself to rest against the same large rock Melanie and Kyro had been milling around earlier. At his father approached him he respectfully stood to greet him. He was looking relatively dishevelled from his fight, with his hair tousled loose and his clothing scuffed with dirt. He held a firm hand over a gauze on his cheek. Blotches of blood had seeped crimson through it. Melanie was replaceing it queasy to look at.

“Tabastian-”

“-I’ll manage, father.” Tabastian noticed his father regarding his injury and cut the king off before he could continue. “Your attention is needed elsewhere right now.”

The grisliness of the boy’s wound was revealed as he lowered the bandage to drape the thick coat, Melanie her thrown off earlier, around her and Kyro. Tabastian carefully tucked it against the two shivering children tightly to conceal in the warmth. His face relaxed into a smile as he regarded his brother, relieved that he was safe.

Tabastian tugged lengths of Kyro’s damp black hair free from being trapped against the added fabric. Kyro did not react or raise his head at his older brother’s touch. And Melanie wasn’t sure she could force words out just yet to say thank you. So she lightly patted the top of Tabastian’s stained red hand and tried to smile through her blue lips instead.