Part Two

Her Broken Wings (Part Two)
by Phoebe Lee Mathius

"Have you lost your sanity?"

"C'mon, Liv! There's a whole new world to explore! The lush greens, the birds, and ooohh, the streams..."

"But we already have a River here in the Courts, Shy! What more are you looking for? Surely you cannot be thirsty?"

"You're missing the point, Liv! Of course I'm not thirsty! I'm just looking for a little excitement and adventure, that's what! You know, play a little with danger. Get our adrenalines pumping!"

"But we are forbidden to leave the Courts. The Lordship has warned us that it is not safe. Only He and His troops venture out that gate - to defeat our adversaries; those who threaten our kingdom. Stepping out there means stepping into enemy territory! In here, we are protected."

"Oh, alright. How about we just hover over the forest? Nothing could possibly happen."

"Shyne, please..."

"Well, fine! If you won't come with me, I'll just go alone!"

"Shy! I beg you, don't go! .... SHYNE!"

Snap.

She winced. She had stepped onto a twig. Her bare feet were now covered in splatters of mud and dried blood. Her long hair was matted down in sweat. Her face bore scratches and scars from the many times she had fallen in pain-- the open gash on her back was taking its toll. The sky was still no where in sight. She had no bearing of where she was.

And as she inched her way in the dark, her mind began throwing wild accusations.

"Why does the Lordship have windows in the palace - if not to tempt us?"

"And that sorry excuse of a guard! Why didn't he stop me at the gates? Careless fool!"

"And Liv.....This is all your fault! I hate you with a passion! If only you had come with me, this wouldn't have happened!"

She grit her teeth and tightened her fist in rage.

"This is all your fault, Liv...all your.."

She couldn't finish. She knew she had no one else to blame but herself. She dropped to the ground; the wound in her heart overshadowed the agony she felt in her body.

"My Lord, save me!" she wailed.

"Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord!" Psalm 130:1

She was only replied with deafening silence.

"Oh, why didn't I listen to you, Liv?

...Why?"

On the muddy floor of the forest, Shyne curled up in fetal position - sobbing and singing herself to sleep.

"I walked one morning at the dawn
When bits of night, still lingered on
I sought my star...
but it was gone.

It's a long road to freedom,
a winding steep and high
but when you walk in love
with the wind on your wing
And cover the earth
with the songs you sing,
The miles fly by."

-Unknown