Samule Shumard

Samuel

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Primates

Suborder: Haplorhini

Infraorder: Simiiformes

Family: Hominidae

Tribe: Hominini

Clade: Homo Eos

Genus: E. Stymphalian

Common names: Skysailor

Sam is a 19 year old skysailor struggling to keep a job. He's low on funds because of school, so instead of proper flight equipment he's stuck using second hand boots with claws that lock up on the regular, a mildly heavy jacket that could protect him a little, a motorcycle helmet with a flight visor wired in, and the cheapest metal warclaws he's ever seen.
At least he has a nice camera and two different lenses for it!

The stymphalian people have a reputation for being war hardened badasses. Kids are taught to fight from an early age, and it's generally expected that skysailors will take the frightening jobs that no one else wants. They have bladed wings rather then feathered wings and use them for defense (wing blades are bullet proof), they are almost always skilled fighters, and are generally excellent marksmen. 

Samuel's not really into the whole fighting thing though. He's a wildlife photographer. 

This is set in a headworld of mine where the world has collapsed and regrown twice. At this point there is stuff like magic, dragons, and technology all existing at once. 
This was a just junk that I played around with while I was sick, but I hecked up and fell in love with the characters -Sam and Sonii in particular-
Nothing makes sense, it's almost as unpredictable as Alice in Wonderland. Be ready for manticores, ghosts, dragons, photography, and really small (and rude) people. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but it's a thing I love, so here it is!

What I've written of it anyway...

(A fateful encounter)

“Sam?!”
Sam looked up to find a tall woman with dark hair and icy eyes stopped in front of him. She turned to face him with a weird look on her face. “Why are you here? Are you okay?”
He leaned away, a little frightened of the stranger. “Excuse me, I'm not sure we've met?”
"Oh," She glanced around and her voice got quiet for a second, “we have, I just wasn't on two legs at the time. You darted me, remember?”
Sam's eyes lit up. The manticore!
She picked back her normal volume as if she hadn't just revealed some dark secret. “I'm Maria, I used to be on the pathogen team here! never anything to do with humans though. A shame!”
Sam stood up and offered her a hand to shake. “A pleasure to meet you in person then!”

Maria started to take it, then saw the scuff marks on his wings. “Good gods, that gryphon really did a number on you.” Her hand passed his and went straight to the edge of his wing.
He held still and let her examine it. “You heard about that huh.”
“Everyone's been talking about it. I wish I was there, I'd like to see him face something his own size!” She let go of his wing and grinned down at him. “I hear you put up quite a fight on your own though, huh!”
“Yeah, I lost my job over it.”
“Oh, I'm sorry Sam.”
“It's okay I guess, I was kinda scared of my boss anyway. There was something shady going on there.”
She nodded. “Indeed. What are you going to do now then? Are you going to be okay?”
“Yeah, I'll figure something out.”
“You'd be looking for another photography job, wouldn't you?”
“If I can find one. They're hard to come by though, so I might just go back to the family business.”

“You know, you're tougher then you look... Would you feel comfortable of spending an extended amount of time on a boat with a large kitty?”
“You? No, why?”
“I've got an unusual project.” She reached in a back pocket and pulled out a card, “A group of people who need some protection and documenting,” then paused. “Do you have a camera?”
“No, the one I used belonged to my boss.”
“I'll get you one.”
“Wh-What!?”
“If you want it of course.”
“I do!”
“Good!” She handed him the card. “Let this whole thing blow over, and call me if you want to know more.” 

Maria started to walk away. Sam grabbed her sleeve, “Wait a second! Was Ruth okay? I was pulled away before I could make sure...”
She smiled. “He's fine. Oh, and you're little feat of bravery got you a protection order by the way. We're all looking out for you now.” She patted his shoulder, “Maybe I'll talk to you soon? Either way, take care Sam! I've gotta go check on my boyfriend.”, and disappeared into the ER crowd.

Sam stood there is a weird daze for a moment. It's not every day someone was given got a protection order from a community of monsters.
He looked down at Maria's card and grinned. Waiting would be hard. 

(Sam and Jabatus share 1 collective braincell) 

The ruckus found it's way in. Jabatus burst through the doorway, panting and franticly reloading a nerf gun.
Maria moaned from behind her laptop. "Why are you doing this so early..."
"SHH no! I'm not here."
She watched him reload, feeling tired and moldy irritated.
The radio crackled beside her. "-Sam to Maria?"
Jabatus looked up from his gun with mock fear. "No no no, Maria-"
A smile crept across her face and she picked it up. "He's in here, Sam."
"You traitor!" Jabatus bolted out of the room, grinning. 

That left Maria alone to cackle to herself and drink her coffee in peace.
Outside there was a flurry of tiny thuds as foam darts bounced off every surface, then an overly dramatic scream, then the boat rocked and a splash echoed off the hull.
She frowned.
'That's... Mildly concerning...' 
She got up slowly, taking her mug with her. 

Outside Sam was leaning over the edge, almost incomprehensible through his laughter.
"He... He... over the side - !"
"I'm sorry, what?" Maria leaned over with him to find Jabatus treading water and laughing just as hard. "Oh my gods. Did you jump or fall?",
"I JUMPED!"
"YOU FELL!"
"I can't believe you two." She pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of him. "Pick up all these darts... Please."

(Somehow even less braincells)

"Alright, Plego doesn't know anything, but he does know a gryph who can maybe point us in the right dir-",
Maria's train of thought derailed as her eyes fell on her fearless partner and his second in command, who were both sitting on in the dirt with wet sand completely covering their legs.
Jabatus was shaping his leg sand to look like a fish tail, and Sam had elaborate drip castles growing from his knees. Both both had somehow gotten absolutely filthy in the few minutes she'd been gone.

They looked up suddenly like kids who'd been caught stealing candy. Sam pointed at Jabatus, "He's a mermaid.", As if that was explanation enough.

"... I can see that."
Jabatus grinned, "I don't know what Sam is, but look!", and held up something small shiny. "I found a seashell!"

Maria shook her head, bewildered. "Where did you get the sand??"
"We covered Sam's wings on the beach and I drug him."
She doubted that answer at first, them noticed the sticks and leaves stuck in Sam's hair.
"You realize Sam's on the clock right now, right? You're paying him to play with dirt."
Jabatus looked back to Sam with that stupid grin on his face - the same stupid grin that had harassed gods and monsters only a year ago. Watching it make an appearance over something as simple as sand made her heart do funny things.

"If we combine our sand, I bet you could bury me"
Sam glanced back up at her. "Wait, is there anything important that I should be doing?"
Defeated, Maria threw up her hands. "Nothing from me. When you're on land, you're his employee, not mine."
"Oh. Cool!" He broke out of his drip castles and started shoving his sand over to Jabatus.
Despite herself, she chuckled at them. "Well when you two are done, I'd like to fill you in about the magic, Jabatus."
"Yes of course!" He broke out of his fish tail and started digging a hole to be buried in. "You could fill me in now, if you want?"
"I don't think I could hold a serious conversation with you right now. You two have fun."

(F in the chat)

-Maria to Sam!- Maria panicked through the radio.
"Go ahead."
-What on earth do you think you are doing?! Get down here before that thing eats you!!-
"I've done this before, I'll be okay!"
-oh my gods, Sam so help me!-
"If it stays for very long it's going to wreck the boat, and probably the island! Don't worry Maria, I can outfly a roc any day. I'll lead him into the storm and get him stuck in the eye, It'll be fine!"
There was a pause. He knew this wasn't a better option, and his boss was starting to realize it.
-I can fight it off-
"Not from the ground you can't."
-... Gods.... Sam... Please be careful-
"I will."
Sam turned off his radio as the bird came into view. It was walking along the beach like a dinosaur, stalking islanders hidden in the thick woods.

His heart pounded, but he didn't slow down. Sam dipped into a stoop, his wings whistling and his warclaws balled into prickly metal fists. He came in at just the right angle to pull out of it above the roc. This was an important tactic all skysailors learned. Always stay above your target.

Sam slammed his claws into the back of the bird's head. He knew it wasn't enough force to kill, but would sure hurt.
Feathers flew. The roc screamed it's complaint and took to the air after him - Rows of pseudo teeth and barbed talons riding on some of the fastest wings nature ever built. 

He had it's attention, now he had to keep it.

(Smol rude people)

He didn't look asleep this time. Sonii watched him for a moment before finally gathering her confidence. "You're awake, aren't you."
The god was still, but a quiet response escaped him. "I didn't want to scare you, but I need help." He slowly started to move. She stepped back and watched suspiciously as the god reached a clawed hand out and set it palm up on the ground in front of her. Sonii almost turned and walked away, but blood stains drew her attention. They ran through the fabric on his palm, and the metal piece that joined his claws to the glove was broken, it's sharp edge stuck down into the god's hand.
"Oh, that's gross!" Sonii leaned closer to gawk at the wound. "How'd you do that?"
"I have no idea. This is why claws shouldn't be metal."
She set a hand on the claw closest to her and gently pushed it aside to get a better look. The god winched, but his hand stayed limp.
"Ow..." He whispered.
"Sorry." Sonii looked up and watched his face, still suspicious. "Let me see your other hand."
He shifted his weight and pulled an unclawed hand out from under himself, then fell perfectly still again.
"Where's the other glove?"
"On my belt."
"... Alright," She pulled out her knife. "I'll help you, but - Look at me-"
He opened his eyes and she waved it at him to make her point. "You're going to close your eyes, you're going to keep them closed until I'm done, and if you move your hand's gonna look a lot worse then this, understand?"
He closed his eyes. "Yea."
"Good."
"I'm not going to eat you."
"I don't know that."

Sonii inspected his hand. "I think I need to cut the fabric."
"That'd be a shame."
"Well maybe I can fix it. I have a needle at home..." She wedged her knife between fabric seems and warped metal. "If you move I'll stab you, god."
"I know, and you can call me Sam."
Sonii stopped what she was doing and looked up. "Sam? That is the least gody name I've ever heard."
"Pff, thanks I guess?" He laughed quietly, and somehow even his laugh felt ungodly.
She smiled a little and went back to cutting. "My name's Sonii."
"Nice to meet you, Sonii."

(In which Sonii defeats a dragon)

The dragon drug her down, it's jaws wrapped around her chest and it's teeth sinking into her. Sonii could hear the old god's voice in her head as she freed her knife from her belt.
"A dragon's weakest point is their eyes."

She whipped it around and stabbed at the creature's eye. Her reach came up short and her knife bounced off the scales under it's eyelid. Sonii shoved her arm in it's mouth and drove the blade into the dragon's gums. Blood clouded the water as the creature recoiled, but it didn't let go. It whipped it's head from side to side and bit down harder. What little air she had was forced out of her chest. Sonii's lungs burned and her head started to feel light. The sounds of ribs popping echoed in the gloom but she didn't feel it. She worked her knife out and tried for an eye again.

She would have hit it perfectly had the thing not blinked. The dragon's jaw muscles worked again in response, and it drug her through the muck at the bottom this time. Sonii squeezed her eyes shut as mud and roots slammed into her. Sand raked her arms and her knife was snatched away. The dragon readjusted it's grip and crushed what few ribs weren't broken. Sonii hopelessly shoved at it's teeth as the world started to spin. She hardly noticed as an explosive sound shook the water.

She woke up vomiting water. Her lungs burned and pain exploded through her ribs with each hurl. The ground still felt like it was rocking and Sonii was only dimly aware of the cacophony happening around her.
Something big hit the ground a little too close for comfort. The back of Sonii's mind remembered the sense of urgency she'd had moments before.
'I have to get up'
She grit her teeth, squeezed her eyes shut, and slowly pushed herself up. She was met with her own reflection, soaked in muck and struggling to hold herself up, staring back from one of Sam's boot claws. All at once the ringing in her ears stopped and the world came rushing back.

Sam was shouting some curses Sonii had never heard. His claws dug up mud and clay as he was drug back to the water. The dragon's mouth was wrapped around his wrist and it's talons were raking his arms. He pushed his boots further into the ground and twisted it's snout with his free hand, but the dragon's teeth were thoroughly anchored. It shook him and pulled again. Sam lost his balance and fell forward into the water.
Sonii panicked. He could have fought it off easily if he had his warclaws. Why wasn't he wearing them?
She glanced around the shoreline and found them laying in a pile under the trees, along with his camera bag. Off coarse they were- he couldn't see under water with his helmet, and he could have hurt her with the claws. He'd taken them off to save her.

Suddenly Sonii was on her feet. The pain in her chest was gone, the world was crystal clear, and her knife was back in her hand.

(That's right, you are being a jerk Sonii)

Sonii lay across the top of the trunk, starring up at the reflections his wings cast on the celling. A lens cloth was wrapped around her shoulders and bunched up under her head, and her splinted leg hung off the side, which was slightly more comfortable than laying it flat.
The days events played in her head over and over again. The loop restarted, even as she closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
Dragon teeth clamped down on her leg, the murky sea floor rose up to slam into her, and Sam tried to fend the dragon off.

The thing had drug her pretty far out to sea before he stopped it. He must have flown on his wounded wing... and that must have hurt.

As many times as she watched it happen, Sonii couldn't understand why he'd saved her, and it bothered her. 
Why would a god go to so much trouble? He hadn't known about her magic, he couldn't possibly have thought she was worth bleeding for? What if he had some secret plan? 
He couldn't possibly care that much. 
She wanted to believe that he did, but old memories ate away at her. The gods were nasty ruthless people, she couldn't trust any of them.

Sam's wings twitched as he slept. Their movement made the space light up as if magic was crawling up the walls. She smiled and wondered if he was flying in his dream. 

The memory kept playing. Her magic failed, Sam tried to catch her, and with a pang of guilt she watched herself drag her knife through Sam's hand.
His voice rang in her head. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you, but Sonii you're bleeding! I can't leave you here!
She was sure she screamed something back at him, but she couldn't remember what. Probably something mean.

He didn't want to eat her. He would have done it right there and then if so. His motivation had to be something else, something clearly more awful.
That's just how gods were.
      I'm trying to help you, you're my friend!
That couldn't be true. Why would a god who could fly want to be friends with a lesser? And besides, gods didn't have friends, they had allies.
But what if it was? What if she had been misinterpreting his actions this whole time?
Doubtful. Sonii knew gods pretty well. There must have been something she was missing. Surly he'd slipped up at some point.
She finally abandoned the loop and dug through every interaction she'd had with Sam. Something, anything that might reveal his true intentions. Anything... Godly...

She found nothing. Instead her brain came to rest on her memory of that first hurricane - How he'd walked her to safety, held a wing over her head in the rain, and came back to help clear debris off the trail afterwards. She thought about how after that night he was almost always waiting on the beach for her in the morning. How he always kept his distance, but stayed close enough to shoo away sea birds or help her catch sand fleas.
How after the second hurricane, he's come to her for help.
And until today, he'd never tried to pick her up.
     Maybe my best friend?

Suddenly Sam didn't seem so complicated. The old voice was screaming about all the awful things the gods had done to her, but it didn't seem to apply anymore.
     I guess that's up to you. 

Her eyes stung and threatened tears. Sonii looked at the wing blades next to her, shining pale blue in the moonlight.
     "I'm sorry Sam. I'll be a better friend tomorrow." 

(Sonii, meet Jabatus - Jabatus, meet Sonii)

“Have you seen anything odd recently?” He gestured to her splint.
“Go away.”
“I will, in a sec, but... Where'd you get that fabric? It's pretty thick... And neon...”
“Mind your business.” She started to limp down the path, hoping he wouldn't follow.
The stranger hurried after her. “That didn't come from this island, did it?”
“Neither did you, bird man.”
“Oh my gods. Okay, maybe I didn't lasso a bird, but I promise I'll leave if you just tell me just where you found that fabric-”
Her voice got sharp. “Excuse me? You're going to leave regardless and I mean it.”
“Wow, do you solve all your problems with that attitude?”
“I'm about to go from attitude to action in about ten seconds if you don't back off!”
“Okay! Fine, listen, I'm just looking for a friend who's in trouble!”
“That's not my problem.”
"Actually, I think it might be. Have you seen a god with wings?”
She skidded to a stop. He caught up to her and turned his attention back to her splint. "Is that a paperclip? Oh my gods,"  He doubled over laughing, “You've seen him alright!”
Sonii glared at him. Maybe she didn't want to encourage the stranger, but Sam did need help... 

(Siblings be like)

"Do did I miss anything interesting while I was gone?"
Sam sat at the table, watching Milvus mop the front porch. He wanted to help her clean, but she'd refused his help multiple times. 
"Not much." She didn't look up from the floor, but she seemed grateful for company. "I mean, you missed us all looking for you, of course." 
"You guys looked for me?" 
"Yeah. Maria had a theory that the storm might have brought you back to our shoreline, so we spent a lot of time out there looking for you. I'm glad we didn't find you though. If the storm had washed you this far, you'dve been dead." 
"Oh." Sam suddenly felt guilty again. 
Milvus could tell. "Don't do that, none of it was your fault." 
"I guess..." 

"Sam, I was so worried. I'm really glad your okay." 
The tight rope smacked against the floor with a familiar *thwap* sound and interrupted them. Sam looked up to see Heron stepping up onto the porch. He was covered from head to toe in ash and mud, and he was shedding it like a wet dog with every step. 
He walked right across Milvus' clean floor, flopped down on the other side of the table, kicked his feet up, and tipped his chair back. 

"Hey guys." He took off his hat and stuck it over his face, planning to take a nap right there. 

Milvus looked ready to light something on fire. "Heron..." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her voice was calm - "I just cleaned this floor..."
"Sorry."
"You don't sound sorry. Are you gonna fix it?"
"Maybe later."
"Please do it now. And then maybe go shower."
"Make me."
Milvus' calm façade cracked. She rolled the mop and bucket over to him as if to mop up his mess. Heron sat there, aloof and unaware as she propped the mop against the table next to him, then lifted the bucket over his head and dumped about 2 gallons of grayish floor water over him.
He leapt up, "Gods damnit Mill! You think you can just-"
She snatched him up by the collar of his muddy shirt, her sharp teeth barred. Sam jumped over the table and wedged himself between them.
"Guys stop! Mill let him go! Mom's gonna be pissed if she gets home and you guys are fighting!"
Milvus growled. "It'll be over by then!"
Heron never knew when to shut up. "Your not as scary as you think! I'll-"
"Guys NO!"
Heron reached for the mop to use as a weapon. Sam snatched it from him and picked up his big voice. "QUIT! Mill let him go, Heron clean your DIRT!"
They glared at each other for a moment. After some sort of silent agreement she released him, and he took the mop from Sam.  

"Anyway, we missed you, Sam."

(My god I friggin love these two)

"I can't move until you get up." 
She opened an eye and looked up at him. "So don't move."
"Sonii, I have things to do."
"Mm. Like sit there?"
"... I could pick you up and move you if you don't get off my foot."
 
How dare he threaten to pick her up. She moaned dramatically, slowly rolled off his boot, and crumpled to the floor.
"Oh the drama. Do you want some coffee?" Sam stood up with an "Oof" sound and carefully stepped around her.
She listened to his clawed boots click away to the kitchen. "I want some sleep." 

The coffee maker turned on and the sounds of dishes being washed vibrated across the wood planks. "Please don't fall asleep on the floor."
"Don't step on me."
"No! Get up!"
"You can't stop me."
"But I'm making you coffee!"
"Mhm."
"And you're gonna get cold down there!"
She decided to ignore him. There was a quiet sigh from the kitchen, and a moment later Sam's claws came clicking back. He dug through his camera bag, then his backpack, then a lens cloth fell over her shoulders and Sam carefully tucked it around her. "Don't freeze... And I'm drinking all the coffee."

(that's right get WRECKED)


Sonii felt heavy footsteps vibrate up the staircase. She didn't bother to look up. "Over here, Sam."
Instead of Sam, a hollow, gritty voice responded. "Well I'll be dammed. Hello Sonii."
Her blood ran cold. The voice brought horrible old memories bubbling back to the surface.
     "Funny meeting you all the way out here, isn't it?"
The top step creaked.
Sonii had dealt with him before, and she could do it again. She spun around for a glance at his hands -make sure the hands are empty, then run- and froze.
A disheveled old god stood at the top of the steps. He had looked middle aged once, but without islander magic he had begin to age unevenly. His skin was cracked and loose, and all of his old wounds were opening back up. 

Edgar watched her panic and grinned. It made her skin craw.
He took a labored step forward. "I guess this must be my luck! Or maybe your karma, ha!"

Her eyes darted down to his right hand. Where there had once been four fingers, there were now broken stumps. The scar tissue was scabby and deteriorating, and the god picked at it as he took another step.
Sonii rattled herself out of her daze and glanced around the room. It was devoid of obstacles aside from the crafting table. Terrible cover, but was the best she could do. She darted under it and pressed her back to the wall. 

He laughed. She watched his boots come closer and patted her thigh to check that her knife was still there. It was, but what good was it going to do against an experienced god?

~

"Fix your wings Sam!"
Sam pulled a defensive wing up to far and lost his balance. He moved to fix his stance before his opponent closed the distance, decided it was to late, and tried to dodge the attack. Heron twisted a mid stride and stayed right with him.
The brothers collided. Heron's momentum sent them backwards, toppling foam targets and empty soda cans. The older skysailor pinned him with a knee and laughed. "I mean, at least you finally hit a target!"

Milvus pulled him off and helped Sam up. "No guns, it doesn't count- and be nice." She brushed dirt and chunks of foam off Sam's jacket. "Stop trying to dodge him, okay? Confidence, Sam, stand your ground. "
He straightened his jacket with shaking hands. Anxiety and frustration were getting to him. "I wasn't ready, and he's so much heavier then me!"
"And that won't matter once you're balanced. If I can stop him, so can you. Come on, let's try again."  
"Can I watch you do it once?"
She smiled a little. "So you can avoid beating Heron up?"
"No! I mean... well I don't think..."

"Okay." Milvus took his spot. "Remember, you aren't trying to stop him with this wing, you're just keeping anything in his hands from hitting you. If he does contact, deflect him over you. Don't lock up... Heron, are you coming or not? What are you doing?"
Heron stood seemingly glued in place, glancing at the ground, the targets, the trees- anything but Milvus. He suddenly didn't look so tough. "Heck Mil, just don't break my knee, okay?"
"Don't come at me like an idiot and I won't."
"Can I at least try to hit you with a stick?"
She shrugged. "Sure."
He chuckled, glanced around for a suitable stick, and bum rushed her.

Milvus' body snapped into a defensive stance. She shifted her weight forward, struck out with one foot, kicked a knee out from under Heron as he got close, then reset.
Heron fell, his stick broke against her wing, and his momentum flung him face first into the grass at her feet.
She stood back up. "Is your knee broken?"
Heron groaned, "Just my pride...", and got up a bit more slowly this time.
"Nice." She looked back up to Sam. "What do you think, ready to try again?"
"I..." He shivered. "I don't ever want to do that to another person."
"I know buddy, but one day you might have to."
"If we had claws on..."
"Yeah, it would be pretty bloody."
"Why wouldn't I just fly away?"
Milvus traded spots with him. "Maybe you're protecting someone."
Heron snorted. "Better call the ambulance then."
She snatched up part of his broken stick and threw it at him. "Be nice!"
He ducked it, laughing. "Sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Now, let me see that stance."
Sam bent his knees a little.
"Picture the kitchen tiles. Two squares out, one square back."
He moved a foot accordingly.
"There you go. Establish your base."
He bent his knees again.
Milvus shoved him. He didn't budge. "There it is! Fix your wings."
One wing came up and the other stretched back.
"Good! Now let's try again."

~

     Edgar's feet came into view. "Go ahead, run! Let's see how far you-"
He was cut off as a wash of flowing purple slid between them. Sam's wing tips left gouges in the floor and she heard the familiar snap of his warclaws clamping into place.
His voice was suddenly big and harsh. "Excuse me, can I help you?"
Her heart dropped. 
No Sam! 
This was a real god. Sonii could feel her pulse in her palms as she struggled to think through her panic.
Edgar was going to tear him apart.

The god glared. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Sam. A pleasure to meet you! Please leave."
He scoffed. The scrape of a knife leaving it's sheath echoed in the little room. "Get out of my way."
Sam stepped on his heels, his boot claws locked down, and his stance changed. "No."
The god lunged. Sonii clamped her eyes shut and braced herself for the worst.
Something shattered. There was a heavy thud as a body hit the ground.
Curses were screamed into the small space, and Sam's voice rose over them.
"STAY DOWN!"
Sonii's head snapped up in surprise and she looked up to find Sam's boots still guarding the table.

The claws in front of her were bent and bloody. Bits and pieces of the god's knife scattered the room, and he was lying on the floor, holding a ruined knee.
Sam's stance relaxed slightly. He knelt down and glanced under the table at her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay!" She ran to his arm and grabbed his sleeve. "You can pick me up now!"

(Lizards, lizards everywhere)

"Hey Mil, do you have a few minutes?... I'm fine! Everything's fine, it's just uh, would you mind talking to Sonii?... Yeah..... I'm helping her with some anxiety, and she looks like you in a car. Do you think you could talk her through it?... Sure!... Thank you! I'll put you on speakerphone."
He set the device down in the sand next to them. "Go ahead, say hi."
 
Sonii couldn't get her throat open to speak.
"Sonii?"
She lifted a hand and managed a tiny wave at the device.
"She can't see you, you have to talk." Sam's voice was so calm and quiet. She felt stupid for locking up, but that didn't stop images of his fingers snapping shut from flashing through her mind.

"That's okay," a female voice cut though her panic, "Hi Sonii! I'm Milvus. It's cool to finally meet you, Sam talks about you all the time. He said you're having a little anxiety?"
Sonii choked back a sob and tried to use her whole voice. "Y-ye-eah kinda-"
"I understand what you are going through, that happens to me every time I strap into a car. I turn into a snotty mess."
Even through the device, she could hear Milvus' smile, "I know a few tricks though, can I tell you?"
"Yes pl-ease."
"Sounds like you can't breath."
Sonii opened her mouth to talk, but only managed a loud sniff.
"Okay first things first, deep breaths. I know that's what everyone says when people cry, but it's true. If you can get your breathing under control, you can get your brain to start working again."
She tried to take a deep breath and made a shaky sob instead.
Sam patted her shoulder. "Try again, you can do this."
She tried again. This time she got a little more air, and made an embarrassing squeak as her throat tried to close.

"That sounded good! Okay the real question. Where are you?"
"In Sam-m's hand, on the gr-ound."
"Oh, he told me you don't like being picked up."
"Y-yeah."
"You're imagining horrible stuff happening, aren't you?"
"yeah."
"I do that too. But where are you?"
"I-n Sam's hand? O-on the ground?"
"Exactly, and are you in danger?"
"N-no."
"I'd sure hope not. I think the only people in danger around Sam are weirdos who don't like hugs."
Sonii managed a teary smile.
"You guys are all the way down in the keys, right?"
Sam nodded. "Right."
"It's below freezing up here right now, I bet it's pretty cold down there too."
"It's p-retty cold."
"I bet Sam's hella warm."
"Y-yeah I guess so..."
"You know we get really bad cold snaps up here, and this one time when we were kids-"
Sam groaned. "Not the lizard story..."
"Shut up I'm telling her the lizard story!
 
"We have these little lizards that lived all over our old house, and ever year when a cold snap happens they all freeze and fall out of the trees, and when we were kids Sam liked to pick them up and carry them around with us all day to keep them warm..."
"I make one mistake-"
"No shush! Anyway one year we had a really nasty cold snap, and Sam- I think you were like, ten? Nine or ten, I don't remember- Sam went outside way early in the morning to feed the birds, but he took a while to come back in, and then when he did he crawled up on the couch and went back to sleep, so Heron and I just kind of let him, you know? Well when mom woke up she got mad at us for letting him go back to sleep, and she went to take off his jacket so he wouldn't overheat, and I swear to gods fifty freaking lizards-"
Sam snorted, and Milvus was suddenly unintelligible over her own cackle. "Lizards everywhere!"
"It was twelve!"
"It was more then twelve, Sam!"
"I never even left the platform, how would I find fifty lizards?"
"There were lizards in the bathroom!" 

Through her tears, Sonii giggled. 

(Slightly less rude)

“Are you ready?”
“Yeah...” Sonii wasn't ready at all. Her heart was pounding and her hands shook.
Sam must have noticed. He loosened his grip a little and paused. “I'm not gonna eat you.”
She looked up at him and grinned. “I know.”
“We can wait, if you want?”
“No I'll be okay.”
“So brave.”
Sonii laughed and her heart slowed down a bit. “Shut up and fly already!”
He pulled down his visor, but she could tell he was grinning too. “Okay then.”

Sam rocked back on his heels and everything seemed to slow down for a moment. His wings swayed back and unfolded with his momentum, his boot claws locked down, and she heard the radio in his helmet buzz to life. Sonii normally would have panicked, but she suddenly felt calm. This was Sam, after all. 

Then they shot forward. Calm or not, she wasn't ready. Sonii squeezed her eyes shut and dug her fingers into the edge of his glove. When she opened them again they were far above the ocean and still rising. Wind wiped through her hair and whistled between Sam's blades with each wing beat. She watched the waves shrink and listened to he's wings whistle until her adrenaline wore off.  

He leveled out and his wings slowed to a glide as both radios buzzed.
“-Maria to Sam-”
Sam started to respond and the radio on his belt screeched. He cringed and reached down with his free hand to switched it off. “Sam, go ahead.”
“-I know this is sort of last minute but do you think you can get the whole island in one shot before it gets dark?-”
“I can try. Any particular angle?”
“-Nah, Jabatus just wants a reference-”
“I'll see what I can do.”
“-Also keep in mind this time that I can see everything on your camera card-” Even through the radio she could hear the humor in Maria's voice.
“If you are referring to the selfie, I guarantee you I had nothing to do with that.”
“-Is Sonii with you?-”
“Yep.”
“-Tell her I said thank you for the picture-”
“Please don't encourage her!”
“-Alright, be careful Sam-”
“I will.”
Listening to them talk was oddly comforting. If nether Maria nor Sam were terribly concerned, then maybe she didn't need to be either. Sonii's muscles relaxed and she let go of his glove. 

(Sam just making friends with the biggest baddest stuff out there.)

Sam burst into the room, his wings puffed up and a wild grin on his face. “SONII! You wanna see a sea serpent?!”
“What?”
“There's a sea serpent!”
“Oh my gods what?! Why??”
“Oh no no, he's a friendly serpent!” Sam grabbed her sleeve and started to lead her out of the cabin. 

Maria spoke up from behind her computer. “ Hey, Sam?”
He skidded to a stop.
“Are you sure it's friendly? Because last time...” 

“Oh yes, of coarse, he's a monitor! Monitors and skysailors have always been friendly.” 

“Aside from the one on the island?” 

“Well... yes.”

“Okay, be careful.”

He drug Sonii out onto the stern and to the railing, then pointed down at the surf. “Look!”
Sonii gripped the railing tight and cautiously looked down at the water. She couldn't see anything at first, just blue waves and white foam. Surly if it was anything like the dragons back home she would be able to see it? Sam was able to snatch one out of the water from hundreds of feet above- 

A smooth pointy snout broke the waves and rose into the air beside the boat. It came to eye level and whistled at them, showing off rows of sharp curved teeth, and sank back into the water. Sonii stood frozen.
“Isn't he cool?!”
He was big enough to eat the dragons back home.

Sam leaned over the railing a whistled at the water. The serpent rose to the surface again and whistled back.
He grinned harder, “His name's Tarpon!”
“You named it!?”
“No no, that's his name! Serpents are like people. They speak in clicks and whistles, but if your fluent in sirena you can figure it out.” 

“You... talk to serpents.”
“Yes! That's my job, remember?”
Sonii looked back and forth between Sam and the monster. “I'm not sure I fully understood your job.” 

(When Sonii is actually nice)

She found Sam laying on his back in the grass with his wings tucked close. 

“How's your wing?”
Sam didn't move. “Oh it's okay actually, I just needed to get away from my cousins.”
“I thought so.” She sat down beside him. “Are you okay?”
“I'll be fine. You don't have to stay with me though, you should go back.”
“Pff, no.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I talked to Maria about skysailors, she said your a different species of human and that your brains work weirdly. She also said you really don't like being alone, like, ever - and I guess that kinda make sense when I think about how sad you were on the island at first.” She took off her jacket and balled it up to use as a pillow, then flopped down beside him. “So I'll stay.”

Play list~

Owl City - Alligator Sky

Owl City - To the Sky

OneRepublic – Connection

AJR - BANG!

AJR - Wow, I'm Not Crazy