Submission (#978) Approved

+4 shards (prompt)
+5 shards (501 words)

+1 eth shards (prompt)
+5 eth shards (double master ribbon)

: +9 shards, +6 eth shards

----

The food dwindled over time, both Remiel and Alorus nibbling on their bits quietly as they watched the festival wind down for the day. After all, it was not nearly as safe to fly at night, in the increasing darkness as it was in the daylight, though a few did still do it effortlessly.

"So," Alorus shoved the last bit of food into his maw, his black teeth chewing thoughtfully as he watched the falling sun and the last few wools that were not as adventurous land once more "Why DID you get your wings anyways, Rem? There's a story there, I can tell, and I love stories," he swished his long tail and then wrapped it around himself, turning to watch his friend nibble much more delicately at his food.

"Hmmm..." there was a long pause as he finished his food, seemingly thinking his response through, but the lack of words seemed to make Alorus nervous.

"I-I mean, you don't HAVE to tell me! I just thought it'd be an interesting story, given the festival going on and all, nothing more. Don't worry about it!"

Remiel finished his food and snorted at his friend, offering him a smirk, "You don't exactly intimidate me, Alorus, it's fine. You'll get it anyways. Given you share the problem I used you have... you'll understand where I was coming from," he turned back to watch the people landing, most of them high from their jaunt in the sky, where they'd been happy and free, "I saved up for a long while to afford these, when I was much younger. It was hard," having finished his food, he had nothing else to occupy his hands with, and the spirit fluttering around him seemed to notice that, because the small butterfly settled on his fingers giving him something to focus on as he recounted his story, "I didn't have a steady income back then, and my parents couldn't really justify the expense. It wasn't something I NEEDED, but something I wanted, after all. I had to do a lot of menial jobs. I had to take a lot of tasks that were hard, but I eventually got them."

Alorus nodded along, "Still doesn't tell me why, but the how."

"Hush, I'm getting there!" the dryad turned a glare on his friend, and the white wool lifted his hands in mock defense for a second before they lowered, "Look, I've never been tall. I won't ever BE tall... I've always been a bit vertically challenged, and while you're only just barely taller than me, I think you can relate," he rolled his eyes, "I got the wings because I was embarrassed. I wanted to reach the top shelves, in my room, in the house, in my clinic."

It took a while but it finally clicked on Alorus, and the other wool nodded along, "Ah."

"Yeah, Ah," a silence followed as people finished packing up around them, "I guess, in a way... they also mean freedom for me..."

Reward	Amount
Shards	19
Ethereal Shards	6