"England! England! A young boy chirped, pointing to two rather confused looking men. One had almond-shaped yellow eyes and odd yellow-brown colouring in his hair and skin. The other also had almond eyes and amber eyes, but his hair and skin were a greyish red. They followed the child curiously, both ignored by the humans around them as they turned their attention to the man,"Meet Coyote~ And his brother Fox~ Aren't they cool? Coyote says I used to have one of his names~"
England felt a chill as he stared at the men before him. The one known as Coyote, the yellow-skinned man, glared at him. Fox, the red-gray-skinned man, just looked like he wanted nothing more than to be miles away from this conflict. He had hoped never to meet them. He had heard about them, but had thought that he could keep the boy from ever meeting them. He had been wrong.
"I see nothing Alfred," he said calmly, while inside he was knotted with anxiety, "there is nothing there."
The boy's sky-blue eyes widened. He couldn't believe it! Coyote and Fox had finally agreed to meet with him and he couldn't see them? Did that mean he couldn't see Thunderbird and gartersnake and all the others? Tears gathered in Alfred's eyes. The heartbreak in his eyes was enough to make England feel like a heel. But he stood firm. He would not allow Alfred to see them. Ever again.
Alfred nursed a bruise on his cheek with a sullen scowl, sitting on the chair while Matthew fussed over him. He bared his teeth ferally at Matthew when he probed the depth of the bruise, but subsided when England appeared with a thunderous expression. He stood over the taller teen with his arms crossed. Matthew quickly vacated the room.
"I told you to stop playing with your stupid imaginary friends," he growled. Alfred turned his head away with a sneer. Like he didn't see England playing with his friends.
"Like that unicorn you always have cavorting around you?" he retorted. It got him another smack, making his ears ring and his eyes water. His lip curled in rage, but he bit his tongue. No use getting another cuff on his head for pointing out the truth.
"There is no such thing as magic, nor are there magical creatures," England barked, "And I will drive that childish belief out of you!"
"Coyote! Assimoest! Coyotl! Mai! Istaqa! Shiriki!" He called all the names he could remember, trying to call his friend. Tears gathered in his eyes as he tried to find the spirit, "Where are you?"
Coyote watched Alfred cry, unable to go to the boy and comfort him like he had when England would leave. He turned to England with a glare, hating him for taking the child from him a second time. But there was nothing he could do now... Alfred had lost the Sight. And lost the only thing keeping him smiling when England was abroad. A small wolf-like creature hovered on the edge of the clearing. Alfred's heart soared.
The coyote disappeared with a flash of sunlight.
The ensuing wail made tears spring to England's eyes. But he made the Right Choice! He hoped...
"Hey England..." the blue-coated man said, smiling grimly, "I choose freedom..."
"I won't let you!" A clash of metal...
Alfred sat on his bed with a sullen expression. A piece of braided leather and an eagle feather dangled from his fingers. Free. But he still couldn't find his friend. He tossed the trinket out the window.
There was no such thing as magic.
And he hated England for teaching him that harsh lesson.