Chapter 3: Council of elders

It was pretty much dark inside. Darker than outside to be exact and I needed a while before my eyes got used to the faint light coming from the entry. But then I saw a giant hollow space with lots of ledges in different sizes going around the mossy tree walls from the bottom to the top.
Hundreds of bats were either flying around or just roosting upside down on the mushroom-shaped ledges.

I started to feel nervous watching them all and couldn't help but felt like most of them wouldn't be thrilled to see someone like me entering their home.

''Now, just wait here for a moment Vanessa. I have to inform the elders about your arrival. It won't be long,'' said Mercury before flying up to the top of the tree, leaving me behind on the ledge near the entrance.
I tried to stay calm while waiting for him to come back. Still, I felt the gaze of dozens eyes peering down at me with curiosity and worry. The tension grew even bigger the more bats notice me and soon I heard them whispering to each other.

''Do you see that?''

''What is that?''

''Is that ... a human?''

''Aren't they supposed to be bigger?''

''What's a human doing here in our home?''

''Hey!''

I gasped and turned around to see a small young male hanging upside down from the ledge above me with a friendly smile on his face. He had light blue fur and blond hair.

''Ehm ... hi,'' I greeted him back, unsure what else I could say.

The bat who I assumed to be a teenager in human age looked down at me curiously with his light green eyes. He probably had never seen a real human in his life before, judging the interest in his eyes.

''You must be new here,'' he said. ''I saw you coming in with Mercury. What's your name?''

''Vanessa,'' I told him.

''Nice to meet you, Vanessa. I'm Shade. Say are you really a human?'' he asked, glancing at me doubtfully.'' I thought they are supposed to be much bigger.''

''Well, yeah but the thing is...'' But before I could tell him my story, I got interrupted by the concerned voice of an adult female. ''Shade!'' she called out and then I saw her flying down next to him on the ledge. Her fur was dark purple and her hair was orange-red and surrounded her face and chest like the mane of a lion.

''There you are. I've been looking all over for you,'' she said with a stern look in her eyes, before embracing him with her wings.

''Mom, I'm fine,'' Shade protested and wiggling out of her embrace. ''I was just speaking with our guest here.''

''What guest?'' Glancing down, she lets out a small gasp, noticing me and backed away while folding her wings protectively around her son.

Annoyed about his mother's behavior Shade once again struggled out of her grip.

''Mom, what are you doing?''

''Shade, humans are dangerous. You never know what they're up to,'' she explained to him while watching me warily as if expecting me to suddenly attack them or something.

It made me feel awful. Then again, she had a point. Animals should be wary of humans, just as humans should be wary of wild animals. But what kind of danger could I pose with my current size? I was almost as big as them and all on my own, while the bats were definitely in the majority here.

''Mom, look at her. Does she really seem dangerous to you?'' Shade asked. Probably thinking the same.

I glanced up, noticing Shade's mother still watching me thoughtfully. A moment later she turned back to her son and sighed softly. ''That doesn't matter Shade,'' she said, ''It's more important someone informs the elders about this human in our home.'' Right then Mercury came back and landed next to me on the ledge.

''Alright, Vanessa. I've informed the elders about your arrival.''

''Mercury, do you know this human?'' Shade's mother asked him confused. He nodded.

''Yes Ariel, I recently met her in the forest. But I don't have time to talk right now. Frieda wants to see her.''

''See me. But why?''

Ariel still seemed unsure about my presence, but then nodded. ''Well, I suppose you have your reasons to bring her here Mercury,'' she said.

''I'll tell you more about it later but now we have to go. The elders are waiting,'' he started to sound impatient now whereupon Ariel nodded and turned to leave. ''Come Shade!''

''Can't I go with them?'' he asked, ''I'd like to know what the elders want from her.''

''I'm sure you'll find out soon enough. Now come.''
Grumbling in disappointment, Shade followed his mother up to their roost

''Now then, please follow me, Vanessa,'' Mercury said, and I quickly grabbed his arm before he could fly up again, causing him to look back at me.

''Aren't you forgetting something?'' I asked. ''I can't fly remember?''

Mercury face-palmed himself. ''Oh right. Sorry about that. It totally slipped my mind,'' he admitted and then bend down like before. ''Just climb on my back. I'll carry you up then.''

''Ehm, ok,'' I replied and as soon as I sat on his back Mercury flew up the trunk. The higher we went, the more grateful I was to be unable to see the bottom below. Only my feelings reminded me I was way too far away from the ground. I tried my best not think about it so much and also tried to ignore the eyes of hundreds of bats looking at me as we passed by.

We flew past countless aisles and ledges until we reached the upper regions of the tree.
The queasy feeling in my gut intensified by the thought of standing in front of a group of wild bats, answering their questions.
I knew I should have been pleased. After all, I had always wanted to see real bats up close. But the fact that I, for some reason, could communicate with them, gave me the unpleasant feeling of being in front of other people from my kind instead of animals. Not really something I appreciated.

Eventually, we arrived at the highest spot of the tree and Mercury landed on another ledge that grew a bit further into the middle.

After I climbed down from his back, he swung back into the air and flew up to another ledge far above me, were four older females hung together, chatting quietly.

Mercury flew straight to the largest of them and whispered something in her ear before landing back next to me on the ledge.

Nervously, I watched how the four elders flew down from their roost and down on top of another mushroom-shaped ledge right above me.
Despite her apparently high age, they all looked healthy and vigorous. Surely they were all still skillful hunters like the younger bats in the colony.

''Human. Please, step forward,'' said the tallest of them and I obeyed. ''My name is Frieda Silverwing. I am the chief elder of this colony and these here are the other elders Lucretia, Bathsheba and Aurora.''

With an expanding gesture, she motions towards herself and her colleagues. The fur on her head and arms were in a light brown-grey color while the main fur was rose-colored and like a long sleeveless dress going from her dark brown mane down to her feet. Her wings, however, were dark purple and her hair long and white with grey tips.
On her left stood Lucretia. She was almost as tall as Frieda with dark, grayish-purple wings and mauve colored fur. She also had a tan-colored mane and long cotton white hair, which looked almost like Frieda's but without the long bangs over her shoulders.

On Frieda's right stood Bathsheba and Aurora.

Bathsheba was the smallest and pudgiest of the four. She had dark grey fur and wings, a silver-grey mane and white-colored hair. Aurora, who seemed to be the youngest, was a plum-colored bat with a grey-white mane, wine-red wings, and silver hair.

They all looked at me with friendly but curious eyes, except for Bathsheba. She was the only one who stared at me coldly, making me feel unwelcome.
Luckily Frieda seemed to be more hospitable than her.

''My child. Mercury told us he found you in the forest after you fell from the sky. Is this true?'' she asked me but instead of responding I just stood there in blank astonishment, wondering if this was all real or just a dream while I'm actually still lying unconsciousness somewhere in the forest.

''Talk when you're asked to, Human!'' Bathsheba snapped, pulling me out of my daydream.

''Bathsheba!'' Frieda stared at her with a frown, ''Watch your tongue. That's no way to talk to our guest.''

The chubby eldest stood the gaze of the chief elder unmoved.

''Our guest, you say? I don't think anyone here would invite a human into our colony,'' she said.

''I did,'' Mercury confessed while glaring challengingly up at Bathsheba.

''And why, if I may ask, did you bring someone like this into our home? Is there any reason for you to bring such danger to our colony?''

''I beg your pardon Bathsheba but I don't think we have anything to fear from her. Just look at her. What threat could she pose to us?''

Bathsheba shook head. ''As our messenger and scout, it is your duty to keep the colony safe from all harms. This human might be small but who says she didn't just shrink herself temporarily and only waits for the right moment to grow big again and kill us all?''

''Bathsheba I think you're overreacting a here,'' Aurora remarked with an amused smile, earning her an angry glare from the other elder.

''Definitely not,'' Bathsheba spat, ''A Human should not be around here and listen to what we are talking about.''

Aurora gave out a brief laugh. ''Please, calm yourself. We don't even know if she can understand our language.''

''Oh, she does understand our tongue. I just talked with her recently,'' said Mercury.

Aurora blinked. ''Really? How fascinating. I've always thought humans and animals can't understand each other.''

''Then why don't we just pause this discussion and let her answer our questions?'' asked Lucretia with a somewhat irritated undertone.

Aurora nodded. ''You are right. Please, human tell us your name and what you are doing in our forest?''

I took a deep breath, unsure how to start. I already felt like they wouldn't even believe a word I was going to tell them. ''My name is Vanessa and yes I am a human, '' I explained to them, ''Why I'm able to understand you all is… quite a mystery to me as well. You see: I got lost in this forest and came to a clearing where there was this raven with unusual blue eyes and a small pearl in the same color. This pearl suddenly glowed in a bright blue color, and the next thing I know is that I woke up and was small like this.

Then there was this other raven who attacked me for no reason and dragged me up into the air. I freed myself by biting its foot, but this caused me to nearly fall to my death. Fortunately, I landed on a tree, where Mercury was there to pull me up before I could fall even deeper.''

''That's right. Afterward, I brought her here since the sun is rising soon and I didn't think it would be the right thing for me to just leave her there in the opening all by herself. Being so small and without wings to fly how would she be able to get down or even survive in the first place?''

''Fine, but what do we care?'' Bathsheba responded. ''She is not one of us. An intruder. Who knows if she is telling us the truth at all?''

Lucretia nodded. ''I must admit. I have never seen or heard about a raven with blue eyes or of a pearl that shrinks people.''

''Lies or no lies that don't matter,'' Aurora declared. ''The fact is, she won't survive even one night out in the woods. Not without help, just like Mercury said.''

Bathsheba was shocked. ''You don't suggest keeping her here with us, do you?'' she asked while staring at the other elder. ''A human in our colony?!''

I turned away, feeling mortified by Bathsheba's harsh words. Why did she have to be so mean? I did nothing to her or the colony.

What a disappointment.

It had always been my dream to meet bats but now…

Actually, I shouldn't feel too disheartened. If animals could talk to me like humans could, then it was only natural for me to recognize some human characteristics in them. Still, it was not in my attention to stay here while they talked about me like that. Rather would I tried my luck alone in the forest and looked for a way to turn myself back.

I quietly tried to sneak away while the four elders were still in discussion about me. I know it wasn't a very nice move from me, but it's not like they even cared. But before I could even think about how to get off the ledge, I suddenly felt Mercury's hand stopping me by grabbing my wrist.

Slightly surprised, I turned around and saw him looking at me seriously. Was he angry at me for trying to go away without saying goodbye?

''Don't listen to what Bathsheba says,'' he said with a smile, ''We are not so inhospitable like she makes you think we are. We won't kick you out just like that. There is nothing you have done wrong.''

''Exactly.'' I gulped and looked back up to see Frieda looking down at me with her lime green eyes. Had she noticed my attempt to leave or did she just ignored it? '' We Silverwings don't let anyone down. No matter if animal or human.''

''Thank you, Frieda,'' I said while ignoring Bathsheba's indignantly snorts. ''That's ehm... very kind of you but I don't wish to be a burden to someone.''

''Don't worry my child, you aren't,'' Frieda said with a soft smile on her face.

''Alright but ... it's true I can't stay here for long. I have to find a way to change myself back to my original size.''

''I know my dear, but don't worry. I may know someone who might be able to help you.''

''Really?'' She nodded. ''Yes, but he lives in a city a few nights far from here. Lucky for you, in just a few weeks it is time for us to start our journey to our winter roost. You may come with us so you can meet him.''

''That's wonderful. Thank you very much.''

Bathsheba was outraged, ''Are you out of your mind Frieda? She is not like us. She has no wings. How will she move from place to place or hunt her own food? She will be just a nuisance.''

''I've decided that she stays,'' Frieda said glaring at her. ''And I won't change my mind on that matter just because she isn't a bat like us.''

''Frieda you know I'm mostly on your side,'' Lucretia interfered seeming unsure about this, ''and I also don't wish to send her away and be responsible for her possible death but Bathsheba has a point.''

''That's right.'' Aurora added, sounding unsure about this as well, ''On her own Vanessa won't be able to go somewhere without help. She cannot fly. And climbing from place to place would probably take too long as well to find food or to get back home before the sun comes up.''

The chief elder put a hand on her chin, thinking about this.

''And don't forget about the owls,'' Bathsheba mentioned, ''I doubt they will be happy to hear about a human living with animals and understanding their tongue.''

I felt confused. Why should owls be bothered about me? This was very weird.

''My friends you are right. Those are problems we cannot ignore, but they also won't have an impact on my decision. Vanessa stays with us until she finds a way to turn herself back to her original size.''

''But ...?'' Bathsheba tried to object but Frieda stopped her again with a wave of her hand and continued to speak. ''Mercury, since you are the one who brought her to us I ask you to take care of her.''

The messenger blinked in surprise by that request. ''Of course, Frieda but what about my duties? I cannot neglect them.''

''I know, therefore you are free to choose anyone to assist you in this task. But I think Vanessa should have you as the main contact for problems and questions.''

He thought about this for a second and then nodded. ''Alright. I will do it, Frieda.''

Somehow I started to feel like a foundling while listening to them talking about me.

''But there's still the problem with the owls,'' Bathsheba pointed out.

Frieda nodded and looked down at me with concern. ''I'm afraid as long as we don't know what to do about this, you must stay here inside tree-heaven. Day or night. The risk that other animals will report your presence to the owls is too high. I hope that's okay with you?''

I nodded biting my lower lip. Actually, I didn't fully agree with being trapped in a dark tree, but what else could I do? Besides, I had always been an indoor person, so how bad could it be?

After everything, was settled, Mercur, and I were released and went back down to the other Silverwings.

He then landed on a ledge not too far from Shade and his mother Ariel. In the wall next to us was a small crevice and behind it a narrow room that was big enough for me to sleep without fear of claustrophobia. On the opposite was a tiny hole where I could look outside. The only thing missing was a comfortable bed, but I guessed I had to get used to sleeping on plain wood.

''I hope this place is alright. Otherwise, I could look for a better place for you to stay.''

I shook my head. ''No, that's fine, Thank you.''

''Alright. Now if you'll excuse me. I'll be right back.'' And with that, he flew back out of the tree without saying why.

While I waited for his return, I sat down in my little chamber and took a glimpse outside through the hole in the wall. According to the light, it was just before dawn.

I still couldn't believe what had happened that night and wondered if, once I had fallen asleep, I would wake up in my hotel room, believing everything to be nothing but a crazy dream.

Soon after I heard wings flapping again and turned around to see Mercury returning with a few leaves and something indefinable in its claws.

''Here, this is for you,'' he said and handed the leaves and the thing which to my horror was a dead hairy moth, over to me. ''Something I thought you could use to make yourself feel comfortable and some food.

Part of me wanted to eat the leaves and use the bug a blanket or room decor or something. But I knew this wasn't exactly what Mercury had in mind.

I generously took his gift while trying my best not to show how disgusted I was by the idea of eating an insect. I knew I should have told him that humans don't eat bugs, but I didn't want him to fly out again just because I wouldn't even try it. Seriously, how hard could it be?

''At least it's dead.''

Preparing for the worst I pulled the moth up to my mouth and took a small bite.

It was disgusting. Never had I eaten anything so awful like this. I had to use all my willpower not to spit everything out again and chewed down as fast as possible while trying not to touch too much of it with my tongue.
Yet, I ate it up. Not only because of all the eyes I felt watching me eating the bug but also because I was starving and the moth filled up my stomach pretty much.

After my meal I let out a soft yawn, realizing how tired I was. Being awake the whole day and almost the whole night it was time for me to get some rest. Therefore, I said good day to Mercury, crawled back into the crevice and went to sleep, using the leaves as a blanket and makeshift bed.