Without further delays, here is chapter 3, all about Vidia's release from the hospital. Enjoy!
Chapter Three: Self-Conscious
Even after a week of confinement at the hospital, the truth did not sink in.
Once Fawn and Bobble had left, the healers decided not to allow visitors for the sake of Vidia's injuries. The severe blood loss left her completely exhausted. The nurses also kept feeding her an herbal brew for the pain, which had a side effect of making her sleepy. Every time she awakened, she would reach behind her, expecting to feel something; anything! This must be a horrible nightmare. Any minute she would wake up in her own bed, with strong wings firmly attached. But as the days stretched on, she began losing hope.
The bandages were changed often; each time the nurse stripped off the leaves, Vidia cringed and held back tears. The pain was pure torture, but the nurse tried to be comforting. As the wounds and many, many stitches were cleaned and checked over, Vidia kept her eyes shut tight. If the hawk's handiwork looked as bad as it felt, she preferred not to see it.
Visitors were being turned away. However, this didn't stop the constant flow of gifts. Across the (now cluttered) room were various things from those close to her. Pretty decorations of woven spider silk, toys built by tinkers to keep boredom away, a fresh raspberry to eat, and an abundance of colorful feathers. Normally Vidia adored feathers—but at the moment, they only reminded her of birds. Not the best things to be thinking of right now. A strange puzzle box had been sent by Tinkerbell, and Silvermist had had a seashell sculpture delivered. As a surprise, a jar of iced candies arrived via owl from Periwinkle, all the way from the Winter Woods. For a fairy to go to so much trouble just to mail a get-well present…Peri really was Tink's sister.
The gift Vidia appreciated most was a set of new clothes from a fellow fast-flyer: a pair of violet-petal pants and a loose-fitting shirt with sleeves. They left room for the bandages as well as covered them from prying eyes. There was also a long purple feather for putting her hair back into its old ponytail.
With an entire week of resting, her wounds had been healing well. Today was hopefully the last hospital day. She expected the head healer to arrive soon to check up on her, like she did every morning. So she dressed in the new clothes, getting ready to leave at a moment's notice. There were no mirrors in here, but for that she was relieved. She still wasn't ready to look at her mutilated torso.
This is humiliating…how can I face the others looking like this? She perched on the edge of the seashell bed; time to wait for the final checkup.
The leaf curtain rustled, and Fawn's head poked through unexpectedly. "Hi," she said quietly. "The nurses let me in, finally. So, how have you been?" she ventured in and sat down.
"It still hurts, but I'm fine…if the checkup goes well, I can get out of here today."
"That's why I'm here, actually. Clank and Bobble are outside, too. We thought we'd help you down out of the tree."
Vidia frowned. "Help me down?!"
"Well, yes." Fawn insisted, not unkindly.
Of course. Room 12 was higher up in the tree's roots. The only way to get down was by flying. Who designed this hospital, anyway? The fact that Fawn, Clank and Bobble were here almost made it worse; they had been the last three to see her in one piece, wings and all.
"Hold on, how am I going to get up to my house?"
"We can do that too, Vidia. It'll just be us, and the others. Don't worry about running into anybody else."
Vidia sighed and buried her face in her hands. She wasn't sure if she wanted anyone to see her at all; what would they all say?
The hospital released her shortly after with instructions to change the bandages once a day and keep an eye on the wounds to make sure nothing got infected.
"Return here every other day, so we can be sure you're healing properly," the doctor explained. "With rest, you'll have all the stitches out in about a fortnight."
Fawn stayed during the final checkup for support, but Vidia was very reluctant to show her the wounds. Upon seeing the best fast-flyer without a pair of wings, Fawn made the most sorrowful face and was barely able to hold back her pity. She held it together, though, and led Vidia outside.
It was a beautiful spring day in Pixie Hollow. Bright sunshine hit all the right places, insects buzzed or crawled along their merry ways, and from this room, one could see all the way down the pathway that led from the hospital to the big maple tree. Wildflowers bloomed all along it, adding a perfect dash of color. The trees overhead rustled lush and green…At the sight of few birds going by, Vidia took an involuntary step back.
The roots leading up to her room plunged straight down in a twisted drop. There was no way to climb down whatsoever.
"Hello, Vidia," Clank waved while hovering in front of her. "Step right on over to the edge, now. Bobble and I have this brilliant idea to get'cha down!"
"That's right, Miss," said Bobble as cheerily as he could. The two of them grasped each other's forearms, so as to make a chair of sorts. "Just have a seat and we'll lower you down ever so gently."
"Yeah. It's the smartest way since your accident—"
"Clank!" Bobble hissed, warning him not to mention it.
They were extremely careful. One pair of arms went under her knees and the other across her back, where most of the stitches were. She held on to their shoulders, and with Fawn monitoring, she reached the ground easily enough. With a groan, she realized she would have to pass through the hospital's waiting area…"Exactly how many fairies are sitting out there?"
"Only five or six," Fawn checked. "They won't look at you."
"They'd better not!"
"Miss Vidia, what if we just carried you home? It would save you the trouble."
"Oh no, you're not. I'm walking. I intend to preserve what dignity I've got left! There's a less-travelled route back to my plum tree. Let's go."
As Vidia marched determinedly past the waiting patients, she did her best to ignore the sorry, pitiful looks they sent her way. Some of them whispered behind her back. At the last minute, she bolted behind a thick tuft of grass to hide. They had been staring, she was sure! She crossed her arms and glared angrily. Who would've thought something as simple as leaving the hospital would be so hard?
Fawn caught up. "Vidia, relax," she reassured. "Tink and the others are up ahead on the path. We've all wanted to see you."
"No. Not like this. I am missing my wings, for goodness' sake!"
"It's only us! No one else, I promise."
A few tries later, Fawn convinced Vidia to come out onto the open oath. The wingless fairy protested with fury. But she wanted to get home with pride; hiding in the grass would accomplish nothing. Still, it was nerve-wracking having her friends see her in such a way. This had to be the worst thing that could happen to a fairy.
Tink, Dess, Ro, and Sil rushed over and all started talking at once. "Vidia!" "Are you okay?" "You're not still in pain, are you?" "Why did they start turning away visitors?" "We've all been so scared." "Queen Clarion was in tears when she heard the news." "Oh sugar, I'm so sorry this happened." "Periwinkle wants to see you at the border when you're up to it."
Questions and cries of both joy and pity blasted Vidia from all sides. Iridessa actually hugged her. This sent ripples of fiery pain down her spine and she cried out in discomfort. "Oh, I'm sorry!" Dess backed off. "I forgot."
"Whoa, whoa! Everybody calm down! I'm alright."
"You most certainly are not, sugar," said Rosetta in a matter-of-fast way. "For one thing, you are so patched up you can barely move, and another thing—"
"Ro! I don't need a lecture. I just want to go home. Without a scene, if you don't mind?"
"Oh, right. Sorry, honey. C'mon, then. We'll fly you back—"
"Walk, if you don't mind. I suppose I have to get used to it now." Vidia's voice faltered slightly. She began marching off down the path with her head held high. The others all became quiet; many of them with uncomfortable looks.
Vidia herself felt the many sets of eyes boring into her, staring at her empty back. It was a terrible moment.
…
The sour plum tree where Vidia lived was quite the walk from the hospital. She chose to live apart from the few other fast-flyers. Solitude was more her style; there was more privacy, something she could use right about now. It was a bent, twisted old plum tree, full of knots, nooks and crannies. The dark green foliage offered plenty of shade, not letting in much sunlight. The leaves almost hid her entire house from view. The only problem remaining was getting there.
"Please, lass, it's really not a bother for Clank and I to—"
"For the last time, Bobble, no!" Vidia kept insisting.
Tinkerbell sped up to walk beside her. "Vidia, don't you think we should talk about this? I mean…so much has happened!"
Her face hidden from her friends, Vidia ignored the searing pain throughout her torso. She never stopped walking. "Not now, Tink."
So the group went on. They all remained on solid ground out of politeness, respect, and to keep Vidia company. By surrounding her, she was more or less hidden from other passing fairies. Silvermist and Clank made small talk the entire way past the Pixie Dust Tree. Their carefree voices filled the awkward silence and in a way, it was soothing.
The Pixie Dust Tree rose grandly on the upcoming hill, but Vidia was leading down the quieter route through a daisy field. She couldn't help pausing to gaze at the Tree. Until now, it had been easy to take for granted. Glittering gold dust floated about like a fog, flowing off into waterfalls to gather in the trunk. A cup of dust was like a source of instant happiness for Vidia. Now she knew it would be pointless to come here for her daily allotment.
"The day of the attack was my last time here…" she murmured to no one in particular.
Sil, Fawn and Tink all moved to put comforting hands on her shoulder, but Vidia bit her lip and continued walking.
The journey through the daisy field took forever! Rosetta ended up flying ahead, just to be sure no garden fairies were at work nearby. There were a few, so she created distractions to keep them occupied, such as setting a sprinting thistle loose, and uprooting the newly planted seedlings who then wandered off of their own accord.
"There," Rosetta landed. "That should keep 'em busy."
Random garden fairies zoomed back and forth across the path, trying to control the rampage. They were far too busy to even notice the group.
At the other side of the field, the earth sloped downward into a hill. Now the crooked old sour plum tree was in sight. Other trees grew around it, slightly taller and wilder. This was a very unpopular glade because of the dark shadows and overall atmosphere. Very little activity could be seen. Most of it was back in the hectic daisy field, where the thistle was wreaking havoc. Nevertheless, Vidia was glad to be home in her own little glade. It was a welcome change from the hospital, where she had never even been allowed outdoors.
"Try to find a bright side," Silvermist pondered as the group trudged downhill beneath the long, wild grass. "When you're all better, you should be able to swim! No wings to drag you down! I bet lots of water fairies would love to swim. That's the downside with water and wings; they just don't mix well."
"I'm not a water fairy, Sil."
Sil gasped and realized her mistake. "Oops. Oh, dear…I was just trying to help."
Vidia groaned, exasperated. "No one is making this day any easier. I wish it would end already! And everyone quit staring at my back," she caught Dess, who had been standing behind her. "There's nothing to see."
They reached the edge of the rushing stream. Only three feet wide, but deep enough for a few small fish to travel by. Silvermist felt bad from her comment and chatted with the fish distractedly to take her mind off things.
"It's too deep to wade across," observed Tink. "We'll have to carry her, weather she likes it or not. And don't protest, Vidia! There are no logs to cross over, and no stepping stones."
"Even if there were, we can't risk getting all those wounds wet," Fawn remembered. "Remember what the doctor said. Too much water isn't good for the stitches."
Clank and Bobble formed a chair with their arms once again. They looked at Vidia expectantly, not taking no for an answer. "Fine." She relented.
Being in the air was no longer enjoyable. Sitting in the arms of others and being carried like a piece of luggage made her feel utterly useless. The weightlessness of flying was gone, there was no sense of freedom, no wind in her hair, no heart-pumping adrenaline, and it was so slow! She stared at the bubbling stream down below while being carried. Maybe this was just a very long nightmare…oh, when would it end?
Apparently never. She felt Bobble's arm pressed against her back, instead of a set of wings that should've been there.
Enough twists and turns were in the trunk of the sour plum tree to make an easy climb. But with the pain of moving about, Vidia didn't think climbing was a wise idea just now. "Better to wait until I heal a little more. Just take me up to my house."
They did so. The girls all followed mutely, feeling guilty for flying up when she could never do so again.
Vidia's house was nestled snugly in the heart of the plum tree's branches. It was a large three room abode, built of flexible twigs and the dark green leaves of the tree itself. A huge porch surrounded the place, all constructed of twigs and black and violet flowers. Vidia loved to collect birds' feathers; dozens upon dozens decorated the outside and inside of her home. Gathered into bunches, they formed interesting bouquets. As everything seemed to be in darker hues of color, Vidia's house was not the most welcoming, but it certainly was unique.
"Wow. Where did you find all these?" asked Fawn, admiring some of the largest fathers. "I don't recognize this pattern. Is it from an eagle?"
"I don't know, maybe. I just find and collect them," said Vidia as she was set down on the porch. Bobble held out a hand to help steady her. He looked hurt when she refused.
It was strange having other fairies here. She couldn't even remember the last time she had had anyone come to her house. Suddenly, they all began asking questions once again. "How is your back?" "Was the walk too tiring?" "Do you need anything for the pain? The doctor gave me the recipe for that herbal brew—"
"Please! Everyone just leave!"
They all stopped talking.
"I just—it's been a long day and I'm very tired. I want to be alone right now."
No one seemed to want to leave her, so soon after the hospital stay. But in the end, they dispersed. Rosetta needed to straighten up the craziness she caused in the daisy field, anyway. The last to leave was Tinkerbell. "Now, Fawn will be down at the base of your tree should you need anything."
"What?! Tink, I don't need a babysitter!"
"Yes, you do. For the time being, at least. She likes camping, and what if you need help with the bandages?"
"Ugh. Fine."
"We'll come back tomorrow, to see how you're holding up." Tink's expression then saddened dramatically. She fought her tears before flying off quickly. "I'm…I'm so sorry."
Vidia didn't reply. She sighed and watched Tinkerbell fly away. The simple act of getting in and out of her own tree would be a struggle now.
She went inside and shut the door. Her familiar kitchen, living room, and feather-decorated bedroom were a welcome sight, but in a hurry, she dashed about and covered up all the reflective glass mirrors. She still couldn't bear to see it…but temptation got the better of her, and she stole a glimpse of her back. Just a quick one.
That was the moment when the truth really hit her hard.
All day she had been holding it back…Vidia sank down onto a kitchen chair and finally cried.
I honestly had no idea how popular this story was. I'm so glad I made the decision to get back into writing. My confidence is so much better then it was, all thanks to the wonderful feedback. Every time I read the last part of this chapter, I get sad. After this part, things will start to get happier and full of hope for Vidia. Next up: a trip to the Winter Woods.