Twilight Fantasy [Eli]

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

17 July 2028

It was a Burning Day for the reserve’s only phoenix, so it seemed fitting to send him off in style. Now, had Aidan fully thought through the implications of inviting Eli to a bird funeral only a few short months after the poor boy had just said goodbye to his dad? Well, no. But Aidan was never good at the whole ‘thinking ahead’ bit and the thought had just never crossed his mind that maybe he was being insensitive. Burning days were happy, something to celebrate! And besides, death meant something different to immortal birds than it did to frail humans who walked around like they owned the place.

No, for the phoenix – death was just a temporary state of being. Walking off the main path to try a new and different adventure for a while. Aidan liked that sort of positive attitude and it seemed a much happier alternative to being afraid of whatever might come next. So he spent the day contemplating death while he collected enough firewood to keep a bonfire burning all night – y’know, so the phoenix would be nice and comfortable while he renewed his life cycle – and there was something immensely satisfying about hunting around in the brush and chopping logs from fallen trees instead of just using his wand or staff.

Anyway, that was the explanation for the strange scene that Aidan found himself in that night. All the other workers had gone home ages ago, but Aidan settled down comfortably in the hippogriff paddock to wait until something inside him warned that it was almost time. Some instinct that went way beyond conscious thought and existed on a different wavelength entirely – more tuned in with the magical creatures around him than he or any other druid might realize. A while later, he had a respectable fire pit set up and the flames flickered and glowed as the phoenix tiredly launched himself off Aidan’s shoulder to settle into the fire with what almost sounded like a sigh. “I feel like that too sometimes,” Aidan told him matter-of-factly as he watched the phoenix pick at the coals half-heartedly. Eli hadn’t shown up yet, but that wasn’t unusual – he might have fallen asleep somewhere but they had all night. So Aidan sat down to watch as the flames burned red and gold.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

jul 2028

WORK WAS THE PERFECT DISTRACTION FOR Elijah. He'd never been more pleased to muck out the pens and bat off cranky Fwoopers. Even stranger still, despite the pain and the overwhelming absence of his dad, Eli felt strangely normal most of the time. He laughed at Bran's bad jokes and let Charlie talk his ear off about experimental sheild charms for dragons. But, there was still a part of him that felt that something wasn't... quite... right. He supposed, out of everybody at the reserve, Aidan noticed this shift in him the quickest.

Aidan was Eli's fastest friend, with a keen sense of animal sensitivities and an easy grin he had appreciated. Eli had always enjoyed his company, but lately the boy's keen eye left him feeling a bit unsettled. Like he was one large sigh away from being asked something serious. So, when Aidan invited him to the Burning Day festivities, he almost said no. Alas, it was an incredibly rare and important event and Eli couldn't help it when he had agreed with a tentative nod.

Eli had spent far too long cleaning out the Abraxan habitat to distract himself. Eventually, the smell of burning logs drew him away from his menial task and he relented in favour of seeking Aidan out. It was high up on a hill along the reserves perimenter. The pyre much bigger than Eli had remembered when he had seen Aidan first begin to erect it. He swung his canvas work bag over one shoulder, following the plume of heady smoke up the hill at a slow, steady pace. It would be fun, he reminded himself. He always had fun with Aidan. So why, he wondered anxiously, was his stomach riddled with knots.

"Hey," Eli called out across the burning pyre. Aidan's silohette aflame as the fire steadily ate at the wooden logs. Growing in size and crackling happily. Aidan looked like some ancient cryptid, with his red hair reflecting the flames. His pale skin eating at the light, cheeks tickled by the majestic feathers of the old bird perched on his shoulder. He gave a mystified smile, reminded once again that his friend wasn't quite... ordinary.

"Fine job on the funeral pyre," Eli joked, chin jutting out at the display as he rounded the heat of the flames to stand beside Aidan, putting the bird between them. He let go of his bag and dropped it with a tinny thunk. "How are you, old thing." Eli cooed, lifting a gentle finger to run along the silken feathers atthe Phoenix's chest. He had lost some of his lustre in preparation for his goodbye, but Eli was still fascinated by the creature. "Ready to go another round?" He asked, as if he might get an answer. He dare not say the word 'death'.

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

The phoenix slowly began to settle into the fire, although it spent ages rearranging Aidan’s sloppy work into something that suited its tastes more. Aidan watched contentedly as the phoenix picked at the coals with its beak, and dragged little smoldering twigs so they draped across the thicker logs before burning away into ash. Finally the bird turned around in a circle once, twice, one more time before settling heavily into the flames and spreading its wings around. Almost like it enjoyed the sensation of the ash flowing through its burning feathers before falling back into the fire. Aidan watched the phoenix for a while, elbows on his knees while he occasionally used a half-burned stick to poke at the logs and keep the flame alive.

But after a while, once it became clear that the phoenix was more than capable of doing it himself, Aidan’s eyes wandered up to the smoke and the way it spiraled in lazy circles up towards the darkening night sky. Bonfires in Hy-Brasil were always a magical occasion. He had cousins who knew how to read the smoke spirals to catch glimpses of the future, and his dad’s special talent had always been to conjure shapes from the flames while he told stories. His ma would play her lyre while his dad would bring smoky druids and flaming griffins to life. Aidan sighed slightly while he poked the fire pit again, just to do something with his hands while he waited. He wished he’d thought to bring his lute.

He perked up when he heard the telltale signs of Eli’s approach. His friend had a reassuring presence, calm and grounded, but Aidan had lovably informed him many times that he wandered around the woods like an uncoordinated giant. He could always hear the boy coming from far away, this time accompanied by the sound of snapping twigs and his slow and steady strides on the firm ground. Eventually he came into view and Aidan shot him an excited smile – even if it dimmed slightly at Eli’s face. He just looked tired. And not the usual tired, like ‘spent all day hauling sacks of dragon manure and Abraxan feed around’. His face looked drawn, and his eyes didn’t have their usual spark, and he smiled like it took a lot of effort for him to try.

So Aidan shot up immediately, ignored the mild squawk of irritation from the phoenix, and rounded the fire pit. “Fine job on the crib,” Aidan corrected innocently. He preferred to think of it that way, at least. He waited a moment’s beat for Eli to say hi to the phoenix – it truly amazed him to find a mainland wizard who had such a way with animals. Most could be rather tone-deaf about the natural world, but Eli just got it. He knew about the sanctity of what it meant to be alive, and the value of every living thing, and he was so gentle with the magical creatures under their care. Aidan could never get over how easy it was to banter with Eli, and geek out, and do all the things that came natural to him (even if it earned him an odd look or two from most people). Eventually he tugged at Eli’s sleeve to gently seat him on the log so he could get comfortable. Even if his English had gotten better, Aidan never did have a way with words. He knew Eli was hurting, but – well, the only way he could think of to help was to find him a nice log and a long-lasting Burning Day bonfire. “It will not be much longer,” Aidan agreed as he eyed the drooping feathers of the phoenix, his tone thoughtful as he searched out the burning aura of the phoenix. With every moment that passed, it was harder to do.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

jul 2028

THERE WAS A TENSION TO THE AIR AROUND THE pyre. As if with each pecked, smouldering log and rearrangement of nesting coals the air took a great big breath of anticipation. It wasn't a bad feeling, really, but it still prickled along Eli's skin as he settled at his friends side. His bag abandoned at his feet as he stared openly at the spectacle Aidan had mustered together all by himself.

"Cri-?" Eli gave Aidan a sidelong glance, but stalled at the very serious sincerity in Aidan's bright, flaming eyes. "Crib." He corrected himself with a closed mouth smile, nodding once and folding his arms behind his back. Eli could admit when he was at a disadvantage intellectually. It sounded better anyway, kinder really. While they stood, the phoenix was hard at work creating the perfect perch for itself, unmoved by the licking flames as it did. Eli couldn't help but watch, fascinated by the privilege of witnessing something so... rare.

Pulled from his revere by a tug at his sleeve, Eli let himself be pulled down onto a log to sit with a heavy sigh. Once seated, he reached over and pulled his heavy bag over towards their feet. As he did, Aidan let him know in a hushed, private tone that it wouldn't be much longer. He eyed a few moulting feathers, a couple floating in the light wind to land within reaching distance. Eli picked two feathers from the ground, one a bright red and the other an ombre between crimson and orange - like a sunset. He rolled them both between his fingers and then put the red one behind his ear and turned to Aidan to offer the other. "We better look like we're taking part," He said seriously, nodding to the feather and pointing to Aidan's bare ear.

Bedecked in phoenix feathers, and warmed by the fire, Eli opened his bag between their knees. From inside, he hooked his fingers around the plastic ring of six cans of beer. He presented them with a toothy grin, setting them on his lap like a prize as he asked Aidan. "You ever had a beer before?" Eli quirked his brows and pulled two cans out of the rings and presented one to Aidan with tempting shake. "Figured we could toast, or something."

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

He clapped his hand on Eli’s back as the pair settled down in front of the fire, although Aidan found his eyes naturally wandering back to the phoenix. He couldn’t help it – whenever he was outside, whenever he was surrounded by the natural world, he always went to seek out the creatures around him. He didn’t like to be alone, but then again…he never found himself alone. There were always all sorts of birds in the trees, and murtlaps by the water, and he could place his ear to the ground and locate the unicorn herd if they weren’t too far off. And even if he’d gotten to see a lot in the years since he’d left the island, Aidan thought he’d never seen anything as beautiful as watching the flames dance across the phoenix’s wings and burn in different colors – although the sight of the sunset playing across Brígh’s hair never failed to captivate him either.

Aidan perked up as Eli offered him a feather and took it with a solemn nod. “Do I look beautiful like a phoenix?” he added with a grin as he copied Eli and gingerly placed the feather behind his ear. He could almost feel the same whisper of magic in the feather that was thrumming through the phoenix in the flames, even if the vibration had become so faint he had to strain to feel it. He didn’t know if vibration was the right way to describe it, but there was the simple fact that the bird’s soul struck a note that echoed deep in his own chest – in tune, like two instruments playing in the same orchestra. Aidan splayed his legs out in front of him and nudged one of the logs with his foot. It didn’t move, but the phoenix turned to glance at him all the same.

Eli presented a set of cans to Aidan, and he shook his head while his eyes grew large and contemplated the new drink. “Is it like Butterbeer?” he asked curiously, noting how similar the words sounded and wondering if that meant something. He liked the sweetness of Butterbeer a lot, but that was unsurprising because Aidan had a notorious sweet tooth and could be bought with basically any kind of candy. Even so, the entire store of Honeyduke’s couldn’t compare to the honey from one of the druid families near his family’s farm or the apples his aunt grew. Some things just couldn’t be improved on.

But he did understand the concept of a toast and he absolutely loved hearing the elaborate speeches his cousins gave as they each tried to outdo the other. Aidan lit up, straightening and nodding resolutely. “Yes! Yes, please give us toast. You first!” He accepted the can that Eli shook at him, turning it over curiously in his hands before handing it back. “Open and then toast.” He was quite eager to hear what wisdom Eli would impart on them, if only because his friend was full of little treasures to share. Besides, there was something weighing on him. Aidan didn’t know what, but he hoped Eli might share soon. They didn’t really have secrets between them. There were some things Eli didn’t know how to explain, and some things that were better left as a mystery, but that wasn’t the same thing. Aidan exchanged a look with the phoenix and then looked expectantly at Eli. “We are ready!”

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

jul 2028

THE CLAP ON THE BACK WAS A COMFORT TO Elijah, like his friend was grounding him in a way he hadn't really felt at work since his dad had died. Eli had sort of felt afloat without Cordie holding him down. Luckily, Aidan's company was like a balm he needed to get back into the swing of life away from the comfort of Cordie's double bed.

Eli fiddled with the feather behind his ear and grinned happily, watching Aidan place his own without much difficulty. He squinted at Aidan's decoration as he turned and primped teasingly, showing off his new headpiece. "Nah," He admitted with a crinkle of his nose. "Good effort, though." He patted Aidan on the shoulder once and settled his elbows on his knees to drag his bag of goodies closer.

Inside was a six pack of probably the best canned beer Eli thought he could find, but even that might prove to be a disappointment. Eli wasn't sure as he brandished it with a large grin, Aidan's curiosity piqued as it easily. "Uh... maybe...?" Eli answered with a grin that said otherwise. "I mean, well no, but it'll get you buzzed?" He confessed with a slight cringe, but ultimately Eli knew if anybody was up for a potential disaster, Aidan would give it his best try.

"It's not really sweet," He informed Aidan, handing one over to his waiting hand and cracking his own open, clasped between his knees precariously. It foamed up and he bent over his knees to cover the mess with his mouth, slurping loudly with a snort of laughter. The sharp, hoppy flavour wasn't exactly a sweet treat, but Eli didn't hate it. He sat back with a foamy upper lip, which he swiped away with his tongue. Picking up the can and lifting it to toast, egged on by Aidan's restless enthusiasm.

"To... to good friends," He tilted his can toward Aidan's and a splash of beer jumped from his and Aidan's and dashed against the dirt packed ground when they rattled together noisily. Eli took no notice as he half turned toward the Phoenix, who was perched proudly and almost waiting for the audiences full and undivided attention. "And new beginnings!" He gave the bird an admiring nod and shook his can until it fizzed over his knuckles, ducking it back down to his mouth to drink as the fading night sky was torn open by a shower of majestic flames and time seemed to freeze with it. 

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

Even Eli’s supposed insults came with a dose of sweetness, and Aidan matched his friend’s grin as he adjusted the feather behind his ear and slouched back down in his seat. “Too bad,” he said, although the effort of appearing downcast was completely put off by the smile on his face. Aidan made a promise to himself not to lose the feather so he could bring it back home for his sister’s birthday soon – she loved when he brought her things from his adventures, and she still took her mermaid scale bracelet with her everywhere. The problem was that these sorts of gifts didn’t come often, because Aidan had a bad habit of losing absolutely anything and everything. He kept the can of beer in his hand because he’d be sure to lose it if he accidentally put it down.

Speaking of, Aidan looked into the small opening as if he could taste the beer just by looking at it – but a moment later he shrugged and took a sip. “Woah!” he sputtered, rearing his head back as he blinked rapidly to process the strange taste. The can shloshed at the sudden movement and some beer spilled over and went to water the closest log. “Not sweet at all!” Aidan said accusingly, looking at Eli suspiciously like he’d somehow tricked him into streaking across the mooncalf enclosure. He watched curiously at the eager way Eli slurped down the beer like he was expecting to find all of life’s answers at the bottom, and Aidan looked back down at his own can contemplatively.

A moment later, he shrugged, held his breath, and downed a good bit of what was left in his own. There must be something Eli liked about the strangely bitter taste – either that, or he truly was trying to drown himself before he reached the end. Aidan accepted Eli’s toast and nodded along to the words. They were classic druid blessings, the kind of toasts you might hear at Imbolc when they ended the Time of Passing and left the broken past behind so they could celebrate a new future. “To the blessing of his memory and all his lifetimes to come,” Aidan continued in Brasilic, quoting one that his ma always said at funerals. It seemed to fit right for a phoenix. A beat later, he said it again in English as he saluted the phoenix with his beer can.

And then it started. Aidan’s breath caught as he watched the phoenix lift up its head and spread its wings, the fire flaring wildly as if it’d been given new life. It became almost unbearable to watch as the reds grew more brilliantly bright, and the blue faded into a dusky purple and then an ashy gray. Finally, the bird seemed to fold into itself as the brightness disappeared suddenly and the fire seemed to recede suddenly. After a long stretch of silence, Aidan finally began to breathe again as the discordant notes of a life ending faded into nothing, and he strained his ears to search for the sound of a new melody. He’d always been the chatty type, but his eyes were wide with wonder and the silence seemed to ring and stretch around them like a physical being that was there with the boys.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

jul 2028

CRACKING THE RING ON HIS BEER CAN, ELI watched with a fond amusement as Aidan popped open his own can after watching Eli carefully for guidance. The curious way he leaned his head over the top of the can to peer inside at the fizzing liquid, as if it would provide some answer as to what exactly it was offering. He was a pretty odd guy, Eli thought, but that was precisely why he liked spending time with him. Nothing was ever predictable with Aidan around, his particular upbringing separating him from all the mundanity of the standard wizarding and no-maj world.

That first sip showed on Aidan's face like a thousand sparking fireworks. It could have curled the ends of his red hair, for all Eli knew, his eyes popped and his mouth souring in a funny little scrunch as he swallowed, rearing back on the log they sat on. Eli laughed heartily, throwing his head back and spilling a foamy glob of beer onto the knee of his jeans as he clapped Aidan on the shoulder and gave him a friendly shake as he slurped from his own can noisily.

It wasn't the best thing Eli had ever tasted, and he licked the foam from his upper lip as he took a look at the can's label with a curious frown. The word 'Carlsburg' sprawled across the front, the metallic green glinting in the firelight. He shrugged his shoulder and took another bitter mouthful, the fizz tickling his tongue, and numbing it softly. He turned it into a toast, leaning against Aidan's shoulder as he lifted the beer with a wild look in his eyes.

Aidan quickly followed suit, his arm raising to match Eli's as he made his own toast in his own tongue. Eli was momentarily distracted, turning his head to listen as Aidan spoke in that strange, melodic language. Almost like he was singing some strange, Celtic spell work. Eli blinked the wonder from his eyes, and clattered his beer with Aidan's before he turned his attention to the proud and patient Phoenix. And then, quicker than Eli could blink, the bird burst into flames.

The light was almost too magnificent to gaze upon, a searing burn of great orange and red, the flames near blue at the heart as they burned out and rolled over the creatures plumage until it burned into a great ash that dashed into the air and coated the pyre below its perch. It was beautiful, and frightening, and Eli could do nothing but stare. And if his eyes watered a little, he could blame it on the burst of light, stinging the corners and making his stomach swoop with fascination and a feeling as if he were seeing something incredibly special.

In the ensuing silence, Eli heard his fingers crack against the metal can. The breath leaving him in a great whoosh as he blinked the water from his eyes and turned to look at Aidan with a blinking, slack look about him. "I can't believe that, I can't- I can't believe this." And he leapt to his feet, a slash of beer arcing out his can as he lifted his arms and let out a great whooping call! Arms held wide as he leapt at least a foot in the air. "We just saw the rebirth of a Phoenix, Aidan." He declared, as if that hadn't been the whole point, but it was the first and completely unabashed joy Eli had felt in weeks. "And it was... fucking... amazing." And then he grabbed his friend and he hugged him surely as he hopped around in place.

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

Aidan forgot about the mostly empty can of beer in his hand as the bonfire erupted into a swirl of colors and flames. Even for druids, it was a very rare event to be present for a phoenix’s Burning Day and as such, it became the kind of legendary story to share around a campfire once it had begun to burn low and the blanket of darkness had almost completely enveloped them. He’d gone running with the unicorn herd (most of which would simply regally ignore him), and watched dragon eggs hatch, and helped rehydrate murtlaps after particularly dry and dusty summers…but he’d never quite managed to catch more than a glimpse of a phoenix.

And sharing the moment with Eli made it all the more profound. Aidan thumped a hand on Eli’s back as they watched the fire die down, and the silence rang around the clearing for several clear moments. “It exploded!” Aidan added eagerly to Eli’s rushed explanation, “Like whoosh!” and he laughed loudly as the fire continued to blaze brightly behind his closed eyelids even as the moment had faded already. The last few minutes had felt surreal, like they were intruding on one of nature’s hidden moments…but Boudicca’s chariots, it had been worth stoking the fire and maintaining the blazing heat just to witness a new life begin. The two boys hopped around, not too different from that time they’d tried to dance with the mooncalves, and when they separated Aidan crept closer towards the fire.

The flames had almost completely dimmed, but he held his breath again as his eyes scanned the ashes. “Look,” he whispered, dropping to his knees suddenly so he could practically plunge his hands into the gently-smoldering logs. He whispered a few words of magic to protect his hands (because really, who needed a wand for that?) but his attention was no longer on the fire, or on Eli, or on the beer can he’d dropped (would the High Druid punish him for littering?). Aidan scooped up the little pile of ashes gently and held it up so he could use the moonlight to see. And yes, there…the silhouette of a beak, the weak shifting of wings as the little phoenix held its head up…Aidan’s mouth dropped at the realization that he was holding a baby phoenix in his hands. How many times was that going to happen in his inconsequential little life?

He held out his hands so Eli could look, and maybe hold the phoenix for a little while if he wanted. It was barely more tangible than a little pile of ashes, but Aidan didn’t dare breathe for fear of blowing it away. He used one finger to rub the phoenix’s little head, clearing away some of the soot, cooing slightly at the little chirps it gave. It was quite possibly the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen (although that observation was staying firmly lodged in his head and not going anywhere else).

Elijah Theron Fleming