Can you see the Wind? Thread

The wind wailed; “Where am I? Who am I?” but all who heard it ran away in terror. Loneliness reigned in its heart. As the years passed, it wandered the world, wailing its question to everyone it met. Gradually however, it developed a sense of self, a sense of femininity. “I don’t know who I am, but I know what I am! I am the wind, always alone, but forever free!” she wailed to the sky one day.

“The wind you say? So that’s why I can’t see you! And here I thought I was goin’ crazy or somethin’!” came a voice from amidst the nearby trees. A wizened old figure emerged moments later and continued; “What do you mean you don’t know who you are? I’ve always heard that a livin’ wind was called a Sylph! Mind if I call you that?”

She stared in disbelief, never before had anyone stayed near long enough to answer her, let alone ask her any questions! Floating closer to the old man she looked him over; from the gnarled staff he leaned on, to the wispy grey hair topping his head, and down his torso over the ratty plaid shirt and torn blue jeans he wore to the holes in his old shoes. “Are you talking to me?” she whispered softly in his ear.

Turning to look at where her voice was coming from he said cheerfully; “Yes ma’am! That I sure am! And I ask again, mind if I call you Sylph?”

She stared in disbelief a moment more, then answered, again softly; “Not at all, but are you sure you’re not scared of me? Everyone else always ran away when I spoke to them…” her voice trailed off in dread of his answer.

“Why should I be?” he asked. “You never did nuthin to me!”

Their friendship grew from there and she helped him to pull many a prank until the mountain pass near his cabin had earned a reputation of being haunted, or even cursed, amongst travelers. That is, until one day when she tried a prank on a Silveral youngster…

Grabbing the youngster’s hat she pulled it along, keeping it just out of the teenager’s grip.

“Blasted wind!” the kid yelled in annoyance.

She giggled in glee at the reaction and finally let the youngster get a hold of the hat, but she wasn’t done yet.

As he walked under an overhanging pine tree she tugged at the pack on his back, mimicking a branch catching on it. When the kid stopped to unsnag it and found it wasn’t caught, he looked around in confusion, which caused her to giggle again. This time he heard the sound and jumped to his feet. Seeing no-one nearby he thought he had imagined the sound and shrugged his way back into the pack’s straps before continuing on his way.

Beginning to get reckless, she dropped pebbles onto him from atop the cliff opposite the pine. This time he started violently as he looked for the source, fearful of a possible landslide coming his way. She stopped for a few moments until he continued on his way once more, then resumed dropping pebbles. Finally the boy had had enough and yelled; “I don’t know who you are, but quit it! Anymore and I’ll be forced to fight back!”

She laughed out loud and dropped another pebble on his head at which he snarled and manifested his Psion-Sword before going into a fighting stance.

Thinking no weapon could possibly hurt her, and fascinated with the translucent blue glow, she grabbed at the blade, thinking to disarm him and cause yet more confusion. However, when her insubstantial hands came in contact with the glow it spread to cover her form, revealing her to be a small, elfin-looking girl with long hair that streamed behind her, fading into the air. Shocked, she released the blade and the glow promptly faded, turning her invisible once more.

“There you are!” the boy yelled as he swung at her with the flat of the blade, not wishing to cause any true harm, but merely wishing to teach her a lesson for her pranks.

As the blade connected it sent a shock through her. Before this nothing could touch her unless she willed it. Just what was this boy and the strange blade he wielded?! Shocked, she threw a ball of wind at him that knocked him flat on his back.

“Who are you and why are you doing this?” he yelled as he climbed to his feet.

“I’m the wind and the wind does as the wind wills!” she yelled back angrily.

“I never knew the wind was so mean-spirited!” he growled.

“Mean? What do you mean? I was just having fun!” she snarled back.

“Someone has to teach this errant breeze a lesson!” he thought angrily and readied his blade.