On bright, crisp winter days Ivy liked to walk along the beach and watch the light play upon the waves. With no wind to stir them, they lapped lazily at one another, punctuating their greeny-blue hue with flashes of dazzling sunlight. It was after one such walk that Ivy created Ariel.
* * * * * * * *
Ariel sighed gently, forcing a small eyelash to flutter a few milimetres away from her. She was sitting in her favourite spot on the edge of the basil plant on the windowsill, gazing out to the sea.
“I wish I were a fish, Aunt Ivy,” she sighed, “Then I could swim away with the waves and have adventures across the sea. My scales would shine rainbow-bright in the sun and I would jump and swim with a whole shoal of fishy friends.”
“Why, what adventures would you have under the sea that you cannot have in the sky with those beautiful wings of yours?” asked Ivy. “And the colours of your skirt and the shimmering stones in your hair make you every bit as beautiful as a fish! Ariel, I fear you have a touch of the ‘grass is greener’s!”
Ariel turned back to the window. “Perhaps, Aunt Ivy,” she replied with another sigh.
The next day Ariel was awoken early by the sound of Ivy bustling about in the kitchen. Stretching she pulled herself out of bed and fluttered over to hover above the stove. Ivy was pouring hot camomile tea into a flask. The satchel she always took along when she went out was lying on the bench, a small greaseproof packet of sandwiches and another of raspberry brownies visible alongside an old tin inside.
“Are we going somewhere Aunt Ivy?” she yawned, settling on the wok handle.
“Good morning Ariel!” came the reply, “We are indeed! We’re going on an adventure! Would you like to ride in the pocket of my satchel, or would you be happier flying?”
“I’ll fly, I think,” chirped Ariel excitedly, “I wouldn’t want to miss anything because I was snoring in your satchel!”
And off they set.
* * * * * * * *
At the bottom of the garden path Ariel fluttered off to the left as she was used to doing, but Ivy turned away from the sea and towards the woods behind the house.
“Where are we going?” asked Ariel, “Surely not into the forest! It’s full of dead trees and dull brown wood! I’d rather go to see the sparkling blue sea and the soft yellow sand.”
“Ahhh, but today we’re going on an adventure,” replied Ivy, “There’s nothing adventurous about going somewhere you’ve been a dozen times before.” And she strode purposefully up the lane. Ariel had no choice but to follow her, sulking slightly. Before long she had given up on flying and was settled on Ivy’s shoulder, watching the branches start to thicken overhead and listening to the crunch of twigs and dried leaves beneath her feet.
“Are we there yet?” she whispered into Ivy’s ear, “When will the adventures begin?”
Just then a bird swooped low overhead and startled them both. Ivy jumped and Ariel fell off her shoulder, catching herself as she fell and righting herself mid-air.
“It’s a good job I have wings!” she cried breathlessly, “Are you ok, Aunt Ivy?”
“I’m fine, dear,” replied Ivy, “Just gave me a start, that’s all. And yes, it is a very good job you have wings! A fish would have fallen straight to the ground!”
Ariel thought she detected a slightly smug smile on Ivy’s face. “I suppose it would,” she said thoughtfully.
“Shall we stop for some lunch?” asked Ivy, “There’s a nice little clearing here.”
After Ariel had munched on corners of cheese sandwich, wolfed delicious crumbs of brownie and sipped a thimble full of elderflower water, she was ready to go. But Ivy was not.
“Just give me five minutes,” she yawmed to Ariel, “While my food goes down”.
“Don’t go to sleep Aunt Ivy! ” exclaimed Ariel, “We’re having an adventure!”.
“I’m not going to sleep,” murmered Ivy, “I’m just resting my eyes…”
Ariel sat back down with a sigh. “You always say that,” she muttered, half to herself.
Ariel was busy sulking when she heard a rustling in the leaves. Turning cautiously, she came face to face with a twitching nose.
(To be continued…)
