All pegasi knew that it was forbidden to make contact with the humans. From the moment they had entered the grasslands, the humans had begun to do strange and alien things. They had grown plants and kept animals in a way that they called "farming". The humans did not go near the pegasi, and the pegasi never approached the humans. In fact, they rarely acknowledged each others presence in the grasslands. This was the way that every pegasus and human thought that it should be. Every pegasus and human until Eltia and Firnom.
The first rays of morning sunlight were spreading across the sky when Eltia sneaked out of the human village. She longed to escape the repetition of her life as a servant of a wealthy lady. So Eltia ran from the village, her long brown hair flying in the wind as she raced past the farmlands and into the wild and dangerous lands where the pegasi roamed. Most humans were terrified of the unknown valleys beyond the safe, dull farms and village. However, Eltia, in her desperation for freedom from her monotonous life, was not afraid. When the village was no longer in sight, Eltia sat down in the soft green grass. The sun was higher in the sky now, and Eltia smiled as sunbeams landed upon her tanned skin.
Firnom yawned and gazed at the valley. He wanted to escape the lessons that he, as the eldest child of the herd leader, was obliged to have. Firnom spread his russet wings and leapt into the air, eager for adventure. None of his family was awake yet, so he hadn't been spotted. Smiling to himself, Firnom soared over the grass that rippled like a stormy sea in the soft wind. He gazed at the flowers and animals below him. Suddenly his eyes came to rest upon something completely out of the ordinary. A female human sat picking flowers in the sunshine. An instinct told Firnom to ignore her, but he couldn't. Curious, Firnom landed gracefully in the grass. The human turned her head, and Firnom saw that she was young, quite pretty too. She didn't run or shudder in Firnom's presence, but asked "Who are you?". "I'm Firnom." replied the chestnut pegasus. Even then, Firnom had known that something about this human was special.
Eltia and Firnom became firm friends after that. Firnom talked about the pegasi, and taught Eltia about many weather patterns, of which pegasi have great knowledge. In return, Eltia showed Firnom many species of edible plants. They discovered that they were both the same age, thirteen. It wasn't long before both Firnom and Eltia began to sneak away and join each other to talk and have fun.
One day, Firnom had an idea. "Eltia, would you like to ride me?" he questioned. He had seen Eltia looking at the sky with longing, and wanted to give his friend an experience that she'd never forget. Eltia gasped with joy. "Firnom, I'd love to!" she cried, throwing her hands around his neck. Firnom wrapped his soft-feathered, chestnut wing around her and smiled. "I'll kneel down and you can mount me." he whispered gently. So soon Eltia sat on Firnom's strong back and stared at the sky. "Hold on to my mane." advised Firnom, before cantering, spreading his wings and leaping into the air.
Eltia had never imagined travelling so far above the ground, above the clouds themselves. She wasn't afraid in Firnom's presence, with the wind ruffling her hair and the sun's light dancing on them. Firnom's wings made a steady whooshing sound as they beat up and down. His mane was softer than the finest silk against her face. "I must be the luckiest human alive." she thought joyfully.
Later on, Firnom landed, and Eltia's feet touched the ground once more. It felt strange to be back on the soil again, and she leaned against Firnom's strong russet shoulder for support. "Thank you Firnom." she told him, tears of joy in her eyes, "I don't know how I'll ever repay you.". "You've already repaid me. Your presence... is magical." said Firnom, unable to conceal the happiness in his voice. "I love you, Eltia.". Eltia smiled and replied. "I love you too.".
Eltia arrived home, happy and slightly windblown. Her brother snarled at her, his tanned face bearing a scowl. "Traitor." He muttered, brushing aside his brown fringe. "W-what did you say?" Stammered Eltia, her hazel eyes wide in fright. "Everyone in the village knows that you've been talking to... one of
them." Her brother growled. "And now you're guilty of high treason. Which, oddly enough, is punishable by death." Eltia didn't wait. She raced out the door, with only one thought, one word, one name, in her mind. Firnom.
Firnom was grazing when he spotted Eltia, pursed by many other humans. "Eltia!" He yelled, dashing forward to protect her. Firnom raced between Eltia and her hunters. "Firnom, no!" Eltia sobbed. "I-I love you. Always remember that." Firnom told her. He turned and saw a human with a bow and arrow in his hands.
For Eltia, the arrow seemed to fly in slow motion. She raced desperately, but only one thing could be done to save her friend. Eltia did it. She threw herself between Firnom and the arrow.
"Eltia!" Firnom shouted, but it was too late. Eltia's shirt was scarlet, her eyes closed. Firnom knew that her eyes would not open again. Tears fell from his eyes, and he fell beside Eltia and died.
The rains of the grasslands have long since washed away the blood and tears. Yet the stain never goes away, the stain of bloodshed and murder, the stain of lives taken because of love.
