Once upon a time there was an angel who fell from the sky. She landed near the tiny village of Olf in the far corner of the kingdom of Dukane. Three children found her in the middle of the Great Forest.
It all started when Parga and Ting were playing leaf house. Nine year old Parga was the Mom and four year old Ting the Baby. They laid out the outline of their playhouse by piling leaves into walls. Their brother Sten, was seven and playing with his clay soldiers. Only Ting noticed the bright line streaming from the sky.
"Parga, look! It's a light!" Ting shouted gleefully.
Parga and Sten looked up and watched as a shining object streaked to the ground. Parga, a bit frightened, put her arm around Ting. Sten kept a steady eye on the spot where it landed, saying, "Let's go look."
Sten ran across the flower filled field with Ting and Parga trailing behind. Ting pulled her hesitant sister's hand. "Yes, let's go," she cried.
They were falling behind Sten. Ting, impatient and excited, let go of her sister's hand and darted ahead. Parga called out, "Wait!" She ran to keep up with her siblings.
Soon they came to the edge of the forest. The children could see a tiny, bright light shining beyond the trees. Sten was already pushing through the saplings and brush. Parga took Ting's hand and led her along the route their brother took. The wildflowers and brambles were so high that Ting would get lost if Parga let go of her. She called ahead to Sten, "Slow down!"
Soon they were all warily beneath the canopy of trees. The tall timbers blocked the sun from the ground. This made for easier travel as there were few bushes growing on the leafy forest floor. Parga caught sight of Sten ahead. He was stopped in a shaft of sunlight; broken trees littered all around. He stood on the edge of a large crater. Parga shouted, "Wait for us!"
Sten looked back and smiled, then disappeared into the hole in the ground. When they got closer, Ting could see a faint glow from where Sten disappeared. Though her sister was impatient, Parga held her back as they approached. She pulled Ting to the ground and they crept up the side of the crater. The light was brighter now. They heard Sten laugh.
"I want to see!" Ting whispered. Parga reluctantly stood and looked down into the hole. It was burnt on the inside as if a fire exploded within. Wisps of smoke rose lazily from pieces of the shattered trees. Sten stood over a faintly glowing object. As they ventured closer Parga realized it was a glowing figure, no bigger than Ting. The creature appeared to be hurt, cradling her arm against her chest.
"I think she's hurt her wing," Sten said quietly. Parga looked more closely and saw the creature did indeed have bright, glowing wings, one of which was folded under her.
Ting moved closer. She touched the creature gently, caressing the glowing hair that fell around her shoulders. "Are you all right?" she asked.
The bright child looked up at Ting and smiled. Parga thought it was the most beautiful smile she ever saw. She said to the creature, "Let me help you."
The girl nodded and Parga moved closer. She touched the girl's arm, noting that it was bent between shoulder and elbow. She took off her apron and carefully tied the injured in a sling. Next she moved behind the injured child and looked at her wing. She crouched down and stroked it gently. Where she touched it, the bright wing rippled with light. It too looked bent. The wing appeared to be nearly twice the size of the girl. Parga didn't have an apron big enough for that.
"What's your name?" Ting asked.
The girl's voice was like the tinkling of golden bells. "It's Shalael."
Sten leaned over her protectively. Her light reflected on his face. Carefully so as not to hurt her, he reached for the uninjured arm. "Can you move?" he asked.
"I think so," Shalael answered. She lifted herself slightly but fell back. Parga reached for her gently. She and Sten lifted the girl from the ground. Then Sten helped gather up the injured wing. He held it against her back as she rose.
Ting danced around the girl, giggling with delight. "Be careful!" her sister barked. Ting stopped as if frozen in place, her face a mask of mortification. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Shalael smiled, glimmering. "What's your name, little one?"
"Ting," she answered softly.
"Well Ting, could you help hold my wing?"
Ting stepped behind Shalael. Standing beside Sten she placed her hand on the wing. It fluttered at her touch. "Like this?" she asked.
"Yes, Ting, just like that. I'm going to hold it with my other wing." The children stood in awestruck silence as Shalael unfurled her good wing. It gleamed like sunlight on the lake. She pressed her good wing against the injured one, pinning it against her back. Pain flickered across her face.
Parga reached for her and took Shalael's good arm. Sten helped the girls out of the singed pit. He walked ahead, moving saplings and pushing aside low, leafy limbs.
Ting walked along, staring in amazement. "I saw you fall down. You came from the sky," she said.
Shalael nodded. "Yes, I fell quite a long way."
"Where did you come from?" Ting asked.
Parga shushed Ting, but Shalael answered her. "From the stars," she said.
"You're going to need a place to stay until you're better," Sten observed. "Can you fit in our barn?"
Ting grinned. "We have soft hay and our mother can make you feel better."
"Thank you," Shalael said sincerely, "but it's probably best if the others didn't know I'm here."
Parga looked at her. "Are you hiding from someone?" she asked, concerned.
"Sometimes adults get frightened," she said. "But I could use a soft place to rest."
Sten nodded and ran ahead to the barn. It was nearly dark. Shalael glowed more dimly. They were almost home. Parga told her sister to run ahead and bring a blanket. It would dampen the glow of the injured girl. Ting sped off, her chestnut braids flying behind her. Soon Ting and Sten returned. The children carefully wrapped the blanket around their gently twinkling charge. They helped her into the barn. It was warm from the heat of the cows and Jesta the plow horse. Sten opened an empty stall.
Once settled, Shalael leaned back gingerly. Sten laid one of his mother's old quilts over her. "Thank you," she said kindly. Then, "I don't even know all your names."
"I'm Sten," said the boy. He pointed to his older sister. "This is Parga."
"And I'm Ting!"
Shalael smiled, her face aglow. "Yes, I know," she replied.
Parga fussed busily around the girl, putting more hay under her injured wing. "What can I do to help you?" she asked.
Their mother's voice interrupted them. "Parga! Sten! Ting! It's time for supper!"
"Coming," Parga answered. She looked closely at the glowing girl. "Will you be all right?"
Shalael nodded.
"Would you like something to eat?" Sten asked.
"Perhaps," Shalael said. "Maybe a drink?" Sten ran to get the ladle from the well. Returning, he handed it to her. She drank thirstily.
Parga smiled at her and said, "We'll bring you something after we eat."
"Thank you," she replied.
Their mother's voice called again. "Children, supper!"
Reluctantly, they left the barn. "What should we bring her?" Ting asked her brother.
"I don't know. Maybe some bread and cheese."
Parga opened the loft door. "Let's go before mother comes looking for us." The with a look back at their new friend, the children filed out.
