Strawbi was having the time of their life flying about with the other winged, it's not often they get to be around them. Strawbi watched with awe as the ones who were more experienced with magic made beautiful displays with it. Pure bliss it was to be flying free with the others. Tootie seemed to be quite happy too. She was running about and playing with the other snekkets, sometimes playing tricks like how she usually did.
When strawbi grew weary, they turned back into their standard form and went off to go find some grub for them and Tootie. One stand in particular stood out to Strawbi. Firstly, it smelled amazing. Second, the paca that stood behind it was awfully familiar. As they came closer they soon realized who it was: it was thyme!
In hopes of making things up to the monster and finding answers, they ran up to the stall shard in nub but not visible. Tootie quickly followed behind Strawbi once she realized they were going somewhere else.
“Uhm, excuse me miss!” Strawbi said, looking up at the large paca.
“Ah? Hello tiny–oh.”
Very quickly Thyme realized who she was talking to, and she recognized the snekket who was currently mean muggin her aswell.
“You're the one from these woods right, you know from like…a few months ago?” Strawbi asked.
Thyme's face scrunched up a bit and she pulled her hat over her face.
“Look, I don't like to bring up things that happened so long ago in the past, so, enjoy the festival.”
Thyme turned around to go bring some items up front,hoping Strawbi would be gone once she turned back around. However, this would not be the case, and instead they placed the shard on the booth and looked Thyme directly into one of her sets of eyes. Tyme was taken back by how bold this “standard” was.
“Look, can we please just talk? I want to know what this means. I don't mean any harm I just want to make things up to you!” Strawbi pleaded.
Thyme tilted her head quite confused, then sighed.
“Fine. If you promise not to show that thing to any other monsters or poisoned.”
Strawbi simply nodded and waited for an explanation.
“You see, these shards are a spit in the face to every monster that comes across them. Some believe the great crystal was a giant chrysalis shard. Some pieces of it wind up in our land, like the one you came across.”
The monster paused, and took one good look at Strawbi.
“When your wings were about to sprout, did crystals start to grow from your back?”
Strawbi thought for a moment. This was kinda complicated considering when they sprouted their wings, it wasn't because they truly were winged, it was because they ate a cake.
“Well…I do remember finding some starting to appear around my wings,” They recalled.
“I see,”Thyme replied.”That's actually a step in turning into a winged, and a reminder of what we monsters cannot have.”
Strawbi's ears lowered slightly at thyme's sad tone of voice.
“Some pacas would do anything to become a winged like you, try so hard to train their magic, but they corrupt and wind up a monster instead. Our metamorphosis is a very painful process. Our cores start to force themselves out of bodies because they just can't handle it.”
She moved her tuft of fur out the way to show her core. Strawbi examined the pretty blue core with a flower shaped rim, and shuddered at the thought of their own core forcing itself out of their body.
“That's why you mustn't show this to any Monster, or poisoned.” Thyme finished.
Strawbi looked down at the ground sheepishly, and then looked back up at Thyme.
“I really am sorry, Thyme. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, honestly. I just–.”
“It's okay, winged.” Thyme interrupted,” I mean no ill will to you or anyone else who's found of one of these. It just hurts that one appeard here in our home.”
Neither quite knew what to say afterwards, the. Then, Thyme glanced back down at the shard. She slipped it off the stand and tossed it back to Strawbi, then she went towards the back. With the sound of lid closing, Thyme returned with a little terrarium.
“You may keep it, and take this for the trouble I've caused you,” Thyme very carefully handed the terrarium to Strawbi.”It's quite hurtful for us monsters to be seeing around, but perhaps it means the opposite to a winged like you. It's…like I said, don't go showing it to any monsters.
Strawbi nodded.
“Oh, and for the snekket.” Thyme tossed a treat and Tootie happily caught it between her teeth.