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Beach Trip
A Stolen Series Short Story featuring Mawr and The Lady Sphinx
The roses were in full bloom despite the cold breeze that swept through the fair City of Aife. Everyone said they smelled so sweet. Some of the scholars who visited the Great Library claimed that
was the main reason they traveled to Aife to study. Mawr couldn’t smell them, but he loved to look at them. The ones that grew up the side of the dressmaker’s home were bright pink with yellow in the
center, and the bees loved them. Mawr could spend hours watching the little insects buzz around them, exploring the petals, until finally finding the nectar within.
Another cool breeze swept through and he smiled. It was still too cold for the children that he loved so much to come play with him, but it wouldn’t be for much longer. Soon he would have lines of
them, all wanting to ride on his back or listen to a story. Some might even ask about the fierce dragon Tanwen, and Mawr might give them a tale or two if they were good. It was amazing how a good dragon story encouraged children to behave.
“Not many visitors today, I take it?”
Mawr turned to see the Lady Sphinx walking toward him on her delicate black paws with a smile on her lips. She was carved from black slate, unlike his boring gray stone. She had a human face with
large, cat-like eyes, and a tall cylindrical headdress on her head. She said it used to be a sign of royalty in the Human World. Mawr had yet to find a book to confirm that.
“It’s too cold for the children still,” he said, unable to keep the hint of disappointment out of his voice. “Most of the scholars haven’t traveled down yet either. So it’s just me on my pedestal all day.”
“You mean, it’s just us on our pedestals,” she smiled. He couldn’t help but rumble with purrs, which made her laugh. “I’m glad to see you too.” He marked her headdress and she kissed him on the
cheek.
“I was thinking,” Mawr said, his tail batting shyly at hers. “Since it’s almost spring and this might be one of the last days we have together for some time, would you like to go see the ocean with me?”
The Lady Sphinx pursed her lips, “I would like to, but I have students coming soon to ask me riddles. I’m to be their final test for the winter season.”
Mawr pawed at the ground. “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if they got one extra day to study. I know your riddles, they aren’t easy at all.”
She wrapped her tail around his, and leaned in close to whisper into his ear. “Let me go ask. It never hurts to ask.” Another kiss on his furry cheek and Mawr was all purrs again as she trotted away on
her quick paws.
Mawr watched her return to her pedestal. Sure enough there were two bundled up teenagers, Casey and Devon he was pretty sure, sitting on the ground awaiting her return. It was funny how those
two used to play all over Mawr’s back when they were children, but now that they were older, they seemed so scared of the Lady Sphinx. She did look more intimidating even though she was slightly smaller than Mawr. She opened up her great black wings as she climbed up on her pedestal, then leaned down close to the two when she spoke to them. Maybe that was why they were frightened of her.
He paced back and forth, waiting, watching, and hoping. Until finally the teens got up to leave and the Lady Sphinx returned. Mawr tried not to look excited, but he couldn’t help kneading his paws into the dirt.
“Think we can make it back before daybreak?” she asked.
“Oh, absolutely!” Mawr purred.