Flight of the Golden Harpy by Susan Klaus

ground and reached toward her. She sidestepped the vines and proceeded more cautiously. She passed some white-barked trees and stopped to observe a flock of brightly colored mockingbirds.
    “Aren’t you guys cute?” she said.
    “Aren’t you guys cute?” several mocked, holding trisom fruit.
    Kari grinned and moved on, hearing the growing choirs of, “Aren’t you guys cute?” The birds would repeat this all day until they heard something else of interest. Seeing the fruit in the birds’ arms told her the grove and lake must be near. She passed several trisom saplings growing in low, wet soil, further evidence she was on the right trail.
    Finally she saw the towering trees that bordered the edge of the lake. Although late in the season, a few branches still held the sweet yellow fruit. She walked beneath trisom trees and stared across the lake at the beach. Beyond the beach and under the blue ferns, the harpy had held her and treated her injury. “Oh, Shail, I don’t know if you’re dangerous,” she murmured, “but God, I miss you.” She glanced upward toward the empty branches, no animals. She sat down on a boulder in the shade of the swaying trees, and relished a strong breeze blowing across the water.
    Time passed, and the late morning drifted into the afternoon. Kari found it hard to leave the place. Her spirit was renewed, and as Charlie had said, the jungle was healing. Glancing at the time, she rose, considering the long, hot hike ahead. Scattered fruit lay on the ground, and she picked up the undamaged ones, deciding Maria could make a tasty pie. Placing them in the front of her shirt, she reached for the last one.
    Although she heard nothing, Kari suddenly sensed a presence behind her. She whirled around and saw a brown harpy several feet away. Started, she jumped, releasing the collected fruit. One of the yellow balls rolled to his feet. Kari now recognized the harpy as the same one who scared the grogins away on the road outside of Terrance. He had traveled several hundred miles, and this wasn’t a coincidental meeting. She jerked the laser gun from her belt and pointed it at him. “What do you want?”
    Her weapon didn’t frighten him away, and the harpy stood quietly. Though scared, she couldn’t help admiring the tall, handsome creature. He flung his lengthy hair and made a sniffling sound with his nose, then stared across the lake toward the beach, the same beach where she met Shail.
    “Are you going to take me?” Kari asked.
    He slightly shook his head. His silent voice entered her mind, “You are his. Go to him.”
    “I am not his,” Kari said out loud.
    The harpy reached down, picking up the trisom fruit at his feet, and walked toward her. She saw the anguish in his green eyes and knew he wouldn’t harm her. She lowered the weapon and took the fruit from his extended hand.
    “Shail needs you,” he relayed mentally.
    Kari was mystified and totally perplexed by the harpy. She watched him raise his wings, and with one leap, he was airborne. He flew across the lake and vanished into the trees. She dropped the trisom fruit and staggered to the boulder, slowly sitting down. Her hands were shaking and her heart raced, as though she had stepped off a fast thrill ride, experiencing a mix of fear and joy. She dwelled on the harpy’s words, though they were few. If Shail needs me, why didn’t he come? She put her hand over her mouth, realizing her weapon was useless against a harpy. Like with Charlie, they instinctively knew she wouldn’t harm them. If Shail had come, would he have taken her?
    *   *   *
    The scarlet horizon signaled the approach of night. Kari jumped up, knowing she’d be late for dinner. She gathered the fruit and darted into the woods. By the time she reached the logging road and her vehicle, she was dirty, sweaty, and tired. She tossed the fruit and her laser weapon on the empty passenger seat and hopped into the vehicle. Flipping on the headlights, she drove down