Encountering a Human is something I've been actively avoiding yet here I am. I dashed through the familiar forest of oversized pines. My leather boots crushed the sticks as I ran, alerting the stranger. They quickly followed me. I started to realize there was no way out of this. I reached a clearing where I stood my ground. The Human followed in suit. We glared at each other for what felt like forever in a standoff.

With sweat beading down on my face, I bolted out of there. I launched myself into the trees to escape but the Human just kept following me. They chased me along the ground like a dog hunting a bird. Unwilling to lose my life this early in the morning, I did the only thing I knew to do. I stopped long enough to cast an invisibility spell on myself. And that was that, no more pesky human. They couldn't see me anymore and got frustrated. They searched the area once more before giving up. One thing about people is that they're lazy and boy am I glad for that.

I hopped down from the tree and unveiled myself. Strolling back home, I heard a noise behind me. Oh great! Another one? Luckily it was just my older sister.

"Quin! Guess what I just did?" I proudly announced my escape from a Human. If looks could kill. Her brows furrowed, accentuating her natural angry face.

"You did what?"

The adrenaline wore off and I started to realize how dumb that was of me to admit. But I can't back down now. "Uh huh! They were so foolish." I boasted with false confidence. Here comes the lecture.

"Reminds me of my little brother!" She grabbed my ear and yanked me around. "You idiot! How stupid are you?" I screamed out in pain but was ignored. "Auntie sent me to get you for breakfast and I find you fleeing from a conflict with a Human?" Quin groaned and yelled out of anger.

"Please! Put me down! I'm alive, I'm alive, okay?" I begged.

Quin pushed me to the ground and crossed her arms. "But they aren't!" She screamed while pointing to the sky, her smooth voice cracking.

I fell silent. It wasn't my fault anyway. The stupid Human came over here, they were probably a spy! But here I am being scolded and lectured by my sister. I stood up and brushed past Quin, my shoulder forcefully bumping into hers. "Don't talk about mom and dad like that. You know they did what was right."

"Yeah, I know." Quin whispered as I walked away. "But it got them killed."

Sometimes I wish I weren't an Elf.

. . .

"I don't understand," my young cousin Avery sighed as she took a sad bite of her grits, "why can't the races get along?"

Quin grunted, her stern face turning into something even more harsh. "Because the Humans hate us. The Aviators don't associate with us anymore. And we don't even need to talk about the Dragonbornes." She rolled her light green eyes.

"But why? Why is everyone so destructive?" Avery pressed. Her mother lightly nudged her siblings that had been snickering.

I stood up from my chair, causing the table to shake. Now that I had everyone's attention, I cleared my throat. My family eyed me suspiciously. "I think Avery's right. Why can't we just live peacefully like we used to? I mean, seriously!"

Quin stood up too, meeting my gaze. "Because of those barbaric Humans and their ability to stir conflict. Do you think I want to take lives out there? Do you think our parents wanted that too?" She spoke about humans stirring conflict yet here she is doing exactly that!

"Of course not! Don't bring them into this, Quin." I grumbled before stomping out the front door.

"Aero! Your food!" My aunt called.

"Thank you for the meal, Auntie May!" I shouted before slamming the door.

After getting away from the family, I knew I should collect myself. I took to the market in the village to speak to friends instead of deep diving into the rabbit hole of what just occurred. The stroll was quiet and pleasant. The fall breeze blew the changing leaves around reminding me of the flying type of magic. Gliding like an autumn leaf would be so relaxing on a day like this. I peered around the path, watching and waiting for animals to cross but none did. That's odd...there must be something wrong. Typically they play around here but they don't usually hide unless...Humans are around.

I tried not think about it too much. Maybe I'll see one soon. But my walk was coming to an end as I approached the village and I hadn't seen a single creature. My worries were made all to real as I heard the sound of indistinguishable shouting. As I got closer, I could understand the words being said.

"Please, I'm not here to cause harm!"

I hurried to the clearing and saw a young Human boy in the middle of a crowd of Elves. After coming closer, I figured out what was going on and it crushed me. The boy was merely passing through, he meant no trouble. But my people are so cautious of the Humans that this kid is getting harassed. I pushed my way into the crowd to get to the poor kid and stood in front of him.

"Aero! Get away, it's too dangerous!" Voices from the crowd rioted and raved at my intervention.

I got overwhelmed and started shouting back. "Leave him the hell alone!" Dead. Silent. "He's just a kid!" I screamed at the guards whose faces were familiar. I've seen these people around the village so many times yet they never speak.

"Get him away from that Human." Someone called.

As the guards got closer, I pushed my back against the Human's. "Hold onto me."

"What?!"

"You heard me." I ordered. "Get ready..."

"For what?!" The kid squeaked.

"Now!" I casted a levitation spell and grabbed the boy by the waist. He screamed as we lifted into the air and flew away. "Shut up!" I yelled over the wind. The guards aren't mages, that's why they fight. Unless they send citizens, which they won't, we're safe.

"What the hell just happened?!" The Human asked as we landed on a platform in the woods. It wasn't just any platform, it was my childhood treehouse. My dad built it for my siblings and I but...that was all in the past.

I took a few steps back from the Human, sifting through my thoughts. Did I just impulsively help a Human? Why? Because he was outnumbered? This is so wrong, I'll be cast out...Holy Heavens, no! Why did I do that?! "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have saved you. That was a mistake, I...Oh my stars." I grabbed my head and pulled on my hair.

"Are you alright? Don't hurt yourself!" He took a couple steps towards me, reaching his hand out before pulling away. "Thank you." He bowed. "I'm Semi, what's your name?"

"Aero." I muttered. "And you're welcome I suppose..."

Semi glanced at the floor. "I owe you my life, what can I do to repay you?"

There's so much on my mind right now but one thing sticks out the most. "Hey, Semi," I started with my head low, "They're never going to let me back home...do you think, I dunno, you could help me out?" I asked while looking back at Semi. He's short and slender, a cute thing. His sleeveless shirt showed that there wasn't much muscle to speak of but his looks definitely make up for it.

Semi stared at me for a long time which made me nervous. Instead of brushing me off Semi smiled big, flashing his Human canines and scaring me a bit. Human teeth are so sharp..."Of course! But you might not like my living situation." Semi sighed. "I've been banned from most Human kingdoms for protesting so I've been a lone traveler ever since."

"Oh?" I tilted my head to one side, curious on the details of his banishment. "Can I come too?"

He raised his arms in the air. "Yes! A traveling partner! Finally." Semi looked around before realizing something. His short and spiky hair shook around lightly with his head; I took in the two tones of his hair split down the middle. One side was a dark grey and the other was nearly black. How was he born with hair like that? "Damn, my bag is in that village of yours. Oh well, guess we'll have to stop by my hometown."

"Yeah..." I mumbled as I looked out at the mid-day sun. "I need to grab some things before we leave." I told Semi. "You might wanna stay here." Semi agreed and off I went, back to Aunt May's house.

I thought hard about this whole thing. Me, travelling with a Human? The race that killed my parents and ruined my family? Seriously? I have no choice, it's Semi or prison. Or maybe even death. I'm not too sure that's any better. This isn't going to be easy and I'm far from excited but Semi seems reliable at the very least. I am concerned about his hometown though, it's probably littered with Humans...

I arrived at the house and snuck into my bedroom window. I always leave it open during the day just in case. While hurrying to grab a bag and fill it with survival items, I didn't notice my sister standing there.

"Aero, you're back."

I froze and slowly looked up. "Quin...Hey..." Does she know yet? Is she going to hurt me? Kill me? Throw me out?

Quin ran up and wrapped her arms around me. "I'm sorry, that was wrong of me to say and...I love you so much." My eyes widened as I gently wrapped my arms around her too. This is the last hug I'll ever give her...

"Quin," I pulled away, "I love you too and I'm going to miss you. You're all I had left...I'm sorry I have to do this." Before she could ask any questions, I hugged her one more time and rushed out the window with my half full bag. There's no going back. Tears welled up in my eyes as I ran from my Aunt's house, I could hear my sister call out to me.

Goodbye Auntie, goodbye my little cousins. Goodbye Quin...Goodbye.