The thing they were riding reminded Sally of a seahorse.  Something about its face.  Something about the way it shimmered in the sun.

“We call them pipers,” explained the moth, “They live down in Wallfruit Cove.  That’s where we’re heading.”

“Right,” said Sally.  The moth had introduced himself as Kai.  That was just about all he’d had time to say before he’d tarted whistling his little tune to summon the seahorse thing.

Sally should have been frightened.  She was normally scared of heights.  She’d never have dared to get on a theme park ride that took you as high as this seahorse-thing was going.  But once talking moths and flying purple creatures got involved, falling was probably the least of your worries.

“I wanted to talk to Colwyn about what the Iridescence family are up to, but if he’s not around, the Cove’s probably our best bet,” Kai continues.  He was perched on Sally’s knuckles, tickling her a bit when he moved.  Every so often, she’d worry that she was about to drop him, before remembering that he had wings.

“Who are the Iridescence family?” asked Sally.  Miles underneath them, she could see their shadow move across the fields and towns below.  It was the only shadow in sight.  The sun must have been right above them.

“They live over there,” said Kai, pointing out a town to the right of them.  Sally couldn’t see much of it, but some of the buildings looked as if they were made out of colourful glass, like a church window.  “They’re the ones I escaped from.”

“Right,” said Sally.

“Bunch of creeps.  No-one in the city’s ever tried to tell them no; that’s the problem.  That’s why I thought Colwyn could help.”

“So they kidnapped you?” asked Sally, trying to get the conversation back to where she’d have a clue what he was talking about.

The moth nodded his furry head.  “When I was younger than you.”  Sally was just wondering how long it took for moths to grow to adulthood when he added, “It’s their fault I’m even in this body.”

“Oh, right- so you weren’t always a moth?”

“Nope.  I started off just as human as you are.  But one day my parents took me on a trip to Dovecote Gardens, and I wandered off down one of those paths.”  He sighed.  “Next thing you know…”

Sally felt that lonely, punching feeling again, just like when she’d been reading last night.  She wondered how old Kai had been at the time, and how long it had taken him to realise that he really wasn’t ever going to see his home or family again.

Then she thought of something else.  “I think my sisters went for a walk along those paths.  Should we…?”

Kai waved one of his front legs in a calming gesture.  “They’ll be fine, as long as they’re careful.”

(To be continued)