At last the sun dropped below the horizon. It shimmered for a moment like a great orange sea and then it was gone. For a time the glow lingered like a petulant gnomeling refusing to go to bed. It cast strange, otherworldly shadows on the landscape. Hillsides became marauding trolls. Lakes, still glittering in the dusky twilight became sets of ravenous eyes staring unblinkingly from the darkness.

Slowly they began to descend. The air, which had grown noticeably cooler, warmed a little. Carried by Adrianna’s powerful wings they spun in wide circles pulling ever closer to the familiarity of earth. The landscape regained its features. The great forest emerged from obscurity. Mill Pond lay bathed in moonlight. Several deer, grazing contentedly in the corn field, gave a passing glance at them as they landed nearby before returning to their feeding.

She released him within a few inches of the ground so that by starting with his feet already running, he was able to land with a bit of his dignity intact rather than plop to the ground like a dead shrew. She fluttered into place a yard or so away.

“Why can’t we keep going?” he asked with the giddy enthusiasm of a young gnome. “You can see in the dark can’t you?”

“I can, but it’s probably best if we weren’t gallivanting around where we might be seen.”

“We were gallivanting?”

“You know what I mean,” she chided.

“So you’re ashamed of me?” Aubrey asked.

“No. Not exactly.”

“So, I’m not the only one risking his reputation here?” he said with a wink.

“Yes,” she sighed. “Aubrey, there are things you’re going to learn about my kind. I said before that we’re not the idols you make us out to be and that is very true. We’re prideful and arrogant. The notion that we’re all wise and knowing has gotten it into our heads that we’re better than the other species. Some of us are grounded, but most owls aren’t. They wouldn’t look kindly on another owl spending time with a ‘lesser’ species.”

A pause.

“So why are you spending time with me?” Aubrey inquired.