Bo the Sandman

     Bo has always known his mother was eccentric, but so were many of the other wanderers who lived in camp. Still, they did not have such strange names. At least he didn’t think so, since they never made fun of each other’s names.

     Still, even if the others were nicer to him, he was pretty sure he’d still prefer to be alone. He didn’t like the loud, noisy games the other children seemed to enjoy so much. They would laugh and shout and tumble about in a mess of arms and legs.

     None of them liked to sit and read or look at plants. The village healer had given him a book on plants. It was his favourite book, and he carried it with him everywhere. She had a pretty daughter, who liked to read too, but he was too shy to talk to her.

     He often went with his mother to the healer for remedies for headaches. They were good friends, his mom’s only friend as far as he knew. Like her son, she was a fairly introverted person, but she also told the best stories.

     She was the best storyteller in the camp and the other children loved to hear her stories. Once she’d told Bo it was easier to tell stories to children than to speak with the other parents. Bo never told her how the others teased him for his name. She’d always looked happiest when she was telling one of her elaborate faerie tales.

           He sighed and flopped on his back, nearly missing his petpet Manjeer, Prosper. Prosper barked at him indignantly before laying back down beside him. Bo ruffled the petpet’s fur and looked up at the stars through the canopy. It was always more peaceful at night, and quiet. So many were afraid of the woods, that few ventured out at night, which suited Bo just fine. He could visit all his favourite places without the crowds.

      He loved to sit at the base of the Brain Tree and read to him from his favourite books. Bo smiled as he thought what the tree would say if he asked him if his face was bony.

      “All pets have bony faces, you are creatures of flesh and bone,” He imagined the tree saying. “Unless you are a ghost…” The tree would go on to tell him about ghosts and petpets like the sludgy that don’t have bones.

      He began to list the types of petpets he knew with no bones in his mind, while he traced constellations in the sky with his paw. Bo jumped when Prosper suddenly sat up, staring into the woods intently. A stick snapped somewhere in the distance. The Xweetok rose to his feet and tried to scoop up his petpet but Prosper leapt away from him, and into the bushes.

      “Prosper!” He hissed. “Prosper come back!” He hesitated, wringing his paws.

      The Manjeer had been a present from his mother for his last birthday. She’d gone all the way to the local petpet shop to buy Prosper for him. He knew how much his mother hated crowds and leaving the camp, but she’d done it for him. He’d always been the one who met with the other wanderers who brought their clothes for mending and collected the Neopoints. Even though his mother was friends with the camp healer, he still brought her the list of things they needed from town with the Neopoints. Prosper was the most valuable thing he owned. He leapt into the bushes after his petpet.

      ----

      “Prosper!” Bo called into the dark. “Prosper where are you?” He strained his eyes trying to find the dark grey pet in the dark. He shrunk back as he heard a deep voice call his name.

      “Well, well, well, we finally meet Boniface,” Bo hid in a bush, as a large Uni stepped into the clearing ahead of him. The Uni looked strikingly like the Night Steed, but his face was kinder and his fur was lighter, except for his mane. He almost looked like the Uni from his mother’s stories, an ancient soul who looked after the lost and forgotten. She said if he was ever lost he should call the Uni’s name, Grym. “You needn’t be afraid, young one. Nor hide, come on out and let me have a look at you.”

      “Are-are you, Grym?” Bo asked nervously, stepping out cautiously.

      “So I am,” The Uni replied. “But I do not sense that you are lost, so what is it you seek?” Bo studied the Uni now that he was closer. He was definitely kinder looking than the Night Steed, whom his mother described as a great warrior.

      She’d described Grym as a Uni of unusual height, with hooves glowing softly with flames of orange and yellow. His fur was the colour of fresh hammered steel and his mane and tail were the colour of the starless sky. The Uni had glowing red coals for eyes that saw everything that passed by him, even in the dark. Bandages crisscrossed his body covering old wounds. Two large wings sprouted from his back filled with jet black feathers. Bo had always thought she’d embellished his looks, but now he stood before him.

      “My-my Manjeer, Prosper,” Bo answered, a chill running down his back making him shiver in the cool night air. “He, he ran away. He heard something in the woods.”

      “There are many things in the woods at night, but not all are friendly,” The Uni warned. “I will help you find your friend and then return to your camp. Tell me Boniface why were you and your petpet up so late?”

      “I-I was just, I was looking at the stars,” Bo admitted, jumping as a Vullaby landed on the Uni’s shoulder with a loud caw. Grym chuckled softly.

      “Be not afraid,” Grym told the nervous Xweetok. “This is Vincent. He is my companion, and he has seen yours. A friendly creature, your Manjeer must be, but he is tormenting a poor disoriented young faerie.”

      “Oh dear,” Bo bit his lip. “Can you take me to him?” The Uni smiled and turned back toward the woods and began to walk away from him. Bo wasn’t sure if he was supposed to till the Vullard left the Uni’s shoulder and circled around him squawking indignantly. He pecked him on the ear before returning to his master. He chirped in the Uni’s ear causing him to laugh again. He couldn’t understand the bird, but he was sure he was complaining about him.

      ----

      When the Uni suddenly stopped Bo walked straight into him. He was so busy worrying about Prosper he hadn’t even noticed. A lyrical voice could be heard somewhere beyond the trees. Despite it being a musical kind sounding voice, the speaker did not sound as if she felt like singing or being very kind, at least Bo didn’t think so.

      “Oh will you leave me alone you mangy little creature!” the voice begged. “Oh go away.”

      “I believe we’ve found your petpet gone astray,” The Uni pushed aside a clump of bushes and Bo could see a rather distraught dark faerie sitting in a clearing.

      Her purple dress seemed to be torn along the hem and her legs were streaked with mud. She appeared to be missing a boot, and several leaves and twigs stuck out of her long black hair. In one hand she held a stick which she was using to shoo away Prosper who was circling her, yipping.

      “What should we-” Bo started to ask, but when he turned back to the Uni he found that the Uni had disappeared. “Oh-”

      “These rotten woods!” She cried. “Rotten creatures!” The faerie buried her face in her hands and for the first time that one of her wings looked askew. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong, but he was sure that she had injured it.

      “Are-are you alright?” Bo whispered. He wasn’t sure she heard him until she looked up.

      “Who's there?” She demanded. She stood up with her stick in hand. Prosper, recognizing Bo’s voice, leapt happily into the bushes toward his owner.

      “Ju-just me,” Bo picked up Prosper and stepped out of the bushes. “Boniface.”

      “Boniface, oh you tamed that terrible creature,” She lowered the stick and smiled at him. “You are a brave pet aren’t you.”

      “He’s not so bad, he’s a Manjeer,” Bo replied. “They don’t look like much, but they are very intelligent and loyal. He must have been trying to help you, or play. He loves to play fetch.”

      “Well I suppose he is cute in a way,” She replied with a lopsided unsure smile. “You don’t happen to know the way out of these woods, do you? Ever since Faerieland crashed I can’t seem to find my way home, all these trees.” She gestured to them exasperated.

      “Trees aren’t so bad, but I imagine if you aren’t used to them, they’d make flying more difficult,” He answered. “Did you hurt your wing?”

      “In Faerieland you can, well you could, fly however you wanted,” She sighed. “I used to fly on my back and look up at the stars, but these trees-!” She groaned.

      “I like the stars too,” Bo answered. “But I know someone who might be able to help.”

      ----

      “Your friend is as right as rain,” Bo jumped to his feet as the door to the caravan opened, and the village healer stepped out. She smiled at Bo, around a yawn. “You were very kind to bring her to me, Boniface.” She patted his head and then stepped aside to let the faerie step out.

      “Thank you so much,” the dark faerie smiled, spreading her wings. “I don’t know what I would have done if I were stuck in that drea- that forest all night.”

      “There is no need to thank me, it was Bo here who rescued you, but might I suggest the Lost Desert for late-night flights, they have far fewer trees than we do,” the healer told the faerie. “Bo, shall I brew you some tea?”

      “Oh, no, no thank you,” Bo said sheepishly. “Good night.”

      “Good night, dear,” She replied. “Goodnight.”

      “Good night,” the faerie replied as the Usul turned away and shut the door behind her. “Tea?” The faerie looked at him curiously.

      “I-I have trouble, sleeping,” Bo admitted. “So sometimes she makes me tea. It helps, but-”

      “But?” the faerie asked, raising one eyebrow.

      “But I have bad dreams,” He answered, looking down at his feet.

      “Well, Boniface,” She said, leaning down and putting one hand on his shoulder. “I owe you are great debt, so I will bestow on you these gifts.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him briefly. For a moment his back felt tight and strange, then it felt as if he was growing but it was different. Then it felt as if he had another set of arms, but they were different; they were- wings.

      “Wings?” Bo gasped as he stretched them out. The faerie laughed softly.

      “And I have one more thing for you,” She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “Now you will have sweet dreams and you can bestow them on others. All you need to do is leave them a talisman-.”

      “Like sand?” He interrupted, clasping his hand over his mouth almost as soon as he did it.

      “Sand, yes I suppose, if that is what you would like,” She answered with a questioning look.

      “Like the sandman,” he told her sheepishly. “He is a Pteri from my favourite story. He sprinkles sand on the eyelids of children to help them fall asleep. He carries it in a golden sack.”

      “Then sand it shall be, but I’m afraid, I can’t make a golden sac for you,” the faerie told him. He blushed.

      “My mom will make me one, you have already given me so much!” He answered. “Thank you, truly, thank you so much, and you can call me Bo.”

      “Thank you, Bo,” She smiled. “And sweet dreams.”