Fela’s Revenge

There was silence in eternity. Millenia of nothing but the vibrations of nesting birds and the tittering of rainfall against ancient bark.

There was silence. There was. 

Eternity ended with the swing of a blade. It hacked away until Their tree, Their body, was scattered like petals in a storm. 

Fela had only known the embrace of rugged wood and barren branches. There were times when the world got cold and Their form quivered in the blistering wind. There were times when the heat was so sweltering, They felt They might ignite, burn to nothing and reunite with the earth. They yearned for it. Death by Mother Nature’s hand was the only way for a dryad to find true peace. 

Now that fate was gone. Their home was cleaved, Their limbs sawed off and stolen. 

From the stump that remained, Fela rose. Their splintered twigs wound into hands, like the ones the humans used for destruction. They had known humans before. Long ago, some used Their leaves as shelter. Before even that, Their roots were an altar where humans made sacrifices to the gods in blood and lust and pain.  

Humankind was the best part of the gods. Their flesh was softer than bark, and their hearts beat with passion and the freedom, of possibility. In the seconds, hours, eternity it took for Their body to be torn down, They knew for certain there was no kindness left in humanity. 

With spindly hands, Fela clawed Their way out into the world, born a monster. 

They did not know nesting birds cooed, or that there was more to rain than its steady caress. There were so many sounds outside of Their tree. It was nearly too much to take in. 

Still, Fela tapped into Their other new senses. They had imagined, in the endless night, what Their forest looked like. How tall were the other trees? How far did Their land extend? 

For the first time, Fela opened Their eyes. For the first time, Fela saw. 

What a beautiful home They had. Yes, what a beautiful home They had. Fela knew Their forest had been wonderful. They could tell from one glance at the field of severed stumps that the other trees had been tall and strong, that once, the grass grew green and life thrived. Now, there was nothing but muddy soil and hollow logs. Fela stood in the remnants of a massacre. 

Something strange bubbled up inside Them, something hot and insatiable. How dare they? Who did they think they were, those humans? What right had they to curse the dryads to damnation? What right had they to enact such devastation?

A nearby rustling stole Fela’s attention. They staggered on new feet to a dying bush and crouched. Something small and dark peaked out. 

Fela knew nature. They knew every creature spawned by Mother and the gods. Felines don’t belong among the trees, but one came anyway. 

The little thing stared at Fela, but it did not run, did not hide. It walked in circles around Fela’s wooden legs, then sat, calm, at Fela’s feet. Perhaps this creature knew Fela, too. Perhaps it sensed Fela’s rage, the heat threatening to boil over.

Fela reached out toward the feline, and something in it reached back. Their life essence dripped from Their fingers and the feline consumed it, ravenous for a fill of darkness only a spirit scorned could offer. When its meal was over, Fela’s soul embraced the creature’s, and they united. 

Fela opened Their eyes for the second time, and the world looked different. The feline’s view was sharper, closer to earth’s touch. Fela felt its consciousness, sleeping like They had within their tree for so long. 

On paws instead of feet, Fela walked to the forest’s edge. One chance to turn back, to forget Their vengeance. Then again, Their forest was not Theirs anymore. Nothing remained. 

Fela stepped past the woodland boundary and ran until They reached denser humanity. It was unfamiliar and loud, and whatever coated the pathways was more repulsive than dirt could hope to be. 

There were so many humans wandering around, wasting what was left of their pitiful lives. Which ones were responsible for the atrocities in Fela’s forest? Which ones deserved Fela’s attention?

“Hey! I found a cat!” Cat. That’s what humans call Their current form. Suddenly, Fela was not on the ground. Firm hands grabbed Them and dangled Them high in the air. Fela hissed, clawed, bit. Fela hit the ground again. “Fuck! Stupid ass cat! You better not have rabies or some shit.”

The human ran away, their hand bloodied. It would not hold an ax for some time. Red dripped from Fela’s fangs. It tasted like revenge. 

Darkness settled quickly after that encounter, and many of the humans hid themselves away. It was difficult to choose one among the many. To Fela, they all looked the same. 

Fela had nearly given up for the night when an excruciating sound drew Them in. Though Fela had never before heard pain, They knew what it felt like wafting through the air. They followed the scent. Perhaps They would find someone worthy.

One human was laid out on broken, man-made ground, and another stood above him clutching something small and sharp. A miniature ax? Whatever custom these humans were engaging in did not seem kind. Yes, this could be the one. The first.  

Fela watched the blade dig into meat. Was this what it looked like when Their body was ruined? Did They look as fragile, as helpless, as insignificant? 

When it was over, They followed the vile human home. From the blackest corners, They observed. They waited. 

It took hours, but when the house was still, Fela slipped from Their hiding place and out of the feline’s shape. The little thing sat in quiet vigil while Fela stretched Their limbs. 

In the frosty window, Fela saw Themself for the first time—hair like night, flesh like snow, bird-like wings made of branches. This form was not meant to be Theirs, but it would do. 

Slowly, They prowled across the human’s room, their wings scraping against the floorboards. 

Fela stood at the base of the human’s bed and stared. The lingering light from the hallway cast Their body in a shadow so long it consumed the human’s slumbering form. Something cracked along Fela’s face. A smile. This must be what joy felt like. 

There would be no more chances for humankind. 

Fela raised Their sharpened fingers and tore through flesh. Fela tossed the human’s limbs around the room and washed Their body in what remained. Fela would take Their penance in blood. 

When They were satisfied, Fela retook the feline’s form and crept out of the house. There were so many humans out there, so many to be sacrificed. 

Let humanity burn like the ashes of Their brethren. Let their limbs be severed and scattered. 

Let them know silence.