Melody

By Jean Carlson

     Unlike others of her kind Melody is special the way the wind catches strands of her long, flowing tendrils of flaming. red hair; her sleek, tiger-orange, black-striped fur, which frames her large, almond-shaped, ebony eyes that are blacker than the velvety sky on a moonless night; by all appearances, she looks like a tiger-striped, anthropomorphic, female mouse.  Wearing the garb of her profession -- a long flowing, emerald-green, silk gown; a golden, satin, twisted cord hanging loosely around her slender waist;  ancient, silver, jewel-encrusted medallion on the end of a long, wooden staff, held firmly in her small, delicate fingers-- Melody is a sight to behold. With her mother’s charisma and her father's talent for the art of magic, and his ability to shape-shift, she could fit into any situation.  She follows her father's footsteps to become a great sorceress.

     Melody is the eldest of three furlings  (the term for the children of  Furcadia).  Her  father lavished her with his full attention, spenting hours playing with and teaching her.  She adored her father.  So much so, that when her brother, Jalome Jr. came along, her parents had to split their time up between the two furlings which left Melody broken-hearted.  Needless to say, she was devastated about her brother Zephyr’s birth.

      She went out of her way to do things to get her father’s attention, like practicing her magic on her little brothers, whom she referred to as "drool buckets."  She tested theories about what would happen if she strapped a piece of buttered bread to her brother Jalome Jr.’s back and dropped him off the roof of their house: Buttered bread always lands butter side down and cats land feet first.  Theoretically, he should never hit the ground.  You see her brother Jalome Jr. was a cat like their dad and she was a mouse like their mother.  Before she got the chance to see if her experiment worked, one parent intervened and scolded her.

     The jealousy she felt for Jalome Jr. and Zephyr blinded her at times.  She loved her brothers, but at times hated them for stealing "her" attention.  The fact that they looked like their father made her feel inferior to them.  Not only did they look like him, but they also were male and physically stronger than her.  It took many years and the disappearance of their father to unite the furlings  when they faced many challenges together in an attempt to find him.

     As Melody grew, so did her need to feel her father’s love and acceptance, even with her father's assurance that he loved all his children equally. Pouring herself into her studies, she spent hours performing dangerous spells that her father eventually bailed her out of.  On one hand she got the attention she craved, but on the other she felt like she failed to live up to what she thought he wanted in a daughter.

     Despite her doubts, her father is proud of her.   He loves Melody, but can’t understand why she can’t see or feel his love for her.   She often amazed him with her abilities.   At her age, he was still a novice, making major mistakes.  Yet,  here she is an accomplished master sorceress.   He often bragged about his enchanting daughter and her exploits, like how she got her head stuck in her play house window, and the time she turned Jalome Jr. into a cricket and he had to turn him back.

     The sun shone brightly one crisp, fall day as Melody ran to her father, out of breath.  "I love you, Daddy," Melody said with a sweet innocent smile.  Her father just looked at her and waited knowing trouble always followed those four little words.  He didn’t have to wait long before a giant chocolate marshmallow rabbit thundered through the amber and crimson trees of the woods behind the house.   Ducking behind her father she smiled innocently up at him.  She knew he would protect her.  With a frown, her father mumbled, " Jurkle ka zoom," while gesturing with his hands. In a blinding flash of light the creature vanished.  He knelt on one knee so he could look his troublesome daughter in the eyes.  His stern face slowly softened as he looked at her angelic face. " I love you too, Princess," he said hugging her tightly. He could never stay angry with her for long.

      He loved to hear her laugh.  To him it was like little birds singing on a warm spring morning.  She made incantations sound as if a nightingale were singing them.

     Though he hated to admit it, of all his furlings, Melody was the one he missed most when he left to go on his quests.  Despite her antics, he felt secure leaving his work in her hands when he was gone:  She could be serious and responsible when the occasion arose.

     One particularly sunny and warm summer day, Jalome Sr. asked her to accompany him into his research lab.  Sitting her down, he said, " Hiramalu is under attack and I must go to help protect it."

      Melody begged her father to let her accompany him, " Daddy, please let me go with you.  I can be of great help to you."  She knew this was her chance to prove to him that he could be proud of her.

     Stroking her cheek lightly, as he reassured her, " No, Princess, I don’t want you in danger.  The best thing is for you to stay here and work on the spells." He didn’t want to worry about her getting hurt, and he needed all his strength to fight the enemy.

   Her father knew she was the only one qualified to do the research.  Hugging him tightly, she agreed to stay and do the work.  The bond between them seemed stronger than ever.  For the first time in her life Melody was truly happy.