ShinyMinion

ShinyMinion We minions serve the Minions Guild of Wind Flight, helping keep the Wind Guilds airship running and up in the air! No one ever told us we had to know how to land it. I am also in charge of the famous Bananavator, a super secret device that the Minions Guild uses to fling Kites closer to Windsinger! It's a great piece of mechanical engineering and it makes the best sounds! You should come see it! Er, um, well, sorry, it's suppose to be a secret...could you just not tell anyone? Please?

It wasn’t a sunny day, or even a pleasantly warm day, it was hot and humid and stormclouds bubbled above them on the cliff face overlooking WindStar Bay. ShinyMinion had been setting up the ceremony, directing everyone in the decorations , the torches, the kites and lanterns, and the bonfire. If it rained on them, there was still the food and songs around the fireplace inside.

ShinyMinion stood there, overlooking the Bay, hoping for that wisp of a breeze, the kind that always gave her hope and uplifted her spirits. She always thought of that as a quick breath of Windsinger and it always made her smile…but not today. The heat was oppressive. The Bay was as still as she had ever seen it.

“Shiny, the Kites are getting restless,” Siltaria said as she came to stand beside Shiny. “How about we start them on the Welcome Dance, and the cooks say they are starting to lay out the appetizers right now. I think... I think we’re ready?”

Though Siltaria was their Lair Leader, this was Shiny's work, to oversee the training of the Kites that came to them and make sure they were sent off to Windsinger with ceremony and a good send off. The training was hard, but she enjoyed that. The ceremony and celebration often put her in a sad mood as it meant her students would fly off to be with Windsinger and serve him well, and the Lair would stand empty for a time. The Kite quarters had already been swept out and cleaned by those that would launch off this cliff shortly and fly away on their sacred journey.

Siltaria put an arm on her shoulder and squeezed. Of all of those at the Lair, Siltaria understood what this day did to her, saying goodbye to all those she had guided.

“Let’s begin the celebration then, or the cooks will have a fit without folks to eat their goodies! Please have SpikeyMinion sound the Chimes, and let’s keep smiles on our faces, eh?”

They both turned to face the scurry with bright smiles, and soon everyone was eating and playing, and the Welcome Dance, the dance of all the Kites in the sky above the Lair, was luring in folks from nearby Lairs as well to watch the show.

Too soon, it was time for the final bonfire and letting their Kites go. ShinyMinion stood before them on her platform, and looked out over the faces, eager to serve the deity, eager for their journey. Proud parents stood with their sons and daughters, the wee ones all sitting around the fire, and feeding leaves and twigs into it when they thought no one was looking.

“Today we pledge ourselves to Windsinger, we dedicate ourselves to his cause, and to our Flight.” She tossed in the bag of powders that turned the smoke into different colors that wound way up high into the evening sky. All heads turned to watch the smoke rise. Though there were no stars, and the clouds still huddled above them, there had been no rain, thank goodness.

“We give honor to those who rise this day to our Deity. We are proud and delighted for your call to service, and know that in the days ahead you shall find your place with Windsinger and be blessed, and bring blessings upon Wind Flight. Join me in song as our Kites rise to the skies!”

She raised her hands and her voice, as the first of the Kites leaped skyward and out over the cliff. All around the crowds, the Kites rose and with laughter and waving goodbye, they flew off to Windsinger, higher and higher til they could no longer be seen through the muggy clouds. ShinyMinion let the tears fall, it was no dishonor. All knew she cared deeply for her charges and was proud to train them for service.

At that moment, a breath of wind brushed by her, moving her silks and ruffling her feathers. It swept through the crowd and she could hear the many sighs around her, joining her own breath of thanks. Windsinger had indeed blessed them.