Jay - Healing and Bat

 Jay decided to note that for the future, except when he tried to lift himself off the ground, his body refused to cooperate. He glanced down and saw his chest transformed into a mess of jagged red slashes and blood-drenched bits of jacket stuffing.

He attempted to draw a breath and couldn't, and that was when he realized the pain. His head fell back and his hands gripped the air he could not draw into his lungs. Onto his hooked fingers, the fairy Olliebollen descended.

"Now! I want you to think about this moment very very carefully, hero."

Jay gaped, choking, gurgling blood.

***

But the dust settled and Jay felt the wounds on his chest heal and he rose up swinging his bat as hard as he could into Charm's elbow. The metal struck the bend, the exact worst place to bang yourself: the funny bone.

Charm released Olliebollen reflexively and backpedaled in a silent wail of agony. Jay rushed forward, swinging again, but even if Charm occupied herself by gripping and rubbing her hurt spot, her wings remained free enough to beat the stagnant air and push herself off the ground and out of Jay's reach, trailing loose feathers and grimy black tears behind as she retreated to the safety of the higher branches.

***

[5] Goodly Creatures