The Moral

"Wingless."

Continued from Four Senses On Avalon.

Ythrians cannot swim. Nat dives into the water, lets it carry him to Keshchyi and treads water while disentangling the atlantis weed from the Ythrian's wing. However, Keshchyi, injured and with feathers soaked, is unable to rise. Nat and Thuriak raise him, each clutching one arm, and carry him to the shore.

Nat's full name, Nathaniel Falkayn, is spoken only once in the story during a ceremony of the Weathermaker Choth. Keshchyi honors Nathaniel Falkayn and his choth assents.

"Wingless" is a juvenile adventure short story but more happens than the defeat of a villain. The moral is spelled out. It is good:

"'...that strengths be different, so that they may be shared.'" (p. 306)

That was the point of this joint colony. Nat, who had envied Ythrian flight, now pities Ythrians who cannot swim.