Pix

“I’m sorry, can you repeat the question?”
-unintelligible mumbling-
“Can I describe an ‘inhospitable region’ that my people survive in? What do you mean by ‘inhospitable’?”
-additional mumbling-
“I mean, that’s literally every place we live in. You have no idea what it’s like to be a Pix, do you?”
-mumble mum--
“Look, I don’t have to listen to your tripe. You asked me here, and I came, as a favor. But I’m not going to silently listen to you tell me why I’m wrong about my own people’s ongoing genocide.
“Yes, of course Pix live in hospitable regions, if we’re just talking about the local flora and fauna. Take all the other Fae and Humans away and we’d be doing amazing. Every day a picnic, lounging in flowers, racing our mounts, enjoying relaxation with our family and friends.
“But no, that’s not the reality of a Pix. Do you know what our reality is?
“Our reality is Powries hunting us down, snatching whole nests, and grinding us into paste to add to Fae snacks.
“Our reality is Human children, tottering in the flowers, finding us and ripping our wings from our bodies while we scream and beg for them to stop.
“Our reality is the Tuath setting traps for us, like we’re a common garden infestation, daring to sip of their precious magic.
“We used to be the largest Fae species on this planet - do you think we’ve ever been invited to sit at any council? No, we’re no more than bugs to you.
“The Fae who remain like to moan that they’re unprotected, that Heaven picks them off and Hell cackles from below. That Humans encroach with metal and destroy their forests. Well at least they’re allied with each other, however tenuously! At least the shifters can rend and devour any Humans who might hunt them. At least all of you are large enough to stand a fighting chance.
“The Pix? We’re barely the size of a common housefly. Our magic will do nothing against one of you Tuath or Humans. A mosquito would annoy you more.
“You hunt and kill and eat us as quickly as you can find us, as greedy for magic as you are. Our people already disappeared once, and I don’t imagine we’ll be making a grand resurgence.
“Everywhere the Pix live is inhospitable. Everywhere.”