Hi everyone! The Mist of a Flame is back, and here is my continuation of Kenneth Oppel's fantastic Silverwing Saga. This takes place after the events of Firewing, and tells of Goth and Phoenix's attempts to raise Zotz! Well, here it is! Enjoy! (Why do I keep putting exclamation marks at the ends of my sentences?!)

Key:

"Speech" Spirits talking "spirits talking through people" 'thoughts'

Spiritwing: Chapter one - Shade's Flight

For what seemed like the millionth time, the spirit of Shade Silverwing swooped down into the body of his former mate, Marina Brightwing. Their son, Griffin, hung on a lower branch, chatting excitedly to his friend, Luna.

Marina.

Marina gasped as Shade's voice tumbled into her mind. 'Shade' she thought, willing her words into his spirit. 'What is it? What's wrong?'

Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to see how you were doing. So?

'I'm fine. So is Griffin, but he's missed you since... what happened. How are the Pilgrims?'

Oh, they're just fine. Yorick's always saying how good it is that he can't feel his wing anymore. Well, what can he expect? He doesn't have wings anymore! Nemo says he misses fishing, even though he can't ever be hungry. He says he just wants one more taste of salmon, and then he'll be happy. Java's just great, she met some others from her colony, and they've gone to meet some others at their Hibernaculum. And Murk...

'Yes? What about Murk?'

Murk went back to the pyramid. He says Goth has started recruiting. As in, he's spreading the word of Zotz to some other Vampyrum he met there. You know, after he took Griff's life. And he said Zotz must have stumbled across some other life in the Underworld, because Phoenix has risen now as well. Together, they are planning to bring Zotz back to full power with a hundred sacrifices in the space of an eclipse.

Marina gasped involuntarily.

"Mom? What's up?"Griffin looked up at his mother. Luna stared up concernedly as well. "Are you..." his voice fell to a whisper. "Are you talking to Dad again?"

Griffin, I'm here. How are you?

"Dad!" Griffin forced back the urge to shout his words, only to whisper them into the breeze. 'Dad! How are you?'

'Hello again, Mr. Griffin's dad.' Luna added.

Please, Luna, call me Shade. Griffin, you've grown so much since I last saw you! How's my life treating you?

Griffin felt a slight twinge of guilt at his father's remark. Down in the Underworld, Shade had sacrificed himself to make sure Griffin and Luna made it back home, and gave his life to the pair. Griffin could almost feel his fur spiking up with embarrassment, but Luna giggled slightly. Of course, she could tell that Shade was joking, but Griffin was simply too self-concious to see this.

Griffin... I thought we'd already gone over this. There is no need for you to feel embarrassed. I gave you my life willingly so that you could grow up and be who you want to be. It's not as though I'm gone; look at me now! I'm whoever and wherever I want. I'm a Spiritwing now; and there are millions of us, all together like the biggest colony in the world. I'm never lonely. And remember that; when bats die, they don't just leave, they stay with you forever.

'But... Dad, some bats don't stay. They go down to the Oases and refuse to believe in the Tree. Remember? And they drive away anyone who dares tell them that they're dead. I don't want to be like that; I don't want to loose anone who's foolish enough to believe them.'

Some bats just can't be swayed, Griffin, I'm afraid. Some bats just sit back and believe that swill Zotz feeds to them down there. And that makes me angry. But we can't do anything about that. Griffin, if you ever die, try to remember the Tree, and what it did for us. Try to remember Freida, if she's still there. Try to find her, and get the map, and come and join me up here. Together, Griffin, you and me could save the world. We are the world, and we can easily save ourselves...

With that, Shade's voice drifted away, and Griffin immidiately felt a part of him drift with it.

"Don't worry, Griffin. Your father will be back soon." Marina said, but there were tears in her eyes. And Griffin knew that a part of her had left too.