In the land of Atrium, there lives animal 'clans', such as the two we're going to be following today, the Hawks and Ravens. Every living thing in there is at least twice the size of Earth's humans, resulting in a very large planet.
Humans once dwelled here, capturing and creating scientific experiments for their own joys and exterminating them as soon as they're done with them. They were driven out years later by the Wolves, and only two experiments remained; the ones they labeled 'Max' and 'Fang'.
They were each taken into a clan, Fang of the Ravens and Max of the Hawks, and now seek to find the Delta Diamond, which will grant any wish they want. They're both after it at the same time, and Max doesn't remember a lot about Fang from her past.. Will they fight to the death in the end? Is there something blossoming underneath all the fighting going on?
Meanwhile, the underground 'city' of Aragoth is planning a total takeover of Atrium. Will the two avian experiments have more than they can handle on their own with them along for the fly?
A/N: Fang will be WAY out of character. His chapter will also be the only full third pov chapter in the story unless I need to make another third pov.
(In my view of this, I'm not really satisfied with how it came out; it sounded a lot better in my head hehe…)
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"For Hawks!" Sheva cried. Today was the day they were to search and find the infamous Delta Diamond. "For Lady Max!"
The small troop of Hawks crowed in excitement. As Max looked out in the group (Next to Sheva, her trusted 'partner'), she smiled. This was more than enough to get the Diamond. Nobody has ever come to that damned island and come back alive, that's for sure. But with ten perfectly healthy and trained hawks, not including her as she was only 98%, she thought it would be a shoe in.
"Up an Away!" Max cried. All but Sheva took to the clear blue skies. She climbed onto Sheva, and soon joined the other nine up in the sky. "West!" They were in the far eastern regions of the continent of Daysa.
I have got to get it. She thought defiantly. I need to get it for my clan.
They soared, high above the river bends and prairies of their small territory, and soon entered the realm of the Hummingbirds.
"Twelve o' Clock!" Sheva cried, swerving out of the way of two rather small projectiles. Everyone else flew out, and soon rejoined one another, armed for combat.
Max stood on Sheva, drawing out her small, half-foot dagger. She found it one day on the floor, and thought it was a good weapon for intruders, which it totally was.
The humming increased under us, and the trees shifted slightly to and fro. They were coming soon, and she was ready for it. They shot out of the forest not a moment too soon, and attacked our small group fiercely.
"Stop!" Max called out to them after a few moments of fighting on Sheva. "Let us pass. We're only to travel above your grounds and over without harm." She calmly called out. The enemies looked at one another, humming a language, and soon diverted their paths downwards without a second glance, except for a rather large one.
"We shall let you pass, but if you remain by nightfall, we will have no other choice but to attack." He said, and then soon disappeared along with the rest.
Max sat back down, and continued. They were to make a camp on the eastern border of an unknown territory.
~~--
'Sir Fang' of the Ravens was preparing for their leave for the Delta Diamond. As he swiftly tied up his combat boots he found lying in the sand half buried, he thought of the next step.
I know many are after the damned thing, but my clan will need it the most. They're the ones in trouble.
"Sir, ready for our liftoff maneuver." Chris, Fang's 'partner', informed. Fang only nodded, and walked to the large cliff on the mountainside of his territory. He wasn't named the prince of Ravens for nothing.
He spread his midnight black wings to its full extent, and jumped off, falling hundreds of feet before the air caught in his wings and drifted him up towards the other twenty. They were all ready to go, up and over the Hawk's territory.
They flew, fast as they could, for they did not want to get attacked just yet. Fang got suspicious after a few minutes of travel over the Hawk's region, for none was in sight.
"Something's up." Chris huffed beside him, looking down towards the small clearing where the Hawks previously flew out of. "Where are they?"
"Send a party to investigate." He said simply, and Chris obeyed, falling back in the lines of Ravens and picking out some to go with him.
He landed on a high mountain in their territory and looked out, waiting for the investigative team to return. Sure enough, Chris returned.
"Sir, they seemed to have left for the Diamond as well." He said grimly. "Their whole plan and flight pattern were drawn in the dirt. Seemed to have left, say, half an hour ago." Fang nodded.
"Let's catch up to them, then. I want a talk with their leader."
"They'll be camping at the eastern area of the boar's territory, near the southern part."
"Then that's our destination."
He spread his wings once again, took a death-defying fall, and continued his way west.
They're not getting it away from me.
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"Lady Max," Sheva said. "We're near our first camping point. Are you ready?"
Max nodded, knowing full well their whole plan. They were about two miles off of the clearing site, and the troop didn't look tired from their flight over the hummingbird's territory.
"Prepare to land." Max said, and Sheva slanted her wings downwards towards the clearing. The rest followed suit, happy to be out of the skies for a bit. "Sheva, form and lead a hunting party." She nodded, and hopped off.
Hours later, the moon started its shift in the sky.
The moon was only half full tonight, which made it a little harder to see. The fire she learned to build from stones was crackling a few feet from her, ready to be used. Sheva returned moments later with seven rather large boars.
So that's what lives here. Max thought. They'll be mad when they find this out.
The hawks started digging in first; Max always went last out of choice. When they were finished, there was enough for Max's fill, and started roasting it over the fire. The smell wafted around to her nose, which was more than enough for her. She took the meat off the bone and started eating, readying herself for whatever's going to happen next.
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"Fang, they're in the clearing." Chris 'whispered', looking at the camp underneath the two.
"Let's camp in the mountains." He said. "Wake up early and alert. When they fly past, make sure they stop."
All of them followed his orders, while he hovered there over the clearing still. He could make out a small moving figure from high up, but most of what he saw was the large figures twice the size of it. They were in a sort of v, like birds do in flight, and the small thing off on a tree in a ball, something glinting in her hand ready.
"Ready to go." Chris said, coming up in front, and leading him to the camp. They didn't use a fire, for that'd attract attention this high up. He sighed.
"Get to sleep everyone." He said, and drifted on the lone tree next to the cliff. They would eat early in the morning.
~~--
"Up and at 'em! C'mon birdies!" Sheva bellowed to the slowly waking flock. Max was already up, eating the other half of her dinner's meal. Things were slow today since the clouds were overhead, and Max didn't feel at all comfortable in the rain. They were up soon enough, though, and eating yet another bath of boars Sheva's team caught later last night. Within an hour, they were ready to go.
"Up!" Max said, and flew for the first time. Her wings were aching for a spin. She was in front of the flock, Sheva four meters off behind her starting a 'v', and was travelling towards a mountain. She was having fun for a bit.
"Stop!" was heard somewhere in front of her. She stopped, hovering. "Who are you?" it said. It was a boy's voice.
""Max, leader of the Hawk tribe." She said with honor and dignity in her voice. There was a deep chuckle. It was a different person.
"Are you a guy? You sound so much like a girl!" He laughed. Max got angry.
"Show yourself!" She bellowed, looking in the direction they seemingly came from. The flock wasn't paying too much attention, and was looking towards the ground. Something tackled Max, sending her flying towards the ground, the intruder's arms wrapped tightly around her.
"You wanted to show myself?" The figure murmured in Max's ear, still spiraling both of them down towards the ground. It was the first voice Max heard. Her back was against him.
"Let me go!" She said, struggling against his iron grasp.
"Nah, you're too pretty." He whispered, and suddenly pulled up so they were grazing the treetops.
"Yeah yeah, now let me fecking off!"
"I want to ask you something first." Max was slightly confused.
"Nope. Not until I know who you are."
"I'm Fang. Leader of the Ravens." He chuckled. "Thought you of all people would know me."
"Now you're freaking me out. Let me go!"
"Huh, I thought it'd be easier if we teamed up for the Delta Diamond. I know all your plans, you know."
Max's breath caught. What? He knew it all? How?
"Love knows all." He murmured.
"Let's talk somewhere else, okay?" Max didn't like her position, nor Fang for that matter thus far. His last statement freaked her out the most overall.
Fang sighed, and flew up to Sheva. "Come on." He said to her, still holding Max, and led them to the cliff. It was large enough for all the large birds, surprisingly, and there was also enough so that there was a small circle in between the Clans for Max and Fang to be in. Fang still held Max though, out of preference.
"Now, I'm striking a little deal here. We both team, them we both do our wishes." He said, placing his chin on top of the still struggling Max.
"Is it possible for people to do more than one wish, though?" Sheva said, stepping into the circle.
"Yea, if both the people are holding it." Fang's partner Chris said. Sheva eyed him.
"Chris!?" She said, slightly dumbfounded. "Jeezums, how long has it been? Fourteen? Fifteen years ago?"
"Aah. Hello Sheva." Chris replied. "Yes, it has been fourteen years."
"Yes, it has been a while. So, are you taking care of the other youngling?" She asked him. Max was puzzled.
"Other youngling?" Max asked, ceasing her struggling. Sheva nodded.
"You both were found in the same place. You seemed to like each other quite a lot." She chuckled. "You were clinging to Fang all the time when Chris and I were trying to go back to our clans. You'd never let Fang go until you were asleep, either." Chris nodded. Fang smirked, knowing this memory all too well.
"Alright! Enough with the stupid memory land game! If I accept, what will we get?" Max said, exasperated.
"You get twenty extra cavalry or whatever it's called, and a date with me." Fang replied, clicking his tongue.
"I don't want your stupid date!" She said. Sheva smiled, as much as a bird could smile.
"Suure." Fang said, rolling his eyes. Max got madder.
"Fine, we'll accept, but keep the freaking date. There's no such thing as mates from other clans." That was how she grew up believing.
"You know what? Technically, we are your own clan, you and I." Fang said smugly. He knew logic was the only way to win these kinds of fights; and besides, he really wanted to get to know Max more than he can remember. Maybe even make his own kind (as being an avian hybrid, that is) larger.
"Shut the hell up!" She yelled.
"Uh-huh. Now, what direction your majesty?" He said, knowing that this'll go nowhere now.
Max's anger would be spent elsewhere. "Just go west, you idiot." She mumbled, attempting to break out of his grasp again.
"Alrighty, mate!" He said, taking to the skies with her tucked neatly against his chest.
"I'm not your fucking mate, and let me go!" She screamed. Chris and Sheva could be heard laughing in the back, along with all the others.
God dammit, what have I got myself into? Max thought rather angrily.
Though she really didn't mind flying like this for a change.
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That's all I have written so far. Thanks for reading!
Keep going? Stop? Your choice. Bye!
~~FR