Prologue
~100 years ago~
Moran flew along the riverbank, dodging the fireballs as the rained down from the sky. His brown hair was smoking slightly, and his face covered in ash. Hissing steam crept from the river as the fires extinguished themselves, the steam obscuring his vision. The sky had taken on a fiery coloring, as if the very fabric of the universe was burning away. Chunks of rock and metal fell alongside the fire, creating large craters where they landed.
The firestorm had started less than an hour ago, but already a large portion of the forest was ablaze. Sestras flew about in a panic, desperately trying to put out the fire. More and more volunteers poured into Chimerean, working together to protect their capital and the First Tree. They carried large buckets to the river, filling them with water before dumping them on the fires. Despite the amount of volunteers, the fires were spreading rapidly.
Moran was a warrior, and he and his mate were working on finding out why this was happening. The falling debris was hitting the forest and the river, but the city itself had yet to be hit. It was too much of a coincidence to be natural. Someone was targeting the debris, controlling it to land in places that could be easily replaced.
Suddenly a loud rumble shook the forest, not unlike thunder. But Moran knew better by now. It was the sound of something breaking the sound barrier as it entered the atmosphere of the planet. Hurtling down at hundreds of miles per hour, the largest projectile of them all soared overhead, smashing into the ground a few miles from Moran. The shockwave knocked him out of the air and into the water. He surfaced, coughing, only to face a rushing wall of fire heading straight towards him. It traveled quickly, but some of the heat and strength had left it by the time it reached Moran. He ducked underwater and prayed to the Goddess of Life, Gaia. He opened his eyes underwater and looked up to the surface. Swirling flames were above him, quickly extinguishing in the river. He surfaced when they were gone, breathing in gulps of air.
"Moran! Are you okay?"
Moran looked upwards. His mate, Onatia, was looking down at him with a worried expression. Her slightly singed golden hair framed her face, and her green eyes were darkened with fear. He flew up to join her, his wings heavy with water.
"I'm fine." He looked towards the smoking crater left from the large projectile. "That will tell us what we need to know about this."
Onatia nodded. They headed off together, their forest green swords drawn. They approached the crater slowly, descending cautiously to land on the edge of the crater.
In the middle of the crater, a large, perfectly round ball of steel was glowing red from the friction of entering the atmosphere. Smoke played off the surface of the metal, rising up to join with the haze of steam and smog that floated above them all. As they watched, the metal split open along a hidden seam, breaking the ball perfectly down the middle. Creatures climbed out, shaking their heads slowly and talking quietly to themselves. They looked similar to Sestras, but they were twice the size, and appeared to have no wings. They walked around slowly, taking in their surroundings and talking into small black boxes. Suddenly they stopped, gathered close together, and looked up in the sky. Moran and Onatia looked up as well.
Commander Xenos, leader of the Royal Sestra Army, was hovering at the head of a division of fighters. Their wings flapped in perfect unison, creating a shimmering array of different colors of blue.
"What are you doing here?" Xenos cried, flawlessly imitating the language of the strange creatures.
The creatures clustered together, each pulling out a thin metal stick. The lead creature stepped forward.
"We come in peace. We are humans. We have come to this land to settle. We are looking for new place to live, a place unsettled. Will you come down to talk?" Into his black box he whispered, "Humanoid creatures found, contact has been made. Seem to be friendly, seem to speak English." He stopped as Commander Xenos came closer. Xenos landed a few yards from the Humans.
"Leave," He said, "or you and the other…Humans… will die."
The Humans backed up and raised their sticks. Xenos signaled the fighting division to prepare themselves.
"No. We are here to stay. We will fight if we have to, but we would prefer a diplomatic solution…"
Xenos raised his sword and jumped into the air. The division of fighters dove to meet him, and then fell on the humans, their swords slashing. A clattering noise rang out, and Xenos fell, along with other Sestras. Blood seeped from circular wounds on their chests and wings. The rest of the fighters drew back, unsure of what to do. The lead human stepped forward again.
"We will give you one more chance. Go back to your city; decide on what you will do. We will meet tomorrow, whether it is in battle or in peace."
The remaining Sestras lifted off and headed home in defeat. Moran looked at Onatia. They took off together and caught up with the rest of the division, shuddering each time another metal container fell from the sky. The pattern of the falls no longer seemed random. The containers were falling in a circle, surrounding the city and the First Tree. Moran could sense from the mood of the division that they and the humans would be meeting tomorrow in war, not peace. What they had done was unforgivable.
The prophetic dream from the night before came back to him in flashes. Chimerean would be in flames, the First Tree growing sick. A battlefield would be empty except for the dead. There would be Sestras and Dragons falling in the hundreds to the humans' sticks. The Sestras of Chimerean would be leaving the city in exile.
And the most horrible image of all, Onatia and himself, shot down as they fled, with their child in Onatia's arms. The child that would give birth to the only one that could reverse the damage done by the Humans.
That same child, being picked up by Eton.
That same child, being raised believing that the humans were right.
That same child, not telling the One what she must do.
Chapter One
~Trial by Fire~
Mora was up long before the sun, brushing her sleek brown hair to perfection.
"Mom!" She yelled for the hundredth time. "What should I wear?" She asked excitedly.
"Wear white. It will go with whatever wings you get." Her mother answered tiredly.
Mora danced around the small tree house, humming cheerfully. Her brother, Ivan, came out of his room slowly and rubbed his eyes. He was still in his pajamas, and his blond hair was sticking up in clumps.
"Do we really have to go to the speech? We can sneak in late and just go to the ceremony. We never go to the speech. We've got another hour until the ceremony starts."
"But the speech is in a half an hour. Mora is getting her wings today. You can sit through one speech for your sister. She did it for you two years ago."
"Will the whole town be there?" Mora asked.
Her mom nodded. Then she looked out the window at the bright, blue-white sun.
"We better get going. It will take a while to walk there."
Mora grinned and jumped towards the trapdoor on the floor. She climbed down the ladder slowly, watching enviously as her mom and Ivan drifted down to the ground on sapphire wings. The tree they lived in was over two hundred feet tall, but compared to some of the trees in the cities, it was short. Ivan smirked at her as he floated down.
"Having fun, little sister?" He said sarcastically.
"It's a blast," Mora panted. "Soon I will never have to use this ladder again. Then I can actually go places in this town." She muttered.
"I think you should make it last. That ladder will definitely miss you once you're stumbling through the air."
"What are you talking about? I'll be a great flyer!" Mora protested. Ivan just scoffed and landed on the ground.
Mora let go of the ladder, dropping the last ten feet or so. Her mother winced as she hit the ground.
"I wish you wouldn't do that honey. You could turn an ankle or something."
"You won't have to worry anymore. Today I'll have wings to slow me down as jump off of things." Mora smiled cheekily.
Her mother shook her head and walked down the trail. Mora fell in step with Ivan, chattering happily.
"Does getting wings hurt?"
"No."
"What happens if I don't get wings?"
"You'll get your wings Mora. Unless you made Gaia mad, you'll be fine."
"But what happens if someone doesn't get their wings?"
"Mora, you know what happens. They are sent into exile."
Mora opened her mouth to spout off another question, but then another family walking down an adjoining trail stopped her. It was her friend, Lena.
"Lena! Isn't this great? We'll finally be able to fly!"
Lena nodded, her green eyes narrowed slightly. Mora could tell she was afraid. They were almost at the gathering spot now. Mora could hear the drone of many voices merging together. They came out of the trees on the top of a small hill, looking down on the assembled Sestras. Wings of blue, green, and red formed a moving, colorful sea as more and more Sestras landed in the gathering. Mora and Lena's family went on ahead, but Lena held Mora back.
"Mora, what happens if one of us doesn't get our wings?"
"My mom said we'll go into exile and—"
"No. I know what is supposed to happen. What will we do if one of us doesn't get our wings?" Lena sounded scared.
"If you don't get your wings Lena, I'll go into exile with you and take care of you." That's only if I get my wings as well… she silently added.
"Thanks Mora." Lena smiled, reassured. "We'll never abandon each other." She said with certainty. Mora smiled, but something was tugging at the back of her mind.
"Will you do the same for me, Lena?"
Lena nodded distractedly. She led the way down the hill and towards the front row, where the rest of their class was sitting anxiously. The mayor was standing on top of the sacred rock, a huge slab of granite on the western side of the clearing. His purple suit was stretched tight over his protruding stomach. He wiped his sweating face with a dirty handkerchief before nodded to Mora. His beady eyes watched Mora with an unreadable emotion. As Mora and Lena sat down, Mora saw something huge fly overhead. It landed next to the mayor, its huge bulk spilling over the side of the rock.
Dragon! Mora instantly thought.
"It's the Mayor's wyvern!" Lena said at the same moment.
Right, it's a wyvern. Dragons are extinct. She corrected herself mentally.
The wyvern was an unappealing grey, like the boring stones along the path of the woods. It had short, stubby legs and a long, thin tail. The tail reminded Mora of a rat she had seen along the lake shore. The spikes on its back were uneven and broken off in some places, as if they were brittle and weak. Its head was shaped like a square, with its long, yellow teeth jutting out from its mouth. The wyvern's red eyes seemed to follow Mora, as if they could see right through her.
"It's kind of ugly." Mora whispered.
Lena giggled and nodded. The wyvern looked directly at Mora. Looks aren't everything, Mora. My name is Viola, and I would appreciate it if you would not call me and it if you insist upon talking about me. The voice had been inside of Mora's head. She knew it was the wyvern. She waited for it to saying something else. You are destined for great things, Mora. Do not let petty judgments hinder you.
"Can they talk? Wyverns, I mean?" Mora asked.
"Yea, but not many people understand them."
Once, everyone listened and understood. It was hard to ignore when a Dragon spoke to you. But now that they are gone, no one listens to a lonely wyvern. I am just a whisper in most minds, hardly noticeable… The voice was mournful. Many think I am the beginnings of insanity…
"That's so sad." Mora lamented out loud.
Lena looked at her strangely. The mayor stepped forward, stopping her from saying anything. He stood commandingly on the edge of the rock, but there was something almost timid about the way he clasped his hands behind his back, as if he was afraid of speaking. The Wyvern roared to get everyone's attention. The Mayor's voice was a deep monotone that vibrated across the air before reaching the gather Sestras. He spoke the same words that have been said over the years. Many could recite them back to him.
"Today, we gather to remember that fateful day 100 years ago, when the humans first came to our planet of Izrana. Many died that day, including Commander Xenos, leader of the royal army. We thank Moran and Flamewyte for leading the Army in the Battle of Fire, and for their sacrifice off the battlefield. The Battle of Fire was fought the day after the humans returned. We have never had such a bloody battle in the history of our planet." He paused and wiped his face again. Mora could not help but wonder why he was sweating so much. It was nice today, almost chilly. But the Mayor continued with his speech as if he had never stopped.
"Even the Great Tribal War seems insignificant in comparison. We are here to mourn for the lives lost on that day, but also to thank Eton, the one who lead the battered and broken remains of the Royal Army and created Eton, the town where we live today.
"The humans cut down our warriors with their guns and bombs, and took Chimerean and First Tree within a day. When they took the First Tree, the battle was over. Now we fight to stay alive in the small areas left for us. We cannot win against them; they take away our warriors and our hunters if they stray too far.
"But despite that, we live on. The humans have not won the war yet. Not until every last one of us has given up. And we will never give up!" The mayor raised his hand as the crowd cheered and yelled in agreement. The mayor half-spread his blue wings and pointed one finger to the sky. The gathered Sestras mimicked him, until everyone in the valley was saluting the lost lives of the Battle. The elderly Sestras of the group nodded to the mayor in approval.
The mayor has already given up. His speech is just his way of going through the motions. Viola looked at Mora sadly. The emotions spilled out of Viola's consciousness, filling Mora's mind with sadness, regret, and anger. Mora was surprised. Even if the mayor had given up on the rebellion, Viola was partnered with him. How could she hate him? I cannot feel any love for a leader who leads his people with lies and deceit. Viola answered disgustedly. Her voice was louder in Mora's mind as she said this. She really did not respect the mayor. Looking through Viola's eyes, Mora could see her view.
"And now we welcome those young Sestras who will continue the fight against the humans!" The mayor gestured towards Mora and the rest of her class. The audience clapped politely. Many were shifting in their seats, wanting to move and expel the restlessness brought by the speech
"Lena," the mayor called.
Lena climbed to her feet, excitement and fear shining in her eyes. She walked slowly up the stone steps toward the stage.
"Zeelo," The boy headed to the stage, standing next to Lena. The mayor read the rest of the name, finally coming to Mora's. Mora stood at the end of the line, her legs shaking with apprehension. She tugged at the hem of her shirt nervously.
"Mother Gaia, Goddess of Life, we ask you to grant these young children their wings so they can go out into the world and serve you to the best of their abilities. The mayor raised his arms above his head once more.
Mora waited. She imagined her wings appearing on her back, stunningly blue and beautiful. Mora felt a tingling sensation on her back. She trembled with excitement. She looked at the other Sestras alongside of her. The air behind them was shimmering and changing color. Varying shades of blue, red, and green began to become solid.
The outline of wings began to be visible behind them, and then all the Sestras had wings. It was sudden, like the blink of an eye. Mora felt a small tremor on her back, then a tickling sensation. It was the only sign that she had wings. There was no change it weight. Her wings weighed next to nothing. She knew she had wings, and relief came like a welcoming wave. I hope they're blue! She thought. Apprehension made her fingers shake, but she couldn't look at her wings until the mayor formally welcomed her into the community. She glanced around at the other Sestras who stood on stage. Their wings were beautiful shades of the three wing colors, and the blue wings in the group made Mora especially jealous. The color was so pretty on wings. If she didn't have blue wings, she didn't know what she was going to do. The mayor was starting the ceremony.
"The community of Eton welcomes you, Lena, as a full citizen and a warrior." The mayor handed something small and green to her. The mayor moved on to the next Sestra.
Lena's a warrior! Mora was filled with happiness for her friend, but she was slightly jealous. What will I do if Lena's a warrior and I'm not? Mora pushed the thought to the back of her mind. The mayor was coming towards her.
"We welcome you, Mora, to the community as a, um… as a warrior." The mayor smiled guardedly and handed her something. Mora looked at it and saw that it was a delicate wristband, the band made out of simple vines woven together tightly and covered in a clear, hard solid not unlike plastic. A small, circular green stone with an intricate carving of a leaf was the only decoration on it. Mora slipped it onto her right wrist and nodded to the mayor. Inside, fear and confusion swirled together, threating to sweep her off her feet. Why did he hesitate? The mayor turned to the rest of the community.
"Thank you for coming to this important part of life in town. I hope you all have a safe day and a happy afternoon." The mayor smiled and waved. It was a clear dismissal. Mora peeked over her shoulder. Cerulean blue feathers greeted her gaze, and she sighed in relief. I'm a warrior. She thought happily. She took a step towards Lena, but then stopped. A sun hawk was spiraling above her head. They rarely come this far north, and Mora watched it curiously. A single red feather drifted down towards her, bursting into flames a few feet above her head. She looked around. Other people had noticed the hawk, but they didn't seem that alarmed. They simply studied it for a moment before flying off. The hawk screeched once more and flew directly west.
"Mora, are you coming or not?" Lena was standing on the edge of the stage, wings posed to fly.
"Yeah, let's go." Mora stood beside her and tested out her light, feathery wings. A few of the remaining Sestras gave her uneasy glances, but Mora ignored them. She could feel the wind cushioning her wings, flowing between each individual feather. She jumped off the stage, soaring straight into the air. She flapped hard to gain some altitude, and then waited for Lena to catch up. Everything about fly was instinct, and it only took a few minutes for Mora and Lena to be soaring effortlessly through the air, only faltering when a sudden, hard air current came.
The two of them turned towards the lake, speeding up until they were racing at full speed. When they were over the placid waters, Lena slowed down.
"So why do you think your wings are like that?"
"What do you mean?" Mora asked in confusion.
"You mean you haven't noticed?" Lena paused. "Look at your reflection in the water."
Mora flew a little lower and looked. Her wings were blue… but only at the top. As she looked towards the bottom of her wings, she noticed that the blue transitioned until it was a deep, royal purple. Her first thought was of how pretty they were. Her second was of how different they were.
"What's wrong with them?" Mora cried. Ivan flew up from behind her. He had followed her from the assembly just for this reason.
"There's nothing wrong with them Mora."
"I look like a freak!" She wailed.
"Everyone loved your wings. I'm sure they're all at home crying because of how jealous they are." They lie was so pathetic, but Mora was too upset to care. It was even worse when Lena snorted. Ivan glared at her. "Maybe we should head home. Mom will want to talk to you."
Mora nodded and flew home, her heart heavy with disappointment, confusion, and shame.