SUMMARY: What if Danica had not been the last child of Nacola? What if she was unavailable as a mate? This is an alternate version of Hawk song with Danica'a sixteen year old sister, Coral. Her mate has just died and she is left bleeding on the inside by too many wounds dealt her. Looking for peace, will she find it?
WARNING: I do not know what this story will have, so ratings will change at any time. Cussing, blood... The usual warning on any of my stories.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the original characters.
PROLOGUE
My feelings could not have been in a larger turmoil. When faced with loving or trusting what you've never trusted or loved only feared... No, not hate, that word was too strong. Feared, yes feared. As you were taught too fear. And kill what you fear. How could anyone claiming sanity ask me too put aside my terror, forget my fear. Mold it to love? Unthinkable, no it was scandalous. I was avian, youngest daughter of Lady Nacola Shardae. My sixteen years have left me begging, hidden under the layers of my resolve and poise, for an end. So much blood, hatred, fear, pulling, death, crimson rivers of blood, fire, all dancing in a void; a chasm that was deeper than any known canyon. Please sweet Alasdair, mother of my ancestors, giver of my wings, let my- nay let your people know peace. We kill now because it is all we know too do. We kill, we fight, we kill again to avenge the blood of ours staining the serpiete hands. We are caught in a never ending spiral of blood and death. Two wrongs will never make a right; they will only create more wrongs. Wise words, spoken by the only woman too care for me and give me affection after my mother turned away, my sister slowly became someone I didn't know enough too care for. Valene, exiled for more than a simple argument over the snakes and a sign. But that isn't here or there it... She is my last fond memory... Please... I beg you; help me too know how I can end it! Let my people sleep knowing true peace for the first time in... It has been too long to know when peace was a tangible thought. I am Coral Shardae, youngest heir to the Hawks keep.... My Alistair Varik was killed a week ago. I couldn't shed a tear. My brother didn't come home last night. I am Coral Shardae, a hawk of gold and... I am tired of everything.
CHAPTER ONE
The sun was a heavy weight on my back as I walked the fields. Nothing stirred around me except the wind which ruffled my gold locks. I heard a natural crow call out in warning to its partner. They flew away, realizing the field wasn't as empty as they believed. Even had I not been here the field could not have been called "empty". No, it would have simply been devoid of life. Warm avian blood coated the grass, a deadly fertilizer mixing with cool Serpientes blood and morning dew too create a fowl stench. It didn't faze me. Dead bodies, forever grounded in death, those who sought to end me some to protect me... It didn't faze me either. When had all this become so normal, so accepted, that I didn't cry even as I found Xavier Shardae body. Even as I knelt to brush the gold hair from his cold fore head. Trapped rays of sunlight... That was what he and my Alistair had once told me my gold curls were. There would be no more tales such of these. Nor would they pass my lips too my own children. So why... Why couldn't I bloody cry? I knew the answer. Death had become such a regular occurrence in my life, draining me to the shell I was now. My last memory of crying was when I was a child and my mother had sent Valene away. I remembered the argument they had.
"My daughter has been quoting you of late." My mothers face had been stoic even as she sought to defend her child from "Evil". "If you believe I'll allow you to poison her mind-"
"Poison her mind?" Valene had interjected. "All I do is comfort a crying child whose own family has no use for her." My mother had banished her and I'd only gotten too say goodbye because I broke away from my guard. Her warmth had enveloped me as I clung to her, begging her to take me with her. I'd pulled back to see tears overflowing like a river from her eyes. She left and my mother had had me locked away from view as my tears ran. Days turned into weeks. My tears ended but my soul was grounded. I emerged to be the perfect avian. A cry of strangled pain drew my mind from the past. The cry came again and I cocked my head. Curious, I wandered over to the small dusting of woods. Blood mixed thick with mud here, an even more potent stench. The cry came from a serpiete. I stood by him, looking down on his stark black hair and fair skin. His cries died in his throat as his eyes widened. He recognized me for my heritage of gold curls and light gold skin with molten gold eyes just as I recognized him for his garnet eyes. What were the two prince's names? Ah, Zane and Gregory Cobriana, if memory served. My gaze flicked down his body, cataloging his injuries with a carelessness my mother would have admired. Minor cuts, broken bones, all he could recover from. The rugged slice on his stomach... Possible, but not likely. I blinked as he opened his eyes too glare.
"Well, Hawk?" He spat like he'd insulted me. "Come to finish me off?" I could end his pain but I was to weary of killing. I knelt at his head and pulled him to my lap. He was too weak to struggle as I brushed his hair from his sweaty fore head. I reached too my side and grabbed at a bottle of water. Lifting his head to rest on my chest I helped him to drink. He was greedy with it, chugging so deep that droplets fell down his chin to his bloody shirt. When he was finished he took wheezing breaths, the air rasping inside him. He asked me a single worded question I wasn't sure how to answer.
"Why?" It was a breathy whisper. I contemplated in silence. Why would I do this? I wasn't in the habit of second guessing myself but now it was necessary. If my sister knew she wouldn't be able to look upon me again. My mother... Would undoubtfully exile me with less care she did Valene. But something moved in me too defend my actions, over riding my fear.
"I am... Tired of death staining my people. I am tired of seeing children going off to war to die only to be replaced by two more children. I'm tired of turning a blind eye too it all." I concluded with. "I'm tired of wishing for peace but being too weak and scared too try and obtain it." The serpiente was quiet in my arms, thoughtful.
"My name is... Gregory Cobriana..." He told me in another whisper. I smiled and nodded. "I know." I returned. If he was Zane and the rumors were true I'd already be dead. My eyes spied a black horse riding to us. My eyes narrowed, feathers tensing. A wounded soldier I could handle but... A perfectly healthy one with guards... The horse came closer and I saw the rider. Zane Cobriana, come to retrieve his kin. Zane dismounted with the fluid grace of a serpiente, his garnet gaze catching mine and dazing me. His two guards dismounted, getting Gregory. Three able soldiers, one wounded, against me? My chances diminished greatly in my mind. This was my reward for aiding my enemy. One guard remounted with Gregory in front of him. I stepped away, debating letting loose a Hawks screech.
"What is a hawk doing with my brother?" Zane asked, dark amusement dancing in his eyes. He paused and I realized he expected an answer.
"You've already decided what I was doing so answering you would be a waste." He smirked at the acid in my tone. His fingers toyed with the sword at his side. Why use a weapon when your bite can kill us all? I thought sarcastically.
"So the little hawk won't tell. Well, I'm fond of guessing games." His eyes flicked down my body, bringing a wave of heat over me. "You are beautiful so perhaps you to are involved in something carnal." My face turned pink as my blood boiled. How dare he? Knowing the avian ability too sheath ourselves in blankness unnerved them I pulled my reserve around me, happy too see them tense. He frowned as his guard shifted.
"Brother, no." Gregory rasped. "Without her I'd surely be dead."
"Without her family you'd not be in this mess." A guard snapped. Gregory coughed and Zane glanced between them.
"Let us go... Thank you, Hawk."
"My name isn't hawk. It's Coral." I snapped, relieved they were leaving and shaken deeper than I wanted to admit. Suddenly he struck and I brought my dagger up. With his bare hand he grabbed my wrist, twisting until I dropped it. Desperate, I shrieked, praying someone was near enough to hear me, knowing I was too far away from the keep. As I prepared too shriek again his fist slammed into my gut, his other hand covering my mouth. He caught me as I fell ungracefully too the ground on all fours, black spots dancing in my eyes. He is going too kill me. The thought echoed in my brain as I blacked out.
AUTHOR NOTE: I'm sorry if you object too my story being about a ZaneXoc, but someone would have done it eventually.