On Courage, On Valor, On Noble of Heart
For Unto Battle, Our Spirits must Part.
-Bartholomew of Sandwich.
"Aurora!" Ares called, landing next to her. Or tried to land next to her… he might have landed on her a little bit. She shook him off and was quick to straighten her golden fur.
"Ares!" she protested indignantly, "Watch it!"
She flapped a wing at me to get him to scooch over. He laughed with nervous excitement.
"Are you ready?" The black bat asked.
"I was, until you mussed me all up!" Ares knew she was joking. Of course she was ready- they'd waited their entire lives for this day!
Their first solo hunt was a big deal; all of the yearlings would participate in the ceremony, and after that, wouldn't be seen as pups anymore.
Finally, a little bit of freedom!
From the first time he had clung to his mother's chest, as she soared through the open air, he knew that he wanted to fly. He'd even fractured his left wing trying to do so too early. Ares had been forced to take it easy for months, desperately hoping that I wouldn't miss The First Hunt.
Ares turned his ears up to where he knew his family hung, his mother's smiling face coming into focus. He tried not to focus too much on his older siblings- their achievements on their own First Hunt's would be hard to live up to.
Ares turned back to Aurora, grinning with giddy delight. She stuck her tongue out at him, but laughed afterward. He was sure he looked like an idiot, but didn't care.
The noise in the cavern died down as the Great Mother took flight, her shiny silvery fur glinting in the near darkness. He tracked her movements with twitching ears, feeling the wind bend to her will. She landed before them on the Plateau and spoke serenely to the crowd before her,
"Children of Flight, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Ceremony of First Hunt. You have all grown from the smallest of beings into magnificent members of our Colony, and I am sure that you will continue to surpass all expectation.
Ares felt a shudder of excitement run down his spine and settle in his stomach. The Queen continued,
"As tradition dictates, to become fully independent, you must leave your families on this day and return with quarry of your own catching. It is with great pleasure that I lead you from this place and bid you to the Hunt. May your flight be high,"
With that she gracefully leapt into the air, her beautiful wings extending as she pulled herself into open air. Upward she spiraled, surrounded by the yearlings, and a flurry of wings around him indicated that it was his turn. He and Aurora rocketed into the air, swirling in the mass of wings and fur, becoming one with the Colony. They soared upward, past their families hanging on the cliff face and out into the Open.
"Ares!" Aurora called from behind him, he felt her grow closer to him, her shorter wings working to keep up, "Wait for me!"
"We're supposed to do this alone!" He squeaked back, his youthful voice cracking awkwardly. He cleared his throat, feeling embarrassed, and mentally thanked her for not teasing him.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean that we can't hunt in the same vicinity!" She caught up with him as he slowed and fell into synch with his flight pattern.
"You don't want to hunt where I'm hunting." He called out, tauntingly. This time his voice held strong and he smiled confidently.
"Why? Think you're good enough to catch everything?" She sounded overly skeptical.
"No… I know you're a good hunter!" He was quick to say, "But I know that you're also not a rule breaker, and I don't want your morality to be questioned."
"M…Morality!?" She sounded flabbergasted, "And pray tell, why would my morality be questioned?"
He smirked and said simply, "Because I'm hunting beyond the Faults today."
He could almost feel her bristle as she exclaimed, "WHAT!? That is the stupidest thing you've ever said, Ares. And I've heard you say a lot of stupid things."
"Hey!" He said, but there was no real malice in his voice. He was well aware that many of the things he deemed worthy of trying were actually pretty dumb, when safety was concerned. But that's what made them fun.
"You don't have to go with me, but the best Flickers are on the other side of the Faults, and I want to get one."
She made a discontented sound next to him, "Ares—" she started, but he cut her off.
"Listen, Aurora. I need to do this! My brother came back with a Reamer and my sister had two Hoppers. Two! My whole family ate their fill!"
"You shouldn't make it a competition." She sounded like his mother.
"It's not me making it a competition. It is one. You wouldn't understand."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He sighed, "You're the oldest in your family. Trust me- if you got a Flicker from across the Faults, your sister would have a hard time living up to your bravery on her First Hunt." Aurora's tiny sister was barely a week old, a beautiful silver to contrast the elder siblings, gold. Still he could see his friend considering what he had just said, her protective instincts already emerging for the tiny being that still clung to their mother's chest.
"She would have a hard time living up to my stupidity!" Aurora said indignantly, "And the entire Colony would know it!"
"The entire Colony would herald us for our hunting prowess. Don't think I haven't seen you practicing that dive move. You're ready for this- and so am I" He was liking where this conversation was going. The fact that she hadn't shut him down already was evidence enough that she was mulling it over.
"Please, Ares. Let's just go hunt with the others."
"The quarries the others will get today will be tiny, not even enough to fill their bellies. But a Flicker? You do realize that your whole family could eat today and probably tomorrow."
"Yeah, I get that they're huge past the Faults, but do you really want to risk dying for that?"
His silence was her answer.
"Oh, great! Now the silent treatment? Very honorable of you, you giant lump of furry coal! I appreciate your bravery, but this is truly ridiculous." He could hear the first hints of fear in her voice.
"We're not going to die, Aurora."
"Oh you're right, we're not going to die. You're probably going to die, but I am going to live a bit longer than childhood, thank you very much."
He snorted and rolled his eyes, "You know you're coming with me, right?"
She was silent before answering, "You're an idiot, so someone has to watch your back."
He grinned and they soared onward towards the Faults.
_
The open cavern loomed before him, it's ugly, marred ceiling looking more dangerous that he had previously imagined. His brother had told him tales of foolishly brave Fliers who had journeyed through the unstable cavern, dodging stalactites that cracked from the unsteady cavern top. They had to dive and weave past the large shears of pointed rock that were ready to rip delicate wings and pulverize young bodies on the rocks below. Ares brother had sworn that he had tried it once on his own and lived to tell the tale, but he had no proof.
A surge of fear and excitement flooded through him- he could feel the Flickers on the other side of the vast cavern, hovering over the water collected there. Their fat bodies and long legs perched delicately atop the waters' surface, skimming across in twitching movements. His mouth watered as he remembered the taste. It was a big treat to get a bite of a Flicker, as they only grew small on this side of the Faults.
"Ares?" Aurora whispered next to him, he cocked an ear in her direction, "Are you sure about this? I've heard that even the movement that our wings make in the air can set off the Falling."
He had heard the same. " We'll just take it slow and not make much movement. Fly close to the ground and don't speak while we're in there. That'll keep the vibrations to a minimum."
"Oh, now you're the expert?" She whispered back, her voice taking on a disapproving turn, "And tell me, great one, what will we do if the Falling is triggered?"
"The largest fault lines run through the middle of the cavern, if we stick to the sides we'll avoid the most dangerous zone."
"You still haven't answered my question." She said, deadpan.
"Fine… fine. If the rocks fall… fly fast and dodge as best as you can."
"Carrying a Flicker? Are you crazy!?" Her voice rose slightly in anger and he quickly shushed, her, ears twitching in anticipation. The rocks above them held.
"Maybe I am crazy," he answered defiantly, "but this'll be great when we pull it off."
She scoffed, "if we pull it off, Ares. If"
"Agree to disagree." He stated simply, "I'm going now. You don't have to follow me, but remember- it's against tradition for me to catch something for you, and time is running out."
They were expected back by the time the adults were to leave for their nightly hunts. That left them just enough time to get there and get back, but not much wiggle room.
If they didn't make it back in time, or if they didn't bring anything back- they would be expected to live with their parents until the ceremony for the next years' yearlings. He hated the idea of being forced to endure his mother's smothering or his father's lectures for one more hour, let alone a whole year.
With that thought burning brightly in his mind, he let himself slide from the mouth of the tunnel, taking to the air gently and gliding down and to the right. He felt a glimmer of happiness run through him as he realized Aurora was right behind him.
He would never admit it, but he was glad that she was there. He didn't want to do this alone, but it was an extra treat that it was Aurora that had come with him. She was his best friend, and they spent most afternoons together. After waking lessons, the middle meal and afternoon flight practice, they were left to their own devices.
He had other friends, but she was different. For one thing, she didn't follow him around like a lost puppy. It was refreshing to have someone that bickered with him, instead of just listening to everything he said. He liked to get his way, but it was nice to have to fight for it sometimes.
There was something else there too, some unspoken agreement between the two of them. He knew that she trusted him as deeply as she trusted him, due to an inordinate amount of pranking that he pulled and she covered for. Most of them were completely harmless, and he knew that she would take part in them herself, if not for her precious standards; No doubt the product of being the firstborn to two of the best fliers in the Colony.
But he had seen mischief in her eyes as he regaled her with tales of his latest conquest; a live hopper left in the Nursery or his experience with Old Fornax and the nibbler pup.
It was unfathomable to him that she would be wound so tight and still be friends with him, but they enjoyed each other's company, so he didn't question it too much.
He returned his attention to scanning the air above them for any sign that the fault was caving. Luckily everything seemed still and peaceful. He leveled out a few feet above the stalagmites that rose from the cave floor, making sure that he had enough room that the downdraft of his wings wouldn't disturb them. Aurora fell into synch behind him and to the left, gliding along in the slipstream that his flight created.
His heart beat madly and he fought the urge to fly as fast as he could through the treacherous cavern. They were halfway through when a stalactite across the cavern groaned and broke free, falling a hundred feet before coming to a thunderous crash to the ground. He felt the tremor run through the air and stopped breathing, his ears madly twisting for signs of a second falling.
He could feel Aurora panting in panic behind him as she did the same. Moments dragged on and the groaning of vibrations through the cavern died down to a distant echo, a whispering reminder of the danger afoot.
They had maybe twenty feet to go, fifteen, then ten. Ares allowed himself to smile in victory as they neared the opening to the Flickers' cave, feeling hope flourish in his tight chest. With three strong beats of his wings he was through the opening, Aurora directly behind him. He flipped and attached himself to the tunnel ceiling, gasping as the adrenaline washed through his shaking body. Aurora looked about as giddy as he felt, her eyes wide with amazement and awe.
"We did it!" She whispered, her ears twitching excitedly.
He grinned back and nodded, "I can't believe we made it!" he heard himself say.
She whacked him with his wing, "Told you I'd watch your back." She said and laughed, high and pure.
"All right Miss Morals. How does it feel to be a rebel?"
She grinned at him, "Like I could catch the biggest Flicker in the world!"
"Ha! Not if I catch it first!" He launched himself from the tunnel, diving swiftly upon the unsuspecting water dwellers. The bugs scattered as he drew near and he twirled, following a large one as it skirted across the waters' edge.
Claws extended, he struck.
Aurora was waiting for him when he returned to the mouth of the cave, one foot clinging to the wall, while the other clutched a respectably sized Flicker. It twitched in her grasp and she tilted her chin as he landed beside her.
"I think mine's bigger." She stated matter-of-factly.
He snorted, "Sure it is." But truth be told… she might have been right.
"Let's get going. I can't wait to see your sisters face!" she giggled in excitement and he brightened at the thought. His sister, Cassiopeia, was one of the best hunters in the sky, and while she loved her brother dearly- was highly competitive.
"She's never gonna hear the end of it from Pyxis. He's still teasing her about being too scared to join the Regalian Guard!"
"You didn't tell me that! Why didn't she join? She's qualified enough."
Why hadn't he told her? It wasn't like it was shameful for him- it was his sister that was too afraid, "Yeah, she received an invitation to train for the elite guard- probably would have been bonded to a General in less than a year, but she turned down the offer. She said that she's against war or whatever, but I know why she really didn't join up."
Aurora's eyes widened at his tone. She knew that he had a juicy piece of gossip, but knew that if she asked for it, he would withhold for as long as he could.
He caved, " You know Cephus?"
"Two years older than us? Black and Gray?" He nodded in confirmation,
"Well, he didn't get chosen for his year. He says it's because he's needed as a fisher here, but I think it's because he's got a bum wing. Anyway, I saw them together one day."
"Together?" Aurora asked.
"You know… laughing like idiots, flying in circles, making small talk."
"Oh, so like what we're doing right now?" She asked, her voice chiding him.
"No…" he said carefully, "Like… idiots. You know… in love."
She laughed, "What do you know about being in love?"
"Probably more than you!" He answered.
"Oh please! You're barely a yearling, you fly around playing pranks on anything that moves and you've got no respect for the rules. You're telling me that you know about something so… adult as love?"
He bristled, "I'm sorry- who are you and where has Aurora gone? Weren't you, just yesterday, complaining that your sister was taking up all of your snuggle time with mommy?"
"Well excuse me for enjoying the company of others. I'm sorry if you're so disjointed that you can't enjoy normal interaction!"
"It's not that I don't enjoy normal interaction- it's that my families' "normal" is not everyone's. Come spend one day pup smothered by my mother and you'll not mind freedom either!"
"Well at least your parents pay attention to you!" she said shrilly.
"Why do you always have to make it about you!?"
"Why do YOU always have to make it about YOU!?" Her voice echoed through both caverns, reverberating against the walls.
"Great job, Aurora. Really superb." He hissed in her direction, listening for the impending avalanche from the adjoining cave.
"Well if you weren't such a snobbish idiot, then maybe I wouldn't feel the need to yell at you. Let's go." She said and took off into the cave.
"Aurora!" He whispered harshly in her direction, but she didn't return to him, didn't react. With an angry grunt he took off after her, quickly catching up.
"You should be more careful." He whispered sharply as he glided down next to her.
"You don't lecture me about being careful, Mr. Let's-impress-everyone-by-making-ridiculous-decisions-that-could-get-me-killed!" Her voice was muted but clipped. He could practically feel her anger coming off of her in waves, "And be quiet while we're in here. I'd rather make it back to inform your mother of how stupid you were today."
"It was stupid to bring you along for sure." He growled, "especially when you were going to be a whiny baby about the whole thing."
He beat his wings harder, pulling ahead of her.
He was so angry his head hurt. Each heart beat, each downward stroke of his wings brought a pounding so fierce to the backs of his eyes that he was sure his head would split in two.
He was almost to the tunnel entrance, his quarry clasped tightly in one foot when it happened. He felt a shift in the air, so sudden and unexpected that he was caught off guard for a moment. His brain took too long to process what was happening and before he knew it, there was a terrible crack from above. The fault line visibly shifted, shaking loose multiple stalactites that plummeted towards the two young bats. Ares' heart filled with dread as his ears worked frantically to pinpoint Aurora, still a good forty feet behind him.
His mind knew instantly that he could reach the entrance to the tunnel in a matter of seconds, safe from the falling rocks. But Aurora was not that lucky. The hurtling stone stakes increased in speed as they fell, directly in the path of her panicked flight.
His insides ran cold.
"AURORA!" He screeched and before he had truly processed his actions, he had dropped the bug in his claws and was tearing through the air towards his friend.
Downward he raced the spikes of stone, his heart racing and stomach twisting.
She screamed in panic, trying to dodge the deadly rocks and he called out to her, trying desperately to reach her in time. More rocks broke free above them and fell as the booming of the first stalactites rocked the cavern floor.
"TO YOUR LEFT" His voice left him in a panicked cry, but it was too late. Her wing was struck, and she spun, slamming into a large stone that continued it's fall unhindered. She went with it.
