Nyra charged at the owl nearest her. The unfortunate pure one spiraled out of the sky, killed by his own leader. In her twisted hagsfeind mind, they had failed her. They all deserved to die.
Clipse had been leading his regiment well, after a brief, but bloody, exchange with the Strykers, they turned to the Fire Squad. They were next. They were about to meet when the Fire Squad dispersed, scattering like pellets in the wind.
"Cowards." Clipse chuckled. But he felt something hovering over him. He looked up in fear and saw a massive crow, no… a hagsfeind swooping down on him, its claws extended. Suddenly one of its wings caught on fire. It squawked in surprise and gave Clipse just enough time to escape its claws.
The fire had come from Ga'Hoolian talons. Clipse scanned the squad and saw Soren fighting with battle claws only. He felt a lurch in his gizzard. Why had Soren saved him? Clipse shook his head. Nyra warned me, they like to play mind games.
Clipse called to his men.
"They're going to drive the big bird to the sea." He called as he saw the fire squad regrouping above the massive bird. "Do as they do, and if a Ga'Hoolian dies no problem." The two armies swooped upon the hagsfeind and drove her to the sea. All too quickly, it went yeep and plummeted into the ocean.
Nyra laughed as she fell. Fools, they think they've won. With my powers, the sea will be no match for me. As she landed with a splash she leveled her wings so she could float with just her beak sticking out. The two leaders began to talk overhead.
Stupid Mooncalves, now's my chance!" She took in a deep breath letting the oxygen energize her. Then she flapped with all furry.
Nothing happened.
Whats going on? She thought flapping again, this time more desperately. Her wings were heavy as lead and she let out a final shriek before her beak disappeared beneath the waves. In her carelessness she had forgotten a vital thing. Hagsfiends have no oil glands. In so, once her wings became saturated, they were of little use.
She kept on flapping, she barely comprehend that it was only propelling her to the ground more. However, as she fell the flapping cleared away all the dirt, so as she fell she could see to top of the sky. Both armies were looking down curiously, and she realized she had been changing. Her black feathers became white, her beak shortened and a scar stitched across her face. For the first time in her life she felt… weak. She attempted a last breath but there was no air.
Nyra was no more.
--
Clipse stared in disbelief at the bottom of the sea.
"NYRA!" He shrieked and charged at Coyrn. "Attack!" He shouted to his army, but they didn't budge. It was as if a spell had been lifted from the shoulders of the army.
"Enough!" His second in yelled. "Look, none of us chose this path, and the only reason we stayed was because of her." He pointed to the ocean, then threw down his battle claws. The troops cheered and did the same. The pure ones had surrendered.
"Fight you Frink'in Moon Calves. Sprink on all of you! Go to hagsmire!" He would've charged his troops then and there, but a flaming torch was shoved up his mask. His vision blurred and he slashed at thin air.
"Moon calves! Your all moon calves!" He flew madly chasing scrooms in a strange druken sort of dance until he was out of sight.
Coyrn looked over the new pure ones with at first suspicion, then a smile. He waved them over.
"Welcome home brothers." Nyra's reign of terror was over.
--
The Macheaths waited patiently for the signal, but the army was grow restless. Finally, Dunleavy decided to hagsmire with the signal. He let out a booming howl followed by many others. They charged the tunnel.
--
Kyria was having a private last word with Carma as Otulissa prepared her for the mission. They could hear the wolves coming up and if they made it, no one would survive. Carma's lower beak was trembling. Kyria turned swiftly to her.
"If you ever hurt him, or cheat on him, or have eggs with another male, my scroom will haunt you down until the day you die. And that will only be the beginning." Carma nodded understanding then backed away. Bubo hadn't come.
Kyria sighed and took the torch from Otulissa. She pulled the throttled and raced to meet the wolves.
