Chapter 11

Songs of The Forgotten

I woke up startled and gasped seeing the ground coming up fast, I didn't have a chance to slow down my decent before colliding with the ground. I held on to my seat with all my might trying not fly out off. My lion slid a couple more feet and finally came to a stop. I took a deep breath trying to calm my hammering heart, couple of breaths later, I tried moving my lion's handles, but she would not respond.

"That's alright, you need a break."

"Now let see where we are."

I climbed out of lion's head through the top to look at my surroundings. It seemed we had crashed on a frozen tundra. There was snow as far as the eye could see and giant mountains in the distance. I turned around and saw the trail that my lion made when we crashed. Wind blew through the frozen waste land and I was thankful for my inner fire that kept me warm.

I need to find a way to send a message to the others.

"This is Taylin, does anyone copy?" I said into my communicator but the only things I got back was static.

I was worried about them and where they might have landed. I remembered the strange feeling when Shiro said he was alright. Now that I remembered I could not possibly had been so mad at Keith for attacking Zarkon. It was Shiro that had fueled that anger, since I chose him, our emotions had become linked. I tried reaching out for him but came out blank. It felt like the connection I had with my Drako, dormant but still alive. I was alone in this frozen world.

I decided to explore my surroundings and try to find a way to radio the castle. My lion was not going anywhere, so in the meantime a little exploring couldn't hurt. I jumped from White's head, my jet pack slowed my decent. Thankfully the snow covering the ground was not too deep, it nearly covered my foot.

"Maybe someone lives in dose mountains that can help me reach the castle."

I began to walk towards the mountains, but I soon realized it was going to take forever trekking through the snow. The mountains looked closer than they appeared. I seemed to be moving towards them, but they did not seem to come any closer. I tried my jet back and jumped up in the air, came down, and did it again. I soon grew tired of jumping and landing and decided to sit down on the snow to take a break. I looked toward the mountains, but they still seemed too far away. I turned my head to see behind me and my lion looked like a small speck in the distance. I came to the conclusion that using my jet back was taking too long as well. I stood up and manifested my wings, I jumped up and took flight. I flew as high as the wind would let me; I could see that this planet was mostly frozen solid. Toward the bottom of the mountains I noticed a lake and where there is a lake people probably live nearby. I flapped my wings and shot forward using the wind currents to carry me there. I was making more progress flying and the mountains looked a lot nearer. I looked towards the lake I had seen and saw smoke that I had not noticed before. I changed my course and banked left towards that area. As I got closer, suddenly a shot was fired towards me and I closed my wings to lose altitude before it hit me. The ground was coming up quickly and I reopened my wings before impacting on the ground shooting up once again into the sky. Another shot was fired but this time I saw where it originated from. I drew my wings close to my body and shot forward even faster toward that direction. I noticed a person on the ground aiming at me and created a fire ball and blasted it toward them. They saw it and jumped out of the way before it could scorch their body. I landed hard on the ground scattering snow all around, the person was reaching for their gun, but I flicked it out of their grasp with one of my wings. They looked up at me with horror.

"Why are you trying to shoot me down?!"

He put his hands up in surrender.

"I…do you come to destroy are village?" He asked scared and his body trembled.

"What…no. I am only here because I crash landed and I'm looking for help. Why would you think I come to destroy you?"

He seemed to calm down after my statement.

"You're not one of them?"

"Who are you talking about?" I said confused.

"There are others on this planet that have bat like wings that come every other day and try to capture us for food."

My eyes widen at this.

"Well, I can assure you I am not one of those monsters." I stretched out my hand to him and he seemed hesitant at first but took it when I gave him a small smile pulling him up to his feet.

"I'm sorry for shooting you…I was just trying to protect my people."

"No worries just don't shoot me again." I said with a smirk and he gave me a smile.

He was covered with heavy layer of clothing that protected him from the cold. His skin was blue with markings that originated from his bottom lip and ended at his chin. He had bright blue eyes that looked at me with curiosity now.

"What are you?" He asked me.

"That's a nice way to start a conversation." I said with a chuckle.

"I-I mean…I"

I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

"I was just joking." And he seemed to lighten up.

"You seemed like a nice fellow so I'll tell. My name is Taylin and I am a Paladin of Voltron."

His eyes widened.

"Your one of them!"

"Yes, I crashed landed here after a big fight that we had with Zarkon."

"This is amazing!"

"Are there any Galra here?"

He stopped to think.

"I believe there is only one outpost here since our planet does not have much resources to offer but we are still considered part of the Empire."

"I see, is there any way you could help me radio my friends?"

"A…yes…sorry, follow me. In my village we have a communicator, it's a bit ancient but it should work." He said waving at me to follow.

"Thanks for the assist."

"No thanks necessary. Anything to help someone who fights against Zarkon and well…to make up for shooting you."

I smiled at him.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Lanex. I am the son of the chief of our village."

"Well it's nice to meet you Lanex."

He smiled at me and continued walking.

"How cool is it to be a Paladin?" He asked exited, fanning over me.

"It's pretty amazing. Hey, I meant to ask, what is the name of this planet?" I asked stopping him from asking another question.

"Oh, its Trinder."

Lanex lead me into a path that seemed to be walked on regularly since the snow was much thinner here. The forest began to cover the sky and the temperature lowered under the tree's shade. Most of the vegetation was covered in frost, I wondered how it could stay alive. Looking at the nearby leaves closer, I saw that their veins glowed a faint blue color.

"What do your people do for food?" I asked looking at everything frozen solid.

"There are small animals in the forest that we hunt for and we have warm greenhouses that allow us to grow eatable plants." He responded.

"If there are animals in the forest…then why do those creatures hunt your people for food?" I asked him.

"They like the chase. Hunting us is like a game, they like the resistance. It makes it more fun for them. We have tried to coexist with them for many generations, but they are savages, hungry for violence." He said sadly.

I guessed he must have lost a lot of friends to these monsters for him to react that way.

Lanex kept asking me small questions about Voltron and the fights I had been in, but I blocked him out when I heard a twig snap. I thought it was just one the small animals that Lanex had mentioned but then it happened again, I stopped. Lanex noticed and looked at me confused.

"Is everything alright?" He said and began to look around.

I heard a whoosh sound like when I draw my winds closer, suddenly, my eyes widened and pushed Lanex to the ground. One grey beast flew above us, it screeched when its talons missed us. It was pale grey with black eyes and had wings with some holes in them which I assumed Lanex's people had done.

"It's a monster!" Lanex said in horror.

He tried to aim his gun at it, but he seemed to be shaking too much to aim it.

"Stay behind me." I ordered not breaking eye contact with the creature.

It gave a load screech and jumped at me. We went tumbling to the ground, I kept its jaws from reaching my face. I summoned as much force as I could and kicked it off of me. I quickly stood up as it came at me again, my bayard appears in my hand in a form of sword and I stabbed it on the chest. It gave a loud roar and fell lifeless to the ground. I looked around for Lanex, he was leaning against a tree panting. Then more screeches were heard, and we looked up, four more creatures were headed are way.

"Lanex run! Go back to your village and get help now!" I ordered, he seemed to snap out of his trance. He ran towards the trail.

"I'll be back as soon as I can!" He yelled back and took off running.

I looked up at my attackers and jumped into the air. I spread my wings and threw myself at one of the creatures. It tried to claw at me, but I kicked its face and sliced one its wings. It screeched loudly, and the others came at me. I moved out of the way and flew higher into the sky. They were quick flyers easily catching up to me, I flapped my wings harder just as one was reaching for my foot. I turned around quickly and blasted it with a fire ball. It screamed in pain and went barreling down into the snow leaving a trail of smoke.

"Alright, whose next!"

One was coming at me from the left, I back flipped out of the way. I looped back and stabbed my sword into its abdomen. There was only one left but this one gave different type of screech and I realized it was calling for help. I flapped my wings back and sliced its head off before it could make any more noise, but it was too late. My ears picked up flapping sounds coming from behind me, I turned around to see two more approaching fast.

"Quiznak!"

I closed my wings and began to fall toward the trees and reopened them right before hitting the forest floor. I dodged trees flying close to the ground as the creature were trying to get to me. I flew towards a tree and moved out the way, causing one to crash on it. I kept on going and looked behind me only to see that more had joined the party.

"Oh, this is just great." I grunted.

Just then, I heard multiple shots being fired and I looked to my right. I saw that Lanex had brought help. They began to pick them off one by one. I set my course toward them, my eyes widen when I saw two beasts circling around behind them.

"Behind you!" I yelled.

And I used the ice element to create sharp icicles that penetrated their wings. The shooters turned around to finish them off. I landed in the middle of the circle they had formed and began to create ice barriers shielding us from incoming attacks. I turned around to see Lanex running to our aid shooting at one the beasts, bringing it down, but to my horror one was right after him. I send a strong wind that picked up the snow and threw the monster to the side. I formed an icicle and chucked it in its direction, penetrating its neck. Lanex reached me gasping for air.

"Thank you." He said out of breath.

I turned my attention back at the sky, these things kept appearing like a plague.

"Everyone take cover behind does big boulders!" I ordered, and they ran towards them. Lanex stayed behind with me and grabbed my arm.

"What are you doing?!"

"Just trust me and go hide!" I ordered, and he reluctantly left.

I drew on my power and began to move the wind to my advantage. The wind picked up speed and I shot a white ball on energy toward the clouds in the sky turning them dark grey. It began to snow lightly, I shifted the clouds until the sky was completely grey. I spread my wings and flew toward the menacing storm. I was so high up, my wings almost touched it. I spread my arms out and closed my eyes in concentration. The wind began to blow with more force whistling among the trees. The snow got heavier and came out in bigger quantities. I shot another white ball of energy into the clouds illuminating them briefly and the ice storm came down on the creatures with all its fury. They screeched in panic and tried to escape but I blocked them with wind twisters sending them flying to the ground. One of them screeched loudly and began to fly up, the others followed.

"You must be their leader." I said with a smirk.

I made the snow thicker until it was falling in the size of giant snow balls. They did not have time to react when they were hit. The minions tried to dodge them but failed and they too fell from the sky. Only the bigger creature was still in the air watching how the others fell. I took this opportunity and flew full speed towards it. I was just a few inched away from it when I hit it with a lightning bolt. The hit illuminated sky with bright white light and when it cleared, the creature fell toward the forest, crashed on a few trees before it finally hit the ground. I stopped the storm and made my way back to Lanex and his people. I landed, tucked in my wings and placed my hands on my knees. Creating the storm had used a lot of energy.

"That was amazing!" Lanex exclaimed and he ran towards me.

The rest of the villagers followed after him coming out of hiding. I straightened up and smiled at them. The villagers surrounded me and looked at me with amazement, they suddenly parted and one of them came forward.

"This is my father." Lanex said.

"It's very nice to meet you sir."

"Likewise. We thank you for saving our lives." He said with a smile.

"It was my pleasure to liberate your people from these horrid monsters."

"My people will forever be in your debt, we will remember you forever." He said vowing his head. "What is your name brave warrior?"

"My name is Taylin Fireheart, Queen of the Drakie." I introduced myself.

"You're a queen? Why didn't you tell me?" Lanex said shocked.

"It never came up." I said shrugging.

"Well Queen Fireheart my son has informed me that you need help contacting your friends for help. We will gladly assist you." He said.

I looked towards the sky and to my surprise, the Castle of Lions came into view through a wormhole.

"I thank you for your help, but I believe that won't be necessary."

They followed my gaze.

"My friends have found me."

I turned to look at him "Thank you for your kindness, just promise me when it's time to take the fight to Zarkon, you will assist."

"Me and my people will do so with much pleasure as we too want Zarkon gone."

"Taylin are you there?" I heard Allura on my helmet's comm.

"I'm here."

"Well I must be going now. Farewell and may the stars watch over you." I said and waved at them.

"You take care." Lanex said.

"Goodbye Lanex, I hope that someday are path cross again."

I made my way toward the castle that had just landed by the edge of the forest. I took flight, eager to reunite with my friends and Shiro. I landed close to the pod that would carry me up to the castle but before I walked in, I closed my eyes and reached my mind towards my lion.

It is time to go. I told her.

She roared in response; I was glad she was functional again. I felt how she took off and when I opened my eyes she flew into her hanger. I entered the pod and when the doors once again opened for me, someone lunged at me hugging me tightly. I saw a glimpse of white hair and knew at once it was Allura. I hugged her back, glad to see her safe again.

"I'm so happy your back."

"Me too."

We let go.

"I'm so sorry we left you behind." I said sadly.

"Don't be, it was my decision." She placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Where are the others? Where you able to find them?" I asked.

"Yes, they are all on board but…" she put her hands together and looked down.

"What happened?" I asked her.

"Shiro is in a healing pod. He received a deep scratch from Hagar and on the planet, he landed, he was attacked by giant lizards, luckily Keith saved him." My eyes widen with each thing she mentioned.

She was about to say something else when I took off running toward the infirmary. I hadn't put my wings away and used them to lift me off the ground, flying through the hallways. I landed and walked in, Keith was standing in front of a pod.

"How is he?" I said urgently.

"He is stabilized, Allura said he should be out maybe tomorrow." He said glancing at me.

I walked toward the pod and placed my right hand on it as if I could somehow touch him. I wanted nothing more than to see his grey eyes and hold him tightly.

"Allura told me what happened…thanks for saving him." I said softly.

Keith moved to stand beside me.

"You don't have to thank me, Shiro would have done the same for me."

Allura walked in but I refused to look away from the pod.

"Taylin, Shiro will be fine, you need to get some rest." She said and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"This is where I belong…for now."

"Tay, do you know how I was able to locate you?"

I snapped out of my trance to look at her.

"The White Lion's energy signature?"

"No. I was able to pick up a massive energy signature that matched your quintessence."

"Ah yes… I created a storm."

"What happened? You have a cut on your cheek." She said pointing at the left side of my face.

I raised my hand to touch it and felt a bump there, I brought my hand down and there was dry blood. One of the creature must have gotten me but I was too concentrated on fighting them off to notice.

"Come let's clean that up." She said and lead me to the examination table. My wings disappeared as I jumped up on the table. She got a wet rag and began to clean my cut, after a few ticks she was done. I used my healing abilities and the scratch disappeared.

"Thanks, Allura."

She smiled at me.

"So, what happened to you on that planet?"

"Some creatures were attacking a nearby village, I decided to help them. I could not stand and watch those creatures hunt them down like sport."

"That sounds like you. Always the brave one." She said with a smile.

"Keith told me Shiro would be out tomorrow."

"Yes…he will be fine Taylin." She assured me, the calmness in her voice brought comfort to my heart.

"Then I'll take your advice and go rest a bit. I'm no good to Shiro in this state."

I jumped down and exited the infirmary. I was about to reach my room when Pidge came out of hers.

"Taylin! You're alright!"

She ran up to me and game me a hug.

"Hey Pidge. Yes, I'm fine." I hugged her back.

She looked at my state.

"You don't look alright."

"I'm really tired, the adrenaline running through my veins has passed. I'm just going to rest up a bit and head back to the infirmary."

She nodded and gave me a sad smile.

I walked into my room and headed into my bathroom. I began to remove my Paladin armor and noticed it was stained with the green blood from the creatures. I walked to the faucet and cleaned it up until it shined again. I step into my shower letting the water relax me. I thought of today's events feeling glad that the people of Lanex's village were free of those beasts. I stepped out and changed into my sleeping garments. I was about to get into bed when I thought of something else. Walking out, I entered Shiro's room. I climbed into his bed, grabbed one of his pillows and hugged it close, buried my face in it and his scent drifted me off to sleep.

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