Shenanigans 3/3

Something was wrong.

The new clothing and eye kohl Izuden introduced him to had proven to be lasting fun. He'd experimented for hands of ashfalls with the kohl and face paints using different techniques and styles, but in the end, he settled on thick dark outlines around his eyes. Applying the lines provided only a minor distraction from the tension within him this ashfall.

He couldn't ignore it. A restlessness stirred deep within. A vitality.

His back itched when he tried to contain his wings, only feeling better—feeling right—when he brought them forth and allowed them to stretch out.

Sparks of divinity sizzled between his feathers; their luminescence uncontainable.

"What's going on with you?" Maze griped, squinting as she looked away.

"I have no idea," he admitted. "Do you feel it, Maze?"

"Yes, it feels like a spike being driven into my skull. You're going to dark-blind me."

He flexed his wings up against his back and pulled a cloak over them. Maze took one look at him and nearly fell over with laughter. "You look like a giant glow-worm."

Whatever a glow-worm was it didn't seem as funny from his perspective, but at least the cloak protected Maze's eyes.

He felt… alive. Renewed. As if a great weight had been lifted from within. As if all this time something had been holding him back and it had only just released its hold. He felt like himself; marvelous and awesome in divinity. His wings felt fierce, filled with potential. Lucifer couldn't sit still.

Maze suggested, not kindly, to take himself elsewhere, but even walking in the lanes didn't settle the growing agitation within.

The shadows cast by his light stretched and warped shadows down the lanes he walked. The divinity repulsed the ash, it fell around him, drifted near but never landed on his body or wings. He could breathe deeper, the air felt fresh and free of toxic debris.

No one got in his way. No one dared approach or even look in his direction. No one aside from Fraq. She and her little male companions could not be deterred. They trailed behind him everywhere he went.

"Can't you put your wings away? The light makes my eyes hurt." Fraq complained as she jogged to keep pace.

Lucifer rolled his shoulders, but it was too much to keep inside and attempting to dull them only resulted in a surge of brightness.

"No." The low noise he'd heard since the beginning of ash-fall grew in intensity. "Fraq, do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"It's like the drums, but coming from the ground. It's all around us."

"Have you been smoking hair-moss with Mazikeen? Let's go throw rocks at the rats near the wall."

He followed the three of them as they ran out toward the outer sections of the collective. He recognised this area. It was close to where Maze took him to the wall.

"Not that way." She grabbed his hand and tugged him in the opposite direction of the burned-out domes. "Its cursed."

"Why is it cursed?"

"Because it is," Fraq answered with full confidence.

It was just like her assertion about the talisman pouches holding power. "Things aren't cursed for no reason."

"Shh. It is not to be talked of," she whispered and glanced quickly up at the above before hurrying away.

"Why is it not talked of? What is wrong with talking about it? And how am I supposed to know what can be said and what can't?"

"You ask more questions than spawn do!" she teased.

"What are spawn, and what's so bad about asking questions?" He raised his arms with frustration and his wings flared with unexpected intensity. Fraq skipped away but returned to his side once he gained control over himself again. "Don't you ever wonder if the things you've been told are true?"

"No." Fraq shrugged. "Why would everyone believe something if it wasn't true?"

He released a sigh of annoyance. "What if everyone is wrong?"

"That's ridiculous, everyone can't be wrong," she scoffed and ran ahead, Bof and Grog followed with excited howls.

Lucifer watched them run ahead and contemplated running after them. But why should he run if he could fly? His wings twitched with anticipation.

He tested it first, a forceful push down, ash blew up and around in the wake of power released, blowing outward. That was considerably more power than he expected. He extended wings up, and swooshed down and—

He was in the air. He whooped with excitement. He was in the air! Another beat of his wings and he gained height, again and again, the air rushed past him and the ash parted as he cut through the drifting flakes. He climbed until he had to fight the wind, then he tucked, and fell fast. His wings extended, catching him, and swooping him back up.

It was exhilarating. His heart raced; he was alive!

And he could see the collective below him; the Lilim in the lanes. The chaotic layout of the domes haphazardly stretching in all directions out from the Spire. From here, he could see there had once been some basic forethought to city planning. Lines reached outward from the Spire at the center of the stronghold, the remains of the original pattern only vaguely visible from the high vantage point.

He descended again, looking now for his land-bound companions. They were gathered in the lane, staring up, waving their arms frantically. He tried to control his landing, to bring his wings in enough to land softly but without stirring up more ash than necessary. He stumbled and skidded; nearly crashing into Fraq. Not his best landing, but not shabby for his first time in so long.

Fraq coughed and pulled her cloak up over her face and the little males scattered. The ash refused to settle on or around him, and he stood beaming from the only clear spot of air.

Fraq stared at him, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. "You flew."

"I did," he stated proudly and folded his wings up at his back. For the first time in a long time he felt whole again. The glow spread, divinity emanating all around him.

Fraq trembled and took a cautious step back. "What are you?"

"What I've always been," he grinned, extended his wings again. All the soreness, the tiredness he'd felt for so long was gone. No pain. None. His wings were pristine.

Fraq continued shivering, but she didn't back away any further. "Are you—"

"Where is this place you want to throw rocks?" he asked. Why weren't they on their way already?

She pointed ahead. "This way?"

He started walking and paused when he noticed she hadn't followed. "Coming?"

"Yeah," she agreed, uncertainly, and skipped to catch up.

…

This was new. The wall here had crumbled. There were no signs of deliberate destruction, only neglect. Lucifer picked around at the ruins, interested in the construction and subsequent failure of the structure. It had been built of rocks of various sizes, shaved down and fitted together like an intricate puzzle. But age had caused the rock to deteriorate and break apart.

His companions collected armloads of rocky debris and climbed up on the still standing portion and dumped their rocks into piles.

He stared up again at the above. Was the ash cloud churning faster than it usually did? "Does it look different?"

Fraq stared up. "The seer was at market yelling about the coming of the dragon who will devour us all." She nudged Lucifer's arm. "Are there dragons in the above where you come from?"

"Dragons?"

"Giant beasts of the air that devour all they come across."

"And it's coming here?"

"No, you slug-brain. It's only stories. A hand of ash-falls ago she was screaming about fire from the above burning all the fields of moss. Fields of moss, she screamed! No such thing, everyone knows moss and fungus only grows away from the ash. She's addled."

"No dragons?" Lucifer asked. "You believe in magic pouches but not in magic Lilim?"

Fraq laughed. "Everyone knows the seer is full of gas. The dragons were all chased away by the mighty warriors before the days of collectives began. The nest-minders told us the only dragons left are in the outer-lands."

"I'm going to look around," he called over. Fraq nodded and tried not to look like she was watching him. Lucifer made sure to walk a fair distance away before taking off, hoping to minimize the amount of ash swept up around the other Lilim.

It was easier to take flight the second time. He circled over where Bof and Grog were still collecting rocks and dumping them into piles and then flew higher and looked out over the collective. These were the sights he was meant to see, not the suffocating limits the land-bound were consigned to.

He circled around again and soared out over beyond the stronghold wall.

Fissures in the land opened below, the darkness sinking farther than light could reach, and heat wafted up from the depths. He drifted on the air currents, dipping and rising with various changes of air density. Flying felt just as random and chaotic as navigating the lanes within the collective, and he loved it.

Above, the ash cloud coiled in its spiral, the pressure mounting within. Lucifer could feel the power shifting within it.

Not dragons. But something was happening up there.

Further out, he spotted some beasts among the craggy hills, four legged creatures with giant horns, an entire herd of them. They scattered as he flew over. In the distance a winged creature caught his eye, large, judging from the wing-span. Its tail stretched out behind, long, whipping through the air. A piercing scream filled the air and dove into one of the fissures.

That was when he looked back and realised how far he'd traveled. How much time had passed? It was easy to lose track without the build of ash up to measure it by. The wind had grown stronger, but that could be a factor of altitude. No matter. He was ready to test his speed. He rose on the next heat current, faced the collective, and with one forceful thrust of his wings, shot forward.

The rush was fantastic, the land sped past below in little more than a blur. He was only a little off target when he saw the wall draw closer and he circled and landed in nearly the exact spot he'd taken off from.

Fraq and her friends remained still as they watched him hop across the ruins to their location, instinctively using his wings for balance and ease of movement.

A collection of dead things lay piled at their feet. "Good hunting?"

Fraq growled at him and pointed her clawed finger at his chest. "Where did you go? I was worried you wouldn't come back."

He let out a quick snort. "Where would I go?"

"Back to where your kind live?"

Oh. "I can't go back there." Thinking about that other place soured his mood.

"Good," Fraq said resolutely. "I'm tired of losing males."

"Zek? How long will it take for him to become a warrior?"

Fraq threw a large stone at a wall just to watch it smash into pieces. "Never. He left his mentor. He's lost in a bad place."

"If you know where he is, we could find him?"

Her expression was thunderous. "Won't listen. He's lost."

Bof and Grog watched her warily. Lucifer felt like there was a large part of what she said he didn't understand, but he didn't pry. If she wanted to tell him, she would. He leaned on a fallen section and watched the males start chucking stones again.

"Are these to sell?" He faced away from the wind. Was it stronger than when he'd left? There were barely three fingers of ash on the ground. Unless wind-rise came very early, they still had lots of time before having to go back.

"No," Fraq laughed. "They're for roasting and eating. Want some for Mazikeen?"

"You should present them to her yourself," he suggested, hoping to avoid carrying the small beast carcasses through the lanes.

Fraq handed him a stone. "You can bring her one too. If it's a good one, she might even keep a fang for her Talisman pouch."

He felt the weight of the rock on his palm. "What would she want with that?"

"Tribute. She takes care of you, it's only right you bring her your kills in honor."

"And she'd like that?"

"She's a warrior. I know she would." Fraq pointed out below. "There's one. Try."

He watched the small creature climb out of a hole in the ground, its snout wiggled as it sniffed the ground. It had small red eyes, shaggy gray fur, and stubby legs with a long tail extending twice it's length behind it.

He eyed it intently. Fraq shifted impatiently beside him. "Maze will be proud," she encouraged. "Hurry before it scurries back under the rock."

He raised his arm, drew back, ready to throw, and aimed just above the creature. His aim struck true, with far more force than he intended, but it served its purpose and the small thing scurried back into its hole.

Fraq shook her head sadly. "Good strength, bad aim. Practice will make you better," and she patted his arm. "Better luck next time."

"Right."

Fraq was scanning the landscape for another potential target when the ash cloud above began to rumble. She looked up in alarm and whistled shrilly. The males dropped their rocks immediately and started shoving their dead things into a bag.

"Time to go."

Lucifer stared above. The rumbles grew louder, and the cloud churned faster. Tendrils of darkness started spinning down from the expanse like tentacles, elongating, reaching. The air around them sizzled with pent up energy and power. He felt it all around him.

"Funnels!" Fraq tugged at his arm. "Storm! It's coming quick. We need to find shelter."

The wind around them whipped in circles, the whelps coughed and pulled their scarves up over their noses and frantically searched for shelter.

The wind buffeted his cloak, but the ash swirled around him, never touching. "I feel it."

"What?" Fraq yelled above the howling wind around them. The males crowded to her side. "We have to go. Now, Lucifer."

Out in the distance, barely visible through the ash and darkness more funnels descended, they curled and twisted, their ends sucking at the ground.

Fraq pulled on him again, growing frantic in her desperation to move.

His fists were clenched so tight he felt blood on his palms from his fingernails. He extended his wings and their brilliance shone, the only light in the darkness around them.

"If we go now, we can still find shelter. Lucifer!" Fraq hit his arm, pummeling him to get his attention.

"Go," he shouted at her, pushing her away. "Fast. Go."

She left him and ran, pulling the males along with her, he watched as they crowded under the ruins. There was no way that pile of stone could protect them from what was coming.

He faced the storm again, and stared up at the ash cloud churning above, rumbling, lightning flashing within its swirling mass.

These were the agonies of a dying land. Why hadn't he recognised it sooner? The poisoned air, the barren ground. What was this place?

He felt the vibrations of the thunder in the rock under his feet.

The shifting energy within the storm pulled, and he wrestled back. The more he resisted, the stronger the winds blew. The darkness swirled around him, his wings and the light of his divinity the only thing able to cut through the raging chaos.

Divinity. Even here Lucifer was connected to his Father. His wings, the feathers they produced, embodied life and power. And the world around him was hungry for it.

The land needed it, the above drew on it. The imbalance wreaked havoc on everything around them. Life here was greedy for what he possessed naturally. He could feel the pull; if he didn't release the divinity built up over the last ashfalls, if he didn't act as a conduit to bring balance, the world around him would take it by force. And the storm that raged while he fought it would end lives and destroy parts of the collective.

It wasn't like last time. He hadn't known what was happening the last time a storm descended, he'd only acted on instinct. The storm had called, and he'd been compelled to answer.

Now he knew.

Fraq and Bof and Grog were hiding among the ruins.

He wasn't strong enough to fight an entire world. The longer he resisted the more he put everyone in the collective at risk.

At this moment he was everything he'd once been.

And he was about to lose it all, all over again.

Lucifer yelled, an ear piercing, rock shattering roar of fury and grief.

He held on a moment longer, building every speck of potential within, and finally, he gave it release.

His wings burst forth with divinity brighter than the most massive of stars, he was The Lightbringer once more, a rush of agony overtook him, his yell turned into a scream as he gave in to being the conduit between the land and the above. The power rushed through him, stripping him raw, taking all that he was with it.

And then it was over.

The world was dark, the ash settled. The roiling ash cloud above grew quiet and settled.

And Lucifer lay on the ground, empty.

He was only vaguely aware of Fraq and the males crouching over him, poking at his side and face.

"Did he die?"

Fraq smacked the male beside her. "No, you beetle-brain, he just blinked. Dead things don't blink." She tapped Lucifer's cheek, and more gently, she said to him, "I'll send Bof and Grog to get Mazikeen."

Lucifer shook his head. "Just help me get home." With effort, he pushed himself up. Head down. His wings hung on his back, heavy, unresponsive. He shrugged his shoulders, concentrated on bringing them in, the action sent his head spinning, but it worked. They disappeared. Went elsewhere. It didn't matter. He wanted them gone.

Ash fell and settled in his hair, he coughed as it was drawn into his lungs and he raised his scarf to keep from breathing it in.

Fraq wedged herself under his arm, pushing up with her legs to help get him to his feet. He slowly complied. The larger of her males—Grog—squeezed in on his other side.

Everything went hazy after that. He was there, but at the same time he wasn't. He watched the ground pass under him. Three steps, another three steps, and so forth, until they arrived at Maze's dome.

There was no one inside. He collapsed on the bedroll, and Fraq settled beside him. The males ran out to search for Maze.

"You saved us," Fraq whispered as she stroked her hand along his shoulder and back.

He didn't know how long it took. A long time, or mere moments, but Maze rushed in, and Fraq disappeared.

"I've been searching for you."

There was water and porridge. The hearth was built up to blazing and Mazikeen had her arm around him.

When he spoke, his voice sounded far away. "It's the land, Maze."

"Lucifer—" Maze began, but he grasped her hand. He needed to finish. To say it out loud.

"It draws on my power. I'm never going to be what I was."

Maze said nothing further, and they sat together quietly as he stared into the flames.