Chapter 13: Meeting the Bloodwings

Without stopping, Shade and Chinook flew with me deeper into the jungle. We wanted to put as much distance as possible between us and the pyramid. After a while, however, the two of them couldn't go on anymore and landed on the ground for a short rest.

''We shouldn't stay here. It's too dangerous,'' I protested, looking around in concern.

''We know,'' Shade said gasping. ''But here on the ground, they might not find us as quickly as they would if we kept flying.

''And I cannot move one wingbeat further,'' Chinook added, plopping backward into the grass.

I looked around uneasily. Above us was a dense web of leaves and ferns that would hopefully hide us from our pursuers and other attackers. But what did we do now? We were in the middle of a strange and highly dangerous place without help.

''We should go find Orestes,'' Shade decided, as if he had guessed what was going through my mind.

''That''s easy for you to say. But how are we going to do that? We have no idea where he is. Not to mention where we are.''

''I know but...''

''Wouldn't it be better if we got rid of this stuff first?'' said Chinook, sitting up and tapping his cheek. He was right. With this paint on our bodies, we looked like colorful parrots. Better we got rid of them as soon as possible.

''Come on,'' I said. ''Let's look for a stream or something similar.''

Together we set off again in search of water. Always on the lookout for possible predators. Personally, I was not only interested in getting clean again. I was also quite thirsty. It had been a while since I or my friends, had drunk anything, let alone eaten. Unfortunately, the Vampyrum had not been that hospitable. The term ''last meal'' was probably a foreign word for them. However, I would never have thought that Chinook would take our stay with the cannibal bats so easily. I always thought he was that kind of guy who likes to brag and then be the first to run off or freak out at any sign of danger.

Then suddenly, something rustled next to us in the bushes.

''What was that? '' I asked.

Alarmed, Shade and Chinook perked up their ears while I glanced around more carefully. Whatever it was, we couldn't see it, but I doubt it was gone.

''D-do you think it's one of those vampyrum?'' Chinook asked.

I didn't even want to think about that. But whatever it was, it was very close.

''I'll check it out,'' Cautiously, Shade crept over to the spot where the rustling seemed to be coming from.

''Shade don't," I hissed after him. But he had already approached the bushes and reached out for one of the fern fronds. Tentatively, he bent it back, and at the same moment, something leaped past him and right at Chinook.

''AAAAAAHH!''

The thing had clawed itself to his face and refused to let go of him no matter what.
Filled with panic, Chinook tried to pull it off of him while screaming and stumbling around.

''Chinook, wait!''

''Hold still!''

Shade and I tried our best to help him, but he was fidgeting too much and most likely waking up the entire jungle. Eventually, I did the next best thing I could think of. I took the red scarf from my hips, wrapped it around a few times, and then hit the panicking Silverwing directly in the face with it. Immediately the creature let go of him and rushed back into the undergrowth before we could get a closer look at it.

''Uh, now that was something,'' Shade said, looking after the strange creature in amazement.

''You can say that again,'' I replied and wrapped the scarf around my hips again, not wanting my skirt to slip off. It was enough that I was running around half-naked. It didn't need to be completely nude.

''Okay, guys, that's it!'' Caught by surprise, I turned to Chinook, whose cheeks were glowing with anger. ''First, the humans sew these bombs to our bellies and use us as weapons to destroy their own stuff, then we end up with bats that want to kill us with their weird rituals, and now we're getting attacked by everything. I've had it! I want to go home.''

''You're not the only one,'' Shade tried to reassure him, ''but if you keep making such a ruckus here, we'll be discovered and...''

''This is all your fault! We could be back in the forest, but you kept whining and saying he's no good, and ... and ... you made the humans mad. And look where it has brought us! We are in this strange forest all by ourselves. We don't know where to go, and we might not even stay alive until the next day. ''

In his panic, he was talking nonsense. If he kept this on, he might as well just shout: "Hello, carnivorous bats, here we are!'' To shut him up, I did the next best thing and slapped him right across in the face. Not too hard, but hard enough to silence him. Anger flashed in his eyes, and I briefly wondered if that had been a mistake. But at least he was quiet now.

''Get a grip on yourself,'' I scolded him. ''Yelling like crazy doesn't help us at all. It will only attract a Vampyrum or a different predator to us, and then we really won't be living to see the next day. In that case, we could have just stayed in the pyramid.''

''B-but...''

''No buts! From now on, we'll all be quiet as mice and not make a sound. Is that clear?'' Chinook just nodded while I emphatically tapped him in the chest. ''Then let's move on.''

We hadn't even moved a step when I heard a startled whimper from Chinook.

''What is it now?" I asked, turning to him in annoyance.

The Silverwing trembled slightly and dared not to move much. ''I think there's something on my back,'' he whispered. ''It feels like a spider. A really big one.''

''Oh, come on. It's probably just a leaf. Turn around!''

Chinook did as he was told, and on his back was indeed a fat, hairy spider.

''Uh... '' With a quick flick of my wrist, I knocked the creepy-crawly off his back. ''Yep, like I said. Just a leaf.'' Shade wanted to say something, but I quickly gave him a significant look to make him close his mouth again. Shortly after, we continued walking. It was not so easy for the two bats since their bodies were not designed for walking. But for the time being, they did not dare to rise back up into the air.

With a sigh, Chinook gazed around at the surroundings. ''We'll never make it home.''

''Of course we will,'' Shade replied.

''He's right. All we have to do is reach the edge of the jungle. There we'll probably find Orestes. I'm sure he's already found a few more survivors. Including your parents. And they' II be waiting for us there.''

''You sure?" he asked skeptically.

''Certainly. This jungle is no different than any other forest. We'll find our way out of here.''

''Alright,'' Filled with fresh confidence, Chinook straightened his chest and strode past Shade and me towards the front to take the lead.

''Be honest,'' Shade whispered as soon as Chinook was out of earshot. ''How good are our chances really?''

I stopped in my tracks and looked him straight in the face.

'' Awful. We couldn't be doing any worse. Or to put it short: We're as good as dead.''

''If you continue making such a racket, then for sure.''

Startled, I threw my head around and spotted a reddish-brown bat hovering in the air just a few inches above us. With a cold shock of relief, I realized that it was not a Vampyrum, but not a northern bat either. It was a young adult male, maybe a year older than Shade and Chinook, with big triangular ears, wine-red wings, short black hair, and light brown eyes. He had no mane like Shade or Chinook, but his belly fur was much lighter than the rest of his body. Furthermore, he had the longest incisors I had ever seen on a bat.

''Well, you are a strange bunch,'' he said, grinning at us cheekily. ''You're not from around here, are you?" That wasn't a question, rather a statement. But neither of us managed to utter a single word.

''What's wrong? Never seen a vampire bat before?" He laughed.

''A Vampire?!'' I thought. ''No wonder he has such pointy teeth.''

''Who are you?'' Shade demanded to know and stood protectively in front of me while Chinook walked back to us, having noticed the stranger as well. The latter landed on the ground and crossed his wings before his chest. His grin not leaving his face.

''No need to get so hostile, shorty. The name's Tick and you guys are?''

''A vampire bat named Tick? How fitting,'' I thought and soothingly put a hand on Shade's shoulder, who angrily glowered at Tick. Unhappy to be called small once again.

''My name is Vanessa, and these are my friends' Shade and Chinook,'' I introduced us to him.

''Nice to meet you,'' he says, then took a closer look at me. ''Say, you don't look like a bat. What kind of animal are you?''

''Uh, I'm a human?''

His eyes widen in surprise. ''A human. But aren't those usually much bigger? How come you are so tiny?''

''That's a long story,'' And one I did not want to tell now. I was getting tired of walking around with my hands covering my breasts. Plus, I wanted to get rid of the paint on my skin.

''Wait, those paintings on you... You are from the pyramid, aren't you? The place where the Vampyrum Spectrum live.'' My friends and I looked at each other, unsure what to tell him.

''What about it?'' Shade asked, but instead of answering him, Tick just circled around us, looking quite curious.

''Those are sacrificial markings. And they look brand new.''

''Well, they drew them on us just a few hours ago.''

''For what occasion?'' he asked.

''The coronation of their new king.''

''So Alkaios has finally decided to take his brother's throne? About time if you ask me. Normally, they don't wait so long to appoint a new king. And King Deimos has been dead for five days already.''

''Uh, actually the new king is his son Goth.''

Now Tick looked even more surprised. ''Goth has returned?''

I nodded. ''And his cousin Throbb too.''

''Well, talking about surprises,'' he said.

''Why?'' Shade asked distrustfully ''Are you friends with them?''

''The Vampyrum? You must be joking shorty.'' He laughed, but it wasn't a hearty laugh. Rather a nervous one. ''Nobody who got their wits all together approaches their roost beyond ten miles. I mean, we Bloodwings have a bad reputation too because of our diet, but the Vampyrum are awful for sure.'' He rubbed his temple, letting out a sigh. ''And of all bats, they now have Goth as their new king. Well, good night then.''

''You don't seem happy about this,'' I said.

''Of course not. Have you met this guy?''

Shade and I looked at each other.

''To be honest, yes. We had the pleasure of meeting him and Throbb in the north.''

''And you are still alive?'' Tick was impressed. ''How come?''

''It's a long story as well and kinda combined with the story on how I became so small,'' I explained to him. ''Unfortunately, I don't think we have the time to stand around here and chat.

You can probably guess that we three are on the run right now. And we're not exactly planning to get recaptured by the cannibal bats.

Tick nodded understandingly. ''They definitely won't have anything nice planned for you.'' He then thought for a moment, looking a bit around. ''You know what, you guys should come with me to my colony. There you will be safe for a while.''

I looked questioningly at Shade and Chinook. Should we accept his offer? He was friendly and didn't seem to have bad intentions. ''What do you think, guys?''

Shade was skeptical ''Well, I don't know. Do you think we can trust him ?''

''I'm not sure. But we can't wander around helplessly all the time either.''

''True,'' Chinook agreed. ''Besides, we don't have much of a choice, do we?''

Shade sighed. ''Alright. We'll fly with him but stay alert.''

Chinook and I nodded, then we told Tick that we would be happy to accompany him to his colony. Pleased about this, he immediately got airborne and urged us to follow him. We hesitated for a moment and then flew after him through the jungle.

On the way, Tick asked us all kinds of questions. Where did we come from? What brought us to the jungle? And how did we manage to escape the Vampyrum?

Roughly, we told him about our search for Shade's father Cassiel, the research center, and the bombs that the humans sewed on bats and owls to use as weapons of destruction for their selfish purposes.

''So that's the origin of the firestorms.'' Tick gazed ahead thoughtfully, and for a while, he didn't ask us any more questions. Once again, I felt guilty for what my kind was doing to the bats. Although vampire bats, like him, were not abused as bombs, their habitat and that of many other species were being destroyed.

Just before dawn, we finally reached a high rocky ridge, seemingly jutting out of the forest. The peak shrouded in a veil of dense fog. I assumed that Tick would pilot us over it. But instead, he flew directly toward the rocks and through a narrow crevice into the interior. I had to lift my legs and make myself very small so that Shade could fit through with me as well. Next, we went through a short tunnel and then exited the mountain into a small valley. There, well hidden between the mountains and trees, was a small clearing. Through it flowed a narrow river that emerged as a thin waterfall from the rock face of the mountain. Right next to the river stood the old moss-covered ruins of a weathered temple. Above its entrance grew a massive tree, its roots apparently growing through the rock. And from its branches dangled vines like natural hammocks.

''There we are friends,'' Tick said proudly. ''My colony lives in that temple over there.''

''You guys live in a human building too?" Chinook asked.

''Well, sure. But humans stopped living there a long time ago. Besides, it's as good as any other cave.''

Outside the entrance, Tick asked us to wait for a moment. He wanted to tell his chief about us first. Understandable. We were strangers, after all. It was better to let the leader or leaders know about us first before letting us in. Similar to what Mercury had done when he first brought me to Tree-Heaven.

We were still not quite sure about the whole thing. Who knew what would happen to us in this colony of vampire bats or Bloodwings how they called themselves.

''Do you think they eat meat, too?" Chinook asked quietly.

''With those teeth, I wouldn't be surprised.''

I shook my head. ''No, they don't. They only eat blood.''

Both boys looked at me in shock. Chinook even turning pale. ''How is that any better?'' he asked.

''Guys, there is nothing to worry about. Vampire bats drink blood. Yes. But only from larger animals like horses or cows. Some even drink blood from birds. But they don't kill their prey. They just take a quick bite, drink a few drops, and that's it. You know, like a mosquito.''

Blinking, the two looked at me in amazement.

''I'm really beginning to wonder how you know all this,'' said Chinook.

''We humans have our ways to learn new things. But I can tell you more about that later.''

At that moment, Tick came back to us from the temple.

''Alright, Chief Umber is ready to see you guys now,'' he said and motioned us to come with him.

With growing tension, we followed him into the temple ruins. Inside it was dark, but not so dark that I could not see my hands in front of my eyes. This surprised me a bit. Here and there were a few gaps in the rock so that moon or sunlight could shine through. But still, it shouldn't be possible for me to see anything. Did my eyes get so used to the darkness that I could now see in it like a bat? Nonsense! That was impossible. On the other hand, I had no other explanation. Nevertheless, it was beneficial.

The air was filled with whispers, and hundreds of curious eyes glanced at us from various angles. I tried to ignore them, but it still made me uncomfortable, especially since I had barely anything on. Fortunately, it didn't take long until we landed again, and I could cover my breasts with my hands.
Now we stood there, on the steps of a half-ruined staircase, in some kind of hall. Presumably, this had once been the main room of the temple where the humans used to hold their ceremonies. At the thought of the last ceremony I attended, I felt a cold chill running down my spine.

For a brief moment, nothing happened. But then the whispers around us died away, and a bat appeared from the shadows above us. As expected, it was a Bloodwing like Tick. Except this one was much older with a wrinkled face and gray streaks in its hair. Its sand-colored eyes, however, gleamed with power and vigor. ''This must be their leader, Chief Umbra,'' I guessed.

Silently, he looked at us for a moment, then he flew down and landed above us on the top of the stairs.

"So these are the three strangers you picked up Tick," he said in a deep, friendly voice. Strong muscles stood out under his dark brown fur. Like Tick, his belly had a slightly lighter color, and his wings were black. His face and body were marked with scars from old fights, and one of his ears looked like someone had taken a big bite out of it. Furthermore, he had shoulder-length dirty blond hair that seemed to be fused with the thick full beard on his muzzle.
With great interest, Umber looked down on the three of us. His gaze lingering on me for the longest time. No wonder. He had probably never seen a human as small as a mouse before.

"Who are you strangers?" he finally asked, "And what brings you into our jungle?"

Shade, Chinook, and I took turns telling our story to Chief Umbra, Tick, and all the other vampire bats gathered around us. First, we began with our journey to the human building and our gruesome experiences there. By the mention of the bombs flared anger in the eyes of the Bloodwing leader, and outraged whispers arose in the crowd around us. With a wave of his hand, Umber silenced his colony and asked us to continue with our story. When we told him about Goth and his coronation ceremony, which we barely managed to escape from, he gasped in surprise. And after telling him that we had met Goth and his cousin Throbb in the north, he immediately wanted to know everything about it.

So I began to tell them my story. Starting with the night I found that mysterious blue pearl that miraculously shrunk me because of a wish I made. Then I went on and told them how I ended up with the Silverwings and about Shade and my forbidden look at the sun and the following devastating consequences. For clarification, Shade had to tell them more about this prohibition and its origin since apparently there was no such law in the jungle. Although, there were owls here as well. Afterward, we both explained how we got separated from the colony on our journey to Hibernaculum and met Marina Brghtwing and then, sometime later, the two princes.

Chief Umber and his colony listened attentively to our story. And as we came to the part where we had managed to trick Goth in the mines, he burst out laughing. Even Tick and the other Bloodwings couldn't help but snicker.

Finally, we reached the end of our story, and Chief Umber looked at us with amazement. ''I must say, I'm more than impressed by your courage and adroitness.''

Tick was also visibly astonished by our adventures. ''I can hardly believe that all this really happened,'' he said.

''Just believe it,'' I said with a smile. ''It's all true.''

Chief Umber stroke his beard, looking at us. ''If you hadn't recently escaped from a sacrificial rite, I would almost believe that Lord Cama Zotz himself had helped you.''

At the mention of that name, Shade, Chinook, and I looked with shock and surprise at the Bloodwing leader.

''You worship Zotz as well?" Shade asked.

''Of course. Almost all bats in the jungle worship him. But don't worry, our way of serving him is different from that of the Vampyrum Spectrum.''

''So you don't make bloody sacrifices?'' I asked cautiously.

''We do that,'' Umber replied, and my friends and I tensed up for a moment. ''But we don't sacrifice random creatures as the Vampyrum do. No. We sacrifice only volunteers among our own people at exceptional occasions.''

''Who would be nuts and volunteer for such a thing?" Chinook whispered in my ear, but Umber still heard him.

It may seem strange to you, my young friend. But would you not also want to give your own goddess whatever she asks of you? And what more precious gift can you offer to a deity than the gift of life?''

Chinook hesitated, unsure what to say in reply. But something had struck me. ''You know about Nocturna?''

He nodded. ''In the past, many knew about her as well as Zotz. Some bats, therefore, worshipped both gods. But that has changed, and nowadays, only a few still know about Zotz's sister.''

''Wait a sec!'' Shade interrupted him. ''Nocturna is Zotz's sister?''

''His twin sister, to be exact.''

Now that was a surprise. Not even I knew about this even though I had already heard a lot about the Mayan bat god. At the same time, I wondered how the knowledge of Nocturna disappeared among the bats of the south and why no one in the north knew about Cama Zotz.

All of a sudden, there was a loud rumbling sound, and everyone looked at Chinook, who was holding his stomach in embarrassment. ''Uh, sorry, but I'm starving here,'' he said.

There he wasn't the only one. My stomach also made me painfully aware that it was now more than time to fill it, and Shade was the hunger written in the face. Umber gave his Bloodwings a sign, and shortly after, a young female approached us, holding a bowl in her hands.
''There you go,'' she said cheerfully. ''You are more than welcome to have a share of our food.'' She handed us the bowl. But when we took a peek inside, we somewhat lost our appetites. Chinook even turned so pale that I feared he would collapse. As I said, vampire bats feed on blood, and the bowl was full of it.

''Eh, that's too generous,'' Shade said, trying not to look into the bowl, ''But unfortunately, we don't eat ... well... this.'' He pointed at the substance, and disappointment flashed briefly on the young vampire bat's face. But Umber nodded understandingly and told her to bring us something else instead. A little later, she then came back with a bowl full of insects and larvae.

Immediately, Shade and Chinook started devouring the creepy-crawlies with grateful hunger. But I hesitated. I would have liked to say that I also do not feed on insects. But the little one had looked so upset when we refused her blood offering that I couldn't bring myself to disappoint her again. Therefore, I swallowed my disgust and reached in for a less nasty looking insect.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Shade giving me a puzzled look, but I ignored him and took a tentative bite. Surprisingly, it didn't taste that bad. Quite different from when I first tasted an insect which Mercury had brought me. Had my time with the Silverwings before our trip to Hibernaculum not been the only time I had eaten insects, I would have said that I must have gotten used to the taste by now. But I had been living on berries alone for all those weeks. Maybe I was just too hungry right now. Whatever the case was, I finished the insect and immediately took another.

After we finished our meal, we were taken to the river, where they helped us wash down the sacrificial marks on our skin and fur. Thankfully, I was separated from my friends and surrounded only by female Bloodwings, who shielded me from prying eyes. Afterward, they treated our wounds with homemade herbal mixtures and gave me a simple piece of brown cloth as a new skirt and, at my request second one to wrap around my chest like a poncho. To make sure it would hold, I knotted the overhanging ends together behind my back. It was now almost noon, and Tick led us to a sleeping place specially prepared for us. I was so tired from all the exertion that I immediately fell asleep as soon as my body laid down on the soft nest of grass and leaves.