Chapter 11: The right tower
Six pigeons burst after us through the window. I took a short glance over my shoulder and gasped at how close they were. Not only that, they were also fanning out across the sky, surrounding us.
''Can we outrun them?'' I heard Shade asking with panic.
''Don't think so,'' panted Marina.
We dashed over the city, swinging wildly around towers, skinning rooftops, plunging down into deep canyons. But the pigeons kept hunting us stubbornly.
I knew if we didn't find a hiding spot soon, they would surely catch us. But where?
On top of that, Shade was hurt. His wing had a nasty hole in it, and he could barely keep up with Marina because of the pain and with me hanging on to his feet.
I felt bad for letting him carry me around while he was wounded. He looked so worn out already that he needed a break. And that soon.
Marina noticed Shades condition as well but didn't offer to carry me herself. Instead, she, at least, asked him if we should stop, so he could rest his wing.
Shade shook his head breathing heavily and growled slightly. "Pigeons, I hate them almost as much as I hate those stupid owls,'' he said
''Shade, revenge isn't worth it,'' I said looking up at him, ''We have more important things to do, like finding the Silverwings. We got to warn them. Remember Brutus prohibition.''
''I'm sure he remembers it, Vanessa. We all do. But finding a tower with a cross on its top isn't so easy like it sounds. This place is like a maze,'' Marina said with a hint of irritation in her voice.
Before I could reply I heard the familiar sound of bells ringing and scanned the area until I spot the origin of the sound right ahead of us and my face lit up with joy.
''Guys over there!'' I beamed, ''There it is, the cathedral. That building with the tower with the cross on the top from your sound map Shade.''
Both bats looked into the direction I shortly pointed at it with one hand and their faces lid up with relief. Yes, it had to be the right one.
The tower looked almost like the one where we encountered the pigeons but on top of the spire was a metal cross, glinting silver in the city's glow.
''That's where they were meant to stop.'' Shade called out happily and flew faster as if just the sight of his colony's landmark gave him new strength into his tired and wounded wings.
Suddenly I heard Marina gasping behind us and turned around, wondering what was going on. Without warning, she quickly swooped down, grabbing Shades shoulders by her feet and dragged him and me over to the edge of a building close to the cathedral.
''Hey, what's the big deal?'' Shade demanded to know after we landed. But instead of answering Marina just hushed him and motioned us to come closer.
Carefully we three looked around the corner and saw three pigeons sitting on the roof between the gargoyles, guarding the place. I recognized one of them as Hegland, the anxious bird who told us and the other pigeons about the two giant bats that had killed and eaten his friend before his eyes.
He still seemed to be a nervous wreck and shivered heavily while scanning the area with fearful eyes as if he feared the giant bats would come back anytime soon. Poor guy.
Even though I felt bad for him, Shade, Marina and I still needed an idea to get rid of those three,
Otherwise, we couldn't land there. And what about the Silverwings?
Looking down at the building, I noticed a lamp which glows shone right under the pigeons on the roof. This gave me an idea.
''Hey you two, see the lamp down there? You know the shiny thing right under the pigeons?''
''What's with it?'' Shade asked.
''I believe I've got a plan in which this might help us to get those pigeons to leave,'' I said.
Marina didn't look very convinced about it. ''Ah, and what exactly do you have in mind?'' she asked skeptically.
''Remember, what that one pigeon called Hegland said? About those giant bats?'' I paused seeing them both nod, ''Well, there none of those around to help us right now, but how about we let those birds up there think there are giant bats?'' I couldn't help but grinned seeing their faces lit up as they finally understood what I was trying to tell them.
Not wasting any more time the two bats flew over to the lamp and landed on an eave next to it.
Meanwhile, on the roof above Hegland seemed to be more paranoid than ever. He apprehensively looked around and shivered like crazy. One of the other pigeons rolled its eyes by his behavior and told him to stop with this nonsense.
''There were like this stone monsters come to live,'' Hegland said, looking with fear at the gargoyle next to them and screamed as his companion tapped his shoulder before laughing at his reaction. The third pigeons landed down beside them and laughed as well, causing Hegland to frown not liking how they made fun of him like that.
''Laugh all you want. I know it's not safe out here.'' He started shivering again and the two other birds stopped laughing and shook their heads in annoyance. Then they noticed something behind them and turned around to see two large bats hovering intimidatingly above them.
With a terrified scream, the pigeons stumbled over each other in blind panic and fled as fast as they could. Hegland right at the front, thinking the giant bats came back to get him.
Shade and Marina fluttered over the lamp and tried their best to calm down their laughing. Then Shade flew back to where he left me and carried me up to the roof of the cathedral where the pigeons were before with Marina landing beside us.
''They fell for it,'' Shade said still laughing a little.
''I thought someone was gonna break a wing trying to get away first,'' Marina said holding her stomach, chuckling as well.
Joining in we three laughed for a few minutes until Shade stopped and hissed in pain. His wing was still hurt and in need of medical attention.
With a soft sigh, I looked around but couldn't find any traces of other bats around.
''The colony isn't here?'' Shade said with disappointed, not noticing anyone too.
''You think we missed them already?''
''I don't know.'' Letting out a sigh Shade turned his head away and looked up at the giant stone gargoyle right next to us. ''Check out Mr. Ugly over there. Tell me he doesn't look like a giant bat,'' he said, his expression changing back into a smile while pointing at the demonic looking statue with its mouth wide open and long stony tongue rolling out of it.
''Come on Shade. You don't really believe in giant bats, do you? That's just a story made up by scared birds.'' Marina said chuckling a little.
''Actually, it isn't as unlikely as you may think,'' I replied, ''Thought coming across something like these around here does sound overstated I have to admit.
The young Brightwing looked at me skeptically then jumped into the sky with her wings spread open, teeth baring. ''Beware! I'm a giant bat. You better dash before I dine,'' she said, pretending to look huge and dangerous. Then she stopped her acted and landed back before me and Shade, looking very much sure of herself. ''Really guys giant bats don't exist!''
''Really?''
All of us gasped when suddenly an unexpected voice appearing out of nowhere.
''You'd be surprised.'' the voice continued. It was a deep echoing sound which seemed to come right out of the gargoyle's mouth. But that couldn't be, right? It was just a statue. It couldn't talk.
''The world is full of strange and wondrous things. Just because you never see them, doesn't mean they don't exist.''
''Like giant bats?'' Shade asked unsurely.
The strange voice surely came from the inside of the gargoyle mouth but I still refused to believe it spoke to us. The voice must come from something inside the statute.
''Come inside!'' said the voice instead of answering Shade's question and again I was sure it sounded more like the voice of a bat.
Curiously I took a little step closer to the statue and into its mouth. The gargoyles' throat extended far back into the spire like a sort of tunnel. I hummed and looked back at the two bats behind me.
''You don't expect us to go in there, right?'' Marina asked afraid and took a step back.
''It's the right tower. The cross and everything. And I believe there is a bat inside,'' I said
''You sure?'' Shade asked.
''Don't be afraid,'' came the voice from deep inside the spire.
''Well, that's good enough for me,'' said Marina sarcastically.
''Look,'' I said,''it's got to be safe otherwise, Shade's colony wouldn't use it as a landmark right?''
I looked over to the Silverwing who nodded in agreement.
''Yeah, I suppose you are right with that.'' Marina sighed as if knowing there was no point in arguing against it. ''After you.''
Shade jumped into the air and grabbed my hands with his feet before flying into the gargoyle's mouth with Marina close behind us. A few seconds later we landed in a big room inside the spire with all kinds of plants hanging on wooden beams all over the place.
A few feet ahead of us roosted a bat upside down on one of the beams and scribbled something with its claws on a wooden wall while muttering to itself.
''Ah, Greywings leaving right on time.''
''Who are you?'' Shade asked. The bat dropped itself from the beam and landed on the one below before turning to us with a friendly smile on its face. It was an elderly male with long white fur and wings. His eyes were dull with no colors or pupils inside. Showing that he was blind.
"My name is Zephyr," the white bat introduce himself. "I'm um…" He put his claw on his chin as if he forgot the right words and then snapped his fingers finding the answer while walking over to us. "… The bat traffic controller for the migrating colonies. This city is a central harbor through which all colonies pass. Those are the flight paths, my dear ... uh,'' Zephyr said turning to Marina who swooped down to the wall with all different signs and symbols written on it, looking at them curiously.
''Marina, my name is Marina. And those are Shade and Vanessa,'' she said introducing herself and us to the old bat.
''You know where all the colonies are?'' Shade felt amazed and flew down to Zephyr as well and set me down on a beam. Carefully I kept myself close to the walls, refusing to look down into the endless depth underneath us. Compared to this the pigeon tower was much safer. At least there was a floor to walk on while here were only wooden beams. Luckily those were big enough, so I shouldn't be able to slip off right away. Still, I hated myself for being so anxious about highs.
''So, where are the Silverwings,'' Shade asked more, looking at the scribblings.
''Eh, they passed by here about two hours ago heading south,'' Zephyr answered rubbing his chin.
''We can catch up with them in no time. Let's go.'' Shade beamed and was about to leave right on spot.
''Well, off you go then. Unless you think that ripped wing of yours will slow you down,'' Zephyr said calmly and pointed at Shades torn wing. I frowned wondering how he was able to see this if he was blind. Then again. He was a bat and I know bats can see quite well with their ears instead just with their eyes.
Shade, who until now didn't think about his injury, looked down on his wing and gulped. Dark blood was oozing out of it slowly. Without warning, his eyes rolled back into his head, and then he collapsed right on the beam.
''Seriously?''
In the meantime, the Silverwing colony made their way further away from the city through a small forest. They were all worn out from the long flight. Some of the youngest pups were even so tired by now that their mothers decided to carry them.
Exhausted like the rest Frieda flapped her old wings laboriously up and down and peered between the trees, hoping Mercury would soon return from his scouting with good news.
Like on cue, the male emerged out of the forest with a smile on his face.
''All clear,'' he exclaimed happily and pointed down towards an empty human building in the middle of a small clearing.
Frieda sighed with relief. ''Finally, a place to roost,'' she said and led the colony down to the building and chose the wooden beams under a water tower as their roosting place.
Soon all Silverwings landed upside down on the beams, happy to finally be able to rest their wings for a while.
''Frieda, I'm sure Shade and Vanessa will catch up with us soon,'' said Ariel with confidence to Frieda who deci ded to roost beside her.
''Ariel, we can stay here for a few days.''
''Frieda,'' the sharp, raspy voice of Bathsheba intervened, making them both look up to see the pudgy elder landing on the wooden beam below, ''This is no time for the colony to be lazing about.''
Frieda frowned at her before looking at the rest of the colony seeing most of them preparing themselves to sleep a bit while a few others decided to go and catch some food.
'' The weak should be left behind,'' Bathsheba demanded but her leader thought otherwise.
''The colony arrived together and it will leave together.'' Frieda retorted glancing back at her.
Bathsheba grunted disapprovingly and flew away to hunt.
I watched how Zephyr squished some red berries over Shades wound to rub the mush over it with his foot while the Silverwing finally gained back consciousness. Sitting back up he looked over to me sitting right next to him cross-legged.''
''Welcome back,'' I said smiling at him, happy to see him okay and awake again.
He smiled back but then raised his eyebrows in confusion while staring me in the face.
''Uh, Vanessa, what's that on your forehead?''
''Hmm? Oh, that. That's just a healing paste from Zephyr for the bruise I got thank to you crashing us onto the stone wall in the pigeon tower earlier.''
''Oh, sorry.''
''It's fine, nothing's broken'' I said and looked up just to see Marina talking to Zephyr.
''When are you going to migrate,'' she asked curiously while crouching on one of the wooden beams above.
''Never,'' Zephyr answered, ''My full name is Zephyrnaia, which means protection. I believe it is my destiny to protect other bats as they migrate.''
''Don't you miss your colony?''
''I was abandoned as a baby. Perhaps you know what this is like,'' Zephyr said turning his head up to Marina, who looked at her band with a sad sigh.
I sighed as well and felt a little guilty since my kind was the reason why she got banished from her family and friends but something confused me.
''Eh, excuse me Zephyr,'' I said, ''But how did you survive all on your own when you were left behind as a baby?''
''I was lucky to be found by a kind human who lived in the cathedral. He took me in and cared for me until I was old enough to look after myself,'' Zephyr answered turning back to me, ''But since I didn't know where to go and if there even was a colony who would take me in, I decided to stay here and help other bats like that human has helped me.''
''A human cared for you, you say?'' Marina asked looking at him with disbelieve, ''But aren't they dangerous? I mean most of them? Why else are so many bats afraid of the bands?'' she said throwing a short glance at me before telling Zephyr everything about her colony and our encounter with the Greywings.
''It is right to be careful about the humans,'' Zephyr replied, ''their customs are mysterious, and they are known to attack bats, thinking we are pests or worse evil spirits something to be destroyed and I know for fact, that there were bands who killed their wearer. But whenever it was the band itself or the nature of the bat who wore it no one can say.''
''My father had a band.'' Shade intervened now sitting up straight. Then he looked down on his wing, sniffing at the mush smeared over his wound and made a grimace.
''Urgh, yuck! Keep that stuff off of me my wing is fine,'' he insists and got up while shaking the mush from his wing.
''That stuff is a healing poultice. And your wing doesn't hurt because it's working.'' Marina said, annoyed about Shade's stubbornness and flew down to us.
The Silverwing looked at his wing and tried to lift it a little but it still hurt a lot. Groaning in pain Shade fainted again.
Me, Zephyr and Marina only shook our heads watching this.
Then Zephyr took some new berries and smeared another poultice on Shade's injured wing.
Marina, however, found a strange rolled up red leave with thick veins. She curiously picked it up sniffing it a little then pulled it close to her mouth as if wanting to taste it.
''Careful!'' Zephyr warned her, ''That's strong medicine. That herb kills pain. So don't lick your wing or you'll be knocked out for a week,'' he adds towards Shade who just woke up again.
Shade sighed, relieved to feel the pain in his wing getting better and nodded at him while getting up once again. ''Let's go guys we gotta find the colony,'' he said and grabbed my hands with his feet to carry me up towards the entrance where he landed again waiting for Marina to come up.
''Oh, by the way'' Zephyr said cheerfully, ''If that poultice falls off and your wing rips in half just come on back. I'll be happy to give you some more.''
''My wing ... in half?'' With his eyes widen in shock he grasps his wing and collapsed once again before Marina could catch him.
Unfortunately, he fell right against me this time, causing me to fall down on my bottom with an unconscious Silverwing lying on top of me. With a sigh, I shook my head, slowly getting tired of this.
In the forest near the human building, which was actually a sawmill closed for the night, the Silverwings were still resting and hunting.
Frieda stood on top of the water tower and glanced at the horizon while letting the cold breeze flew through her long hair.
Just then a red cardinal male swooped down and landed in front of her with an angry frown on his face.
''Hey, this is my mosquito hunting territory,'' he snapped at her rudely.
''We Silverwings are just here to rest and eat before we move on,'' Frieda explained.
The cardinal's expression mysteriously changed after hearing this. ''Oh, you are Silverwings. Oh, then please stay as long as you want,'' he said exaggerated friendly and flew off again.
Chinook, who had listened to their conversation landed beside Frieda and together they looked after the bird with a concerned look on their faces. Something wasn't right.