Chapter 7. an act of kindness towards an enemy
Shade pov
I woke up groggy from sleep, I shook my head as I got up, the view slowly returned to me, saw Zephyr near the wall of symbols and Marina was near the entrance to the bell tower, tried to locate Frisk in vain, because I did not see her nowhere, when my head returns to its normal state I realized that I had a red and viscous substance on the wing, but strangely the pain had passed as if my wing had healed
"I see you woke up boy" Zephyr said approaching with calmly
"yes but, can i know what happened and things this thing on my wing?"
"it's just a remedy that will sharp your wing and alleviate the pain" he was right I feel much better
"fine thanks but now we have to go" I flew to Marina who was looking out with concern "Marina!" I called her, she turned to me and said
"Shade i look you fine "
"yes a little, where Frisk?" I asked, she looked down and replied
"she's gone a while ago and she's not back yet"
"what!" I said in shock
"she said she wanted to find her friend and she would be back before the tower rang with that 'clock, but it struck ten minutes ago and did not come back "
" you let her go alone "
" I know it was dangerous and warned him, but she didn't want to abandon her friend and she convinced me "
I was worried surely it will be in danger, without thinking twice I flew down from the bell tower to look for her, my wing was working again as before, I started looking around hoping that she was not in danger
"Frisk !" I called, without receiving a reply, I flew much closer to those strange machines that humans used to move, at that moment I saw a squadron of pigeons coming at me, instinctively my first thought was to flee, but the pigeons saw me and they flew me to capture me. In an attempt to avoid getting caught, I zigzagged in an attempt to confuse my pursuers, but it doesn't work, looked around and saw one of the pigeons very close to me and it made me fly higher trying to get past it, but they were still following me as if they were my shadow.
I was exhausted and I stopped on a ledge of a building to rest I could no longer fly and the pigeons were approaching, I felt I was done for.
When a shadow sprouting below me was a silverwing bat or at least I think, it flew to the pigeons and attracted their attention, they followed ,it pretending to be me, they chased it for a piece of the road before the bat disappeared dissolving into thin air, the pigeons were confused and so me too, but the bat reappeared and led the pigeons away from me.
I did not understand what had happened, but I did not think about it too much, I flew back to the cathedral, even if I wanted to I can no longer fly to look for my friend, I was lucky they were pigeons but if they were owls I would have risked a lot
"I hope you be okay Frisk "I thought, back to the bell tower.
Pov Frisk
I was flying towards the cathedral avoiding the sight of owls and pigeons and for this I pass through some dark alleys avoiding being seen.
But it was just as I was flying in this alley you feel a nauseating smell, at first I thought it was the garbage, but the closer I got to the exit of the alley, the smell more became stronger and stronger, the garbage was stank badly but not to this point to make me vomit.
I approached the source of smell wondering with curiosity what it was, landed next to a garbage can and following the smell I saw it.
my eyes widened in horror, in front of me there were the corpses of two mice whose entrails had been devoured and now from their holes in their stomachs gushed a lake of blood, I noticed the expression terror that stayed on their face, as if they had been killed by the scariest thing they had ever seen, only one thought occurred to me "giant bats" that moment I hear a sound of flapping wings, my heart freezes from terror , I was hoping they were pigeons or owls.
I called all my courage to me to check, i grabbed the dumpster and took a look hiding them behind it, I concentrated using my night vision, I saw a big figure, no ... it wasn't one it was two! , they weren't pigeons or owls, they were the giant bats that were approaching where I was, without thinking twice I immediately got up and ran away from that alley in the hope of sowing them.
I don't know if they were following me but the fear made me fly away to the chair, "damn, I'm really there, I have to escape, I know I was looking for them to find Chara, but when I saw those corpses ... I don't want to do their own end, I don't want to die! " I thought flying non-stop , without realizing where I was going, but at that moment i bumped into something in flight, we lost our balance in the air and we fell on a balcony of an apartment, I was above him, I got up, shake my head to recover from the hit, once I recovered I took a look at what I hit, it was a pigeon but not just any one was the same pigeon that testified in the pigeon cage, he was scared, scared of me, once he saw me, start to tremble and walk away from me, but because of the fear he doesn't fly away ,he just shivers and looks at me in horror
"please, I have nothing against you or your friends, please don't hurt me"
I looked at him confused, did he think I wanted to hurt him? , maybe he thinks she jumped on him to attack him? he was scared and trembling like he saw a devil, I know I shouldn't do this and I should go back to the cathedral, but something told me I had to calm him down, I was about to approach him when I hear the sound of wings moving again, I snap I moved towards him and grabbed him hiding behind some vases
"no, no, please i .." with my hand I covered his beak and said
"shut up" I said in a low voice,
then with my finger I pointed outside, he looked and saw the silhouettes of one the giant bats, his eyes widened with horror, I was afraid he would scream and let us discover, I took one of his wings and calmly began to trophy it to try to calm his fear
"shu everything will be fine "I whispered to calm him down, he looked at me with surprise but I just signaled him to be quiet and observe.
the biggest bat stopped at the railing of the balcony to smell the air, I did not see his face but he could see the long red hair that fell all over his back, at that moment I remembered the bat in the tunnel that slapped me , he had the same red hair, at that moment a muffled growl escaped from my throat, I don't know if it was out of anger or nervousness, but at that moment the fear turned into a desire to attack, but I stopped myself. another more chubby bat came up and said
"what happened to her?"
"I don't know the smell is gone, uh she's a really interesting girl she's small but very fast" "what do we do?"
"if we happen to see her again we will resume but for now we continue to feed ourselves for the journey "
were those two following me? but why ? I wondered. if they left shortly after, I waited a couple of seconds and then let go of the pigeon's beak
"less apples are gone" I said moving away from him
"did you protect me?" he said staring directly at me as if I had done the most incredible thing in the world
"no I should have? "
i said smiling
" but everyone thinks you are murderers and my companions chase you and your friends "
" no offense but you don't seem the type to fight, you were shivering with fear like a chick "
he down the look and said "it's true I'm not able to protect myself and that's why I could not do anything when that bat attacked my Debby"
I noticed a tear in his eyes surely he was a special person to him "was the your partner? "
"she would have become, she had agreed to marry me, believe me I loved her so much more than my own life, but as soon as I saw him in that situation I felt like a piece and then I passed out, when I woke up Dabby was gone, there was only one bloodstain where she was "
I felt sorry for him, but I could not do anything to bring back his beloved who is now dead,but i could give him some words of comfort
" you will see that sooner or later the real criminals will pay, I understand how you feel they have kidnapped mine best friend, it may seem strange to you but I feel that she is alive and I find her sooner or later , I don't know what will happen in the future but I assure you that sooner or later they will pay for what they did"
I flew up to the railing and stopped there
" I owe you my life, what can I do to thank you "
I turned and said" I want just don't say you saw me ,act like we haven't met and don't follow me "
" for what it's worth I hope you find your friend Silverwing "
I turned around smiling at him" my name is Frisk "
he gave me a slight smile and said "then you can call me Hank "
" well, goodbye Hank "I said resuming my flight to the cathedral.
Third Person Pov
Meanwhile in the bell tower Marina was sitting looking at the wall "are you okay my dear?" Zephyr asked while writing on the wall
"I'm just a little worried, Shade is waiting for Frisk to come back"
"and why are you observing this wall maybe interested in migration "
but she replied" no see Zephyr, I was wondering something, about my band, is it cursed? Frisk told me that it is not that it is used to identify bats, I believe her, but I can't believe it everything, and still I wonder why humans banded me "
Zephyr resuming his work said" my child the actions of the humans are inconsistent and they're difficult to interpret, Frisk may have given you the answer, but you believe it is the truth ?"
Marina raised her arm watching the band asking herself the same question, Zephyr approached her and said hugging her
"Marina you are special, but that has nothing to do with any bands, only you can decide whether you want to be special or not and no band can change who you are "
Marina calmly felt better hearing his words, she watch her band and for the first time she didn't feel cursed.
Meanwhile Shade was waiting outside worried he turns his back and thinks
"and if they caught her, if she was taken back to the pigeon tower"
Shade was absorbed in his thoughts and did not notice that Frisk had just landed next to him and she listen to him as he talked to himself
"maybe Brutus will be back to make sure he doesn't run away again, maybe I should go, she might be in trouble" at that moment Frisk with a smile came up behind him
"maybe now she's definitely in trouble" at that moment Frisk interjected
"or maybe she's right behind me"
"oh that would be great if only ..."
at that moment Shade realized that he hadn't said that phrase, he turned and saw Frisk behind him with a wide smiled
"ah Frisk, how the hell .."
she laughed and said with an amused air
" I lost your back "
there was silence for a moment, and then Shade dropped that angry expression and a laugh came out of his mouth at his joke understanding the meaning.
They went back inside the bell tower where Marina seeing them together she fly towards them "Frisk luckily you are fine, but why because it took you so long, when the tower rang and you didn't come back I was worried, what happened to you"
"believe me I had a lot emotions tonight, first good and then fears "
" what happened to you" Shade asked
"well I can say that I didn't find Chara, but I was about to meet the giant bats"
Marina gasp for a moment "you mean you saw them seriously , are they really there !? "
" if there are ? I managed for a hair to escape him "
" you mean .. "
" yes Shade they were following me "
" but why? "
" I don't know ,but I hope I will never find out "
while Frisk was talking to Marina ,suddenly Shade heard noises coming from a crack in the tower walls, he approached the girls and gestured for her to be quiet,the boy calmly approached to see what it was.
from that crack within a pigeon, a female pigeon with a trenched wing, Shade as soon as he saw her by instinct had only the idea of chasing her away even if she was injured, the poor pigeon was looking for a place to hide from her executioners she hid there in hope to be safe, instead of Shade but the fright
"those birds who try to tell me out there" the young man had a hostile look that frightens her even more, with a soft voice she try to explain
"no you're mistaken look can 't you see, I am hurt "the female with dread slowly start to walk away from him
" the owls probably killed my dad, they burned my house and you guys tried to kill me, Marina and Frisk, I hate you birds "
frightened she moved back, touching an axis that came off and fell to the ground, prevented her from going forward, trembling she said
"please i just came here to hide"
"hide! for what !?" Shade asked angrily
"the giant bats, they attacked me and my mate, they took me and quelled my wing, I managed to escape from them by a miracle, but I can't fly well anymore"
"well, surely you deserved it and so did your partner, I would be happy if they devoured him "the poor pigeon to hear those such cruel words began to cry.
Shade as soon as he saw her cry he calm down, he had exaggerated his words, he hurt her was what he wanted but now that he did, he pitied of she
"Shade enough!" Frisk scream fly in defense of the pigeon.
"but you saw her this female is frightened and also seriously hurt, how can you say such cruel words, I was almost captured by those two, I could have been hurt or worse killed and you would have been happy if it had happened to me"
but he said "no of course no"
"and you think it is good for her to hear that her partner has been mauled"
Shade was surprised it was the first time Frisk had snarled at him like this
"listen don't you think his partner means to her what Marina and I mean to you, I know you're mad at the owls and pigeons for what happened but please don't let off steam about who's sick "
"but Frisk she is a pigeon, the pigeons are with the owls, they are our enemies and therefore she too"
"Shade it's true, pigeons are our enemies, but for this alone you don't feel a bit of compassion for those who are hurt and need help"
"Brutus had no compassion and you know it well"
"I know well, but if we behave like him we will not be any better but we will go down to his level, Shade in this situation thinks, what would Frida have done in your place?"
at that question, Shade shook himself a little, thinking back to how Frida defended the two of them with determination and courage by facing openly, Brutus
Shade looked down for a moment and then said
" yes, you're right "
pigeon cut a false move and broke the beam that lifted it "AAAH !" she scream falling,
"Oh No!" Shade scream,
Frisk and Shade swooped to grab her, the young girl bat managed to reach her and with her feet grabbed her and tried to stop the fall by banging her wings as hard as she could, but the pigeon was too heavy for her
"Shade help me !" the male flew into her and grabbed the pigeon too, together they tried to stop the fall, without succeeding enough, Marina at that point jumped and flew to their aid, all three together flapped their wings as hard as they could, managing to stop the caruta to make it land near the wall of the incisions.
The three were tired from the effort they made, but satisfied to have succeeded in their intent
"you saved my life"
"yes" Shade said still incredulous for doing it
"thank you"
Marina smiled at her and said "we didn't nothing special "
then she turned to Frisk and said" thanks for defending me "
" eh eh "the girl chuckled embarrassed
the female pigeon tried to get up but her wing made her moan in pain as she did so
"Slowly, your wing is already in poor condition if you move too much you risk worsening the situation" Marina said helping her to get up
"thank you , I'll introduce myself I'm Dabby "as soon as hear her name Frisk open her eyes
" wait for your mate you were talking about yes calls Hank and he had just made you the marriage proposal "
the pigeon stared at her in surprise" yes, but as you know "
she didn't answer, at that moment only a thought came to her mind, she flew to Zephyr and asked him" can you do something for her? "
" she has a shredded wing but I'll see what I can do "
" well, I'm back immediately "Frisk flew towards the exit leaving everyone confused" but where are you going? " Marina asked, Zephyr smiled and replied "I think he's going to fix something broken" he said going to get some herbs.
Frisk flew to the building where he met Hank hoping he was still there "please let it still be there" she said praying to God so that Hank didn't change area, luckily he smiled at the girl,
he was still there on a ledge looking out into space "Hank!" call Frisk, the pigeon raised his face surprised to see that girl again
"Frisk what are you doing here is dangerous for you"
"I have a surprise for you you will never believe it"
"a surprise .. what a surprise?" he asked confused
"follow me" said the girl throwing herself towards the tower, the pigeon was confused, but decided to follow the young woman to understand what she wanted to show him. At the tower Frisk told Hank to enter through the crack, the pigeon did so and after him Frisk also entered
"what do you have to show me?"
"believe me you'll like it" she motioned him to follow her,
led him to his friends and to Dabby who was being medicated by Zephyr
"here's your surprise" Frisk said, signaling the female pigeon.
When Hank and Dabby met their gazes their eyes widened with the beautiful surprise and happiness that overflowed into their hearts "Dab..by" Hank stammered holding back the tears of happiness that kept coming out of his eyes
"it's me Hank" male ran towards the female and he embraced her with his wings "you are alive my love .. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you" "no, don't be hard on yourself, I'm happy that you are still alive I was afraid they had you killed "" my love I hope I will never leave you again, giant bats or not "later Hank approached Frisk and his friends and wrapped them all three in his wings
" thank you for saving my Dabby, especially you Frisk, without you I would not have found the love of my life "
" you do not have to thank me, I did it from the heart "said the girl with red cheeks and a smile on her face.
Once Zephyr finished dressing Dabby's wing he told her
"the wound wasn't very deep, you were lucky, but unfortunately you won't be able to fly for a long time"
"don't worry I'll take care of her"
said Hank taking Dabby on the his back
"thank for grants everything"
"promise not to tell anyone we're here" said Shade "yes don't worry" replied Dabby, the two pigeons left the tower leaving the three friends satisfied with their action they had reunited two lovers and now they can be together
"Frisk how did you know that pigeon?" asked Shade
"let's say I saved his ass"
"are you incredible weren't you afraid that he might sue you?" Marina asked
Zephyr at that moment approached and said "I think Frisk and all of you made the right choice, you could have leave her that pigeon to her fate, letting it fall instead you saved her life and brought her back to her beloved, anyone blinded by anger can think of destroying a life, but only someone really special can think of saving her and with it adjust a broken heart, never underestimate an act of kindness even towards an enemy, my children"
the three friends looked at each other, thinking of Zephyr's words, the albino with his ears created sound waves that created the images of Hank and Dabby embracing the three. the boys seeing them were surprised, but in less than a moment they disappeared, Shade surprised said
"they were .. and then ... they were echo projections"
Zephyr nodded with a slight chuckle
"can you teach me?" Shade asked