And a second chapter, for I felt guilty for giving it all in terribly short samples.
For two or three hours Marina thought she was doing quite well. She wove in and out of the branches, always ducking and taking cover if a Brightwing turned tail. A few times she saw Lynx come back to harry the lagging ones, young ones like her who were easily distracted, or lend a wing to anyone who seemed too tired.
I can do this, Marina grinned to herself, keeping two or three Brightwings always in sight. No one else will notice -
Something slammed into her back, and Marina screamed, more shocked than hurt. Wings beat in her face, and Marina tumbled in midair, struggling to see.
Before her flew Lynx and several large males - Merlin, Hercules and Eternity, their faces grim.
"Get out of here," snarled Lynx, showing wickedly-sharp fangs. "We don't want your curse."
Marina flew off, terrified. She darted into a tree and tried to hide, hoping that they'd just leave. She could still hear the song, maybe if she waited...
A glance from behind the tree confirmed the worst. Lynx and the males continued to hover in the air, watching her tree suspiciously. Not one of them moved.
They're waiting for me to move, Marina sighed mentally. Half-heartedly she spread her wings and took off, leaving the colony behind.
For two or three hours Marina thought she was doing quite well. She wove in and out of the branches, always ducking and taking cover if a Brightwing turned tail. A few times she saw Lynx come back to harry the lagging ones, young ones like her who were easily distracted, or lend a wing to anyone who seemed too tired.
I can do this, Marina grinned to herself, keeping two or three Brightwings always in sight. No one else will notice -
Something slammed into her back, and Marina screamed, more shocked than hurt. Wings beat in her face, and Marina tumbled in midair, struggling to see.
Before her flew Lynx and several large males - Merlin, Hercules and Eternity, their faces grim.
"Get out of here," snarled Lynx, showing wickedly-sharp fangs. "We don't want your curse."
Marina flew off, terrified. She darted into a tree and tried to hide, hoping that they'd just leave. She could still hear the song, maybe if she waited...
A glance from behind the tree confirmed the worst. Lynx and the males continued to hover in the air, watching her tree suspiciously. Not one of them moved.
They're waiting for me to move, Marina sighed mentally. Half-heartedly she spread her wings and took off, leaving the colony behind.