Alecie walked down the hall and went into her room, slamming the oak door behind her. She threw herself on her bed and stared up at the light blue canopy that stretched from bedpost to bedpost across her bed.

"Why is father so stubborn!" she said aloud.

"Because he thinks he is doing the right thing." A mystical voice sounded from the corner. Alecie sat up and turned to see a young sphinx sitting calmly in the shadows.

"Athena!" Alecie said jumping off the bed. "Where have you been?"

The sphinx gracefully got up and walked toward the teen cloudrunner, "Here and there." She answered.

"Did you go down to the earthwalker world?" Alecie asked excitedly. The sphinx nodded her human like head, her tail calmly moving back and forth as she sat on her haunches.

"They aren't called earthwalkers, they are called humans. And yes, that was where I was." Alecie wanted to ask more, but decided to change the subject; they had more important matters to discuss.

"Did you know that Skybax city is being attacked tonight?" Alecie asked. Athena nodded.

"Yes, I did. Your father must be very worried." Athena said knowingly.

"He is, because tonight is a full moon, and we can not fly during a full moon. He will probably leave in a few minutes to go there and help our army."

"What is he going to do?" Athena asked. Alecie crossed the room and stared out the window and the pink sky, a sure sign the sun was going down.

"I don't know, he's called the neighboring clans for help, but they can't fly during a full moon either, except for the raiders, and I don't know how much help that that is going to be." Alecie punched a pillow in frustration.

"We need more help than just cloudrunners!" she yelled.

"Then get some." Athena yawned. Alecie turned to look at the sphinx in surprise.

"What?"

"You heard me, if you think that more help is needed, than go and get some." Athena said. Alecie slumped down on a nearby chair and looked at Athena, then out the window.

"But….the only other place to go to for help is to ask an earthwalker, and…and father absolutely forbids it." She said. "Besides, I wouldn't know the first place to start looking for help there."

"You may not," Athena said standing up. "But I do, I have heard stories of a group called the Ronin Warriors, a very strong group, they might help you if you ask. And besides desperate times call for desperate measures. If you feel that going to the humans for help is the best thing, than do it."

Alecie sat still for a minute before turning to look at Athena. "I still don't understand why father won't ask them for help." She said quietly.

"He is afraid that history will repeat itself." Athena replied knowingly.

"But that was a long time ago!" Alecie protested. "I'm sure that the earthwalkers have gotten a lot smarter since then."

"They may be smarter, but not necessarily wiser." Athena pointed out. "Remember, I have seen them, and I can tell you that some humans are selfish and greedy and would think nothing of double crossing a trusting cloudrunner for their own personal gain." Alecie stared in shock at Athena. Wondering how a person could be that cruel.

"But…" Athena continued. "I have also seen that some are kind and compassionate. And from what I have seen and heard, these Ronin Warriors are such people." Alecie got up off her chair and walked across the room, lost in thought. She stared at her reflection in the mirror on her wall, then focused on the piercing gaze of the sphinx behind her.

 "If you wish to ask these Ronin Warriors for help; I will meet you at the gate in fifteen minutes, that will give you enough flying time before night fall to reach them. But you must be sure." Having said her piece Athena got up and walked toward an open window.

"Wait!" Alecie said as the sphinx turned her head to look at her. "How do I know if it's the right thing to do?"

"That is a question that you must answer yourself." Athena replied as the sphinx spread her tan wings and flew off, leaving Alecie alone to think. Alecie stared at Athena until she disappeared in the distance then gave a scowl.

"Fifteen minutes? That isn't too long from now." She said aloud as she went to sit on her bed.

'Is going for help the right thing to do?' Alecie wondered as she sat on her bed. 'Father will defiantly be mad, but Athena said that they might be able to help. But they are earthwalkers and won't be able to naturally fly.' Alecie thought about it long and hard. She suddenly got up and walked out of her room with a purposeful stride. She walked down the hall and stood in front of a huge double door. After checking to make sure the coast was clear, she placed her hand on the door where a doorknob should be.

"Please state your name." a mechanical voice instructed.

"My name is Alecie Lynnette Ryder. Princess of the Cloudrunners." She stated as her hand was scanned.

The doors opened with a whoosh as she walked in. In the center of the room was a dais, floating in the air near the ceiling. Alecie spread her wings and flew up toward the dais. On in was a pile of stones. The stones were midnight blue with a feather engraved in the stone. The engraved feather was multicolored and glittered as Alecie picked up the six stones that belonged to her. Luckily there was enough that even if she took that many, they wouldn't be missed unless counted. She placed the stones in a pouch that hung from her side as she exited the room. The room locking behind her. She then made her way to the gate. It was exactly fifteen minutes when she saw Athena, waiting as she has said at the gate.

"Have you made a decision?" Athena asked as the princess neared her.

"All right, I'll do it."

Athena smiled as she flapped her tan wings, and flew off into the slowly darkening sky. Alecie right behind her.