Chapter Four

The commander in chief motioned for Tyre and Kris to follow. When they had found Li, bows and arrows were handed to each sharpshooter; each of them took their positions behind the stone walls and leaned over the side to take aim. The commander in chief cried, "Fire!" Many arrows were evaded and about five men fell. The three commanders-in-training were doing just as well as the other sharpshooters as if they had done this before.

"Fire!" cried the commander. Again about five men fell.

This continued until only ten men were left and the soldiers were out of arrows. The remaining ten rebels refused to leave and instead braced themselves for another round. Every one of the fifty archers including Tyre, Kris, and Li began sliding down the purposely forty degree-angled walls, each of them wielding a sword. The opponents were skilled and many archers died in battle. Tyre fought hard and managed to ward off one and kill another. Kris headed for the one that seemed like the leader as if she was drawn to him. Wearing a black cloak, he fought back equally skilled as Kris was. Surprisingly, every one of Kris' special attacks was blocked and when Kris attempted the one-of-a-kind tactic taught by her father, it was blocked as if the enemy knew exactly how to do so.

Both of them were trying hard, but there was no progress anywhere. Each attempt was block, each block had a counter, each counter had a comeback, and the process continued in a never-ending cycle. The battle winner could not be determined and as Kris kept the leader concentrated, each of his fellow warriors slowly began deserting or dying. Soon he was the only one left. Striking Kris purposely on her injured arm with the flat side of the blade, Kris cried out in pain and the once-nonstop sword in her right hand just lingered unmoving. This gave the leader some time to think. Deciding, he leaped back and although Kris couldn't see his face, she was sure that he gave her a flying kiss as well as a sign telling her that they would meet again. That move disgusted her.

As soon as he was out of view, Kris collapsed and the only thing that held her up was a knee and her sword. Kris was extremely exhausted, her left arm was still in no condition to move, and she barely had any time to rest. Kris was surprised that she was still conscious. As soon as everyone caught up, they found that the leader was gone and began walking back to the arena to announce victory. However, Kris was too tired once again to lift herself up. Tyre approached her and offered, "Need a ride?" Kris looked up and saw Tyre's eyes of compassion.

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Kris never had this kind of kindness before because of the cruelty of her stepfamily. Her half-hawk mother had died while giving birth to her younger sister, Nikki, and her half-falcon father remarried an average human soon after, but after just a few months he passed away in from an illness and the Regular mother remarried in a year. Her stepmother had no idea of the family's hidden gifts. Avlikyn, Kris' older brother, would try and protect his two younger sisters from the unexplained punishments, but then something happened (Kris doesn't remember what) and he had to leave. Before he left, Avlikyn promised to return, but after years of waiting the day still never came. From there Kris' older stepsister, Lily, would just tease and taunt her even harder, every one was for no reason.

Then a day came where Lily was playing with dangerous chemicals and decided to experiment on Nikki. The result was death. Avlikyn had left, Nikki was dead, and Kris was the only one left out of the three and no one in that household treated Kris like a relative; it was more like a slave. Kris did all the chores, cooking, cleaning, and such, but she still did not receive the meals or shelter she deserved. It was because of the slave duties that Kris was not aware of Lily's experiment. Kris hated her life, but never cried nor reacted with violence. How she wanted to hurt her stepparents, but an unknown force constrained her and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't.

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Kris was too tired to show strength and accepted Tyre's offer. Tyre tied Kris' sword to his belt for efficiency as Kris rode on his back. Kris was so tired that she rested her head on his neck and closed her eyes. Why does he care so much? I barely know him and it's not like he owes me anything, thought Kris. The caring thing was new to her and she didn't know what to think of it. Kris was so weary that she didn't even want to expand on that idea anymore and fell asleep for a second time on Tyre's back.

Kris awoke with a start, her sleep had been terrible for the past few years and she woke up sweating every time… including this one. "You're covered in sweat, " spoke Tyre, who was sitting right next to her. Both of them sat on the arena floor in a hallway. The entire stadium was empty.

"Don't you think I know that?" snapped Kris, she could never control her temper that well, and remember Tyre's kindness made her slowly add, "Sorry."

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Tyre at first withdrew, but after Kris apologized he spoke, "Do nightmares haunt you in your sleep? Don't worry about it, I can understand why."

Kris managed to force a smile although she really wasn't in the mood for one, even being a wolf-half breed, he cannot possibly understand, not one can ever understand. Kris never knew why she would be tense after her dream. Whatever she dreamt about she would know what it was about at the time, but no matter how hard she tried, there was no possible way that she could wake up remembering.

Tyre smiled back and added, "The emperor saw how tired you were so he said that we could spend the night. Everyone already left… including Li. He said his parents would kill him if he stayed overnight without an adult supervising him. You'd think that he'd be old enough to take care of himself now."

Kris was curious, "Lord Tyre?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you stay?"

Tyre wanted to respond, but he couldn't find the words, all he could manage to choke out was, "Um, I… I was too tired to go home anyway, so I stayed behind. Besides I told a kid to tell my family that I would be arriving late. He told me he was going to Diamond City, so I told him to tell my parents… they don't mind if I send a messenger."

"I've caused you enough trouble."

"Don't worry about it. I just had to make sure that you weren't sick or anything."

"You've been through just as much as I have and I've had some rest, you should get some sleep too."

"Yeah, but I don't need that much sleep because I'm a guy and you're a…" Tyre stopped, afraid to hurt Kris' feelings.

Kris plainly finished for him, "…a girl. Get some rest. I'm going out to get a drink." Tyre nodded as Kris walked out the hallway towards the nearby lake with the small waterfall.

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Kris' fists were clenched tight as she fought not to say anything mean to Tyre. Watching her tongue was not the easiest thing to do. She had to argue with her stepsister all the time and Kris was never that nice before. Speaking in a cruel tone had become automatic and most of the words weren't very nice either. Everyone in town knew her as the 'sweetest thing' because they all knew what Kris did to help the family, but her stepfamily only knew her as the 'devil's daughter' because of the obnoxious attitude Kris always gave them. As she finished her drink, she caught a glimpse of light shimmer under the waterfall. Kris wiped her mouth with her sleeve. Walking to the waterfall, Kris cautiously reached under the ice cold water to lift the shiny object out. As Kris' fingers touched the smooth surface she felt a slight wave that tingled through her body. Wet and caked with mud, Kris walked back over to still
water and washed it off. The object was a clear-blue crystalline sphere with a symbol in the center:

Kris trembled with dismay; this symbol was the exact same copy as the symbol that was written in her father's last letter. Kris lifted the sphere towards the moon for better light. Yes, it wasn't just an illusion, the symbol matched the letters perfectly and Kris had no idea what to do with it. So instead of tossing it away, she tucked it into one of her belt pockets. The letter had written:

Avlikyn Ayte Eklypz, Kriztian Titania Eklypz, Nikki Dione Eklypz…

I fear that my time is coming near to an end and it will soon be time for me to join your mother. Before I go, there are a few things I must tell you. Avlikyn you are the oldest, it is in my will that you care for your two younger sisters. As for your stepsister, it is not my choice to tell you what to do about her. Avlikyn, you must protect your sisters, for I fear that something is to come when I am gone. Kriztian, I know you prefer Kris, but you must listen carefully. I know your attitude is stubborn and your determinations strives you to do things even better than your brother. However, when I am gone, you must be careful and never forget the love that your family has given to you. Nikki, you are young and not yet mature. I will assume that your older siblings will take care of you. Time is short and it cannot be helped, it will be even shorter if you are not cared well for. As my last wish, Avlikyn, you are never to break a promise you make, Kris, you are to protect and love your brother and sister at all times no matter what the situation, and Nikki, you must enjoy life as it is, for a young life is always the best. Farewell.

Aeleron Acsent Eklypz

The symbol was small, but it was identical to the one in the sphere. Kris never really understood the part where her father told her to 'protect and love your brother and sister at all times' because usually the protecting was Avlikyn's job. As Kris reminisced about the letter, she realized that what he had written about Nikki was somehow connected to her death. 'Time is short and it cannot be helped, it will be shorter if you are not cared well for.' Kris now understood that her father knew about Nikki's death and she felt horrible. The fault was hers, if Kris had kept an eye out for her sister and not the kitchen, Lily would have never gotten to the chemicals and killed her. But, her father did write that it was not preventable, so that kind of made Kris feel a little better. Where are you? Kris wondered, Avlikyn… you promised you'd come back, whatever happened to father's last words? Do they no longer matter to you?

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Kris was now defending the city from evil gangs. The job was handed down to her from her father, but he was only a substitute for when Kris' mother died. This was supposed to be handed to Avlikyn, the oldest one in the family, but since Avlikyn was gone, it became Kris' duty. Her hero name was known as Tai. There was no specific last name, but because she had on the same outfit during the competition, Kris decided to call herself Tai and placed Caliste as the last name in her mother's honor.

Having enough to drink, she slowly meandered back towards the stadium, thinking about the identical symbolic object she had just found. When she got back, she found Tyre in the hallway sleeping as sound as a baby. Her mind immediately left the sphere, feh, so this is what boys do when girls aren't around. They act tough and restless, but as soon as you're not looking, they fall asleep just like everyone else. Kris smiled and sat down next to Tyre and closed her eyes.

Tyre woke up and yawned, he turned around and found Kris sleeping right next to him. She sweating again, he thought, I wonder what nightmares cause her to be so troubled. Yawning again, Tyre stood up and stretched, he hadn't had such a peaceful awakening in months. His brother would always wake him up on purpose in the morning to get him annoyed.

Taking a morning stroll, Tyre observed the arena that he had battled in just the other day before. This time it looked smaller, maybe because of the lack of people, thought Tyre. Walking closer into the middle, he caught eye of a small strange box. However, the strange thing about the box was not of how it looked on the outside, but because it was shaking back and forth in a wobbling walk sort of way. As the box crept closer, Tyre could see that it in fact wasn't a box, but a cage and inside the cage was a diligent bird who clearly wanted to be freed.

Tyre was going to open the weary latch, but before he could even touch the cage, the bird reached out and swiped at him. Tyre shrunk back just in time. The bird gave him an angry look and continued shaking back and forth. Obviously this bird wanted to free herself. However, Tyre did not like to fail nor did he like being overpowered, so instead of leaving, he reached again. The same outcome came forward and Tyre continued trying. Neither bird nor boy would give up and the system continued in a never-ending cycle.

"Just leave it alone, it's not like she wants your help," spoke a voice from behind that belonged to Kris. Tyre jumped, he had not heard anyone approaching (remember that his hearing is much more sophisticated than the average person was, so this seemed odd to him).

"Oh, Lady Tai. You're awake. I was just… never mind." Tyre made a face at the bird. The bird chirped happily, she knew that she had won. Kris smiled, "You can go home now. You probably have… friends and family who want to congratulate you."

In saying 'friends and family' Kris winced. Tyre noticed and asked, "You okay? Do you need me to accompany you or something?" Kris wanted this, never before had she had such a person care so much for her (it was probably an average treatment of a person, but it seemed really kind to Kris), but nevertheless Kris simply couldn't allow it. She would put her life in jeopardy and probably loose the indulgent behavior Tyre was giving her. She did not want to loose the trust that Tyre was showing and did not want to let Tyre know that who he was talking to was a servant girl, not the fierce warrior that he knew now.

"No, I'm fine."

"Oh, okay… then I'll just let you leave whenever you feel ready."

"Alright, bye!"

"Bye!" and with that, Tyre left and Kris knelt down to put herself at the level of the stubborn bird that had prevented many lives from perishing.

"So you think you can escape that cage all by yourself huh? What a stupid bird you are," cooed Kris.

The fowl recognized Kris' voice and screeched in annoyance, "Yeah, well how would you feel if you were tricked by an imitation bird-lover and imprisoned for life because of that one mistake?"

Kris nodded, but still questioned, "Little bird, be more specific, are you talking about now as in me or the past as in some other blockhead?"

"I'm talking about the past dodo brain! What else would it be? You're not a bird-lover! You humans can never understand the life of a bird, nor can a human be trusted."

"How would you know, I do understand…" Kris stopped and choosing her words carefully, "I know how it is to live the life of a rare breed."

The Blue Streak pecked at her wing, "How would you know? Have you ever been a bird?"

Kris' eyes widened a bit, "Actually I've been a 'bird' all my life."

The falcon cocked her head in arrogance, "Prove it."

"Then explain to me how I can speak to you?"

"That's not proof! I know an entire race that can talk to birds and they have talons just like yours!"

"Insolent bird, I wasn't done yet. True, I am from that race, but I'm… different."

"How so?"

"I thought you weren't interested. Maybe I'll show you if I know that you can keep a secret, but of course no one can keep a secret these days."

The bird lowered its head, she didn't like this idea, but she was a curious animal and her prying demeanor overcame her. She wanted to know so she unwillingly chirped, "What do I have to do?"

"Just show me that I can trust you."

"Fine, but you promise that you will tell me."

"Fine."

"Deal," the Blue Streak replied.

"Okay then, I tell you when I feel that you are reliable enough and even if you did fly away, you'd never know the secret. My name's Kris."

"Fine, you know that you're not supposed to stall for time and lie about my trustworthiness."

"Don't worry, I won't."

"You better not. I'm Tsyun."

"Hey…"

"Don't give me that human greeting!"

"Well, if you are to be trusted, then you might as well get used to the fact that I am at least part-human and there's nothing you can do about it. Besides I thought you said that humans could not be trusted."

"…do I have a choice?"

"Good question, I guess not, but then, how would I know that birds are just as trusted?" and with that Kris unlocked the latch and let Tsyun fly free for a few rounds. Finding her horse, Kris began trotting home with Tsyun flying up above her.