Chapter 6: The Stream
Later, on the same night, things went on in Elysium as they have been before. No bat cried out for their missing friends and families anymore, nor did they show any signs of sorrow. Instead, they looked hopeful and happy. They truly trusted Arcadia's words that they will be reunited with their loved ones again soon. They just had to wait until they got chosen to go where the others are now. Wherever that was.
I had no idea. Nor did I know if it was a good or bad place. From the depths of my heart, I hoped Chinook, his family, and all the other missing bats were someplace safe, but it also worried me. What if they were in terrible danger? What if we might never see them again?
It kinda surprised me I felt concerned about Chinook at all. Then again, he wasn't as much as a jerk like he was when I first met him. I even thought Shade was missing him too. Even though he didn't say it.
Speaking of Shade, I wondered if he was still looking for a way out. After what happened, it wouldn't surprise me if he worked even harder now to find an escape. Arcadia wouldn't like that. Not that I care what that old hoary bat said or did it just worried me that she might did something to Shade because of what he is doing.
I frowned. That female should rather have better control over her colony. Whenever I saw a bat that didn't belong to Frieda and my friends; they urged me to tell them when and who would be chosen next. Some begged me to choose them while others began threatening me. But did the leader of Paradise do anything about it? Nope! She didn't move a single claw, although it was obvious to see how much they were pestering me. One bat even grabbed me by my arms and shook me violently to make me say what he wanted to hear. When I said I couldn't tell him when he could see his family again, he got furious and almost hit me. Luckily Icarus got by my side just on time and protected me from that guy.
After this incident, he was scared something could happen to me if I keep walking around on my own. So he decided that I should either be around him or Ariel the whole time.
Not that I liked it, but what could I do? There was no way I could protect myself against angry bats without their help. But at least I was allowed to leave our roost at all. After a few hours, however, I felt the need to be alone for a few minutes to sort out my thoughts. But Icarus refused to let me out of his sight. Therefore, snuck away after sunrise, right after making sure he was fast asleep, in order to go for a quick walk. I was glad that I managed to climb down the tree without crashing or waking him up.
Down on the ground I walked around, trying to be as quiet as I could. With my eyes flitting around, I hoped I wouldn't bump into anyone who would beg or treat me to tell them what they wanted to hear.
I wasn't even out of sight of the oak tree when I heard a voice calling my name right behind me. Startled, I stopped on the spot and felt a nervous tingling in my neck. Did Icarus wake up after all? But as the voice called for me a second time, I was reassured to know that it couldn't be him. Relieved, I turned around and watched Marina flying towards me, her bright fur shining in the sun's light that shone through the glass roof into the forest.
''What are you doing out here so late?'' she asked.
''Oh, I couldn't sleep and thought a little walk would do me good.''
''Alone?'' Marina frowned and glanced briefly up the oak tree as if she expected to see Icarus coming out as well.
I sighed. ''He's asleep,'' I told her, ''and no, I did not tell him what I'm doing.''
''You should have!'' she said. ''After all, he is just trying to protect you.''
''I know. I just wanted to be alone for a moment. Besides its Morning and everyone is asleep so no one can hurt me.''
''Well, I'm awake as you can see. And maybe some of the others are too. This place isn't like how things are outside remember? We may still sleep through the day but we can also fly around without having to fear the wrath of the owls.''
''I know'', I said meekly and looked away. ''So what now? You want to take me back to the roost?''
She sighed. ''No. But I won't let you walk around on your own either.''
I smiled a bit and let her accompany me on my walk through the forest.
''How come you are awake Marina?'' I asked after a while. ''Yesterday was quite a long night. Aren't you tired?''
''A bit'', she said, suppressing a yawn. ''But to be honest I was looking for Shade.''
I blinked. ''Isn't he with his mother?''
Marina shook her head. ''No that's why I'm looking for him. Like you, I couldn't sleep and wanted to talk to him but I couldn't find him at his and Ariel's roost.''
''I see.''
Together we wandered around some more until we reached the stream. The water was glittering in the morning sun and on its grassy bank was Shade. With his head supported in his hands, he sat there and looked down on the surface of the water, lost in his thoughts.
''There you are!'' cried Marina, startling the Silverwing. He barely managed not to drop into the water and turned to us with surprise in his gaze.
''Marina? Vanessa? What are you guys doing here this late?''
''We could ask you the same'', said Marina and I followed her over to Shade.
''I was just thinking,'' he explained, his eyes turning back to the stream.
''About what?'' Marina tilted her head then let out a deep sigh. ''Let me guess. You are still looking for a way out?!''
''So what? Apparently, no one else is concerned about what happened to the other bats.''
''That's not true,'' Marina said. ''We are all worried.''
''Yeah.'' I agreed. ''Though this building is much bigger than this forest. The other humans might just brought them into another forest because this one was getting full or something.''
''Can you be sure that this is what happened to the others?'' Shade asked. However, since I did not give him a suitable answer, he continued talking. ''Don't you guys want to know what happens before you get to be chosen next?'' He had a point there. But Marina was shaking her head.
''Shade...'' she began but he interrupted her.
''Aren't you missing Chinook?'' he asked mockingly and I saw, how she angrily laid back her ears.
''Of course, I do,'' she said coldly, ''He is my friend and yours too. If you like it or not.''
''Well let me think about it. He bullied me my whole life, stole my food, called me a runt. ... '' Shade took a deep breath. ''Yeah, I do miss him. Which is why I need to know where he and the rest of the stolen bats are. What if they are in terrible danger?''
''You don't know that. Besides, there is no way for us to get out and search for them.''
''Maybe there is.''
Marina and I looked at each other. Wondering what he was talking about.
''What do you mean?''
''Just follow me.'' Giving us no other choice Shade flew off and led us to the end of the room where the stream narrowed and entered into a wall. We landed back on the ground and watched how the water disappeared into a tunnel carved into the stone with only a narrow gap of air above.
''Remember how all the insects come from those holes in the walls? Well, they are obviously too small for us to fit through. But this here should work. It might be risky though. But if we keep our noses up we can get enough air to make it through the tunnel.''
''Hold your wings here,'' Marina said and made a time out sign with her hands. ''You are not really suggesting for us to get into the stream.''
''Its the only way. Believe me, I've been looking for a better one but there isn't.''
''Are you out of your roost? None of us can swim and there is no way to breathe.''
''Actually Marina I can swim,'' I said. ''Only my stamina isn't so high.''
''Which means you could easily drown as well.'' She shook her head. ''No Shade this is too dangerous.'' But the Silverwing wasn't giving up.
''I know it's dangerous but we have no other options left besides waiting until we get taken. But when will that happen? Tomorrow? Next week? In a month or even next year?'' He shook his head. ''No, I'm not waiting this long. I would rather try my luck with the stream.''
''You must be really out of your roost.''
''You don't have to come with me you know.''
''Come on we both know you would just mess things up if I'm not there. No, I'm coming with you. But that still doesn't mean that I like it.'' She poked him in the chest and looked at him sternly but I could see the corners of her mouth twitching a little. Shade smiled briefly as well. Glad that Marina was coming with him. I looked down at the water. The current wasn't going too fast. But that could be deceptive. Besides, who knew how long the tunnel was or if there was something in it that was letting the water through but not us. With fear, I thought about how I almost drowned twice during our last adventure. An experience I did not want to repeat.
''But maybe you should stay here Vanessa.''
''Huh?'' I looked back up and saw my friends looking at me with concern. They must have noticed how uneasy I looked while glancing into the water.
''Yeah, Icarus is worried about you enough because the other bats bothering you. It's better if you wait here until we come back.''
With a frown, I crossed my arms and looked at them straight in the eyes.
''If you think you can leave me behind like you did back at Romulus place then you are wrong. I'm coming with you as well.''
''But what about Icarus?''
''What about Frieda and Ariel,'' I retorted. ''Don't you think they will be worried about you as well. Especially since she already lost you once Shade.'' The Silverwing looked away as if felt ashamed for what happened that caused him and me to get lost in a storm weeks ago during our journey to Hibernaculum with the colony. ''Either we go together or none of us goes.'' End of discussion but Shade and Marina still seemed unsure. Eventually, however they both gave in.
''Alright, we go together then,'' said Shade. ''Let's hope it works.''
I nodded and together we three stepped closer to the edge of the stream. For a moment we just stood there, watching the rushing water. I would lie if I say I wasn't scared and I knew my friends felt the same. But before any of us could change their mind we jumped into the water.
The moment I dunk into the wet surface, I knew we made a terrible mistake. The current drove us faster than expected into the tunnel. Like bullets, we shot through the entrance. Above us, hardly a breath of air. Desperately I tried to keep my head above water, but was repeatedly pulled down and whirled around. To swim on my own was impossible. Squeezing my eyes together I held my breath, hoping this would end as soon as possible.
Something bumped against me as I was pulled through the water. Shade? Marina? I had no idea. My chest felt like it was about to burst. My lungs were screaming for oxygen. I couldn't take this much longer. Next, I got twirled around once more, spinning around my own axis, and finally, I burst head out of the water, panting and snorting. Greedily I was gasping for air and spitting water.
As soon as I had calmed down I turned around as best I could while the current drove me to the shore. To my relief, Shade and Marina's heads emerged from the surface shortly after, drifting coughing and wheezing over to me.
''Another great idea from the Lord and Master,'' said Marina sarcastically as she regained her breath and glanced at Shade reproachfully.
''I told you it was going to be risky,'' he defended himself while gasping.
I sat up. My clothes were soaking wet, the flowers on my belt hung limply down as if they had wilted. I brushed a dripping wet strand of hair from my face and looked around.
It seemed we were still in the building. Around us was a forest of conifers and deciduous trees. It looked so familiar to me that I almost believed the stream had brought us back to where we started. But that couldn't be.
''Do you think this might be the place where they took the others?'' Marina asked.
Possible. Without a second thought, Shade took a deep breath, ready to call into the forest. Immediately, Marina slapped a wet wing on his mouth.
"Are you crazy?" she hissed, "We don't even know what's in here.''
She was right. Just because this looked like the forest we came from doesn't mean there were only bats in this one too.
Shade frowned, but then nodded and threw out sound to take a closer look at our surroundings. I also looked around very carefully but couldn't see anything unusual. Just trees, leaves, and more leaves. Not a single bat far and wide. Suddenly a loud hoot broke the silence and my heart almost stopped.
Slowly I glanced at Shade. He continued staring into the forest, his eyes wide open. Marina looked in the same direction. She was as pale as a corpse and indicated me not to make a sound.
Like in slow motion, I turned around and looked into the top branches of the trees near the stream. Then I saw them. Owls. At least three dozen sat scattered on the trees. Their eyes closed and their feathered wings pressed against their bodies. Apparently, they were asleep. The one I've heard must be further back. Which meant that there had to be many more owls in this forest. Just great!
''We need to go back'', said Marina with a hushed tone.
Shade and I nodded but when we looked we noticed that the current had brought us too far away from the tunnel.
''Great what now?''
''We need to fly.''
Furtively, the three of us crawled further ashore where we shook the water from our hair and fur as quiet as we could. Actually, it would be better if my two bat friends waited until they were dry but there was no time. Hopefully, they didn't get too soaked. Especially since they had to drag me around.
Clumsily, Shade jumped into the air and had to flap his wings hard to stay up. Marina did the same, then each of them took me by my hands, and together we flew back to the tunnel we came through. But as soon as we got there it was clear that we could forget the idea of swimming through there again. The water came shooting out of the opening with foam at the edges. I remembered how violently I got whirled around when we went through it before and how I almost ran out of air.
Under no circumstances would we manage to make it through it in the opposite direction. Especially not alive.
Shade looked at Marina and me. ''I'm sorry,'' he said.
Marina trembled with rage. ''I can't believe I let you do this.''
''You didn't have to...''
''Just think about it, okay, because...''
''Bats!''
The first thing I saw was legs. Amazingly long legs hanging down as if they had no bones, but with four claws at the ends, ready to rip everything apart. The owl came crashing down on us like a big head with wings, with an open beak and screeching to wake up the forest.
Immediately Shade and Marina raced sideways into a dense weave of branches. I still caught between them. My feet were barely a hair's breadth away from the owl's beak.
Bats!'' the owl shrieked once more. ''They have a small human with them!''
Everywhere around us the owls woke up and within seconds the air was whipped by wings. Because of all the talons, legs, wings, and feathers, I soon didn't know where was up and where was down and I just held on tight to Shade and Marina. It was only a matter of seconds before one of them would catch and eat us.
There I spotted a knothole in a tree, too small for the owls but big enough for the three of us. ''Guys over there!'' I stretched out my leg and pointed my foot towards the tree. Seconds later we threw ourselves through the knothole and almost knocked ourselves unconscious on the inner wall.
''Back!'' Shade yelled and we flinched away from the opening just as a female owl pushed her beak through and snapped at us. Her hard, sharp tongue shook as she screamed angrily.
Shade, Marina, and I squeezed ourselves against the wall at the far end and watched as the owl pressed her flat face against the knothole and stared down at us with a huge, sparkling eye.
''Why are we here?" she shrieked.
I blinked in confusion. ''I don't know what you...''
"Are we to remain imprisoned until we die, is that your plan?''
''What do you mean with plan?'' Marina asked.
The owl's eye narrowed threateningly. "Your plan with the humans. Yes, we know all about it. You asked them to fight by your side, and now you're holding us prisoner in this building.''
''No, that's not true,'' Shade protested. ''We...''
''Tell us how to get out of here!'' demanded the owl.
''We don't know how to get out!"
''Oh, yeah? Then how did you get in here?''
Worried, we looked at each other, uncertain about what to tell her. The truth that we came out through the stream from a forest full of bats surely wasn't a good idea. Even though we saw that a way back through the tunnel was practically impossible. Yet we were not willing to take any risks.
Even if the owls could make it against the current, the tunnel was probably too narrow for them, I was sure of that. But still - we did not want to take that risk.
''We have nothing to do with you being trapped,'' Shade tried to explain. But The female owl was not convinced. ''A few weeks ago someone new had joined us. He said he had followed a group of bats to this place. So admit you lured him into this trap as you did with the rest of us!''
''I told you already. We have nothing to do with this!''
Desperation gnawed inside me. What were we supposed to do? Hold on! What did the owl just say? An owl came into this forest because he was following a group of bats? Of course! This could only be...
''What's going on here?'' we suddenly heard someone ask from outside and I couldn't help but grin recognizing the voice right away.
''We have captured two bats and a tiny human and interrogate them just how they got in here.''
''In that case. Let me talk to them. I will get the truth out of them.''
She seemed to hesitate, hearing his offer. ''But...''
''I insist.''
''Alright.'' And with that, she flew off. The sound of a bunch of other wings rustling, following her.
Shade, Marina, and I waited for a few heartbeats without moving from the spot. Then Orestes' big yellow eye blinked in amusedly.
"You three really have a knack for getting yourselves into trouble. ''
''We are happy to see you too,'' I said but couldn't help smiling. Together with the two bats, I climbed out of the knothole and onto the branch our feathery friend stood on.
''You can't imagine how happy we are to see you, old friend.'' Shade almost beaming with relief and Marina agreed. "You always turn up at the right time.
Orestes looked a little bashful to the side. "Oh, don't mention it. After all, you guys are my best friends.''
We were really happy to see him again. But there was no time for a cozy chat. We had to get out of here and find a good hiding place before the other owls showed up again.
''Come on guys. Let's go!'' I urged my friend. ''We need to leave before...''
''The prisoners are escaping!''
Startled, I turned around and saw a small Barred Owl. The dark eyes angrily squeezed together, it plunged towards us screeching and with outstretched talons. Shade quickly pushed Marina and me behind him while Orestes protectively spread his wings in front of us to repel the attack of the little owl. This one opened its eyes in shock but was unable to stop itself. With a dull thud, the two owls collided with each other. Had the attacker been bigger, Orestes would have been swept from the branch. Fortunately, in this case, he was still able to keep his balance.
The Barred Owl, on the other hand, staggered somewhat dazed and almost fell down if Orestes had not grabbed it in time and pulled it back on its feet.
''Everything all right?'' he asked concerned.
The little owl shook its head, then blinked at him. I noticed that it was a female and a quite young one at that. She had probably only recently lost her downy plumage and was not fully grown yet. She had big dark eyes, which were white framed and a brown and white spotted plumage.
''Oh, I'm so sorry'', she said, not sounding as aggressive as before. ''I didn't mean to crash into you, your majesty.''
''Majesty?'' Confused, I looked up to Orestes, but his face revealed nothing.
"It's all right," he said with a friendly smile at the young owl. "Nothing happened.''
''Oh, gosh, when the others find out that I almost... Please forgive me. I'll never do it again. I promise. Next time, I'll watch where I'm going. I swear.''
Now Orestes did look a little uncomfortable as the little owl bowed her head in front of him while asking for forgiveness.
''Uh, like I said. It's fine. No need to worry about it.''
''Ok. What's going on here?'' Shade hissed, watching the scene.
I just shrugged having no clue as well. Then she looked past Orestes and discovered us three still standing behind him.
''The prisoners! Quick sir, we need to stop them before they escape.'' She tried rushing over to us screeching angrily but Orestes stopped her again.
''No, wait they aren't escaping. I ... uh- '' He thought for a moment. ''I was just about to interrogate them, that's all.''
"Then I disturbed you?'' The little owl's eyes grew big again. "I'm terribly sorry, Your Highness. I should have paid more attention.''
''Like I said. It's fine. Stuff like that happens. No harm done.'' He looked around as if expecting to see more owls around. ''Now, if you would be so kind and leave me alone with the captives so I can continue with my interrogation ... uhm... ''
''My name's Winnie sir'', she said eagerly.
''Well then, Winnie. I need to continue asking these three about the whereabouts of the missing owls.''
''Oh, ok then I better leave. Goodbye, sir. '' She bowed before him one more time then flew off into the forest. I could still hear her muttering about how sorry she was for bumping into Orestes.
''What was that just now?'' asked Shade.
Orestes sighed. ''Honestly. I have no idea. But since I came in here the other owls treat me like I'm some kind of prince or something.''
''I thought your father was a general?'' I asked.
''He is. Which is why I'm confused about this like you are. Not even my father's soldiers have ever spoken to me with such respect. Especially when my father wasn't around. They are probably mistaking me for someone else.''
Possible.'' said marina and thoughtfully tilted her head.
I found the whole thing quite strange but at the moment there were more important things to worry about.
''Orestes you just said that other owls have disappeared?!''
He nodded. "That's right. Two days ago I woke up briefly and noticed a strange sweet smell in the air. The next evening we noticed that almost hundreds of our fellow owls were missing.''
Shade, Marina, and I looked at each other knowingly.
''The humans must have taken them. Just like they took the other Bats,'' said Shade.
''What are you talking about?''
Quickly we told Orestes about Arcadia, the missing bats, and how we got in here. When mentioning the speed of the current, he shook himself.
''That was quite risky. You could have been killed,'' he said.
''We know,'' Marina gave Shade a meaningful look.
"Hey, I told you before, you and...''
"Guys, can we please fight later?" I interrupted him. "We'd better hide before anyone else sees us.''
Marina nodded. "'She's right. Let's get out of here.''
And with that Orestes bent down a little so I could climb on his back. Afterwards, the four of us flew deeper into the forest and hid under the high roots of a pine tree.
''That should do it'', Marina said. ''For the moment at least.''
''Good.''
''Hey Vanessa, is everything alright with you?''
''Huh?'' I wasn't listening for a moment and only focused on the fact that I urgently needed to go somewhere. "I'm fine," I said quickly. "But I think I really need to go to the bathroom.''
"Oh!''
Marina looked around. ''The coast is clear for now. You might want to run into those bushes over there.''
I looked in the direction she pointed and nodded. ''All right. Wait for me here. It won't take long.''
"Don't worry," Shade assured me, "We won't go anywhere without you.
Carefully I glanced at both sides, as if I wanted to cross a street, then I ran out of our hiding place and towards the bush. Unfortunately, it was a bit too prickly for me to do my business in there undisturbed. So I ran a little further. Always on the lookout not to get caught by any owls. After I could finally relieve myself I wanted to go back to my friends, but before that, I wanted to wash my hands. The only question was: Where?
There, I heard the quiet gurgling of the stream close to me and ran towards it. Once again I checked if the air was clean before I stepped out of the protecting thicket and headed for the bank.
Apparently, I was at the other end of the creek than where I and my friends were washed in. Here too, there was a tunnel opening in the wall. But the water did not flow in but out.
''Maybe this could be our way out of here.'' I thought. Marina surely would be anything but thrilled but we had much better chances to go with the current than against it. Besides, we had already managed it once before and there was no other way out. However, the question was whether Orestes would fit through.
Never mind. I knew I shouldn't stay there too long and rather go back to my friends before anyone else would see me. But when I turned around, I noticed an owl sitting in the tree nearby. Not Orestes, but also not the young owl Winnie.
Quickly I ducked into the grass and hoped that the owl had not yet spotted me.
It seemed I was lucky. The owl appeared not to have noticed me yet. It just sat there on its branch while turning its head back and forth.
Hectically I wondered if I could make it back into the thicket. But then the owl let out a piercing screech and dashed down.
With shock, I realized that it had seen me before and just measured the distance before deciding to attack.
''Crap!''
There was no time. I need to do something otherwise the owl would catch me.
Panic-fuelled I glanced back and forth between the bushes at the edge of the forest and the flowing water next to me.
The owl got closer. Its talons spread wide open, ready to grab me. Right before it caught me I jumped into the cold water. Almost immediately was I grabbed by the current and swept away through the tunnel in the wall.
It all happened so fast I didn't even have time to hold my breath. Water was flowing into my lungs. I choked and coughed and swallowed even more water. I nearly blacked out. Just then the turbulence subsided, and I broke through the surface.
Weakly, I paddled to the shore and collapsed on the ground, coughing and wheezing. Once I spat out all the water I remained lying there completely exhausted.
Once again I had barely escaped drowning. Hopefully, this wouldn't become a habit.
After a few minutes, I started feeling better and I was able to sit up. That was when I noticed the heat - a wild, all-pervading heat that hung like mist in the air and seemed to stick to my skin. All around me were trees that were different from those in the forest of owls and bats, and which should not exist at all in these climates. At least not in the wild. There were huge palm trees and vines hanging around. Gigantic leaves and flowers in all kinds of shapes and colors. Somewhere there was the sound of a rushing waterfall, and I almost had the feeling of being in a tropical house in a zoo. Well, this forest was certainly not real. But I also didn't believe that all these artificially created forests belonged to a zoo. It just didn't feel right. The air was so muggy and hot that I wanted to jump back into the water to cool myself down. But I decided against it.
Carefully I looked around, wondering what kind of animal would be waiting for me in here. Apart from the sound of water and the pleasant chirping of an insect I couldn't hear anything suspicious. Nevertheless, it was probably better to hide somewhere, than to continue to sit in the middle of a clearing.
At least it was still daytime. This way I could see better and maybe the inhabitants of this forest were sleeping right now. At least I hoped so.
Slowly I walked towards the undergrowth while looking anxiously around. The further I moved away from the stream the more nervous I got. I almost had the feeling that I knew what was waiting for me here, but that couldn't be. They were dead. Both of them. I was sure of it. Still. The further I walked the more I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching me.
A rustling above my head eventually made me stop. Yet when I looked up there was nothing to see. And I did not like that. Even less did I like to walk around here alone. "I'd better get out of here.'' I thought fearfully. I would rather try my luck with the stream one more time, hoping to make it out this time then keep walking through this tropical forest.
Carefully I looked around to make sure that no one saw me then turned around to the direction I came from. I had not moved even one step when I felt a hand resting on my shoulder. As if frozen, I stopped on the spot and did not even dare to move a muscle. My breath turned shallow as I felt the grip on my shoulder tighten. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a face coming close to me. With my heart beating fast and my eyes wide open, I watched a long snout opening up to reveal a grinning set of razor-sharp teeth, which then opened to whisper something into my ear.
Just one word.
''Hola!''