Storm Claw (As seen in Flight of the Jellyfish)
By Baby Kat Snophlake
Storm Claw is one of the most famous, and with good reason. Long ago, long long before elves, humans, and half-elves existed, Origin was already old and the other spirits were just being born. Celsius was one of the first because the animals of the cold are among the oldest animals. But Celsius blew her snow too much, until her ice hung like sickles from the limb of every tree and from the hairs, feathers, and tails of every animal of the world. The animals were barely able to move, slowly they were freezing into statues because they were very much unlike the animals native to the cold. It was decided that someone should see Origin who originally rested his home atop the Latheon Gorge where he could see everything. Why he wasn't doing anything about the Spirit of Ice, the animals didn't know, but they elected one winged beast with the speed of the fastest wind to fly to the top of Latheon Gorge and appeal to Origin and hopefully end the cold.
That winged beast's name was Storm Claw. He was one of many small black birds responsible for the dark clouds, jagged lightening, strong winds, and heavy rains. Celsius froze their storms, so Storm Claw was more than willing to accept and complete this task. He was small, yes, but confident. He abandoned his storm tower and flew from the Isle of Lightening, going without trouble until he saw land again. But Celsius knew the animals' plans and had seen where he was headed and sent some nasty snowstorms to head him off.
Storm Claw dodged shards of ice and solid waves of snow, but they were falling so thick, so heavy, that he couldn't avoid them all. He was near the base of the Latheon Gorge when an ice shard sliced through his wing, and shattered his bone. He fell to the ground in a heap of black feathers, blood seeping from his broken wing, but he was undeterred. His animal friends were counting on him! He got up using his good wing and hopped along the ground. The cliff face was daunting, but he knew he could scale it somehow.
He noticed that some of the ledges on the cliff had flowers that were still blowing wind. Celsius didn't completely freeze them! If he used them, he could fly right up to the top! Storm Claw hopped to the nearest flower, coming to rest in front of it. He waited for the flower to blow him across, but when it did, it was so cold, his feathers froze and he was too heavy to float across, even with his good wing flapping. Celsius did not want him to see Origin! Storm Claw was disappointed but determined. After all, if he had to go home now, his friends would freeze to death; how guilty would he feel then? He certainly couldn't say he tried all he could!
Storm Claw looked around. There had to be some way to cross. Then he saw it. A ring was nearby, large enough for an elfin finger, but his own talons were too thin for something like that. He slipped the ring over his toes to fit it around his leg and activated it. A bubble appeared around him, disappearing moments later, and he was given an idea.
He hopped back to the flower and waited for it to exhale before he activated the ring for a second time. This time, though Celsius tried her hardest, the ice couldn't pierce or stick to the bubble. Storm Claw floated freely across the gap to the next ledge. The bubble burst, leaving him safely to a rest on the ground. But as he looked, the next flower had been frozen!
He blew on the flower, but his breath dropped in midair. He needed to warm the flower up before it would breathe wind! He flapped his wings. It seemed hopeless. But he couldn't give up! He was sent as the animals' only hope. He had to reach Origin!
Storm Claw cuddled over the flower, warming it with his own meager body heat until his heat burned hot enough, the ice melted from the flower. Finally, it rose from the ground, took a deep breath and exhaled a strong wind upward. It was with this pattern that Storm Claw managed to climb higher and higher. Celsius continued trying to freeze the flowers, trying to send down shards of sharp icicles, but every time she tried to stop him, Storm Claw remembered those back home that would freeze without him. He had to persevere, for their sakes!
Celsius blew a cold wind, blowing him off course. His bubble burst and he fell. He flapped his good wing valiantly, trying to stay afloat. He landed almost near the bottom of the gorge. How frustrating! He twittered a curse to Celsius, but he wasn't going to let it deter him! He would fight her until his last breath!
He struggled, laying over frozen flowers until they came to life, using the ring to form bubbles to soar, until finally, at long last, Storm Claw reached the highest level of the gorge. There, in a large hut, was Origin. Storm Claw tapped his foot against the door, but no one came to answer. He sang a song of hope and a desperate plea for help, singing with all his little heart and lungs would offer until Origin heard him and opened the door. Origin scooped up the brave little bird and set him on the table. As soon as he noticed the injured wing, the wing was cured.
'Thank you!' The little bird cried. 'But we are in danger! We fear Celsius is freezing us all! Please get rid of her!'
'Frost spirits and animals rely on her cold shiver to survive,' Origin explained. 'I can't get rid of the cold completely.'
'But Celsius is freezing us into statues! There must be something we can do! Please help us!' Storm Claw begged and pleaded until Origin held up one if his many hands.
'Calm down. I have no intention of letting you freeze. I created spirits of cold; so I will also create spirits to warm you when Celsius's snow covers the world.' And as Origin spoke, he created a warming glow by poking a stick into the sun and bringing it down to the world. He held the cool end to Storm Claw who told took it into his beak. 'Find a place near Celsius's island where you can deposit this flame. This fire will birth the new Spirit of Fire that will warm the world after Celsius blankets it in snow. But you must be swift, for if the fire touches you, you will burn.'
Storm Claw nodded and took flight with the stick. He flew out Origin's open door and up into the high winds. He could feel Celsius's attempts to freeze him, but the fire on the stick prevented him from getting too cold. His only problem was he had no idea where to plant the fire to birth the new spirit. He had a limited time to think about it! He flew to the north. Maybe there was somewhere he could plant the fire… But the forests were to the north. If he planted the fire there, he would burn the trees down! That was no good!
To the south of Celsius's island was a large valley and lots of mountains, but the mountain animals had thick fur! Putting the fire there would make them too hot! In the meantime, the fire was creeping down the stick. Storm Claw himself was getting too hot, he needed to find a place to set the fire… he couldn't give up now!
To the east was frozen sand. The animals there loved to hide in the warm of the sand but Celsius had cooled the sand so much. If Storm Claw set the fire there, they would be able to come out again. That and they would love the heat from the fire! He swooped down to drop the stick but his feathers caught fire as he opened his beak. He flew with all his might back for the waters, but the fire ate feather after feather. He was soon completely engulfed in the flames. His plumage was ruined!
He despaired, flying as a giant ball of fire until Origin reached out a hand and cupped the small bird, dousing the flames. Origin was watching now! He held up Storm Claw, showing him the world.
'Efreet will prevent the world from freezing. You've done well.'
'But my feathers are burned! How can I keep up with my storms now? My eyes are burned from the light. I can't see in the dark anymore.'
'Your brothers can care for your storms. The hope of the world's animals rest with you. It's time that you are seen as the hero that you've proven to be.' Origin held the little bird to the skies and he grew. His plumage was beautiful as the all the colors of rainbow. Both wings were stretched to the fullest, farther than he had ever spread his wings before. 'I rename you Aska, Spirit of the Sun. Every morning you will awaken the sun and rise over the world. When you do, you will bring the reminder of hope that every animal needs to survive. They will remember the deeds you have done for them.'
Aska raised his beautiful yellow head and flew from Origin's hands. With pride he sang the song of morning, which is the very same that all birds of the world sing in their own way. And truly, no animal has ever forgotten what Aska had done for them. He still brings hope every morning with the rising sun.
A/N:
About the folk tale: Elves and a few half-elves have passed this story from generation to generation for years in the hopes that those young and the future elves would always remember the sacrifices of Aska and his original Storm Claw heritage. Not only does it remind people that animals are integral to the world as well, but that elves should take pride in their own strength that they should never give up on themselves. But they also warn about too much pride and that, my friends, is another story.
Notes from the Authoress: Sorry it's not Kratos's, but he'll be next. I haven't written it yet and it's been a while since I last updated so I figured I'll post what I have and work on Kratos's Tall Tale next. Until next time!
--Kat