Chapter 5:

A Silent God

"Wow, Shade," Breeze exclaimed, crowding in next to the runty Silverwing, "That was amazing!"

They were flying in a small group, Silverwings and owls alike, making their way back to Hibernaculum.

Shade, still stunned by the whole ordeal, could only manage a confused, "Wha-?"

"The way you attacked that giant cannibal! That was the bravest thing I've ever see!" Breeze said, beaming at him.

"Yeah ," Marina added, somewhat sullenly and awed, joining them, "You really saved my fur back there."

"Oh," Shade muttered, unable to keep a small blush from spreading beneath his fur at the two young females' praise.

"That was pretty cool, Runt," Chinook mumbled in grudging respect, Todd nodding in agreement.

"It's just lucky for me that those owls showed up, or Goth would have killed me," Shade said quickly, trying to divert some attention from himself.

Marina nodded. "How did you know that Goth was after Shade?" she called to Orestes who was flying a short ways ahead of them.

"One of my father's sentries saw him heading this way, and he decided to deal with it himself," he explained, nodding towards Brutus, who was flying at the head of the group, deep in conversation with Frieda and Hector. "Think of it as his way of saying sorry about the whole war thing."

"I'm just glad you're okay," Shade heard his mother say to him from somewhere behind him.

But he said nothing, deep in thought. How had Goth's wings been healed? Did Zots really do it? What had he meant when he said he was going to "kill the sun"? These thoughts buzzed around in his skull like a swarm of angry bees, until he thought he was going to crack.

"Hey." Marina was mercifully jabbing at him with her wingtips, breaking his trance. "We're here."

...

Hibernaculum was abuzz with question as the group arrived.

"What happened?"

"Where's the cannibal?"

"Is he dead?"

"Will he return?"

"Are we safe?"

"Silence!" Frieda said, spreading her wings. "The cannibals has been driven off, but he is not dead." The old leader sighed. "It is completely possible he will return. I will say this," she continued, turning to Shade, "He seems to be after you, Shade. I think it best for the search party for your father to leave first thing tomorrow. All who wish to join should be sure to get a full day's rest"

Shade and Frieda shared a small smile. Then Shade's smile vanished as he recalled what Goth had told him.

"Goth said he was going back to his jungle, in the south." Shade said sullenly, repeating what the Vampyrum had said. "He also said he was going to... to kill the sun," he said grimly.

Frieda and Brutus shared a worried chance, as Marina looked at him intently.

"His wings... they were completely healed. They were totally shredded in the river!" he continued. "He said his god- Zots- healed him." He looked questioningly at Frieda. "Is that possible?"

Frieda sighed wearily. "Come," she commanded, "There is much for me to tell you, both of the Vampyrum's Zots and our own Nocturna."

...

"Now," Frieda said, "How much do you know of Zots?" She had brought Shade to a secluded roost in the back of Hibernaculum.

"He's suppose to be a huge, skeletal bat who lives in the molten core of the Earth, right?"

"Yes," Frieda sighed, "And I assume you've heard of Nocturna?"

"Sorta," Shade said, trying to remember what little that he knew of the god, "Scirocco mention some kind of promise."

"Yes, Nocturna's Promise," Frieda said, "After the battle between the birds and the beast, she promised that one day that the Great Treaty would be lifted and that bats could fly in the light of the sun again." She smiled at a stunned Shade. "Yes, Shade, you fulfilled the Promise."

"B-But," Shade stammered, "Why haven't I heard anything about her before?"

"Many have forgotten her and her Promise during our banishment," Frieda explained, "ot even stopped believing in it, accepting the great injustice that was brought against us."

"Then why hasn't she ever done anything to help us, to help me?" Shade asked angrily, enraged at their god's silence.

"I do not know," Frieda said patiently, as if expecting this question, "I asked myself the same thing when I was your age. I have since learned to do things on my own, not relying on Nocturna. Perhaps this is her intention- to teach us independence. Or perhaps I am just thinking wishfully." Frieda smiled distantly.

"What does this have to due with Zots killing the sun, anyway?" Shade asked.

"Zots is Nocturna's twin brother. Together, they rule all bats. Nocturna, the world of the living, and Zots, the Underworld," Frieda said grimly.

"T-The Underworld?"

"Yes; the place all bats go in the afterlife."

"The why would Zots want to kill the sun?" Shade demanded.

"That, I do not know, Shade," Frieda said wearily, "But, I can assure you it cannot be good."

"No," Shade muttered darkly, "If Goth has anything to do with it, it's not good. It's not good at all."

"Trust me," Frieda said a slight edge to her voice, "I know. Now," she said more gently, "Go hunt and get a full night's rest we have a long journey ahead of us."

...

"Hey Shade!" Breeze called to him, settling down next to him, "What's up?"

Shade swallowed his mosquito. "Nothing," he answered quickly, "Just looking for Marina." Shade felt ridiculous. Even if he was a hero, he still felt awkward around other bats more and more each day; especially females. He was even uncomfortable around Marian now, something that unsettled him deeply. How could he feel that way about his best friend?

"You know," Breeze said, rolling her eyes, "If you like Marina, you should just tell her."

"What! I do not like her!" Shade snapped, already feeling his ears going red.

Breeze giggled. "Oh come-on, Shade," she said, jabbing her wingtips at him playfully, "It's obvious."

"It is not!" Shade exclaimed. "I-I mean, if it was true," he added quickly, realizing his mistake.

Breeze smiled in good nature. "You don't have to lie to me. I know you've only been hanging out with me to try and make her jealous."

Shade dropped his eyes from her gaze, ashamed.

"It's fine," she assured him, "Think of it as an apology for all the times we made fun of you."

Shade grunted in response, wanting to end the conversation.

"She likes you too," Breeze continued, "Maybe not like you like her, but she's really sad that you're ignoring her. Think about it" Breeze concluded, dropping from her roost. "See you later."

Shel left Shade with a lot to think about. Was it really that obvious that he would like to be more than friends with Marina? Were his mother and Breeze right? Did Marina really think enough of him to be so worried? She had always seemed so unimpressed with him. Sometimes he though she only put up with him as a friend. He had always been convinced that she was totally uninterested in him as more that that, but could he be wrong.

Shade suddenly realized how tired he was. Yawning, he took wing and started to made his way back to Hibernaculum.

...

Goth was waiting for the humans.

He was roosted not far from Hibernaculum, a look of royal displeasure on his face. He did not know when, or even how, the humans would find him, but Zots had assured him he would not have to wait long. He snorted. It probably had something to do with the accursed band. A he gazed scathingly at the dully shimmering piece of human metal, a faint buzz reached his ears from the distance. I soon grew into a dominating roar, filling both the air and his ears.

There.

A human flying machine became visible from above the treeline, a human leaning from it, something in his huge, clumsy hands. Goth watched, with both scorn and intrigue. What were they up to?

Bang!

There was a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he found another human thing sunk into his flesh. It was long, shiny, and sharp, ending in a bright tuff of fur or feathers. His instinct took over. As he prepared to rip it from his body, Zot's voice slid into his mind, like a snake's tongue.

No...

Goth tensed his body, fighting the second voice inside him screaming to rip out the human thing. No; he must obey Lord Zots. His body suddenly felt very weary. He was struggling to keep himself from dropping from his roost to the forest floor below. He dug his claws into the bark with all that remained of his strength. As his mind followed his body into sleep, he saw that the human flying thing was slowly moving towards the ground, the smelly humans thundering to each other in their huge, booming voices.

"You will pay," Goth heard himself whisper fiercely before he slipped into unconsciousness.

As Goth was captured by the humans, Shade was roosted comfortable between Marina and Ariel, sleeping soundly, knowing tomorrow he would leave to find his father.

But, unknown to both he and Goth, their paths were destined to cross again.

...

What do you think?

I honestly don't know where to go from here, so don't expect another chapter for a while.