AN: I don't own any of the X-Men Characters. I do own Kelpie, however, Gerri, Aunt Erika, Kelpie's foster family, the story-line, and all animal characters she converses with, including the gang members :P. Vixen belongs to one Melody S. (an ex-friend of mine), Aquifer belongs to Rob G. (soon-to-be famous fantasy writer!), Sensherak (aka Alan) belongs to an ex-online/rpg-bf whom no longer speaks to me, Jonny LeBeau belongs to an ex-online/rpg-acquaintance. Phew! If I've missed anyone, let me know :P
If any of you have read my bio, you'll know that I'm not fluent at Gaelic at all, I only know a few words and phrases. If any of you happen to know Gaelic, and I make a mistake, please, let me know, it's the only way I'm gonna learn! There are some Gaelic words in here that I've acquired through reading and such. A chara means friend; a leanbh means my child or my dear; Air do shocair means calm down or take it easy.
The section in bold print is a new section that I just added on 1-11-08...enjoy!
Please review, guys, as it keeps me in good spirits and in the writing mood. At the moment, I'm merely doing this as a pastime because I'm bored outta my mind, but Monday I'll be going back to school and I'm going to need some motivation to keep posting :P
CHAPTER 12
Erika came to stand next to the 'new' Kelpie as people ran screaming away from them and the helicopter they had arrived in.
Tigers moved before them, chasing the humans through Times Square. Several had trapped a news crew on top of their van, but it didn't stop them from sending out the scene to TVs all around the world. Kelpie held those tigers in check at Erika's order, in order to continue the broadcast and show the humans who was in control.
Erika laid her hand on Kelpie's shoulder. "You're doing well, my dear," she said gleefully as a tiger leaped upon a man, tearing at his throat.
Kelpie shrugged the hand off. "Yeah, whatever," she said spitefully. Her hair was no longer blonde with blue and green stripes, but pure black. Her eyes had turned a mysterious purple that seethed hatred for everything they gazed upon. She wore a black leather outfit that showed more skin than it covered. It consisted of a tight-fitting tank-top that cut off above her mid-drift and leather pants that sat low on her hips. Her speech was different, her accent gone. Erika had tired of hearing the Gaelic language that seemed to slip past Kelpie's lips so easily.
At the moment, she stood, leaning against Tigre. His eyes were an unusual bright blue and he snarled at the hand Erika placed on Kelpie's shoulder.
Kelpie murmured to him, rubbing the top of his head with the pads of her fingers gently and he stopped growling, but he didn't take his eyes off Erika.
"I didn't know Times Square had become a zoo," came a voice.
Both Erika and Kelpie spun, caught off-guard. The X-Men had snuck up behind them without her noticing. Erika shoved her hands at them and all six went flying backwards, landing several yards away.
"Time to go, my dear," she said to Kelpie and hurried to the awaiting helicopter. Tigre and the other tigers suddenly disappeared in thin air and Kelpie followed Erika.
Erika made it in, but one of the women--Vixen, Erika thought--had gotten up faster than the rest and had tackled Kelpie to the ground.
"Careful, Vixen," Erika called out with a malicious smile. "You wouldn't want to hurt your dear Kelpie."
Vixen stopped trying to get at Kelpie with her sais and she looked up at Erika. "What d'ya mean?"
"Vixen!" Kelpie suddenly cried, the evil gone from her eyes which had started to lighten. "Vixen, 'elp me! She's meddled with my head--"
Realizing that this wasn't an act and she had let too much control of the girl go, Erika bared down on her hold of Kelpie and the girl screamed with pain. Her eyes darkened and the evil returned as she smiled cruelly, "Don't look now, Vixen," said Kelpie, her voice had lost it's panic. "But the humans are in trouble."
Erika looked in the direction of the fleeing humans and almost laughed in triumph. Two humans, a mother and a child, were being backed into a corner by a snarling tiger. Their backs were against a wall of a building and the mother held her child, screaming for help.
Vixen had seen this also and she swore. Humans meant nothing to her, but a child…
"Let me go, Vixen," said Kelpie.
Swearing, Vixen grabbed the strap of Kelpie's leather shirt and pulled her close. "Kelpie, get a hold of yerself! What the hell are ya doin'?"
Kelpie smiled. "I don't think I can stop them. Once they smell their prey so close, they can't be controlled." Her smile disappeared. "Let me go or I'll let the beast loose."
Growling, Vixen got to her feet and watched as Kelpie rose and hurried to the helicopter. As the helicopter disappeared, so did the tiger.
"Why'd ya let her go?" asked Wolverine as he rushed over to her.
Vixen didn't take her eyes from the fleeing helicopter. Her voice shaking just barely, she said, "It was Kelpie."
Wolverine's protests died as he looked from Vixen to the horizon where the helicopter was just a black dot. Sighing, he reached out and enfolded Vixen in his arms, kissing the top of her head as she hugged him back. After what had happened to Ra, they had thought the girl dead.
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Erika jumped from the helicopter and onto the roof, laughing with triumph.
Kelpie emerged looking more serious. Tigre appeared next to her and she stood, watching Erika as the pilot called Toad shut off the machine.
"Who were they, Erika?" Kelpie asked, her hands on her hips.
"Who were who?" Erika asked, turning to the girl, still smiling.
Kelpie jerked her head in the direction of Times Square. "Those who tried to stop us."
Erika shrugged as if they meant nothing. "No one important. Just an enemy that should be avoided."
Kelpie frowned deeper, for she never smiled. "Why are they a threat to us?"
Erika smirked somewhat. "More of a threat to you, my dear. They're the ones that did that to you," she said, pointing to Kelpie's foot. Underneath the black leather boot was a deformed foot resembling the hoof of a horse.
Kelpie bared her teeth in a controlled rage and beside her, Tigre snarled. "They shouldn't be avoided, then. They should die."
Erika gave a full smile. "Yes, my dear. That they should." Then she turned and went inside, walking down the stairs.
Toad jumped from the helicopter and walked past Kelpie, giving her a roving eye. Leering, he flicked his long tongue out to her, reaching for her ear.
Kelpie jerked her head away and watched as he walked past. Just before he reached the door to the steps, Kelpie moved her hand ever so slightly in his direction. Vines shot from her palms, wrapping up the depravity named Toad. He took one jump, trying to keep his balance, shouting at her, "Hey, lemme go!" He lost his balance and fell to the rooftop with a hard thud.
He struggled with his bindings as she approached him and opened the door to the stairwell. Without saying a word, she kicked him hard and he went rolling down the stairs, bouncing on each step, shouting all the way.
Kelpie slammed the door shut and turned, walking to the edge of the roof. She sat on the ledge, one leg pulled up to her chest, the other hung over the side. She turned her head and rested her temple on her knee as she studied the city beyond.
Tigre came to sit next to her, lifting one paw to rest on her foot. She reached down and pet him gently and he purred loudly deep in his throat.
There's something she's not telling me, Tigre. There's something more about those six we saw today. I feel like I know them, but not as enemies. I can feel it in my bones.
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The X-Men were gathered in Xavier's office when there was a knock on the door. Arguments and conversations died on their tongues and as one they looked to Xavier.
He nodded. "Come in, Alan."
The door opened and Sensherak stepped inside.
"Classes are canceled--" Storm started.
"I'm not here for class, Miss Monroe," Sensherak interrupted. He looked at Xavier. "I want to know why you aren't trying to get Kelpie back."
Earlier that week, Xavier had let him and Aquifer know that they had found Kelpie and that she was very much alive, but sadly, she was in the hands of Magneto.
"It's not that easy, kid," said Wolverine. "We want to get her back as much as you do--"
"Then why aren't you trying?" Sensherak asked, raising his voice above the older man's.
"It's not from lack of trying, Alan," said Xavier. "It's a very complication situation. She is under the control of one called Erika. Erika has telepathic abilities that rival my own. She has distorted Kelpie's mind and made her evil. The only way to get Kelpie back is to bring her back to her senses. To do that, we would have to break the connection between Erika and Kelpie."
And the only way to do that is kill Erika," said Vixen who was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Which is easier said than done," said Hank. "Magneto used the same metal he used to make his helmet and inserted it underneath Erika's skin, much like Wolverine and Vixen have adamantium over their skeletons. Nothing can penetrate it, not even with telepathy."
Sensherak smiled. "I believe I may have a solution."
"Well?" asked Vixen, standing straighter.
"I have somewhat of a friend that we call Kilroy. He has the same ability that young Kitty has, only he can make himself solid again inside of other objects."
"And how does that help us?" asked Scott.
"He could use his powers to create an ethereal knife of sorts, get it past her metal barrier and kill her."
"How come we've never heard of a Kilroy here in the school?" Wolverine asked.
"Simply because he's never been to this school. He's someone I met on the streets before I came here. And he owes me one anyway."
"Sounds like a plan to me," said Vixen.
Wolverine nodded.
"One problem," said Scott. "How is this…Kilroy guy going to get close enough?"
"That's up to you. I only ask that I can come with."
"I don't think so," said Scott.
"I gave you the idea."
"It's too dangerous--"
"I want to get Kelpie back."
"And so we shall," said Hank. "But Scott's right. It's too dangerous for a student."
"I love her," Sensherak said suddenly. "And I want to help. I would do nothing to endanger the mission."
Nobody heard Vixen's snort of disapproval.
"Exactly my point," said Scott. "You'll try to be hero--"
Sensherak sighed. "Jonny wants to go to. Would you rather it be me…or him?"
"Well, this kid's got my vote," said Wolverine.
Xavier studied Sensherak for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Go and contact your friend and meet us back here afterwards."
Sensherak nodded and teleported from the room.
Scott started to say something, but Xavier held up his hand. "I don't like it anymore than you do, Scott. But if we don't allow him to come along, he'll go by himself and then we'll have two students to rescue. Besides, I believe him when he said he wouldn't do anything to endanger Kelpie."
Scott sighed with defeat but didn't say anymore.
"Now," continued Xavier, "Jean, your job will be to keep Erika out of the other's minds. If she can change Kelpie the way she has, there's no telling what she could do to the rest of you."
Jean nodded in acceptance.
"Kurt, your job will be to get Kelpie out of there as soon as possible. Or, if you are occupied at the time, that job will fall to Sensherak. No doubt Erika will use her as bait."
Kurt nodded, somewhat hesitantly and Storm squeezed his hand in reassurance.
"The rest of you, try to subdue Erika enough for Kilroy to get near. Remember, she has telekinetic powers equal to Jean's, maybe stronger. So be on your guard." He looked to Storm. "Also remember, she is made of metal. So before you decide to electrocute her, make sure none of our own are touching her."
Storm nodded in understanding.
"And I'll try to push her out of Kelpie's mind."
There was a bamf and Sensherak reappeared. "Kilroy is taking the next flight to Westchester. He should be here by tomorrow morning."
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Kelpie sighed. "Why do we keep doing this?" she asked. It had been several days since the incident with the X-Men. They stood on the head of the Statue of Liberty, watching as tourists fled on a ferry as a mythical gryphon swooped down upon them.
Before Erika could answer, a voice sounded behind them. "Are you two animal rights activists or what?"
Erika twirled, caught off-guard once again, and swore.
Kelpie turned more slowly, having smelled them coming. The wind was against their backs, blowing their scent right to her. She hadn't warned Erika. She wanted to find out who these people were. Erika refused to tell her, so she'd find out for herself.
Screeching in rage, Erika shoved her hands at them and they flew back, all but one, who had already teleported.
"Time to go, my dear," said Erika and turned to run for the helicopter.
But the teleporter suddenly appeared beside Kelpie and grabbed her before either could react. Then he disappeared again.
By the time Erika realized what happened, the X-Men had surrounded her, all except for one man who had taken a place leaning against a stairwell. She knew who he was, she'd seen him before. He was somewhat of a Merc who, apparently in this case, had decided this wasn't his fight. If that was true, she wasn't sure why he was here in the first place.
Seeing trouble, Toad shook his head and lifted the helicopter from the building, flying off and waving goodbye to Erika.
Erika turned, glaring at each of them. They all glared right back.
Vixen stepped forward. "You're in big trouble, Erika. You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us."
Erika glared at her and went deeper into Kelpie's mind, wherever the brat was, and used her powers to control the gryphon.
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Inside the Blackbird, Kelpie pushed the teleporter away and touched the button on her ring. The dagger sprang free as she crouched, her eyes darting everywhere. She hadn't anticipated this.
"Where am I?" she commanded, grasping another dagger in her belt. "And who are you?"
The teleporter's hands were up in front of him in a show of surrender. "We're not here to hurt you, Kelpie. We're here to help you."
"How do you know my name?" she asked, her eyes darting from the teleporter to the man in the wheelchair.
The teleporter looked shocked and he glanced at the man in the wheelchair.
"She doesn't remember us," said the older man. "Erika's erased her memory."
"What are you two talking about?" Kelpie asked, her eyes still darting everywhere.
"A chara," a voice said softly behind her.
Kelpie spun, her daggers still at the ready and studied the man who stepped from the shadows. He was tall, muscular and covered in blue fur. Her daggers lowered slightly, but not completely. His voice struck a chord inside her. She knew that voice. Those words… "What does that mean?" she asked, her attention now darting from him to the two behind her. "What's going on here?"
"It's me, Hank, remember?" He started to step forward, but she raised her daggers, watching him warily. "Air do shocair, a leanbh," he said as he put his hands up where she could see them.
"Stop talking like that! What does that mean?" She was panicking. She shouldn't know that language, but somehow she recognized it. She knew what he was saying. It was in a far recess of her brain, but she couldn't call it forward.
"You know what it means, a leanbh. You taught me, remember?" he took a small step forward.
Suddenly, Kelpie screamed, dropping her daggers and holding her temples
"What's going on?" Sensherak shouted over her screams of agony.
"Erika's borrowing her powers, in a way. If she burrows deep enough, she can force Kelpie to use her powers.
"Help her, then!"
"I'm trying!"
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The gryphon swooped from the sky, diving at the heads of the X-Men. They all ducked, rolling to the ground. The gryphon swooped back up to the sky for a rebound.
Taking her chance, Vixen jumped to her feet and ran at Erika, her sais out, yelling a war cry. But she never made it. Erika smirked and stood there, with Vixen rushing at her. She didn't even try to run.
The gryphon swooped low and picked up Vixen by the shoulders, soaring into the air and giving a cry of triumph.
Vixen cried out--more in surprise than pain--as the gryphon's sharp talons embedded themselves in her shoulders. Reach up, she slashed a sai down the gryphon's leg and was rewarded with a shriek of pain. Talons withdrew from her body and Vixen fell with alarming speed.
Vixen winced, preparing herself for impact. "This is gonna hurt."
She heard a bamf and the smell of brimstone when arms encircled her and she felt herself being teleported. Kurt laid her on the ground gently, but she winced anyway. The gryphon's talons had gone through muscle, tendon and bone.
Wolverine rushed Erika, his claws extended, yelling in rage.
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Kelpie screamed again, this time grasping her leg. Xavier looked down. He had moved close enough so he could put his hands on her temples, trying to push Erika out. The leather pants had ripped open on her shin in three places and was bleeding severely.
"What happened?" Sensherak asked.
"Get back up there and tell them not to harm the animals. They're connected to her. What they do to the animals, they do to her."
Sensherak hesitated, not wanting to leave Kelpie's side.
"Go, Alan!" shouted Hank.
He disappeared then reappeared on the roof. What he saw was a battlefield. All but three were fighting Erika. The only one that was really gaining ground was Scott since he didn't need to be in close contact. Kurt was trying to dodge her telekinetic blows, trying to get close to her, but every time he got near, she would turn to him and try to push him back with her telekinetic powers.
Vixen was laying on the ground, passed out from loss of blood, Sensherak noted when he saw the wounds in her shoulders. Her head was lying in Jean's lap, whose eyes were glued to the fight. Concentrating on not letting Erika into our minds, thought Sensherak to himself.
He hurried over to Jean. "Dr. Grey, I hate to bother you right now, but I need you to tell the others that no harm must come to any animals she uses against them."
"That's hard to do, Sensherak. Remember that gryphon that was here earlier? Well Vixen isn't taking a nap because she feels like it."
Sensherak winced. "I noticed. But it's very important that no one harm the animals. They're connected to Kelpie somehow. Whatever hurt comes to them, comes to her. Right now she's got three slash marks on her leg. I'm assuming when Vixen tried to free herself."
Jean nodded. "I'll tell them, but I can't promise anything. Maybe I can get Kurt to distract any animals she sends our way."
Sensherak nodded and looked up. He saw Kilroy standing off to the side, watching the fight. Sen frowned and teleported to his side. "Why aren't you helping?" he demanded the mercenary.
Kilroy shrugged nonchalantly. "I was brought here to kill her when the time comes, not fight."
Sensherak started to say something, but Kilroy interrupted. "And since it isn't in my current job description, I shall just sit back and wait. Unless of course, you decided you want to pay me."
Sen gave him a dirty look. "Yes, I'll pay you, now get in there and help."
"How much?"
Sen sighed with frustration. "Just get in there!"
"Not until I know how much."
"A hundred."
Kilroy's eyebrows rose. "A hundred is all this Kelpie girl is worth to you?"
Sen ground his teeth. She was worth much more than that and he knew it. "A thousand, then, now get your ass in there and fight!" He grabbed Kilroy's shoulder and pushed him toward the fray then teleported back to Xavier.
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Erika didn't like this one bit. She couldn't get into any of their heads and that blue one was getting really annoying. As was the one armed with claws, filled with rage, and shouting as if he had something lodged up his ass.
With dismay, she realized she was tiring. Her telekinetic powers were starting to weaken. She had used them too much and too forcefully. And where was that damn gryphon?
She felt an alarm bell go off in her head and she almost cried out in defeat. Xavier was trying to free Kelpie from her bonds and was beginning to succeed.
Shoving back the clawed one, she bore down on Kelpie's bonds once more, trying to dig deeper. But it was too late, the bond had been severed.
The man who had teleported Kelpie away suddenly appeared again. "Now!" he shouted.
Kilroy became ethereal, a knife clutched in his hand. He slashed down at her chest and Erika watched in surprise as it actually went to the hilt within her body and stopped. She screamed as the knife became solid and she dropped, dead before she hit the ground.
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Sensherak teleported back to the Blackbird to find Xavier watching Kelpie writhe and scream in Hank's arms.
"Erika's gone. We've got wounded."
"Hank, go with him, quickly." When the man hesitated, Xavier said, "I'll watch her and Alan will come right back after teleporting you."
Hank nodded and gently let go of Kelpie. Sensherak teleported him to the Statue then teleported back into the plane. He kneeled next to Kelpie. "What's wrong with her, Professor?" he asked, concerned.
"The evil Erika placed in her is leaving her body. Everything Erika drilled into her for the past month is leaving her mind all at once. It's a painful process, but there's nothing I can do."
Sensherak took Kelpie into his arms and held her as still as he could. Both watched as her hair began t lighten into blonde again and regain it's blue and green highlights. Finally, she stopped screaming and lay curled in his arms, holding her head in her hands.
"Kelpie?" Sensherak asked as he touched her cheek.
She flinched, then opened her eyes. They were no longer purple, but back to her normal changing of blues.
"Alan?" she asked hesitantly, looking up at him.
He gave her a small smile and nodded.
She closed her eyes and a shudder wracked her body. "All those people…"
"Shh," he said, stroking her hair. "It wasn't your fault."
"Oh, Alan!" she whimpered and sat up, hugging him around the neck.
He hugged her back, rocking her and smoothing her hair, whispering that she was safe and everything would be okay.
Glancing down, Kelpie pulled away with horror on her face.
He frowned. "Kelpie? What's wrong?"
She looked from him to her own body then back to him. "Alan, what the 'ell am I wearin'?"
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They all waited outside the med lab, nervously as Wolverine paced the hallway.
"You're going to wear a path in the floor," commented Scott.
Wolverine turned on him, glaring. "When Jean has been mortally wounded and lies on her death-bed, then we'll talk."
Scott put his hands up in surrender. "I was just stating--"
"I didn't ask ya ta state anythin'--"
"Both o' ye, knock it off!" shouted Kelpie over Wolverine's voice. She sat on a bench against the wall next to Sensherak. She looked steadily at Wolverine as she said, "We're all just as worried about her as--"
"If it weren't for you, this wouldn't have happened!" shouted Wolverine.
Kelpie looked away from his hate-filled gaze.
"Now wait just a minute--" Sen started.
Kelpie put her hand on his arm as he began to rise. Her head and eyes didn't move, she still looked down at the ground.
"He's right--" she began softly.
"It wasn't your fault you were kidnapped!"
"Nae, but I made myself an easy target by not stayin' within the school grounds, and it was my animal that hurt her."
All argument stopped as the door to the med lab opened and closed behind Hank. Wolverine looked at him expectantly. "Well?"
"She'll be fine."
Wolverine's shoulders slumped with relief.
"But the child is another matter," he finished.
Wolverine's mouth almost fell open in shock. "What did ya just say?"
Hank repeated, "The child is another matter. Vixen has lost quite a bit of blood and it's possible--"
"You mean she's pregnant!?" Wolverine exclaimed.
Hank frowned in confusion. "Didn't she tell you?"
"She knew about it!?"
Hank nodded, still confused. "I'm the one who confirmed conception--"
Before he could finish, Wolverine shoved past her and locked the med lab doors behind him.
Hank turned, looking to the others. "I'm guessing she didn't tell him."
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Wolverine turned from locking the door and gazed at Vixen where she was sitting on a cot. "Why didn't ya tell me?" he asked.
She looked at him steadily, not pretending she didn't know what he meant. "Because if I had, you wouldn't have let me fight to get Kelpie back."
"Yer damn right I wouldn't have! I'd have known you'd end up taking a risk, and look--"
"Ya would've done the same thing if it were Rogue!" Vixen shouted back.
"Would ya stop bringin' her up--"
"No! Listen to me, Logan! Kelpie is like a sister to me, and there was no way I was going to let anything stand in my way of getting' her back." Seeing he was about to make another protest, she raised her voice above his. "And don't ya dare yell at me for somethin' ya would've done had you been in my shoes!"
Wolverine smirked suddenly. "Sorry, darlin', but that's never gonna happen since I can't get pregnant."
Vixen tried to keep a passive face, without success. She let a small grin spread across her face. The thought of Wolverine large with child was just too hilarious to frown at.
He came to her side, pulling a chair with him. Sitting down beside her, he took her hand in both of his. Still smiling, he asked, "So, are ya gonna say yes or no?"
Vixen frowned, confused. "Yes or no ta what?"
He shrugged, still smiling. "Well, I figure if we're gonna have a kid, why not go the whole nine yards?"
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Later that day, to get away from all the welcome backs, Sen took Kelpie for a walk around the school grounds. They walked side by side, silently enjoying the cooling of the evening as the sun touched the horizon.
"I wanna thank ye for savin' me, Alan. That was a brave thing ye did, tae go in there and teleport me in the condition I was in."
Sensherak smiled pleasantly as he took her hand and pulled her to a stop. "It was my pleasure. You have no idea how we--I--missed you."
Still sore over what Jonny had done and not sure if she was ready for what she saw in Alan's eyes, Kelpie blushed and pulled her hand away. She continued to walk, pretending an interest in the tree-line. She frowned as a thought came to her, "Ye ken, I 'avna seen a single feather o' Ra since before I was kidnapped. I wonder where she is."
Sensherak stopped in his tracks, a sad frown touching his lips.
"What is it?" she asked, stopping with him. "What's wrong?"
He sighed. "There's something I need to show you." He jerked his head in the direction of the forest. "Come with me," he said as he took her hand once again.
This time she allowed it for the seriousness in his voice made her want to do nothing more than follow him and find out what was wrong.
He stopped at the edge of the forest and pointed to what looked like a large rock. "We found her in your room a few weeks after you were taken. Hank said she had a massive heart attack, but didn't feel a thing. Wolverine came up with the epitaph and carved it himself."
It was a tombstone, she realized as she dropped to her knees beside it. The writing, looking indeed as if Wolverine had used his claws to carve the letters, said simply:
Here lies Ra MacGaelach,
A loyal friend and a fierce warrior.
May she rest in our hearts forever.
Kelpie's hand covered her mouth to keep back the sobs as tears rolled down her cheeks. Alan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as he crouched next to her. "I'm sorry, Kelpie."
But instead of turning to him for comfort, she sobbed, bending over the grave. It was then that Sensherak witnessed a miracle.
As Kelpie's tears rolled off her cheeks and onto the grave, the dirt began to shift. A vine crawled out and a blue bud on the vine's tip blossomed into a huge flower the size of his fist. He recognized it as Kelpie's own favorite creation, her Moon Flower. It bloomed fully and his eyes widened in shock. Kelpie's did too as she straightened and wiped away her tears. Cradled inside the flower was an egg.
The egg shook and cracked, revealing a very small downy bird. As they gazed at it in wonder, it began to grow larger and tumbled off the flower, into Kelpie's lap. It looked up at her, still growing. It's baby squawk turned into an adult peregrine falcon's shriek as the down grew into slate blue and white feathers.
It was Ra reborn.