~ Chapter 4 ~

"Glad we're on course that's all I can say; where to next Amara?"
"A human city...we've gotta find this tower..."
"Okay so we will find the tower..."
"Then it's umm...a bent tree and...mountains... and that's all I can see right now." Ares nodded
"It sounds like enough for now. Is your wing alright?"
"It's fine Ares, I'm still not used to flying so long..."
"We can take more breaks if you need them"
"Maybe, I'm okay for now." The former prince nodded before sighing. "What's wrong?"
"Just thinking of what will happen after you return to your colony..."
"Maybe you could join us..."
"No, I don't think I could...let's fly" He took to the air gracefully as Amara followed him. Flying, Amara wondered what the response of her family would be if Ares came with her... she decided to put it behind her and let what happened, happen. Pounding her wings she ended up side by side with Ares his wingbeats where powerful and yet lazy at the same time, and for the first time she realized that Ares was ..handsome. The thought entered her mind and she frowned as another replaced it.
" Why where you banished?" He sighed, knowing that this question would come up.
"In my father's kingdom it is treason to not eat you northern bats when given the chance. I tried hiding my true feelings on cannibalism but my brother found out and told my father, and when I wouldn't kill a bat...they banished me."
"Then how did you get that scar?"
"My father and brother attacked me and my father marked me, they were going to kill me...I was lucky to escape." Amara flew closer.
"Ares...I'm happy you're not a cannibal"
"Truth be told Amara so am I."

The city lights were a mysterious glow along the horizon, it was the sixth night she had traveled with Ares and now the city was within a hundred wingbeats, she was glad Ares was here not just because of protection and warmth but because of friendship, she battered her wings harder Ares was slightly in front, an somehow it made her uncomfortable.
" What does the jungle look like?" she had been bombarding him with questions not because she was curious, it was because she didn't want him to get bored with her and leave suddenly which she really hoped didn't happen.
"First the jungle is warm, plants grow everywhere, there's millions of flowers insects and my kind and our prey, My father says we are blessed by Coma Zotz to be so lucky."
"Who is Coma Zotz??" Ares looked at her in shock.
"Coma Zotz is the god of my kind and the ruler of the underworld, he is responsible for bringing my father back from the dead." Amara sighed and nodded. Ares looked at her carefully. "Are you tired? I'm sure we can stop in the city."
"I'm fine, I want to catch up as quick as I can." Ares nodded.
"You miss you family don't you?"
"Every second I'm away...but I know I'll see them again, it must be worse for you."
"My family and I were never...close...My parents only mated because Zotz told them to and my brother ratted me out for our father's praise."
"That sucks...I can't imagine living like that..."
"You'll never have to Amara...be thankful."
" Yeah " she said, the city lights were just up ahead, she was nearly panting when they reached the outskirts of the city, which was made up of small wooden houses. She looked ahead and saw the giant buildings of stone she knew the tower must be somewhere in there. When they reached the first of the tall buildings she landed gripping the stone ledge; Ares landed beside her looking across the city of lights. She summoned her map again and got the major points out of it. A cross, seven bongs, gargoyles. Great. That should be easy enough to find. She heard a bong in the distance. She looked in the direction it came from. "That way" She turned as Ares followed her. They reached one tower but there was no cross so they moved on. The next tower was the correct one from the sound map. Ares felt uneasy for some reason. Amara waited for the 7 bongs but there was nothing. It was the right tower she was sure. She heard scuffling and an old albino bat popped up from one of the gargoyles. Amara remembered her mother talking about this bat, his name was Zephyr. This proved that it was the right tower.
"Lost are you?" the older bat asked. Amara looked up at him while Ares tried to avoid his gaze. The vampyrum was ready to bolt but Zephyr seemed to be watching him from his blind eyes. "definitely a strange pair you are, The daughter of of a brightwing and a silverwing along with Vampyrum...very interesting"
They both looked at the old blind bat, Amara spoke,
" Ummm, your Zephyr right?"
" Yes, I'm and you must be Amara" He looked over at Ares " and you must be the son of goth"
" Yes we are and I got lost and he helped me so please don't-" The albino bat laughed, " no need to worry you two why don't you come inside and I'll explain everything" The albino bat turned and flapped into the spire,
" strange pair you two are " Ares looked at Amara who nodded and smiled with encouragement. Ares sighed shaking his head and followed the old bat. Amara battered her wings and caught up with the two and whispered too Ares,
" What does he mean by pair?"
"flying partners, amigos...or even..." The vampyrum blushed and increased his pace, leaving a confused Amara in his wake.
"Or even what?" Ares ignored her. Soon both entered the chamber inside the building where Zephyr had stored different plants including the kind Amara had used to help treat her and Ares' wounds. Ares noticed this immediately. Was this blind old bat some kind of healer like the Royal surgeons back home in the jungle. He winced thinking of home was painful. He turned to look at Amara who was still confused.
"Mates" he whispered in answer to her previous question. What alarmed him was he didn't think it would be so bad, he'd had a dream of the small female and woken up afraid that he'd said something out loud. If he had Amara hadn't said anything about it. Now she was blushing franticly.
"But I'm only a newborn..." She told him. Ares mumbled to himself.
"I'm not"
Amara didn't hear the last part, but obviously Ares was not to keen on the fact of them being mates. Amara never really lingered on the facts of having a mate all the males in her colony...lets just say were stupid but now as Zephyr slapped this question or answer in her face, her feelings and thoughts didn't reject it, but she was sure them two could never be mates, or lovers even; to the simple fact that throbbed in her bones with every heartbeat. He was Goth's son, she was shades daughter, he was a warrior she was a puny bat. Her colony would never accept him, she knew this for a fact the thought filled her bones with dread, she wanted to spend her life with her family... but the thought of Ares flying back north to die, or back south to be hunted filled her with indescribable terror. He was her friend, and no matter what; she would keep it that way, tooth,claw and blood. They both roosted and Zephyr peered at them, then his eyes settled on Ares.
" interesting scar you have, it's the mark of banishment if I'm correct" Ares looked at the old bat in surprise,
" yes" he spoke, Zephyr nodded and then his brow wrinkled with concentration, Ares was slightly embarrassed by the bats intense stare.
" Strange, you know you have the strangest echo vibe I've every seen" He noticed they're confused faces and continued." it's the life force of a thing, mostly they are like a single note song or echo, sometimes they're are two different echoes, BUT his are truly strange it's almost like a symphony rather than a melody, and its very strong ,too" Ares was suddenly nervous,
"What do you mean? Is something wrong with me? I know I'm supposed to eat bats and be living down south and not have furred wings but if you're saying I'm a freak or something you are highly incorrect." Ares responded defensively. He didn't like being looked at by those blind eyes, it made him feel...small, weak the complete opposite of what he was. Only once had someone else given him that look, his father. Zephyr simply smiled, then the smile turned to intense unbelief , the old bat flew at him Ares was ready to defend by flaring his wings and hissing, but instead the old bat landed beside him and with his claws parted his fur to his skin and gasped.
" What are you doing?" Amara gasped, the old bat just placed his claw on Ares star shaped birthmark. Ares jumped with his cold touch but for some reason he was frozen unable to throw the old bat off.
" The mark of the Aurora Shade" the old bat mumbled, Ares was too frustrated to really understand anything ; he was an animal trapped , and angry that this bat was treating him like a lab rat, he would ever be treated like a little pup being slapped around by his father. NEVER. Ares hissed showing his teeth but the old bat didn't move it just kept starting at his birth mark. Ares used his wings to nudge Zephyr off of him, folding his wings tightly around himself as soon as the old bat was off. He stopped hissing but glared. Before either Zephyr or Amara could move Ares had begun flying out of the chamber and out into the city sky. Amara started to follow him but Zephyr briefly touched her shoulder, pulling her back inside. "He'll be back, he has a few things he needs to think over, he'll be back before the snowstorm hits"
Ares flew until he reached the forest and roosted on a branch over a half frozen pond and he glared down upon himself. WHY? did everything remind him of his father of his family, Ares looked at his reflection and suddenly it changed into a sneering Goth. He quickly looked away, he couldn't do this. He couldn't live with himself any longer he couldn't go to the silverwing colony he couldn't go south, he wouldn't go back north. He would stay right here, and die. Amara, a sudden pang of guilt hit him how would she get home without him, she had befriended him and now he was betraying her. He sighed her company was toxic to him and him to her, it wasn't healthy for the both of them too be with each other even as friends, ares shivered it was the first night he ever felt cold, but not as cold as he felt inside himself right now. He felt hollow, cold, and worn. He closed his eyes feeling the wind around him, the pulsing of his heart slowed ;his breath was warm little puffs. The Wind stabbed his side with coldness, snowflakes falling; getting quicker and quicker. It was up too him now. Whether he wanted too live or not. He opened his eyes a spread his wings.
"Mldiga el corazón para está abierto a Amara"(Curse my heart for being open to Amara)He then headed back towards the cathedral, entering Zephyr's chamber and roosting beside Amara who appeared to be asleep. "Usted será la muerte de mí estimada hija de mi enemigo" (You will be the death of me dear daughter of my enemy), Zephyr still stared at him looking like he wanted too say something or was waiting too, Ares ignored him, instead he let his wings thaw out, relaxing and pondering. Amara stirred, her eyes opening a little, staring at him then her sleepiness diapered and she glomped ares.
" Oh, Ares i was So worried, PROMISE me you never do that again" Ares was looking at Amara with shock that she just attacked him. Zeypher smiled and flew off down the spire, hopefully never coming back. Ares looked at her slowly.
"lejos de mí hembra loca, get off of me crazy female" Amara still clung tight. "I mean it get off" Amara frowned up at him.
"Make me" Ares sighed and used his claws to gently brush against her sides Amara fell back, giggling as she was very ticklish. Ares made sure she didn't hurt herself as she landed he then flew down to be beside her as he continued tickling her using his muzzle now instead of his claws.
"la parada que me cosquillea!" (stop tickling me) she squeaked between giggles. Ares looked at her, surprised. "Zephyr taught me some Spanish while you were having your little hissy fit." Ares looked away , flying back up to roost.
"I'm a Vampyrum warrior, we have no emotions and thus can not throw hissy fits"
"You're a prince too last I heard they have emotions." Ares smirked at her.
"Very well little bat"
" Hey, I'm not that little!" Ares chuckled,
" If you can get me on my back, i won't call you a little bat anymore" Amara smirked, lowering her head, eyes gleaming with mischief. Ares suddenly felt nervous. Was she go to knock down one of the pillars onto him?. Nah, she couldn't possible hurt . He was cut off as Amara lunged at him, nipping the tip of his nose, then she flew back laughing. Ares was too, and shaking his head twitching his nose trying to shake off the pain.
" I'm still not on my back,little bat" Ares smirked, Amara grinned and this time lunged for his face, Ares flared his wings and swallowed her up with his wings, Amara began pushing trying to lift his furred sails, but instead she gave up laughing evilly and began tickling his sides. Ares didn't budge,
" In not that easy Amara" Amara began crawling , nipping his chest. Still he didn't budge,
" Man! don't you have a weakness or something" She grumbled frustrated, Ares lifted his wings off sensing her distress.
" GOTCHA" She squeaked in triumph, as she lunged blowing into one of his ears. Ares grabbed her and placed her down, him chuckling and her laughing body jerking in around his claw, as soon as she was down on the pillar, ares enfolded himself in his wings protecting his face and ears. Ha. Ha she would never catch him never-, a small little face stared up at him from his chest,
" Hello, Senor " Amara sprang, jumping on his face. Clinging to him blocking his sight both ways, he fell over on his back laughing unfurling his wings as Amara blocked his sight.
" Haha, sweet Victory"
" Congrats" He chuckled, still blind. "Can you get off of my face now?" Amara moved so that she was now on his chest, he smiled at her, having enjoyed this little game. He suddenly felt a blush come to his cheeks. Was he getting too close to her? He was going to leave when they reached her colony so why be her friend why care so much about her? He couldn't exactly trace what he felt but he knew it was wrong. Then it popped into his head as insane disgusting and against nature as it was he was falling in love with Amara. Oh. shit. Amara jumped off, circling above him as he got up onto all fours