Part III:
The Dead Ravine was living up to its name as Eybron looked out over its arid splendour. Fresh cracks in the earth adorned the dirty and broken basin and boiling water was seeping up through them from the bowels of the earth. Taking life from somewhere so lifeless was a pointless endeavour, but from his perspective it was appealing because this time it meant success, and that there was no one around to tell about it.
Eybron was tall and slender, even for a wingtail, and from the scars on his light grey wings to the cold depths of his eyes there was little room for kindness or comfort. Despite his appearance others of his kind thought he was a hero – a warrior of an old age who had made many sacrifices to get to his current status. He did not intend to let them down. His weapon hadn't worked perfectly, yet it did show potential to cause devastating earthquakes which was far beyond its original purpose.
Having seen enough, Eybron rotated on his feet with his hands together behind his back in a confident and relishing gesture. In front of him laid the most ancient shrine of the wingtails, the legendary Sonicron. By appearance it was a large horn made of pure volcanic glass, but it was capable of a lot more things then just amplifying sound – as he learned today. It was created by Benzon, the greatest of the wingtails during a time called the "Age of Creation" when food was plentiful and the Great Circle shined down upon its children like no time before. The most brilliant artists of that time were not content merely to waste their lives in this paradise so they spent their time creating works that would endure in their name for generations. Of course being the shrine's appointed keeper, Eybron had to drill this information into his head. One thing astonished him though, and that was that in the over four centuries after being built they are still learning new things about it every season.
Eybron remembered when, almost fourteen seasons ago, he returned to the Feral Forest baring the Occular under his wing – the product of a quest given to him by the elders that cost him most of his youth and all of his innocence. He ventured into the Sharptooth Wastes, which was the realm of Tyron the most vicious sharptooth of his time. It nearly cost him his life but he succeeded and upon his return he was praised as a hero. As a reward he was handed stewardship of the Sonicron, and forced to learn its history.
Long ago the Sonicron had been used for communication amongst the Feral Forest in the form of songs, messages, and occasionally warnings. Other passing dinosaurs who had never seen anything like it believed that it could be heard by the dead, and often used it as a place to sing lament to the greatest of their fallen.
A malted brown wingtail glided down from the trees to join him on the cliffside, interrupting Eybron's reverie. He did not even spare the newcomer a glance.
"What did you discover Barrau?" the grey wingtail asked of his lieutenant. In response Barrau bowed slightly.
"I have news about many things my lord," he replied.
"About the Sonicron tests," Eybron insisted coldly.
"Well," said Barrau as he composed his reply, "of the five children we tested only two of them had the right pitch and tone of voice to resonate the horn."
"Indeed," sent Eybron as he turned once more to survey the damage inflicted upon the Dead Ravine. He knew the sonic earthquakes had affected lands beyond too, but how far he could only guess. If he didn't have the responsibility to stay he would have gone out on his own to observe the impact of his latest experiment. Apart from that it amazed him that sound could sunder the earth in such a manner – he wondered if it could kill as well.
"And what else?" continued Eybron.
"We have spotted unusual sharpteeth stalking the forests below us… they have not been seen around here before," Barrau reported, "could they have something to do with Tyron?"
"His spies most likely," Eybron scowled, "…What else?"
"The council is sending another of our kind after the Occular… after all this time they are finally ready to seek out the carrier," Barrau commented.
Eybron felt a tinge of bitterness. He had been enraged when he heard of the council's decision to hand off such a priceless treasure to Sky, a nobody in the ranks of wingtail society. The simple eyeglass it appeared to be it was also covered in blood, for when he stole it from Tyron the sharptooth retaliated by ordering the killing of every bird within his domain. He was lucky to escape alive, both from the sharpteeth and his fellow birds who wanted to give him up to save themselves. In the end, no birds flew in the Sharptooth wastes. If the Occular had found it's way back into Tyron's claws after such a sacrifice was made to take it, he would find Sky and rip out his throat himself.
"What about the children my lord?" asked Barrau nervously.
"Send the others away… keep the two we need in the caves," replied Eybron as he rubbed his chin in thought.
"But… what if they tell their parents and we are found out?" inquired the brown wingtail.
"Ensure they don't." added Eybron. Barrau did not need to be told twice, and left immediately to carry out his master's orders.
As the wingtail departed Eybron looked again at the Sonicron, the mightiest work of the creators. Soon he would know its secrets… and then he would use it to smash the Tyrant Spire and bring the sharptooth's empire to ruins.
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The Feral Forest was the ancient homeland of the Wingtails, and it was the most beautiful place a flyer could ever hope to live in. It shared more in common with a jungle as the giant canopy trees that were centuries old blocked out the elements and provided refuge for the locals who made their homes in them. When they weren't fishing or sleeping the wingtails here flew from tree to tree unhindered by wind or rain. They were a happy and content race, at least most of them were. The few who needed value in their lives still practised the arts of creation, in the forms of air dance, woodcarving, and for the most dedicated few glass-shaping. Others simply enjoyed each others company and gathered to warm themselves in the sun or bask themselves in the cool air coming off the Abyss Lake.
Glide loved this place… but today he waited nervously on a branch while the others flew by and carried on with their lives without a care. This angered him, because when they were out eating or flying or whatever he was stuck here waiting on the branches outside the elders' tree shaking in his feathers. Usually a summon to see the elders meant that you were in trouble as they usually had more important matters to deal with. Glide wondered what he could be in trouble for… he hadn't done anything to anyone ever since he beat the snot out of that Sky rat for courting his sister under his nose. But Sky and him hadn't seen each other face to face since he left a few seasons ago… what could the elders possibly want this time?
"The council will see you now," announced a whitish green wingtail who briefly poked his head out of the net of leaves to address him. Glide sneered at him, relieved that his public humiliation was over.
Glide entered the elders' tree though the dense leaves into an expansive area in the middle of the tree. Many generations of work had hallowed out the branches of the ancient oak so the inside was leafless and open, to better suit the meeting ring that the elders formed every time they called a council. There were six elders in the room and each one of them looked just as intimidating as the next. Glide felt a knot forming in his throat, he didn't like coming here last time and this time didn't look to be any better.
"Make your way to the centre please," instructed a female elder. Glide obeyed, and it took him to in front of a weathered stump where he knew the head of the council roosted. Suspiciously it was empty today, and instead there sat upon it a peculiar clear blue object. Glide had to resist the urge to pick it up.
"Good…" the female elder continued, "Tenebron if you will."
A large and imposing male elder landed in front of him, with the stump between them. His wings were a dark grey and his eyes were cold and emotionless.
"Are you Glide, son of Allisan?" he asked.
"y-yes I am," Glide replied. He was so nervous he was shaking. Tenebron leaned forward as he asked his next question.
"Do you have living family?"
"Only my sister," Glide said submissively. Surprisingly, the elder smiled back at his answer. What was he being punished for?
"If I might ask, umm," started Glide, "Why have I been summoned?"
Tenebron's brief smile turned to an icy glare. Maybe he had gone too far.
"Are you familiar with the Occular, Glide?" asked the dark grey elder as he folded his wings behind his back.
"It is one of our most treasured relics," added another male elder, who was much older then Tenebron.
Glide couldn't help but roll his eyes. Ever since he came out of the eggshell the teachers had drilled it into his head that, next to the Sonicron, the Occular was the greatest wingtail creation in existence.
"My son Eybron was sent to retrieve it a generation ago from the sharpteeth, at which he succeeded," contributed Tenebron with a hint of pride.
"Its current keeper has been gone too long… Sky failed to return from his quest after three cold times as we commanded!" the female elder said bitterly.
Glide's tail twitched at the mention of Sky. The two of them had never really got along, and the incident with his sister didn't help things much. The first time he had ever been before the elders was with Sky, when they forbid the two of them to ever come near each other again. Glide had been happy to oblige, since Sky had also been banned from seeing Star, his sister. After that he didn't see much of him, as he was sent away on some quest for the elders. He guessed it didn't go as they had planned.
"We have summoned you here because we want you to retrieve the Occular by any means necessary," Tenebron said, hissing the last line.
"What about your previous provisions?" Glide asked.
"Consider them retracted, the relics of our race are far more valuable then your petty squabbles," the female elder shot. Apparently the elders didn't think twice on going back on their judgements.
"Do what you will with Sky, he has disobeyed us and hence his fate is no longer important. Bring us the Occular," reiterated Tenebron.
This was immensely relieving to Glide. Sky was no match for him physically, so it would be easy to simply snap his neck and be done with it. One thing bothered him though about this new mission.
"How am I supposed to find him? It will be like to trying to find a fishbone in a rocky field," Glide said sarcastically. Since he knew he wasn't in trouble he didn't have to act polite anymore.
"With this…" stated Tenebron as he motioned towards the small crystal object. He picked it up so Glide could see what it was, and it turned out to be a bluish glass bell. It was really shiny and he found his eyes hung on it lustfully.
"This is known as the Cordian and it was Benzon's last creation before his death. You will guard this with your life," insisted Tenebron.
Glide took the bell in his hand and looked at it from all sides, admiring its beauty. Apart from his sister the thing he loved most in the world was shiny objects. He had a collection of them, and it was what he did in his spare time. A galley of stones and shells of all different colours and shapes adorned his hallowed out home at the family tree. Unable to resist, he lightly pushed the bob and the Cordian emitted a loud, elegant chime.
"It emits a perfect sound… if you are close enough it will cause the Occular to ring, not only distracting Sky but also allowing you to find him and complete your task," lectured Tenebron, "… And no you can't keep it."
Glide cursed as the dark grey wingtail saw into his thoughts and predicted his next question. Maybe if he brought back the Occular quick enough they would reward him… or he could just steal it, but that would be much harder.
"You will return in five cold times, or whenever you complete your quest. If you do not return you will be hunted… and share the same fate as the thief Sky." Spat the elder female.
"Bring back the Occular and the Cordian in perfect condition," insisted Tenebron before waving him away, "you are dismissed."
Taking the elders' leave Glide flew out of the tree and set on his way. Before he left though he would have to tell his sister where he was going, or else she would be worried.
…
Glide found Star teaching her class at the Cordial springs across the river from the Feral Forest, which is a system of hot wells that drained into the Abyss Lake. She gave him a slight nod as he landed on the ground behind the children, but otherwise continued her lecture.
"The Cordial Springs are an ancient place that has been here since our race began, and perhaps even sooner. The hot water and lava cracks here were used by our ancestors to make and forge glass," Star taught, and the gathered young ones watched in awe as a nearby geyser erupted showering hot water all around. One of the wingtails put up his hand.
"Yes Clive?" asked Star as she pointed to him to speak. Glide cleared his throat as a sign of impatience, so she added, "…quickly please."
"How come this 'glass' doesn't melt like the hard water after the cold time?" the small green wingtail named Clive asked.
"Because glass is melted rock that has re-hardened once it became cool again. Cool for rock is a lot hotter than cool for water, so naturally it doesn't break down even when the Great Circle shines on it," Star answered, before continuing with her lecture, "the rock we will be looking for today is called lyestone and it will be black and shiny to your eyes. Find as many as you can and we will proceed to the next part of the lesson – now jump to it!"
The class dispersed as they flew about the springs with their task, leaving Star and Glide alone. She approached her brother, who as usual didn't look too happy to be kept waiting.
"What is it Glide?" she asked.
"I will be leaving now… the elders have given me an important task. I'll be away for a long time so don't be concerned if I am away for many seasons," Glide told her, and he turned to go. Star stopped him.
"What task?" she said as she pushed him for more information. He decided to tell her.
"I am to find and return the Occular,"
"And what about Sky?" his sister asked him desperately.
"They told me to do as I will… and I intend to make him suffer," Glide responded coldly. Star grabbed him.
"I know what he did but please, please don't kill him!" She begged. Her brother sneered at her.
"What could you possibly see in him… it was only a matter of time before he hurt you!" Glide spat as he growled at her.
The sound of falling rocks nearby distracted the both of them, and brother and sister turned to see Clive standing right there, his mouth wide open. The falling rocks had been him dropping all the lyestones he had been carrying. Star quickly escorted him away, while Glide just sneered at him. After the youngster was out of earshot, Star turned back to her brother.
"Promise me," she insisted. Glide respected her, so he relented.
"Alright… I promise I won't kill him." He said spitefully
Star was tortured inside. Ever since Sky left there had been a knot in her stomach – and it was full of the things she never got the chance to say. The two of them had been friends since they hatched, and they both shared a passion for teaching and learning that eventually drew them together. One night they agreed to watch the Great Circle go down together and as soon as it hit the horizon she had a moment of weakness – and kissed him. Unfortunately Glide came and found them, and beat Sky within an inch of his life. She screamed for him to stop but it was only when another wingtail, someone she didn't know named Eybron, pulled him off and ended the fight. A short trip to the elders later and she was never allowed to see Sky again. She never wanted it to happen that way.
"He had a reason for not coming back Glide – I know it." Star told her brother, in hopes he might be able to tell how she felt.
"Either way I have a job to do… goodbye sister," and Glide spread his wings to take off.
"Stay safe," Star told him, and she licked the side of his face affectionately. Glide smiled as he flew off into the afternoon air for lands unknown.
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Littlefoot and Ali searched the forests of the Great Valley for hours, calling Sky's name as they panned the trees for any sign of his blue feathers. Soon they discovered that they weren't the only ones looking for Sky, as there were hunting parties of flyers sweeping the area at regular intervals to bring him to justice. Fortunately nobody bothered Littlefoot and Ali because they assumed that the two longnecks were after him for the same reason. Eventually they had to stop their search at dusk due to exhaustion.
"Oh this is hopeless we will never find Sky," Ali whined, "maybe we should just go back and play with your friends."
"Don't give up Ali, he has to be around here somewhere,"
Littlefoot raised an eyebrow and looked around intensely at nearby things, including a tree, a rock formation, and a pile of logs. Seeing nothing, he turned to Ali with an idea.
"Is there anything about him that you know could help us find Sky, like his favourite food or favourite places?" Littlefoot inquired.
"I already told you… he just joined our herd before the last cold time and," Ali raised her head as she thought of something, "he likes to watch the Great Circle set… he does it every night!"
"Hmm," thought Littlefoot out loud, "If I wanted to see the Great Circle go down I would be… at the Great Wall!"
The two longnecks bolted into action and ran towards the cliffs that held the Great Wall, which was far beyond the search radius of the valley's flyers. Littlefoot led the way as they crossed the river, skirted the bushes, and passed through the sheltering grass. The Great Circle was dipping low in the sky when they reached the Great Wall, and a dark silhouette could clearly be seen against the glowing sun when they looked up. It was big enough to be a large flier… just like Sky!
"There he is Littlefoot!" cried Ali.
The two of them climbed the stones until they were both on level with Sky, but he didn't even look at them.
"Sky it's me… Ali." Ali called out to him. He turned, and both longnecks recoiled in shock. His chest and wings were rent and torn and a droplet of blood ran down from a gash in the side of his face. He looked almost ghostly. Ali couldn't help it, and tears ran out of her eyes.
"Sky I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to-" the longneck began, but Sky stopped her by lifting her chin with his hand until they were looking eye to eye.
"Chin up Ali, your friend wouldn't want to see you like this." Sky said as he smiled at her.
"But your face… your wings… they are…"
"Aye, I am injured. It would appear I am unwelcome in yet another green place." The blue wingtail lamented as he turned once more to the Great Valley, which was bathed in the red light of the setting sun.
"But Sky, me and Ali know you're innocent. We've got to tell the others it wasn't your fault," Littlefoot asserted.
"Oh no," Sky told the longneck as he furled his wings behind his back, "It is high time I returned… that I went back to my far away home."
Ali sniffed and rubbed her face with her paw to wipe away the tears. She had to find a way to make this up to Sky.
"Sky… I'm going with you." Ali whispered.
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