Chapter 19
Artemis tried to process what the chief of the Indians had told her. But no matter how hard she had tried to understand, the information just didn't compute in her brain. The idea of humans who were able to understand her language, the fact her own world was larger than she had originally thought, and the new knowledge of her being something called a Hawk Rider it was all too much. So it was only understandable she had to ask some questions just to understand what this was all about.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute! I have a lot of questions that I need you to answer!" Artemis exclaimed, interrupting the Indians excited discussion.
The Indians grew silent, "We know not much, but we shall answer as best we can Hawk Rider." The chief says, giving the fairy his full attention.
"Okay... ugh good. First question, how can you understand me when no other human can?" The animal fairy questions.
"Many moons ago, my tribe lived in another land your people call the Mainland. My tribe had lived there for many generations, until one day another tribe raged war on us. The other tribe had many more men and slowly began to kill us one by one. Then one day, we were visited by a bright light we once thought was a spirit, but now know it to be a fairy. Because my people have devoted our very lives to being in tune with nature, we were able to understand the fairies language. The fairy told us about their world, and it called it Neverland. The fairy told us about Neverland, how it was a land of plenty and a land of immortality. We were given the chance to leave our land and rebuild our lives, and so we left. We have been here ever since."
The animal fairy became silent at this, stunned by the knowledge. She began to feel even smaller now knowing the place she had known since her arrival, was only a small portion of land in this large world. Also, the fact this land made humans immortal, made her wonder if it affected her as well and if it did then how long was she on the pirate ship. Then she began to look at the hawk she now named Strider and wondered if he was immortal as well.
Noticing the Chief staring at her, she decided to ask her next question. "You said I'm a Hawk Rider, but what does that mean exactly?"
"You really do not know?" The Chief questions, and being answered with a shake of Artemis's head, he continued. "Come, it is best to explain it at the cave."
'Cave?' Artemis questioned in her mind, but then noticed the Indian who began to walk by himself to some unknown destination. The fairy got onto the hawks back and together, they followed him. The tribe's encampment was situated on a cliff and the trio had to circle down around it to reach the beach where the cave was. Upon reaching the cave, Artemis began to shudder at the pure darkness at its entrance. She wondered how they were going to be able to see anything and was then answered, when the old Chief picked up a torch and began lighting it with rocks.
Strider began to make some nervous screeches, but with a gentle nudge from Artemis, he flew in. The cave was made of limestone, but Artemis had no idea what this was and just admired the structures formed over the length of time. It was also small and when the trio reached the back of it, the animal fairy wasn't able to see the drawings painted onto the back wall until the Chief brought the torch close to it. Having the large bird land on a stalagmite close enough to the Indian, Artemis began to fly to get a better look at the drawings.
Touching a drawing of a deer, Artemis asked "What are these?"
"They are our depictions of the things we've seen upon our first arrival in Neverland." Her companion answers and then raising his torch to one drawing, he went on. "These are of our first encounter with the Hawk Riders."
The drawing was of three large figures, obviously human, which were surrounded by smaller figures with the outline of hawk wings around them. It was rather beautiful to look at and Artemis couldn't help but feel inspired by it.
"Upon our arrival in Neverland, we had lived in peace for many moons. Then one day, the sky began to darken and a shadow spread across the land. The shadow began to kill Neverland and when we were about to lose hope, we were visited by fairies riding hawks. These fairies were different than the one who brought us here. They possessed stronger magic than any other we've encountered and used their magic to create a magical wall all over Neverland. Doing so, the darkness disappeared and the land returned to its natural order and all's been well ever since." As the Chief explained, Artemis began imagining it in her head.
"This still doesn't fully answer my question." Artemis mutters as she continues to stare at the wall.
Hearing it, the Chief made his reply "We do not fully know about Hawk Riders and what they really are capable of. My people and I haven't been able to ask them as after the darkness left, we never saw them again. But, you passed the magical wall surrounding you're home, which would mean it was made by another Hawk Rider."
"But how can that be? Ever since I came to Pixie Hollow, no one's ever mentioned them and whenever hawks are spotted, they hide."
"I do not know, but you are a warm fairy yes?" The Chief questions and then continued after receiving a nod. "If I had to take a guess of where another Hawk Rider would be hiding, I would check someplace warm fairies try not to go."
'The Winter Woods!' Artemis immediately thought and with this newfound knowledge, she became excited. A few minutes later, the trio left the cave and were greeted by the mid afternoon sun.
"I should be getting back, the storm fairies are planning to practice their gifts and I don't want to get caught up in that." Artemis says, looking at the human with a newfound respect.
"It has been good to know that the Hawk Riders have not all disappeared. Until we meet again young Hawk Rider." The Chief bids his farewell and with that, Artemis and Strider flew off towards the place they both call home.
Author's Note: Hello everyone! I got another chapter for you! I'm happy that this chapter didn't take me too long to update, but yeah it's been a little challenging getting myself to sit down and write. Well I want to thank everyone for the continuous following, especially TinkFan4Life and I've also been noticing some new readers as well so thanks for the favorites and such. Anyways, I've been making you wait a long time for the special reveal of who Artemis's mysterious sibling is and I am excited to announce that the reveal will happen in the next chapter. Those of you who have stuck with this story from the beginning, well I thank you for your patience and you won't have to wait much longer for the big surprise. I actually wouldn't mind getting your last predictions, so if you have a guess feel free to say it in your review. As always, I have my poll going on of which story I should work on next, so far the sequel for this story has the most votes so if you new readers could get your votes in that'd be great! Well I'm done with my little note and I shall update again soon!