Ty yawned and pushed himself up off his bed. He got dressed and walked downstairs and looked around the kitchen. Finding no one there he walked back out to grab his shoes. He shuddered at what he was about to do, but he needed to get over this fear and get out and back to running. He a set of house keys and locked the door behind him.
Sky looked up from his book at the clock. He had been awake for the past two hours and he had heard Ty go out the door about an hour and a half ago. He set his book down and put his head in his hands. He was the only one awake because the guys had got back late and Husky had stayed up late. He sighed and looked back up at the clock, hands covering his mouth. He looked around and then decided to see if he could find Ty. He jumped up, grabbed his keys and phone, wrote a quick note, put on his shoes and locked the door as he left.
Ty wiped some sweat from his brow as he sat on the old bench. He looked around himself and smiled at the serenity the quiet world had. He sunk down and let his head drop back. He felt the wind gently brush his hair, he heard the sounds of birds far away. He startled as he heard someone call his name. He looked up and saw Sky running towards him. Ty slowly got up off the bench, confused at the sudden appearance of his friend. Ty walked forward a few paces and felt his foot catch on something. His body moved forward and his vision blurred as he plummeted towards the ground.
"Prince, Prince, wake up! Prince, get up - we need to get going!"
Ty opened his eyes and then had to close them against the harsh light. He opened his eyes again and let them adjust. Ty looked around at the scenery: White as far as the eye can see, and a path of gold stretching into the distance. Ty looked up to see a grey tree, as leafless and lifeless as they come.
"Prince, you look confused. What's wrong?"
Ty almost jumped at the sudden voice. His head whipped around to find the source.
"What are you looking for, Prince?", the voice asked.
Ty looked down at his feet, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"I'm looking for you", Ty answered, closing his eyes.
He opened them to see a bird in front him. He stared into the amethyst eyes.
"Well, here I am", the bird said.
Ty stared at the golden bird, taking in its entire appearance. He tried to speak, but his voice failed him.
"What's wrong now?", the bird said as it looked up at him.
The bird looked at itself and then back at Ty.
"Oh, I see. Hold on a minute", the bird said as it flew a little way off from its original position.
The bird seemed to melt, turning black and moulding into something else. As the black faded away a man now stood where the bird had been. His large, gold wings opening as the man reached up high, stretching, his joints popping and cracking. The wings were pulled back and his arms dropped to his sides.
"So, shall we get going", the man said, looking at Ty.
"I'm sorry, who are you? And how the heck are you a human, or angel, or bird, or whatever?!", Ty asked as he looked at the man warily.
"You sure have a bad memory. I'm Songbird, remember? And I can transform. My bird form is how I got part of my name", the man, Songbird, said as he offered a hand to Ty.
"And the other part?"
"I have the most beautiful voice in the entire Aether."
"So, wait, is here the Aether or what? Where even are we?", Ty asked, taking the Songbird's hand and pulling himself up.
"This is the Aether", Songbird said as he started walking along the gold path.
"Why am I here?", Ty asked, confused.
"Well, you're the Prince. You kind of have to be here."
"Well, why are you here?", Ty asked as he looked at the ground.
"You're here on a walk and I'm here to protect you, obviously."
Ty looked at the other man. Songbird had armour on. It was thin and light, but still armour. Ty's eyes wandered to the double-sided sword on Songbirds waist. Ty sighed and looked ahead, his eyes glimpsing a gleam of gold in the distance.
The two continued walking and Ty's thoughts wandered. He didn't notice he was in a town until Songbird caught his shoulder. Ty looked back at Songbird, who had a hand on his sword. Ty looked to where Songbird's eyes were focused: A dark, shadowy figure with golden eyes was looking at him, its long, shiny, white teeth pulled into a smile. Ty shuddered and Songbird's hand fell from his shoulder to his hand. Ty took it out of fear and let Songbird lead him along the path.
When they were out of view of the figure Ty let out a sigh.
"Blasted Estrids. Always lurking about", Songbird grumbled as he loosened his grip on Ty's hand slightly.
"What was that thing?", Ty asked, voice quiet.
"I thought you knew about them?", Songbird said, "Anyway, Estrids are creatures of death. They follow people who are supposed to be dead. They make survivors lives' a living hell."
"Do they all look like that?"
"Yes and no. Every Estrid has a different eye colour, but they all have those teeth and claws."
Ty thought back to the Estrid.
"So, they're like angels of death or something?"
"I guess. Though, they're more like those Grim Reaper things that those humans on Terra are always talking about."
"Okay, and you are kind of like my guardian angel?"
"Yeah, well, I am an angel. And I guard you. So I guess the title of Guardian Angel would be appropriate."
"So, I'm the Prince of the Aether?"
"Yes. How many times do we have to tell you? You have a seat next to the father and everything."
"Oh, sorry…"
"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. It slipped out and I shouldn't have said it."
They walked in silence for a time, until they began to approach a large pair of gates. Ty looked up at the top of the gates and reached out a hand to touch them.
"I guess this is goodbye then", Songbird said, his eyes lowering to the path.
"What? Why?", Ty asked.
"Well you have to go down to Terra now, don't you?"
"Oh, yeah…"
Songbird took a couple of steps forward and held his arms out. Ty took a step towards Songbird and wrapped his arms around Songbird's neck.
"Will I remember this when I wake up?", Ty whispered to Songbird.
"I'm not sure, Prince."
"Please, just call me Ty."
Songbird wrapped his arms around Ty's waist and pulled Ty closer to him. After a few minutes had passed, Songbird let Ty go. Tears streamed down Songbird's face as he watched Ty walk towards the gate.
"I'll see you soon, Prin-Ty."
"Why would I see you soon?", Ty asked as he pulled the gate open.
"So forgetful. But, I'll keep my promise. 'Don't come down unless I'm in trouble.' You remember your promise to me too, don't you? Or did you forget already?"
"What promise? We made a promise?"
"Yeah, we did. You promised you wouldn't die. 'Don't die', were my exact words."
"'Don't die', why? I don't get it?"
"You will eventually, but for now, 'Don't die', okay?"
"I think I can manage that. Bye Songbird."
"Goodbye, Ty."
And Ty fell, down, down, down into darkness.
Ty startled awake. Breathing heavily, he looked around. No Songbird in sight. He let some tears fall and felt an arm wrap around his shoulders.
"Ty, what's wrong?", Sky asked, confused and concerned for his friend.
Ty turned and grabbed Sky's shirt. He leant in and cried into Sky's chest, his tears falling as the memory of Songbird and the Aether replayed over and over in his head.