And I am back from my latest, several month mini hiatus between chapters. School is done now, but Elden Ring and Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga demanded a lot of attention.
Hopefully, updates will pick up from here. But no guarantees, it all depends on when I have my strokes of inspiration for writing this.
Queen Saffali made her descent Thorntail Hollow, having flown in from the direction of the Cloudrunner Fortress, surrounded by guards. Though she insisted on coming alone, feeling she would be safe and to not make a show of force to her prospective allies she was meeting with. Her guards begged to differ and accompanied her anyways. After her capture, the royal guard was hesitant to send her anywhere on her own, as the loss of her could fracture the whole tribe. Seeing their point, she allowed the guard to follow her on this measure.
Landing next to the river by the Warpstone, she folded her wings and looked around, as her two guards followed suit. Glancing around, she noticed several Thorntails grazing about. Some looked up from their leisure and glanced at her in surprise. To see a regal figure as her causally appear out of nowhere was something of a shock, but most only glanced for a few seconds before going about their business.
Knowing she needed directions, Saffali walked over to the nearest Thorntail and addressed them.
"Greetings. I am Queen Saffali, of the Cloudrunners. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." She said, mainting her queenly demeanor. The Thornail looked a bit surprised but did his best to bow.
"Greetings, you grace. Is there something I could do for you?" The Thorntail asked.
"Indeed. I am here on a diplomatic mission. I need to speak to your queen and elder. Could you be so kind as to point us in the right direction?" She inquired.
"Certainly." The Thorntail said with a turn. He turned his head in the direction of the elder's cave.
"Towards the north end of the hollow, Elder Bardon has his cave. Queen Thera is waiting inside, for your arrival, as far as I have heard. There should be some Earthwalkers soldiers posted outside." He explained..
Thanking the Thorntail, Saffali and her guards walked over there. She took the time to mentally brace herself. She had not spoken in a number of years. The last time had been after an incident involving a skirmish between patrols. It had been a heated discussion then. But times were different, maintaining her calm and collected ways, she walked until she saw the cave the Thorntail was speaking about, with Soldiers out front. Her guards stepped forward to greet the pair, though they each carried a hostile gait and demeanor. The feeling was mutual amongst the Cloudrunner guards. There was little love between these tribes, but everyone present knew the importance of this meeting.
"Greetings. I am Captain Theron. Queen Thera is inside." An Earthwalker soldier said to her. "But we ask you leave your guards outside." He added, in a calm but edged tone.
The foremost Cloudrunner guard glared at him. "Why would we leave our queen at-" But he was silenced by a raise of Saffali's wing.
Theron huffed. "Queen Thera ordered the same of us. She wants there to be no show of force." He respondrf. Saffali sighed and nodded.
Before going in, she turned to her own guards. 'You two remain out here. Remember, you are representing your entire tribe in this mission. You are not to say a word out of line to the Earthwalkers, understood?' She said sternly. Both guards bowed and nodded.
Saffali turned and entered the cave, walking into it until she saw the forms of Queen Thera and Elder Bardon sitting. They both starred at her, Thera's expression neutral while Bardon's was welcoming. The elder spoke first.
"Queen Saffali, it is an honor to to have you here. I am not sure we have met before, but I am Bardon, Elder of the Thorntail tribe. Welcome to the our hollow." The elder greeted the queen politely. She bowed in return and spoke.
"Thank you for having me here, Elder Bardon. As you are aware, I am Queen Saffali, here on behalf of my tribe." She said, elegantly. She then turned to the queen Earthwalker, who maintained a neutral expression. Though her face would not betray the thought, Saffali could tell from her body language that the Thera was on edge, likely worried about saying something out of line. Saffali would have said something to assure her, but she too shared their apprehension. This was a fragile alliance they were about to form. Even if the leaders of the tribe did not exactly hate one another, hatred still lingered in the hearts of the two species. It would not be easily undone.
Yet, the two queen both knew the direness of the situation at hand. This alliance was necessary. As such, Thera cleared her throat and made to address her fellow queen.
"Greetings, Queen Saffali. I believe you are aware of who I am already. In place of my husband, I, Queen Thera, speak for my tribe." She spoke with gravity to her voice. Thought the king Earthwalker would normally be the highest authority in the tribe, command fell to Thera while her husband was not present. She would have to run this decision by him when he was freed, but for now, she knew there was no time to waste. She would have to speak with him later, this alliance was needed now.
"I believe we have much to discuss." She began.
"On the contrary, I have nothing to argue about. I have thought about my decision for some time now. I believe it in both our tribe's interests to see this alliance through." Saffali said. Thera smiled.
"Then we are in agreement." Thera stated.
Saffali than thought of something. "What of the king? Will he honor this alliance?" Saffali asked.
"I will see to it that he does." Thera stated.
"And what of after the war?" Saffali inquired.
Thera sighed. "I hope to maintain it. It will take more… negotiation. And I would require my husband's input on that matter. Though the war time calls for me to take authority while he is gone, I cannot make a decision such as that without his input. We rule as equals, after all. Rest assured, he trusts my judgment." Thera affirmed.
Saffali nodded. The royal dinosaurs left the cave soon after this, to make the announcement to their guards, and to spread word. Coming out of the cave, the queens were greeted by their respective guards, as well as a number of Thorntails. Saffali stepped forward to speak.
"Let it be known that the alliance between Earthwalkers and Cloudrunners is now official. From hence forth, we are allies." She spoke with authority in her voice.
"It is time for us to overlook our prejudice and focus on our common enemy. Only together, can we hope to overcome the Sharpclaw once and for all." Thera chimed in.
The respective Earthwalkers and Cloudrunner present bowed to their queens, and nodded. The nearby Thorntails cheered, hope surging through them.
The crowd dissipated soon after, going to talk amongst their friends. The Cloudrunner guards were dismissed for a second, to collect food, as were the Earthwalker soldiers. Bardon left to speak with his tribe members, while the two queens departed soon after, not exchanging any more words.
Saffali took the moment to herself to collect her thoughts. She was glad the negotiations had gone smoothly. She had not known Thera to well personally, only having met her on a few brief occasions in years past. The most recent time had been several years back, after a skirmish on the border of a territory. She had exchanged only a few words back then, mainly having spoken to the king Earthwalker.
She bared no ill towards Thera, but could not help but wonder what she saw in her husband. From what Saffali saw, Albada was prejudiced against Cloudrunners, only negotiating peace to avoid spilling his tribes blood needlessly. As far as other tribes described him, he was a noble king who cared for his subjects. Heck, Saffali could attest that he did indeed. Yet, to her and the Cloudrnners, he was a bigot with a deep-seated hatred for the Cloudrunners. Why, she was never too certain, though she guessed it had to do with that war between the two tribes all those years ago. All Saffali did know was that she would have to walk on eggshells with him.
Saffali's thoughts soon drifted to recent events. The attack on her fortress had been the wake up call she needed to just how dire the situation was. To think she nearly lost her home, her tribe, what was left of her family…
She shudder at the thought of her daughters and sons being skewed and served as a delicacy to the Sharpclaws. They were infamous for eating some of their prisoners. They were carnivores, after all. She shook that thought and focused on the other thing that had plagued her mind.
Revallos' assault opened old wounds for her. She could barely contain her anger at the sight of him, when they encountered each other in recent days. To think he was shallow enough to sell out his own tribe. Though, maybe she should not have been surprised. What had added salt to the wounds was the revelations that he had wanted to seek her as a mate. Was this twisted lust for her affection really what drove him to do what he did all those years ago? To murder his own brother? She still could not grasp what caused him to fall so far, after he had been a hero to the tribe for years up until his betrayal and murder of King Regis.
Suffice to say, Saffali was happy to here he was dead. A part of her had wanted revenge for what he did to her and the tribe; and she felt that part satisfied when she saw his body hit the ground of the fortress. Though, maybe it was not fully satisfied yet.
Revallos had only been a pawn, despite his delusions of grandeur. Scales was the true threat. He had been the power behind the attack on the fortress, and the one who dealt the killing blow to her husband. He was the one behind all this death and misery. Hopefully, with the tribes combining their power, they would be able to end the threat of Scales once and for all.
Saffali was pulled out from her thoughts when she heard heavy footsteps coming her way. She looked up to see a massive Snowhorn in armor, followed by a younger female. It took her second to recognize them.
"Ah, Queen Saffali, is that you?" The older Snow horn inquired, his aged voice commanding an air of authority around him. In response, Saffali looked up at him, the Snowhorn towering over her standing height. Yet despite that, she was at ease.
"Ah, Gerunda Te. It been a long time." The queen greeted the Snowhorn gatekeepr with a bow. As the Cloudrunners were all about grace, a bow was customary for her. Te laughed a bit, but did his best to return the gesture.
"No need for formalities." He said, with a laugh.
"Father, this is a queen. I would argue quiet the opposite." A younger female voice sounded from beside him. Belina Te turned her gaze to the queen before her.
"Greetings, your highness. It's a pleasure to meet you." She stuttered for a bit. "Er, well again, I mean." Belina said. Belina had only met Saffali once before, years ago, when she were younger. It had been a meeting of the gatekeepers. But years had passed since the last meeting had needed to be called; though the current circumstances might demand another be held.
"Its quite alright. Its good to see my fellow gatekeepers again." Saffali responded, shifting to the role of gatekeeper, as opposed to a queen for a bit. Not that the duties were much less demanding then her role as queen.
"What brings you here, Gerunda?" She inquired.
"Alliance meeting. I planned to meet with queen Thera about, well, an alliance of our forces. You see, after our outworlders friends freed me, and later the mines, Belina and I lead a revolt that saw the Sharpclaw kicked out of our territory. The bastion of Sharpclaw left in the mines were also dealt with."
Belina smiled. "After that, we reconciled." She added.
"Over what?" Saffali asked.
Gerunda sighed. "Lets just say I might not have made the best choice when it came to dealing with Scale's demands." He sighed. "Belina thought otherwise."
"Scales demanded we submit to him, and info about the Spellstone, or he would wipe us out. Father refused, but I caved to his demands, to advert our tribe's destruction."
Saffali was a bit bewildered and starred at Te. "You would have sacrificed you tribe!?"
"As I said, I was a fool. Scales would have take the stone any ways, I now realize." The older Snowhorn sighed.
"Rest assured, we both learned our lessons." Belina added.
"Krystal and Fox acted as liaisons for us, of a sort. It helped to have a third party to… console each of us." He added. "But I digress; I have more business to discuss with you." He added, catching Saffali's attention.
"Your daughter mentioned to you that I purposed an alliance of our forces, yes?" He inquired.
Saffali nodded.
"Good. So, we need not waste time with prattle. The Earthwalker soldiers across the hollow told me you already finalized an alliance with Thera. And with my forces added to the mix, we stand a chance of completely crushing the Sharpclaw." He added. "So, do you accept?"
Saffali answered without hesitation. "I see no other course of action. I accept your proposal." She stated.
Gerunda smiled . "Good. I will add, I was worried it might take a bit of persuasion to get you and Thera on board with this." He added. " I am a bit surprised you agreed so quickly."
Saffali gave a distant look, before answering him. "After what happened to the Walled City, and recently my home, I would be a fool not to."
Belina raised a brow. "Cloudrunner fortress was attacked?! Are you and the others alright?"
"Yes, but it was freed recently, thanks to Fox and Krystal's efforts." She said simply, not wanting to recount the losses of life suffered by her tribe.
"They truly are friends to Sauria, it seems." Belina added.
Saffali nodded, before Gerunda Te spoke up again.
"Forgive me, but we must excuse ourselves. I need to have a word with Queen Thera. I trust you have your own matters to attend." He stated.
Indeed, Saffali did. She had to send word out to her forces about the official recognition of the alliance of the tribes of Sauria. And get thing in Cloudrunner fortress in order.
"Yes, I do. I will see my self off then." She said, as she bowed goodbye and excused herself, leaving the Snowhorns to their business. There was much work to be done. For now, though, she would have to retrieve her guards and arrange scouting parties to send word to the forces across Sauria.
With a final glance at the Snowhorns, she spread her wings and took flight.
(Meanwhile, in another part of Lylat)
In a far corner of Lylat, at a in a decrepit spaceport, centered in a meteor belt, a blue pheasant lay in a motel bed, starring vacantly at the television. A show news report played, though he hardly paid it much mind. From what he did hear, when he bothered listening to it, he heard discussion of another Venomain hold out on Fortuna, and General Pepper leading a campaign to wipe it out. Just the usual news cycle, really, in the years since the Lylat wars had ended. The pheasant looked at the clock on the table near him. He noted it to be about 10 pm. In times passed, he would have been doing… something other than lying half-awake in some crappy motel. Sometimes, he might be at a bar or something at this time, living it and partying. Other times, he would have been out on a mission. Mercenary work was technically a 24/7 work shift, after all. They were always on call. Or had been. The pheasant could not help but start recalling the event of the past few years.
Had been. That's all he could think about. What he used to be doing, before this… hole he found himself in. He was a golden boy during the Lylat Wars. He and the rest of the Star Fox team had been hailed as heroes. What a thrill it had been, to blast thew so many bad guys, engaging in dog fights. After the war, the contracts did not stop lining up; Corneria had no shortage of contracts to offer, on pirates or former Venomian soldiers, turned to gang leaders, war lords, and what not. The money kept piling in. But it was impermanent.
The team kept upgrading their equipment and vehicles, burning through money quickly. Eventually, the higher paying contracts burned up too. Star Fox helped bring the Venomian remnants under control, at least enough for the Cornerian military to train new personal and a rebuilt itself, over the course of a few years. Star Fox was basically their personal attack hound for a time; they threw money at the team to deal with a problem and Star Fox, in their efficiently and high skill, eliminated the problem. This went on for a year and a half or so, buying the Cornerian forces and their time to get things back under control.
Sometime later, the team started taking more and more 'mundane' contracts, like security work or pirates, but lesser ones. Eventually, the team was hired by a Cornerian captain named Sears, who needed helped with some Venomian remnants. Unfortunately, things were not so simple.
Falco groaned to himself, as he recalled what led to his fall out with Fox.
Supposedly, the remnants were trying to clone Andross, to reignite the Lylat Wars or something. Sears claimed that a certain outlaw, Katt Monroe, had been working with them. Right off the bat, Falco knew something was up; he knew Katt to be on the shady side of things, but never one to work for Andross.
In truth, Sears manipulate the situation to turn Fox and Falco against each other. He pulled strings and escalated things between the two, starting with arguments over Katt's role in this. Things got heated as Sears falsified more and more evidence about her role with the remnants. Of course, it eventually came to light that he was mole for them and had been manipulating the whole thing. Katt got involved in a fire fight with the Star Fox team, having been tricked herself.
Eventually, they all grew wise and caught onto Sears. The Venomian remnant was dealt with and Sears was killed later, but it had torn Falco in two to see his friends trying to kill one another. Kate had been his partner in crime for a number of years, before he joined Star Fox. He and Fox had many arguments over the situation as things progressed.
Though they knew the causes, the damage had been done. Falco escalated arguments between himself and Fox for awhile. A tension had been formed, and he had been too stubborn to admit he was wrong.
The incident with Sears was a catalyze, more than anything, for his departure from Star Fox. Other than that, the repeated dead ends jobs the team kept taking since wore on Falco's patience. Eventually, the tediousness of the jobs and the unresolved tension with Fox spurred him to leave.
Fox and the others bid him farewell and assured him that they had no hard feelings. It was only until recently that Falco realized he himself did.
A year passed since he left, and he slowly realized how impulsive and stubborn he had been in these arguments. Thing was, he was still too stubborn to admit that to Fox. For most of that year, he drifted aimlessly from planet to planet, taking small jobs and such. It was tedious and aimless, but at least he had his own spending cash. A lot of his pay in Star Fox found its way back ot the team's equipment, whether it be Falco's or not.
But, if his current situation was any reminder, he was truly hitting a dead end. How he missed his friends on the team and adventures they shared. Sure, he could have rolled with Katt for a bit, but he had not heard from her since the whole Sears incident.
Now, here he was, sitting in a crappy bed, in a crappy motel, in a crappy space port, in nowhere. Wanting to take his mind off the boredom and dead end hole he was in, he opened a phone on the side of his bed, hoping to find a video on the internet.
"Its not like an adventure is just going to appear out of nowhere." He reminded himself.
That's when he noted something of interest. In his message box, he had a notification. Intrigued, since he had few friends to contact, he opened it.
His eyes lit up. It was a message from Peppy, requesting his help. He read the contents, mentioning a mission to Sauria and an escalating threat from something called the Sharpclaw.
A grinned formed on his beak. He shot off the bed and made to grab his luggage right away. He barely even needed a second to ponder his answer.
He had been waiting for an excuse to go back to Star Fox for awhile now. And now he had it: a request for help, promise of high pay, and plenty of excitement to be had. That, and well he got to see his friends again. His thrill-seeking impulses aside, he would go to any length to aid his friends, whatever arguments they had in the past. Beside, not like he had anything else to do with his life.
Within minute, he packed up his belongings, a few shirts, a blaster pistol, and other clothes, as well as his wallet, into his suit case and checked out of the motel with haste.
The short walk to the hanger gave him a moment the consider the mission he was about to take part in.
Sauria, he was only vaguely familiar with. The only things he knew was that it was famous for its dinosaurs, and it was on the far reaches of Lylat, but kept the orbit of a few nearby planets intact; planets under the Cornerian governments jurisdiction. If the place were to explode, well…
He shuddered at the thought of all the lives lost. His thoughts then drifted to the intel Peppy left; a fledgling army of lizards with Venomian tech. Typical stuff for the Star Fox team, really. Then he wondered something. Would he be willing to rejoin the team.
"Sure, why not?" He thought. He knew his arguments would mostly be water under the bridge anyways. He would own up and that would be that.
Arriving at his Arwing, which had faded in paint color due wear and tear overtime, he put his belongings in the storage compartment, and punched in the coordinates of Sauria.
His ship had been modified by Slippy to handle long distances more. With any luck, he would make to Sauria in a few days. He may have to make a few stops to refuel, but he was sure he could make it.
Undocking the ship and flying away from the spaceport, he barely spared the run down port a glance as he activated the G Diffusor system and shot out of there.
Kyte sat perched on a log, watching her friends slowly begin to fall asleep. It had been a long day of travel, and battle, for Fox Krystal and Randorn. They tour through the ruins had been enlighting, at least for the outworlders. After the tour through the ruins were done, the exhaustion of the day finally caught up to the group. Though they wanted to go talk to the Cloudrunners, the urgency of the situation had dissipated after an Earthwalker scout reported they had driven back the Sharpclaw. Too tired to even think walking over to that end, the group decided to rest for the night, under a temple ruin's roof.
She surveyed her surroundings, noting Tricky fast asleep, next to Fox, who was on that device on his wrist doing something. A 'PDA', Kyte recalled him calling it. Krystal, meanwhile, sat across from him, looking over her staff. Kyte was sitting on a log they had pulled over for her, to perch on. She was left alone for the moment, which left her with her thoughts.
Though she said nothing to her friends, the events of the attack on her home had left their mark on Kyte. It was traumatic to see so many of her friends and subjects locked up in their own home, beaten and tortured. To say nothing of seeing her mother nearly die, only to be captured herself. Worse yet, was the presence of…. Him.
Revallos. The traitor. The one who killed her father. Kyte nearly spat at the thought of him.
She did her best to compose herself when facing him, but just the sight of her evil uncle reopened old wounds. Memories of her earlier childhood flooded back, all throughout that chase with Revallos.
Though she was only a toddler, or hatchling as her species called its youngsters, she was forced to relive the memory of that day. The memories surged through her mind once again, as she tried in vain to stop herself from reliving them.
(Flashback)
"Mommy, where is daddy? Is he almost back yet?" The younger Kyte had asked her mother, who was trying to wrangle her. They had been in the palace bed chambers, or Cloudrunner equivalent.
Saffali had been devastated when she got the news from her brother, who at the time had been an officer in the Cloudrunner army. She had already informed her tribe and was awaiting Revallos be brought to the courtyard, and be publicly beaten and exiled. Though some may see a public beating as brutal, as Saffali normally would attest, Revallos committed the most cardinal sin anyone could have, as far as their tribe saw it. There was no greater betrayal, to family and tribe. He would be made to pay. Children were not permitted to see this, of course, especially not the princess. But they would learn of this betrayal.
Which led Saffali to where she had been at this moment. She tried her best to hide it from Kyte, who was too young to even understand the concept of death. Saffali tried to mask Regis' absence, but her faltering demeanor failed her.
"Kyte, darling, he… you see-" Saffali had stuttered.
"Is he just playing hide and seek? Do I need to count?" Kyte asked innocently, blind to the crushing reality.
Saffali's heart sank. She could not say it. Her husband, her king, the love of her life, father of her children… was gone. And Kyte did not seem realize what this meant. No more seeing him after a long patrol, no more playing with their daughter together, no more… Saffali could not hold back tears any more.
"Mommy? Why are you so sad? He's just hiding, right? Don't worry I will find him." Kyte said with a smile.
Saffali could not take it anymore. Breaking any semblance of queenly demeanor, she cast it to the wind for a bit and seized her daughter in her wings, crying profusely.
"Dear, he's not… h-he's not hiding." She said, choked by tiers.
"Oh. That's ok. Maybe he's just a bit late?" Kyte asked, her smile fading.
"Darling, he's… not coming back." Saffali sputtered, unable to explain it to her.
Something in the younger Kyte's mind clicked, and she cried instantly.
"I am so sorry, my dear." Saffali said, holding the embrace for some time more after that."
(End Flashback)
Kyte shuddered again. The pain that had followed for long after that was something it took her a long time to understand. It had just been so sudden for her back then; one day, her whole family is fine, and she even had siblings on the way, the next moment, its shattered. In one sentence, her world is turned upside down. She was not even given the full explanation until she was older, but some how, even back then, she knew it meant he was gone. Her beloved father was no more; from that moment onward there had been a hole in her heart, and a kind of grief she could only barely comprehend.
And a formerly beloved uncle had been the one who had dealt it.
That was the thing about Revallos, the fact that he had been family was what stung the most for Kyte. That family could murder family, she found it inconceivable that she was related to someone like him. Her fond memories of him from earlier childhood had long since been tarnished and discarded. She had little love for him.
Yet, despite everything, seeing him dead, and killed by her other uncle, and friend… it was weird.
Of course, Kyte knew Revallos was evil and hated him, but something in the back of her mind was disturbed. Disturbed to see family kill family, and to be with someone who had also taken a family members life.
She did not blame Krystal and Kree, nor did she resent them. Or at least she thought not. They had saved her again by doing this but…
She was left with pain and feelings of anguish she did not understand. Pain just at the sight of Revallos, and the physical reminder of the pain inflicted on her family by him, anguish at having to see family kill family, warranted or not. She was young, and off put by death, of course. She had witnessed it a number of times now, but this was different.
Life on Sauria could be brutal. Even as children, Saurians would have to accept death as a part of life sometimes; whether it be from predator or enemy. Seeing the cruel Sharpclaw killed, knowing what they did to her tribe and others, it didn't leave as much impact on Kyte as it her own tribe members or allies. But this was different. And Kyte could not even figure out how she felt, or why she did feel this way. Krystal saved her and was a friend, almost an older sister by this point, right? She should not resent her for this, but…
"You ok, Kyte?" Krystal voice sounded from next to Kyte, shaking her from her thoughts. She jumped in surprise, before laughing and smiling at Krystal.
"Oh, you surprised me." The young girl muttered, looking down again.
Krystal gave her smile but flashed her a concerned glance. "Are you alright? You've been looking at the ground for awhile now. I haven't read your mind, of course, but I can see something bothering you." The vixen said gently. Kyte shot her a nervous smile.
"What makes you say that?" She said, trying to dodge the question.
"You've been silent since the end of the tour through the ruins." She noted. "Its not like you to do so."
Kyte sighed. "Ok, you got me. I… I really don't know." She explained.
Krystal inched closer, and leaned in. "Don't know what? Kyte, you know you can tell me anything." She stated, trying to get Kyte to open up.
"I… its-its about Revallos and the attack on my home." Kyte sighed.
"Go on." Krystal urged her.
"Ever since I saw him. It opened old wounds. Memories I wanted to forget." She began. "But that's not all."
Krystal could sense were she was going.
"Its… strange to know uncle Kree killed another member of our family. And that…" The child sighed.
"I had a hand in it." Krystal finished the girl's statement. Kyte nodded solemnly and looked away. Krystal put her hand on Kyte's should and sighed.
"Kyte, I am sorry. " She began, before stopping. She barely had any idea how to rationalize, or justify, the death of a relative, to a child. Sure, Revallos was vile, and had it coming, and was already hated by Kyte and her family, but it was still a strange feeling. Krystal was beginning to peace together what Kyte was thinking.
"Don't be. It was… there was no other way. And he was already lost long ago…" Kyte trailed off. She looked down at the ground, her thoughts slowly becoming more coherent as she talked, but still difficult to ascertain and put into words.
"That's not what bothers you most about him, is it?" Krystal said. Sure knew of Revallos betrayal and murder of Kyte's father, she had read his mind and had been informed, of course. She might have been stating the obvious, but she felt it was needed.
"He's a reminder of the losses my family suffered." Kyte said, in a solemn tone.
Krystal had worried as much. She could not say she knew what it was like to have family kill another, but she understood people or things could serve ahs mental triggers past trauma. The subconscious projection and association individuals placed on things was a cognitive issue even she wasn't immune too.
"Does… does it bring back any specific memories?" Krystal inquired. Kyte nodded.
"It reminds me of…" The girl trailed off.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Krystal assured the girl.
Kyte sighed again. "Thanks but… I feel it would help." She stated, before taking a deep breath.
"I keep thinking back to the day it happened. I was really little. I remember mother being in tears, and on the verge of break down. I remember her hugging me and crying, while I thought dad was just playing a game with us or something." She went on.
"I-I remember that she could barely break the news to me. She only said he wasn't coming back, yet somehow, I knew he was gone…" Kyte said, tears forming in her eyes.
"It- it was only years later when she explained what happened in full. That Revallos had done it. For so long, I had this void in my heart; t-this feeling that something was missing." She said, as tears continued to fall.
Unable to bare seeing the girl like this, Krystal took Kyte in her arms and caressed her cheek, doing her best to comfort the child. Slowly, she pet Kyte on the crest, keeping her locked into a hug for a solid minute. After a bit, Kyte wiped the tears from her eyes, and returned the gesture to Krystal, wrapping her wings around the vixen.
"Thank you…" She muttered. Krystal nodded, and held the embrace for some time more, before Kyte let go. She looked down at Kyte, who was still on her lap.
"You don't have to keep going if it makes you unconformable." She told the girl. Kyte shook her head.
"No, no, I-I feel a bit better… just talking." She said, before she went on.
"Its… I didn't know what to do for a while after that. All I remember is my world changed. Mother was scarcer, having to take on more duties for the tribe with my father gone. Its not that I never got to see her at all, or that she didn't spend time with me and such, but it was far less frequent. My younger siblings hatched soon after, and I felt joy. But even when they were born, its still felt like something was missing." Kyte explained.
Krystal nodded, listening intently as Kyte spoke more.
"Uncle Kree tried filling in for our father, I guess. He was often busy too, but he still went out of his way to try to play with us in the afternoons. It was… always nice to have him around. Especially when mother was busy. Sometimes I would go a full day without seeing her." Kyte said with a frown. "My brothers and sister were always with me at least, though. I only had so many friend outside of them, since the rest of the chicks felt offput by my royal statis." Kyte explained. She glanced down at the floor again, still on Krystal lap.
"The pain faded over time, but I still always felt something was missing…" She muttered again, tears slowly forming.
"And Reavllos was the catalyze for all that." Krystal summarized. Kyte looked up at the vixen, and nodded quietly.
"Kyte, I think I understand what makes it hurt so much." Krystal stated, looking Kyte in the eyes. "His reappearance after so long… it reminded you of the pain you felt for so long." She stated, hoping to help the girl compartmentalize her thoughts.
" I thought I had moved on. But, I-I d-didn't…" Kyte stammered, tears forming again. Krystal only hugged her tighter in response. She let Kyte cry for a bit, letting her emotions out. Despite whatever status her family held in life, and whatever background or power Krystal had, she knew they were each only people, after all. And Kyte, only a child.
Krystal knew pain. Not precisely what this girl was feeling, but she understood the concept. It was funny to Krystal; how she could literally have read Kyte's thoughts and emotions, yet still barely be able to relate. The best she could do is console the poor girl, and try her best. Krystal knew the loss of family, but not the sting of betrayal.
Kyte cried for a solid two minutes, before she regained her composure. As she did, she spoke more, but still stuttered.
"Seeing him was like- reopening a wound." She said, the tears slowly drying in her eyes. "I-I never think I could fully move on. I only knew my father for so long, yet I loved him dearly. I barely was able ot talk about it to anyone who could relate." Kyte stated.
"Mother was only around so often, and just mentioning it made her sad; I never wanted to bring it up with her. Kree did his best, but he… I think it was easier for him. He knew loss better than I did, he sees it routinely, in his position. And my siblings… they never knew dad to begin with .They felt bad for me, but they could only offer a respite. I've had this in the back of my mind for so long, I barely even…" Kyte inhaled, her breathing going faster.
Krystal merely shushed her, and soothingly stoked her crest. She could not offer Kyte the consolation she truly needed; she knew. The best she could do was listen, and console her to the best she could. Krystal did know now Kyte had been bottling up her emotions; allowing her to vent and offering support and comfort were the best Krystal could do.
As Krystal calmed Kyte, Fox got up and sat on the log next to the pair. He had said nothing for awhile now, but he had been listening intently. He did not say anything, for fear of exuberating Kyte's anguish, or interrupting. He knew little about Kyte's family dynamics. He could not read minds like Krystal; nor was he as good with kids as she was. He worried if he interjected, it might make the situation worse.
But as he listened, he came to understand a bit more about how Kyte felt. He realized it was a feeling he knew all too well.
The sting of betrayal and the murder of a parent. Two unholy traumas no one should ever have to face; a and yet, like him, this young girl had felt it. And been forced to ignore it for so long. Sure she had help through her grief, from what Fox heard, but its hard to truly move past it, even with the aid of loved ones.
Perhaps, he could be of assistance.
Fox looked at Krystal, who nodded, giving her unspoken approval to interject. Fox put his hand on the poor girl's shoulder, inciting her to look up at him.
"Um, Kyte… I am not the best with words, but… I think I understand how you feel." He said, trying to phrase it in a half-decent manner. For all his talents, he was only so good at consoling others. He had to pick his words carefully.
Kyte starred at him with a vacant expression, her eyes unreadable. She said nothing, as if waiting for Fox to say more.
"I… I won't say I know the half of everything that went down. But… I have been listening. Losing your father like that… to a someone close. I've been there." He began.
Kyte remained silent, but nodded, as if telling him to continue.
"I might have mentioned something about it before, but I lost my father to a betrayal, years ago." The vulpine stated.
After a few seconds, Kyte silently asked: "What happened?"
Fox sighed, painful memories taking over his mind. "He was on a team, with my mentor Peppy and a friend of theirs named… Pigma." He said, nearly spitting at the mere mention of that swine.
"They were on a mission together, but Pigma betrayed them. He led them into an ambush by… an enemy of theirs. Dad was killed, but Peppy escaped and told me what happened." Fox said, skipping out on some of the details.
"I felt a loss in my heart for years. And still do. Like what you feel, I think." He said, unsure of his phrasing but seeing a similarity.
"Why did he do it?" Kyte asked silently.
Fox sighed. "Promises of money and power. Personal gain."
"Like uncle Revallos." Kyte noted.
Fox nodded , and Kyte inquired more. "Was he close with you and your family, before?"
"He was, actually. Dad and Peppy had known him for years by that point, and they had been good friends. Heck, he had even been nice to me the handful of times I met him. I thought he was friend of the family, but well…." Fox sighed once more. "I guess what I am saying is, its hard losing a parent, but that pain is made even worse when its from someone close to you. It's the kind of thing that never really stops hurting, Kyte. You just learn to live with it over time." He finished.
Kyte looked at him, a forlorn looked in her young eyes. She could only silently nod, before looking down again. She looked to be pondering his words ,as far as Fox could tell. She remained like this for a solid minute. Finally, she looked up and spoke again.
"Th-thank you, Fox. I… I feel a bit better just talking about it." She glanced aside again. "And discussing it with someone who truly understands." She added. "I, think I was fine for a long while. My family comforted me…. I guess its just a bit of a shock seeing the one who is responsible for it, that's all." She said. "Sorry to bother you guys with it." The girl added.
Fox nodded. "Its alright. You don't need to apologize. Trauma can come back when you least expect it, all at once." He said.
Kyte yawned again. "I think I will be fine now. I… need some sleep…" She said, as she began to drift off to sleep in Krystal's arms, her exhaustion catching up to her.
Krystal looked at the young Cloudrunner resting in her grasp. A slight smile formed on her face, as she sensed peace within the girl's mind. She turned her gaze to Fox.
"Thank you for speaking to her. I was… not sure how much I could have really helped with that. I know loss, but her… circumstances were different, than mine." The vixen stated. Her expression, fell however. Fox noted this change in demeanor immediately.
"Why such the long look then? She's ok now, right?" He inquired. "You, ok?"
Krystal nodded but released a sigh. "Yes, but… it can't believe I missed it." She muttered. Fox raised a brow.
"I can read minds, yet I didn't even bother ot check on her well being after the fortress incident. I should have known there would be something more. Some guardian I am." Krystal berated herself.
Fox inched over and put his hand on her shoulder. "Don't say that, you have done a great job caring for her. Its on me too, for not checking in on her as well." He added.
Krystal shrugged. "I guess, but… I just wish I had known sooner. I scanned her mind a second ago, Fox. She's been thinking about this since we got back to the planet. She has just been doing a good job a hiding it in her demeanor." Krystal sighed again.
Fox was unsure what to say. He was trying his best, but he could only do so much. Kyte's hidden emotions slipped past him as well. Regardless, he didn't want Krystal to doubt herself.
"Hey, look at me Krystal." He said, getting her vixen's attention. "We aren't perfect, but we all try our best. Its all we can, ya know? Don't berate yourself for every failure you make. Just learn from it and move on." He finished.
Krystal reflected on his words for a second, before nodded again. "Thank you, Fox. But that's enough for one night. We should get some rest; I get the feeling we will have a long day ahead of us." She said, with a yawn.
Fox nodded. "Good night, then." He said, finishing the conversation. He retreated to his sleeping bag, and fell asleep soon after, exhaustion from the whole day catching up to him as well.
Krystal followed suit soon after, staying in a sitting position to not disturb Kyte. Following this, she fell asleep, lulled into a peaceful rest by the tranquil jungle and night sky.
Author's note: Yeah, I had a hard time giving Falco a valid reason for leaving without making him or the rest of the Star Fox team look too unsympathetic; I hope this was plausible enough. But I already mentioned Sears and had to explain that somehow, and tie it to Falco's reason for leaving.
Hope the shift away from Sauria did not distract too much from the story. I want to keep it focused, but just wanted to show Falco's take on all this, to paint his arrival in a more clear light.
As for the bit with Kyte, I wanted Revallos' death to have an impact on the characters, and lead to room for development. Also, I am trying to work on being more descriptive in my style of writing. I will admit now that I was mesmerized by absolutely enthralled by the writing style USEChairman's Star Fox Adventures: Reimagining. In brief, the attention to detail and novel-like method the writer employed was captivating enough for me, that I keep revisiting that story often; and is half the reasons I wrote this one( since that story might not get an update for a long time, I want this to kind of fill the void of that one left. I can only hope I can match USEChairman's level of writing prowess.)
Also, I might be going back and making changes to the earlier chapters, to give them more depth. I won't delete any of them and repost; I aim to refine what is already written.
Any who, until next time.