Twilight Night Chapter 9 Echo Chamber
Todd and Breeze flew towards us from their roost and landed on a branch above us. Todd chuckled and said to us.
"You two are in so much gruno Chinook is grounded for a week,"
"For what? He didn't do anything besides staying with us for a couple of minutes." I said, shrugging my shoulder. "That big mouse." I heard Shade muttered under his breath.
"So you guys see it..? You know..?" Breeze asked eagerly as she and Todd lean in for us to say it.
"Todd!" All of us turn and saw the three females as Isis was one of them in the middle while the two are resemble Todd and Breeze. One side that is Breeze's mom that has purple fur with wings along the light purple muzzle and has creamy hair matching her manes with streaks of white above it and has light green eyes just like her daughter. The other that is Todd's mom that called to him was chubby like him with purple fur but unlike Breeze's mom has little bit dark with her wings all purple and has dirty red hair matching her mane along light yellow muzzle with yellow eyes like Todd. All three of them were giving us cold looks but Isis was the one giving us the more icy stare than the two.
"Roost!" Todd's mom strict pointed over towards her roosting. Todd and Breeze didn't hesitate but quickly flew up towards their roost and she turns to us but looked at Ariel and said to her.
"Ariel. This has gone too far,"
"Far too far," Breeze's mom agreed. Isis spread her wings out and flew towards us and roost to were the same length as we were and points at us with her claw.
"You keep those two lawbreakers away from my baby." She snapped.
"Heh, that's a laugh." Shade chuckled for her calling Chinook her baby.
"Shade!" Ariel heard him say that and look at him sternly. "Roost. Now." He heavy sighed and flew towards his roost and then Isis turns to glared at me and added.
"Those boys should've left you out in the woods when they have a chance, furless. I knew you will cause more trouble in our colony." She spread her wings out and flew to join Chinook. I heavy sighed looking down for I know she was right, I did something awful. I was the one that told Shade and his friends about the sun and now he decides to make a dare to catch a glimpse of it. Why did I stop Chinook or convince Shade more? I thought.
"Ashlie, come along." I heard Ariel sighed breaking my trance. I nodded while she lifted herself up and I grabbed her feet. She flew up while carrying me towards their roost and landed on my moss bed that they made for me to sleep in. She landed by me before I got on her knees by my height and cupped my cheek.
"Are you alright, did you get hurt?" She asked and scan around to check to see if I got any scratches or bruises. I shook my head softly didn't say anything not knowing how I can tell her the whole truth.
"Mom she's fine she didn't get hurt," Shade answered almost rolled his eyes on her mother's instinct. Ariel let out a long sigh and looked at her son.
"Shade, you two need to be more extra careful next time but this has gone far enough. You are grounded until we get to Hibernaculum…
"Ariel it's my fault." I couldn't help but speak out not want Shade to take all the blame. She glances back at me puzzled.
"What?"
"Ash it isn't.."Shade tries to help me but I continue on more.
"I-was the one that told Shade and his friends about the sun. He asked me about how my kinds don't stay up like you guys do and told him how the sun shines over the world and such," I took a deep breath and finished. "And I-I even told them they should have rights for their freedom and fight for it…" I watched Ariel looked at me in shock and I hung my head in shame. "I'm so sorry I put all those thoughts on your son please forgive me." I waited for her to respond and I was short of expecting her to be angry for putting her son in this situation but instead to my surprised, she gather me in her wings and hug me gently.
"It's alright you're just answering his questions. You did nothing wrong," She replied softly. I bury my face in her soft mane and couldn't hold back my tears as I let them dropped from my face in her mane. I cried softly which made Ariel embrace me tighter like a mother and hush me softly until I slowly calmed down. I wipe my tears with my finger and saw her look down at me with sympathy.
"We should get some sleep its been a long night." I nodded while I watch her flew up to her roost where Shade is at. I sighed heavily and lay down my moss bed still feel much guilt in my heart that I couldn't bring myself to close my eyes and sleep. I tried to make myself comfortable and pray to God to help me make it through my troubles so I can get a good night's sleep. I heard a soft psst and I peek my shoulder to see Shade still awake.
"Ash, your alright?"
I shook my head and answered sadly. "No. I'm not." He heavy sighed.
"I'm sorry I got you in this, and your right that the owl can hear us." I didn't say a word now having thought an owl saw me in person while we escaped from him. Will he tell his leader about it? or tell his whole species? My mind was filled with these thoughts that I barley known Shade was still speaking to me.
"But I want to thank you for standing up for me earlier with Chinook, you know he could've bitten you"
"Could've would've should've." I joked to lighten up a bit. We both chuckled softly but slowly died in a second I look down somely.
"Shade, maybe telling you about the sun was a bad idea,"
"No Ash it's not your fault," Shade said.
"But I got you into breaking your law!"
"Shh I know." Shade sighed. "But I think Nocturna has a reason for you to come to us and tell us about the sun."
"Really?" I asked looking back at him. He nodded with a smile. "Really really, You might be the human that will help us gain our freedom,"
"I don't know." I lay down and turn towards the out and watch other bats females getting their children to sleep. I caught a glimpse of one mother glaring at me and hold her pup close for protection acting like I'm a threat to them. I didn't want to talk more as I slowly close my eyes and add my prayer of helping me make it through this trouble and help Shade as well. Then it feels like forty minutes have gone by I heard Shade and Ariel talking quietly one another. I couldn't resist to peek my head a bit and saw Shade expression with considered but curious the same. I overheard them talk about his father and when his mother says no one for sure I feel sorry he won't have his dad to go to after we reach hibernaculum. I turn my head sighed heavily with sadness in my tone. Its been over days since I live in their tree haven and have thoughts and worry if my father knows I've been gone that long and was still searching.
I closed my eyes softly not want to think those anymore and soon manage to fell asleep.
"Hey psst! Hey, wake up you three," I heard someone whispered. I opened my eyes slightly and saw Mercury resting above us.
"What is it?" Ariel asked, waking up from her sleep.
"The council of the elders met and they want to see three of you now," Mercury whispered.
"But I thought only the adults can go up there." Shade said.
"Shh! And the one who looked at the sun, so spit wash your face and follow me." He flew up and I waited for Shade and Ariel to get done washing their face with their spit. When their done Ariel lifted herself and grabbed my hands with her feet and we all three flew up towards where the council is and where I was when they decided to let me stay. I saw few bats looking at us and I have to look away from their glance knowing few are still mad at what Shade and I had done. By the time we reach towards the Council's roost Mercury left us. We all glance up towards the elders with Frieda in middle looking down at us while Bathsheba, however, was the one that was giving us deathly stare. Five of them flew down from their roost and landed flat branch above us and I felt my heart hammering in my chest for their thoughts about Shade's action.
"Shade Silverwing steps forward," Frieda begins with her one arm out. Shade didn't hesitate and step forward nervously as Frieda continues. "You have broken the most ancient law of our colony." I realized Shade was staring at her band in awe after it shined across his eyes. She notices and looked at her band for a second and asked. "Do you have an explanation?"
"Just youthful,insurbence and curiously," Ariel said quickly came up by him and wrap her one wing around her. "He only.."
"Curiosity can be the ruin of this colony," Bathsheba interrupted." The owls will want the reputations and quite frantically who could blame them."
"What that's not true!" I almost shout, can't believe she's still on the owl's side instead of helping him. "You can't blame him for being curious about this world we're living in sometimes its good to know what is like around us whenever it's good or bad."
"Shut up furless!" Bathsheba growled. "Have Ariel taught you not to speak the elders until you're given the permission?"
"Silence!" Frieda silenced her and looked at Shade. "Do you have something to say for yourself?"
Ariel shook her head quickly and hold him close to her. "No, he doesn't he's just a boy,"
"Yes, I do." Shade said. We all glance at him while Shade stepped out of her wing with a determining look on his face. "The law is..wrong." Right after he said those words all bats gasps softly and few begin to mutter with worry and anger on their face.
"What?" Bathsheba snarled.
"Shade!" Ariel breathed.
"Let the boy speak," Frieda encouraged him. He turns to me and grabbed my hand and we both walk up a little and was about to continue but again Bathsheba interrupted him.
"Listen you islicent hotspot!" She hopped a little before continuing. "That Law guarantees our existence.."
"Oh for goodness sake give him a chance!" I yelled can't help it felt much annoyance of her preventing him to speak.
"I said shut up!" She snapped at me, Ariel, however, grabbed my arm gently to shushed me.
"Bathsheba Ashlie!" Frieda spoke sternly. She turns to Shade. "Go on," He begins to talk.
"Well, whats with bats seeing the sun? I didn't get turned into the stone. The whole reason we can't go out daylight because of the owls. It's unfair!"
"He's right your colony doesn't deserve to be controlled in your life under owl's law. All of you need to stand up for what you believe it's right for your opinion." I added. Frieda raises her hand to silence us and spoke.
"I heard enough,"
"Indeed," She looked at Bathsheba as she made a declared."We have no choice but to handle those lawbreakers towards the owls. Or else send that human back to the forest where she was found and let nature take her." Ariel gasped and then quickly wrapped her both wings around us for protection.
"What no please Frieda!" She pleaded. I have a horror look on my face never know she could be this cruel that she didn't even care what Ariel feels. "And we should do it now before the owls come to him.' I looked at Ariel and Shade with a fearful look on my face but then I felt my hand being gently squeezed. I looked over at Shade, seeing him giving me comfort look as if through his eyes he's telling everything is going to be alright. I nodded gently and sees Ariel looking desperate not want each of us to be killed due she treats me like I was one of her children.
"I'll take the impropriate actions at impropriate time," I glance back at the elders after Frieda spoke and saw Bathsheba look upset on her decision, huffing with her wings crossed. She spread her wings out and flew down at us gracefully and walk towards us. "Come with me," She spoke to Shade. Then she turns to me. "You two Ashlie."
"Wait what?" I asked, watching her walk away but she turns her head to us to see Ariel still holds on to us. She turns and said to her.
"Ariel. It's good for the colony." My eye lit up with thoughts about her agreeing with Bathsheba and begin to worry. No, she's not..she can't... I looked at Ariel with the hope she's can convince her but she only nods her head and manage to say these words.
"Shade, Ashlie go with Frieda."
Ariel.." I tried to say but she shook her head.
"It's alright, I trust her." She reassured me. I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath before walking with Shade towards Frieda and then Shade lift himself up for me to grab his feet. I wanted to protest he can't carry me but I was too worry and anxious so I let him took my hands. He flew up with me with a grunt as he and Frieda both fly down towards the bottom of the tree haven He puffed and huffed while he carries me down until we both arrived at some underground chamber filled with fog lifting as it has small clear water beneath us. What I'm amazed the most was how the walls were all green smoothly like it has been polished so much over the years. Shade manages to use his bit strength to place me down on the branch that is in the middle and he and Frieda both roosted underneath me.
"Wow," I breathed.
"Where are we?" Shade added, having the same expression as I have.
"This room is called the Echo Chamber," Frieda replied.
"Echo Chamber..?" I asked, and heard my voice echo through this chamber.
She nodded. "This room holds all of our colony's history, some silverwing long dead. The walls of chambers are polished so smoothly they will echo here forever."
"Amazing," I said. "I didn't know you bats are capable enough of this much echo." I gasp softly when I heard someone whispering as if a person was standing by me with its lips by my ear. I looked down and saw Shade has the same thought knowing he hears it too.
"What's that sound?"
"You can hear it?" Frieda looked at him with interest.
"I can hear it too," I added."It sounds like, their whispering of something." She looked at both of us now has a smile on her winkle face and said. "Some from hundred even thousands of migrations ago."
"What are they saying?" Shade asked me.
I shook my head and answered. "I..I don't know. Their all whispering at once it's hard to follow one." I grabbed the up branch near me and saw him glance at Frieda expecting her to answer him but she only answered this.
"You tell me, simply concentrate and listen." She instructed. "Not everyone has the gift," We both did as we were told closing our eyes and use our ears to listen.
"I hear so many voices their all talking at once," Shade said trying to focus.
"Pick one." She smiled. I breathed and did, following what Shade was doing and listen to one and in my mind has to turn into a movie with images come and go and head two voices of male and a female. They begin to tell their tales.
Many seasons pass. At the dawning of the ages.
The birds and the beasts exists without order.
I saw many exotic animals that have gone extinct roaming around through the ground and air. Then I watch the Sabor tooth tiger hunted the small animals.
No ones knew the hunter, without hunted. The male spoke gravely and I saw the image of Sabor tooth tiger being murdered by a giant bird. I swallow hard and listen on.
All creatures struggle for a place without boundaries or loss.
The deer was eaten by a wolf but it was stomped by a bear and then it was killed by another bird. Then to my horrify I saw many birds and beast on the battleground and begin to fight one another roaring and shouting with blood everywhere along fire blazing. I dare to open my eyes but I couldn't want to hear more.
As the war finally raged between the two great kingdoms. The birds and, the beast.
I breathed heavily don't know how long I can take this to watch all the creatures killing one another all because of which of their kingdom is stronger. Then the image changed to bats roosting with all birds and the beast discussing the meeting and the owl and the rest animals declared them to banished into the darkness hiding the cave from the sun.
But we bats, being both, but neither, refused to join the battle.
As the war finally ended the great treaty was forged.
Because we refused to join the battle. The
bird and the beast banished us.
For all eternity. Into the darkness of
the night. We were forbidden ever to see the sun again.
Right after it finished my eyes snapped opened breathing heavily feeling my head spinning. I looked down to see Shade open his eyes as well.
"Is that how we got stuck with the law? That so unfair!" He frowned and crossed his wings. "I hate the owls,"
Frieda tsks. "You must learn to rule your anger not let your anger rule over you, Only foolish deeds will come to that."
"I nodded and added. "She's right Shade even though what happened is wrong you can't hold this grudge forever." Suddenly we heard the wings flapping and saw Mercury flying down to our level.
"Pardon me, Frieda, Brutus the owl commander has arrived." I felt my vein froze after he announces the news and looked down at Frieda and Shade with a fear look on my face.
"Frieda don't let him..please.." I tried to speak but my throat was clogged barley for me to talk.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this child," Frieda spoke softly with a sad look on her face. I sighed heavily want to believe her and look at Shade having the same fear look. Mercury went over towards me and lift himself for me to grab his feet and all of us flew up towards out of the tree haven while I pray to God desperately in my head nothing bad happens.
Author's Note: Hope everyone likes where this is going but if not..DONT READ AND REVIEW IT! DX man so sorry everyone for keeping you all waiting for this been busy with life ^^' but i assure you I will try get this finish up as I can and get going with my sequel for this. ;D Stay tuned for what happens next! XD