Twilight Night Chapter 10: Beginning Migrations
When we left out of the echo chamber I wanted to see this owl to know who he is in person. Shade almost argue with me but Frieda accepts my choice as long as I hide from him. All of us flew out of the tree haven I catch of glimpse of many bats all out roosting while the elders were standing in front of the great horn owl which I guessed correctly its Brutus the owl commander. He has brown and white feather all over him with some tan on his neck along white beard. His both eyes were yellow with brown pupil that made him look intimidating and power. I gulped while Mercury landed me under the branch without him noticing.
"Don't let him see you," He hissed. I nodded and looked at Shade.
"Please be okay." I whispered. He smiled softly and said to me.
"Don't worry everything will be alright, just stay put." I hide under the branch as I watch Frieda and Shade flew up, she landed by Bathsheba and the elders while Shade landed with his friends.
"Bathsheba I'm here now." She said.
The chubby elder smirked. "Frieda I would…
"Please." The leader interrupted. She walks up a bit and glance up towards the owl. "General Brutus please accept my deepest apology for keeping you waiting,"
Brutus looks at her sternly. "Where's the boy?"
"He's over there." Frieda points her thumb claw towards where he is with Todd Breeze and Chinook. The three went away and Ariel flew down and touch his shoulder in protective way.
"And where's that human female that my soldiers mentioned?" He added. I swallowed silently and scoot bit more away.
"A human female?" Frieda questions, pretending she doesn't know. "I don't know what your talking about."
"Don't tense me I know you have her. One of my owl soldiers discovered human clothing that has a small hole that can fit any human dolls." He scowled. "And yesterday my other soldier notices the boy carrying her after he looked at the sun. Frieda was about to protest but Bathsheba cuts in.
"She's here sir," She answered quickly. "She's just hiding we'll bring her to you." My eye went wide and scrunch my body down bit more, trying to blend in with the branch.
"Then where is she? I'm losing my patience." Brutus huffed in annoyed. "I'll have my soldiers to tear down your haven if you don't show me in about ten seconds.."
"She's under there," Frieda sighed in defeat. "Child, please come up." I bite my lips but did as I was told not want to bring more troubles and have some bats help me up. I went by Ariel and Shade and glance up at Brutus and saw his eyes lit up looking bit shocked to see me this tiny, he shook it off his shoulder and glance at Frieda.
"Bring both of them to me, so we can settle this." I felt my heart shaken badly after hearing him talk and scoot close to Ariel. She wrap her other wing around me after I did that while she has her other wing around Shade.
"No." My breath caught short when Frieda answered her question. I even saw Bathsheba looked shocked as well on her refusal while Brutus has the same look.
"Do as I say!" He ordered.
"I will not!" She retorted. I looked at Ariel with hope while she and Shade did the same.
But the owl commander shook his head. "Frieda, such a decision can jeopardize the balance of nature." How the hell that can jeopardize this decision? I thought. Frieda only shook her head and replied to him.
"Brutus, you and I have known in this forest for far too long. You don't really believe that one young bat, glimpsing the sun and the young child that can understand our language, will upset the balance of nature do you? Look into your heart." She pointed her claw over her chest where her heart is but he didn't show any of that but only stern look.
"I will not be manipulated," He answered coldly. "The emotions has no place in executions of the law."
"My points exactly," Bathsheba agreed. "The owls work well with.."
"But what is wrong with those two laws?" I cant help but spoke out before she can finished. All the bats including General Brutus looked at where I am while Ariel looks at me shocked and hissed.
"Ashlie!"
"What is wrong?" Brutus questions, looking at me dumbfounded. "Human do you not understand those law help us though our ways of nature…"
"No it only helps you and your owls!" I snapped. He puffed his feathers in anger, I keep speaking whats on my mind over those laws. "The whole man reason of this stupid laws is you birds and the beasts are not being fair over these bats all because they don't want to fight. They deserve have rights to make choices to go out day or night, and I didn't even know it was a law of speaking the animal's tongue. Theirs really nothing wrong with that it won't cause much problems around us."
"So, its true your the one that filled the runty bat's mind about the sun and freedom," He snarled. My eyes went huge of his knowing and looked around having thoughts someone could told him, I saw Bathsheba giving me a cruel smile which tells me she did it. I glared at her but didn't last long, turning my facial into afraid don't know what I can say about it.
"Y-yes I did but it was the righ…
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" He squawked spreading his wings out and his shout made me fall on the ground, Ariel and Shade helped me up.
"General Brutus with all due respect," Frieda said to get him attention. "For the sake of the colony and the child I stand firm on this; no silverwings and any other creatures will be sacrificed on your unjust laws." I breathed couldn't believe she's doing this for us and saw Brutus became more furious with his feather puffing up and his yellow eyes flared.
"UNJUST LAWS?!" He shouted in anger. He flew towards Frieda and the elders and clawed on the side of the branch, while the elders back away in fear Frieda was the only bat that didn't move with her face the same. He lean his head face to face with her and gives her final warning.
"Give us the boy and the girl,"
"No. I have spoken." Frieda answered. They both stare at each other for about a second until Brutus forms a smirk on his beak.
"Very well," He spread his wings out and flaps them up. "Prepare to suffer the consequences!" He soared out towards the sky leaving us. I heard all the bats begin to mutter one another in worry and I saw some bats giving me a glare for telling Shade about the sun. I glance at Ariel, wanted to asked her if its all over for now but then I heard Bathsheba gasped.
"Look!" We all glance at where she's pointed and to our terror the owls were coming back with branch, with flaming torch at the end. Ariel quickly grabbed my shoulders and took off while Shade followed fast down inside the tree haven. I begin to hear many others screaming and saw the flaming branch plunging down into inside and knock out many roost place, setting them on fire. I was horrified on what I'm seeing. All the bats screaming and struggling to avoid being burned, and their home is being destroying. Ariel landed me on the outside the tree haven with some flames blazing around us.
"Quickly use these leaves to stop the flames!" She gasped, handed Shade and I the leaves she founded. We both nodded and did our best to put out the fire while more came. I was too busy to get the flame tamed that I didn't even know another fire was near me close to my dress. I suddenly begin to feel a burn on my right leg and I yell in pain. I looked down and saw my white pants was on fire I quickly used the leave to get it cool down and scoot away fast as I could from the flames. I breathed and scoot my one pants up and saw my leg all red swollen. I touch it with my finger gently and I hissed in pain and blow it gently to get it cool off which it makes it worse of more pain.
"Ashlie look out!" I turn fast and saw Ariel charging at me and push me away fast and then a huge branch came crashing on her.
"ARIEL!" I screamed, ran to her on her side fast and Shade looked over after hearing my scream and his eyes went wide. He flew over right besides me and we both tried to lift up the branch.
"Mom!" He gasped, pulling much as he could. I looked up at the sky and saw many silverwings evacuating.
Shade and I scream in desperately for help."HELP! HELP! SOMEBODY HELP US! PLEASE HELP US!" To our relief, Chinook heard us and swopped down and landed by us.
"Chinook!" He smiled, looking relief to see him. He got in between us and said.
"You and your friend needs some muscles runt, let me in there." I nodded and we all got ready to lift it.
"Okay on three, one..two.. THREE!" All three of us use much of our strength to lift up the branch and we manage to get it up a little bit enough for her to crawl. "Ariel move now!" She crawled out from her trap and we all dropped it after she was free.
"Thanks Chinook," Shade panted.
"Yeah we owe you one big time." I added.
"Look around, its not me you guys owe." Chinook replied. He took off while I looked down understanding what he means. Shade and I ran over to Ariel's side and was up rubbing her arm. When she saw us she lifted herself up with her wings and grabbed my wrist and three of us fly up to follow the others
"SILVERWINGS RETREAT! WE MUST ALL RETREAT NOW!" Frieda cried, we all flew away from the burning tree haven across the pond to the forest for our safety from the flames. Ariel landed me gently on the branch before she landed while Shade lands beside me. I looked back and saw their tree haven was set ablaze with owls circling around in succeed. I breathed heavily but then heard Ariel moan in pain.
"Mom are you hurt?" Shade asked worrying. "Can you fly?"
"Don't worry about me," Ariel reassured. "Save tree haven."
"We can't," I manage to say through my broken throat. "Its too late." We heard someone chuckling and we look up and saw General Brutus giving us a triumph look on his face.
Justices has been served!" He boomed, spreading his wings out and soared from his branch. I scowl watching him fly away with his soldiers to leave us alone with their home burning down.
"YOU BASTARD!" I shouted, not caring if he heard me or not. I felt Ariel hand on my shoulder and we all watched in helpless of the tree haven, being eaten alive from fire. Then there was now dark smoke coming out from the tree haven and I heard a faint whisper that sounds so dry as if it was dehydrated. My eyes were filled with tears with my heart breaking the more I watch their home being burned to to the ground. Everything was my fault, I should've kept my mouth shut about the sun. I even shouldn't chase that stupid fat raccoon and let it take my cellphone. Why did I chase that raccoon?!
"Wh..what's that strange smoke coming out from the fire?" I heard Breeze quivered.
"The echoes of our history has been lost," Frieda replied, glancing at the tree haven. "But our history are kept in memories as well as long as silverwing fly. Our heritages will never be lost." I looked over at Shade and watch his head down. He glance over at his mom.
"What now?"
"I'm not sure."She said.
"Ariel is your wings okay?" I asked.
She nodded."I'll be fine don't worry about me, I can still fly."
"But..you saved me." She smiled softly and replied.
"Of course I need to, you would've been killed."
But that could've taken your life!" I protest. She shook her head.
"It doesn't matter, right now you're alive with my son."
"We would've had our home if we hand over those two troublemakers to the owls," Bathsheba huffed, glaring at us with hate.
"Finding a new home is easier than replacing a child," Frieda reasoned. "And Ashlie has done nothing wrong, she was never deserve to be murdered for her speech. What does she mean I did nothing wrong? I got the owls to demolish their home! I saw her flying to another branch and made a small announcement. " Since our home has been destroyed we must begin our migrations to hibernaculum early." All the silverwings begin to mutter one another in considered looking at one another.
Bathseba huffed. "How unbelievable, sacrificing our summer home roost for a scwany bat too small to make migrations away and a furless human that understands our language, still dosen't know our ways of nature but spoke her tongue about rights.
"Too small?" Shade frowned. Then we both looked around and saw many bats giving us nasty glare and Chinook turned his body away from us. I sighed heavily with my heart tearing more but then my burn leg was becoming more painful made me hiss. Both Shade and Ariel noticed and she gasped.
"Oh Nocturna!" She made me sit down with my burn leg out and told Shade to get some water. He came back with a leave filled with water and she gently sprinkles on it to cool it down. I grunted in the response to how it stings but it feels very good the same due the water was cold and it cool down a bit on my swollen leg. "You're feeling little better from the water?" She asked.
"Yeah thanks." I replied.
"Dawn is coming, we have to move now." I looked up and saw Mercury talking with Frieda.
She nodded and turn to us. "Silverwings, we must ready our children for long journey ahead." With that Ariel and Shade flew on another branch so they can get ready for their journey. I didn't move my spot with my arms wrap around my waist, still feel so much shame and guilt wishing I could just disappear right on this spot. I wanted to go back to my camp. I want everything to be back the way it was, my dad and I spending time together enjoying my late eighteen birthday gift before we go home.
"Ashlie?" I look up and saw Frieda standing in front of me, glancing down at me. "Are you alright?"
I shook my head and answered sadly. "No," I got up and then spoke more through my tears leaking down. "Frieda this is all my fault. If I haven't told Shade about the sun and decisions rights none of this would've happened. I could've even stayed in the tree haven I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.."
"Shh,"Frieda soothed, cupping her hand on my cheek and use her thumb to wipe my tears away gently. "My child do you know why I let you stay with us?"
"Cause Shade and Chinook trust me?" I sniffed.
She smiled warmly." More than that. I sense you have a very good heart in you and your spirit is pure with light. The reason I let you stay for I believe you'll begin to do great things on your journey. And our Nocturna has the reason for letting you come to us, don't let that hope die.
"I-I don't understand." Thats all I could say despite that I felt touch by her words.
"You will soon child," She replied. I sighed softly and then I heard many silverwing mothers singing their echolocation towards their young ones for their migrations. I felt the wind picking up as I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering a little and looked back towards the tree haven which almost the whole tree was all gone with hint of black burnt mark everywhere.
"Its time to go." She spread her wings out and soared out into the sky and all the silverwings flew out from their roost and being their follow their leader. Ariel and Shade came over with their wings flap.
"Your ready?" Shade smiled.
I nodded and smiled a little. "Yeah lets go." Ariel grabbed my hand with her feet and we all begin to make our way out from their former home towards the sky with the others. I let my feet dangle in the thin air but didn't dare to look down on how much high we are up afraid Ariel will accidentally drop me. I catch a glimpse of Chinook talking with Todd and notices them arguing. I didn't want to know as I turn my head away when Chinook catch my glimpse and look ahead instead down. We all manage to reach towards an abandon barn not too far away and Frieda decided to have us roost there for the night before we continue on. We all flew inside and there were no animals inside. When Ariel landed me in the hay she said to me.
"I'll get you some food sweetie while Shade and I hunt."
"Are you sure?" I asked. "I can try hunt.."
"No you need to rest with your leg wounded." She said. I can't argue with her so I nodded softly.
"Mom can I stay with her?" Shade questions.
She shook her head. "No Shade you need you strength for your journey she'll be okay." He sighed as her and him took off in the sky to look for some bugs for dinner. Then I saw the puddle near m from where I was and decided to cool my burned leg. I got up a little but flinch from my leg in pain, I didn't have a choice but ripped my one pants close to my knees so my wound won't touch much on my skin to make it worse. I breathed and tried to walk more through my pain and then I felt someone grabbed my hand. I turn my head fast and saw Chinook behind me with his one hand wrap around my waist.
"Here, looks like you could use some help." I was surprised he wasn't mad at us anymore for his home burning and use my one arm on his shoulder for support as he helps me walk over towards the puddle. I bare my teeth of the pain each steps I took with my wounded leg. When we reach there I sat down with my one leg out.
"Thank you." I used my torn part pants and dab it in the water to get all soaked and gently place it on my burning leg.
"Ashlie um..I also want to come over and apologize for what happened last night. I was trying to impressed all of you how my dad was, I didn't mean to go too far."
"You need to apologize to Shade instead of me." I replied, didn't look at him.
He heavy sighed and sat down beside me."I know and I'm so sorry as well for having you involved. I tried to stop Bathsheba from telling Brutus about you speaking to us about the sun."
"You did?" I turn to him, look surprised.
He nodded and added. "Yeah and I even tried to make Brutus believe Bathsheba was a lunatic with her mind crazy."
"Well she kinda already is," I joked. We had a good laugh but then Chinook heavy sighed. I know what he was thinking as I gently place my hand on his shoulder.
"Chinook you need to tell Ariel your in part of this,"
He shook his head looking worried. "I-I can't she'll hate me if I tell her."
"But you don't know that," I said, encouraging him. "You'll never find out until you try. And I'm sure Ariel will forgive you for it." He glance at me and then sighed deeply.
"I'll try," He smiles a little. "You know Shade is very lucky."
"For what?"
"To have you as friend." He answered. I cant help to chuckle a little.
"Well your my friend too so I'm lucky to have both of you." He then glance up.
"I need to go, my mom doesn't know I'm with you." I nodded and watch him fly out leaving me alone. Soon after Ariel and Shade return as she has a tiger moth for me to eat and I manage to eat the whole of it despite how awful the taste was. After I was done eating my supper they both help me back to my hay bed before they roost up with the others and I lay down snuggle close to keep myself warm with my wound leg out having my damp torn leg wrapped around it. I silently pray to God to help us on our journey and help my wound get better. I slowly close my eyes and drifted off to sleep while I hear birds singing in daylight.
I woke up with a start when my stomach feels all sick and it was urging for me to throw up. I quickly got up with bit of my strength and stumble out of the barn side away from the silverwings. I hurl out my supper clinging my stomach. I breathed heavily and hurl more as if my tummy couldn't take any more bugs I ate over the last couple days. When I was done I wiped my puke off with a leave near me and went back inside but was stopped by Shade.
"Hey your okay?" I swallowed softly don't know if I should tell him but my puke smell kind of gives it away. His eyes lit up and looked at me.
"My god Ashlie.."
"Shade please don't tell the others!" I spoke quickly. "I'm really am okay I just couldn't handle more bugs thats all, I want to keep going promise not to tell others. Please." He heavy sighed and nodded.
"I promise. Let me carry you."
"What but your not..alright you can." I said, knowing what he was thinking. But then we heard a distance storm that's coming near us. I bite my lips.
"Should we wait until the storm clear?"
"My mom told me the silverwings can handle the storm through migrations I'm sure we'll be okay." Shade replied. I breathed hoping he was right, and also hope the storm won't be this bad as I looked out at the horizon.
Third's person POV
The leaf was being blown along the wind until it reaches towards the city where sirens and cars are over heard. It floats gracefully down into one of the buildings and was caught in an air vent and continues to float down until it landed in some kind of false jungle. The other side of it was all science items that scientist used to test their experiment. A shadow came over to the leaf and he uses one of his claws to pick the leaf. He studies it and glance at the air vent where the leaf came in.
"Hmm?" He muttered, and heard the storm with flash of lighting. A smirk curl his lips showing his two deadly fangs. "Soon we will be free by the name of Zotz," He chuckled darkly and fling the leaf off his claw.
Author's Note: How was that one so far? hope you all like but if not DONT READ AND REVIEW IT! DX I don't own any silverwing characters except OC. Enjoy! XD