Chapter 36 Banded Colony
Many bats who are banded were whispering to one another and few flew down at us to get a better view. To my surprised there weren't the same species. No, many were different; Greywing, green wings, brightwings, Silverwing, browinwings...they were all mixed together but the bands on them were the only thing that makes them a whole colony, so that's how I see. Marina was still beaming while looking around at each and every bats and then one brightwing came and landed in front of us. Her fur was brown and has orange mane mix with the same color of her fur and her hair was bright red. She gave us a welcome smile and said.
"Hi, I'm Betty, what's your name?"
Marina smiles back. "I'm Marina." She looks over at us. "This is Shade and Ashlie, my two friends." She looked over at us, and Shade gives her a small wave. When she glances towards me she tips her head.
"Hey, what kind of rodent are you? You look odd for being a mouse." I gulped silently, still afraid to show my face to them since my people were the one banded them, I don't know how they will react to see a human being this tiny. My stomach felt sickened they will perhaps kick me and my companion out of their colony or worse. I quickly made this excuse I tighten my hood to make it look like I'm a fluffy mouse.
"Actually she's..." Marina begins but I cut her.
"Yeah, I get that a lot! Usually this wintertime my fur gets a little puffy that It hides my face." So you're a brightwing? It's long since we've seen another one."Betty almost chuckled.
"That's right, and they used to call me Penelope."
"Penelope Brightwing?" I look under my hood and saw her eyes lit up. "You're from my colony!"
"You know her?" Shade asked. She nods and walked to her.
"The elders tell us you were dead, that your band was bad luck."
"Your elders lie Marina they were arrogant and superstitions," A heavily Texas accent spoke and all of us glance up and see a long-eared greenwing bat roosting above the ceiling, crossing his arms, and having this look of pride all over him.
"This is Sirocco," Betty introduced and then she whispers to Marina."He's giving secret wisdom of the bands. "What? I blinked after I've overheard her say that. Since when does he know about these bands? Then a small hope sudden came to me. What if maybe their leader believes my people have always been this good and even helpful. And never call us monsters.
"So he's your leader?" I asked. Betty nodded.
"Mhmm."
Shade smiles and walks ahead of us. "Hi, we just stop by to..." Sirocco just laughs and flies down fast and pass Shade almost hitting him.
"Hey!" That was rude. I frown a little and watch him landed in front of Marina. He hummed and picks up her hand where her band was.
"Yes very nice, and it's new." He smiles at her as Marina smiled back.
"The humans banded me in the spring." She replied. Shade and I both notice he was looking at her and was acting like we're both never here and I find this disrespecting.
"So um it's kind of weird how you all end up together huh?" He said, wanting to start conservation. Sirocco only snorted.
"We bat shares a very special gift, our band." He shows off his which caused it to shine. "Isn't that right Marina?" He gives her a warm smile and the brightwing sighed heavily.
"Well, I used to think the bands were special," She made a frown."Until we met these giant southern bats.."
'Their cannibals from the jungle!" Shade steps in before Marina can say more and show his arm where they were banded. "They have bands too." Everyone in this cabin begins to panic when he tells then about these beasts they talk to one another.
"They're cannibals?!"
"How can that be?!"
Sirocco was the one that didn't look fear instead still has that smug look.
"Ah, but do they have bands have like these?"
"No, there aren't shiny like ours," Marina replied.
"They're a bit more of a bronze than silver like you guys have," I added. I see under my hoodie he gives me his self-confidence look and put his two clawed fingers together.
"Obviously low rodent, these bats are not part of a great plan." My both eyes lit up from what he just said and look at Shade who has the same expression. Was he being racist on me? But for Marina, she was looking at him a bit curious.
'"A plan? What plan?"
"All in good time Marina," He replied.
"There's a plan tell me please!" She pleaded, wanting to know what it was. Sirocco grins and looks over at Betty for a second. She glances back at him and Shade let out a huffed.
"Just tell her the plan already." I wanted to know what it was too as I feel a little impatient with him. Was there something that my people were involved? The leader gives a nod for her to tell them and she looked at three of us having her eyes gleamed excitedly.
"The humans banded us as Nocturna promise to return us to the light," She clasps her hands together and inhales like she's making a big announcement."We're going to reclaim the day… as humans!" All three of us were dumbstruck. All of them want to transform into my species, like me?
"Okay, hold on your wingbeat. You're going to turn into humans?"He asked, making sure he heard it correctly.
Betty nods and smiles happily."The transformation has already begun!" Despite what I was hearing that is insane, I can't help feeling my heart lifted, not only because they want to be human but I saw they never see the evil in them. But to make sure I need to make these questions.
"Wait a minute, are you saying humans are not bad?" Sirocco looked at me funny.
"Of course! All of us believe they're helping us restore coming in the light."
"And... you are sure that all of you never believe they place a curse on you? "He gives me a glowering look as if I was trying to make fun of them.
"How dare you say we think these humans place this foolish curse on us? They banded us for a perfect reason, and I see that you like another beast can never see how they're…"He stops dead when I took off my hood, revealing my human face.
Third's Person POV
The silverwings made another journey and they stop to rest on the tree by the fence that was close to the airport with planes or flying machines they tend to call were coming in and out. To Frieda, she was puzzled of Bathsheba leading them close to these flying machines. She remembers that was forbidden to go as she remembers many bats that try to pass through ends up dead.
She was roosting with Ariel along Bathsheba as they see Mercury showed up while later and roosted by them.
"No sign of any owls in this area." He announced. Bathsheba took a glance over at the airport.
"Have you scouted over there?" She asked. He blinked and glances over where she was looking. His eyes lit up and turn back at her sharply. Even Frieda was shocked at where Bathsheba is going to lead on.
"We can't fly over there! This field has always been off-limits."Mercury protested."The human flying machines are too dangerous," The new leader only gives him a cold glare.
"You are my scout. How dare you question me?"
"Your the one that says we should stay on migration root, so far what you decide on has terrible taste." Ariel frowned and Bathsheba turns to her and growled,
"I'll deal with your insolent later," She looked over at all other silverwings and spread her wings out."In the meantime, you will all follow me!" When she lifts herself up the colony begins to follow her towards the airport. Frieda sighed sharply after she watches them following towards the field. She glances over at Ariel and Frieda and spoke gently.
"May the Nocturna keep us safe." She soared out of her roost to follow as the other two did.
Ashlie's POV
I watch him looking stunned, and all the banded bats were indeed having the same expression and begin to mutter one another.
"She's human!"
"And she's our size!" I rubbed my arm nervously and look at my friends. Marina was the one that was giving me an encouraging look as Shade was reassuring me it'll be okay. I glance back at Sirocco, seeing he was still shocked.
"Y- you're a human," He manages to speak out."And you can understand us?"I raise my hands up in defense.
"Listen, I can explain what happened to me.." But before I can he grabbed my arm and yank my mittens out revealing my hand. I was taken by surprise and saw him studying them as if he's admiring them.
"Do you have a band on you? How did you turn into one?"He tugged my sleeve down trying to find one. I shook my head.
"No, I don't have one, and I'm a real human." When I said that he looked at me still stunned.
"Impossible," He breathed.
I gulped. "I was shrunken down into your size and I don't know how I can understand your language but it happens...you're not upset?"
"Upset?!" Sirocco gives me a grin. "Why would I be this upset? You have finally come to our colony."
"Huh?" That's all I can say, and he feels my hand once more.
"And my word your hand is cold! You have come all the way to us let my colony warmed you up with a nice bath."I didn't know what just happened as I see some bats fly towards other rooms to prepare my bathe? Sirocco lets go my hand and I put my mitten back on and turn my head over to Shade like what the hell is going on. He was having the same thought as me and Marina hummed. Then he touches my shoulder and made me turn back to him.
Human, how come you never showed your face among us early?" He asked.
"Because I was uncertain," I begin.
"Go on," He urges me to continue gently. I was even taken how all of sudden he was kind to me the same as he was with Marina.
" That your colony won't accept me. I was afraid many of you will think the same as other bats we came upon as they see me some kind of demon." I finished.
"What? Who told you this nonsense?" He almost growled and I answered.
"The Greywings were the ones that called me that," He looked at me with disgust.
"How dare they call you that way!" He tightens my shoulders and frowned. " They do not see how you and your kinds are trying to bring us into the light, our colony." He shows me above all other bats and many of them were giving me a welcome smile. " We bats have always waited for a human to come to our home for many years and you answered our prayer."
"Really?" I almost smile as my heart was beating with excitement. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Marina looking happy for me, but Shade was the one that wasn't. I didn't understand why he wasn't for me. Instead, he has this suspicious look.
"Of course," Sirocco nodded."We will always welcome and treat them like their supreme ruler after what you have given us. Your species are our savior." He grinned. I felt a little generous of how he's being but I cross my arms after I made him let go of my shoulder and look at him sternly.
"So it's better than calling me low rodent earlier?" I saw he was taken on his mistake and forces to chuckle.
"Oh let's leave that past on us." He grabs my hand and leads me towards the fireplace. "For now I must show you how we can turn into your kinds."
"Hang on what?" I was being led as Marina and Shade followed.
"But how is it possible to turn into one? It takes some miracles to become one, " Shade laughed. Sirocco just gives him a smirked.
"Watch and see."
"Yeah whatever," Shade mumbled. When the banded leader got in front of the fireplace the colony begin to speak with excitement.
"He's going to do it!" One spoke loudly.
"The transformation!" Others added, "He's going to transform!" All three of us listen as they begin to chant with one word.
"Transform, transform, transform..." We look back at their leader, and he begins to walk back into the shadow. The chant was beginning to increase loudly than before and I can hear a soft hummed coming from the fireplace. When Sirocco steps out finally he was...still the same bat. He looked at me smiling like he was looking for my astonishment. Didn't want him to know I made a small smile, act like I'm surprised. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Shade wasn't too impressed while Marina was astonished. I turn back and see Sirocco in his human form steps back into the shadow and the humming sound has stopped. Did he just use his echoprojection on himself? He came back out and every banded bat cheered on him.
"It's unbelievable!" Marina gasped.
"You say it," Shade smirked He waits for her to say this transformation was ridiculous. I watch her turn to me as the colony quiet their cheer and beamed.
"I always knew your kinds have a plan for us."
"What?!" Shade was shocked by her replying and Sirocco came over and land beside us.
"Marina and Ashlie, will you both join us?" He offered. Betty came beside Marina and touches her shoulder.
"It already feels like we're friends." She even glances at me and grabbed my hand. "And it will be such an honor to have you in our colony. A real human living with us it'll be a dream come true," I smiled back with my hopes lifting and I took her hand.
"I- I don't know what to say," I chuckled. Then Shade grabbed my shoulder and did the same with Marina and hissed.
"Guys he echoprojected that human,"
"No, it was real." Marina retorted. "It wasn't blurry like your echoprojection."
"Hey, I'm still learning! Ash, you believe me do you?"
"Well it was kind of real," I bite my lips as I lied of not fully see it. I didn't want to lose my hope of finding a place I feel accepted.
"Take as long as you like you two but," He glares at Shade." Your friend can't stay."
"What?" I didn't understand why he said that and the Silverwing growled.
"I know the echoprojection when I see one yours is fake!"
"Shade!" Marina snapped.
Sirocco only tsks crossing his arms. " Unless you've been banded, you'll never understand." Shade glared at him coldly and spread his wings out.
"I think we're good at leaving, come, one you two, the storm is over. We need to catch up on my colony, and Frieda remember?"He looks behind us, and he didn't see us coming, instead, we stay where we were.
"…Guys?"
Marina was unsure about the decision and looked at her band. "But I finally found..." She didn't say the rest which he understood.
"Ash?" He glances at me. I shook my answering him.
"Shade I want to stay here with Marina," He looked at us both in disbelief and shocked.
"But my colony..!"
Marina sighed sadly. "It's our decision. We wish to be part of this colony." I see him look at me again, and he was pleading me to come with him.
"Ash you know my colony took you in and accept you."
"Not all of them," I reminded him. I try hard not to look at his eyes as I felt my stomach dropped. "Even if Frieda did let me stay, it doesn't mean the rest of your colony will accept me fully. Your mom and Chinook are the only ones. The rest don't want me to be part of your colony. But these bats, "I look up to them. "They never see me evil they let me in for who I am,"
"But what about your dad? You want to go back to him?"Shade asked. I didn't say a word. Instead I glance down, rubbing my arms together. He let out a heavy sigh when he sees I didn't answer him. Then he jumps in the air and flaps his wings.
"Shade?" Before Marina can stop him he soared down.
"Shade wait!.." I cried but he didn't listen, we both watch him sadly leaving through the chimney. I look over at Marina and she sighed heavily. I glance over my shoulder and Sirocco was giving us an improvement smile of our decision and look up to see the rest of them smiling upon us. Even I feel myself belong why is my heart begin breaking?
"He didn't give us a chance saying goodbye," I muttered under my breath.
Author's Note: Another chapter you all! :D hope you like where this is going but if not dont read and review it! I dont own silverwing character except OC enjoy!