Discovery
Down by a remote and sandy shore, Rain-Eater waited while Shadowwing carved symbols into the sand. Flies-Bravely watched, her eyes narrowed with determination. As much as he wanted to go down to them and explain to her how to combine numbers, she had asked for someone else to lead the teaching. That was fair of her to want someone else to have responsibility for her learning new concepts.
Not that her thinking was small or in any way less. In her participation on the games of deep caves and sky-kin, she had no problem following numbers up to twenty, but beyond that she had to get help. Counting on claws and paws could only go so far, and she had never learned anything more complicated or ways to think about bigger numbers.
Her former pack had left her education thoroughly neglected. Too much was deemed unimportant, so she and almost everyone else, from how she had described it, never learned any more than they were allowed or needed to know for their specific pack-roles. Only the Alpha's preferred were allowed to learn more than everyone else.
Shadowwing came to stand beside him. Flies-Bravely darted to each math problem, stared down at the symbols, extended a clawtip, and carved her answer into the sand before moving down the shore onto the next test.
"How is she doing?" he asked.
Shadowwing shrugged, "The most difficult part for her is understanding the ground-kin number-shapes."
"How did you learn them?"
"Maybe because I have a great secret which none of you know about, or maybe it was like learning to fly. It just happens if you want to learn or let yourself learn while trying."
"Does she not want to learn? I hope she is not doing this only because I suggested it."
Shadowwing gently bumped his shoulder, "It does not hurt to ask. So much of this is still new to her. Just be understanding and not too pushy."
"I only want her life-flight to be more filled and for her to understand more."
"Maybe it will be like me with Luna," Shadowwing mused as Flies-Bravely puzzled over the last and most challenging problem.
"How so?"
"You were not even hatched then, and she and I were not life-mates, but she did not want anything to do with ground-kin. I kept inviting her into the shared-nest, but she refused and got angry with me. She had to want to do that on her own, not because I was suggesting it. Come on."
He followed Shadowwing over to her side where she was waiting for them. In turn, Shadowwing checked each of her answers and explained her mistake each time she got one wrong or congratulated her for a correct answer.
"Better than before," Shadowwing kindly offered.
"That is not saying much. A fledgling can do better," she huffed.
"We all have to start learning somewhere. Again next waking-cycle?"
"Sure. Thank you."
Shadowwing flew off, leaving him alone with her. Once he was gone, she swatted with a paw and struck the sand. Then she blasted the sand, sending up a spray of sand everywhere.
"Why do I need to learn numbers like this?" she exclaimed.
"Do you want to flame off frustration, or is that a real question?" he asked, unsure if she was asking him a question.
"Yes. Both. I understand the need for this during shared-games, but why learn if not for that?"
Maybe she simply lacked the proper motivation. Learning for the usefulness in a game was good, but another reason might help her see the value.
"Think about it like sharpening claws against rock. You might feel like you do not need them sharp, until you do. Learning numbers like this can help your thinking stay sharp, strong, and fast in other parts of your life-flight."
She softly growled, "If only I was not so weak to start out. Sometimes I want to flame my old pack and kill so many of them and- nevermind."
He started in surprise at her brief outburst. She almost never showed such anger or wanted to do violence, though such directed at her prior pack was entirely understandable.
"Do you want a hug?"
She deeply exhaled and barely nodded, so he went to her side, lay a wing over her back, and nuzzled her neck.
"We do not have to go anywhere for the rest of the waking-cycle. No more learning. We can rest here if you want," he offered.
"Fine."
Being there in silence with her, he wondered if one sky-kin in particular was part of the reason for her frustration.
"Do you miss your dam-mother?" he asked.
She did not answer for several wingbeats, "I wish she had wanted to leave, but she wanted the safety of being in a pack, in any pack. There is no going back for her."
"Do not be so sure. That Alpha and his power over that pack cannot last always. The life-rules of that pack will fail them, even if the pack breaks apart from hunger. If it does and your dam-mother still lives, we will accept her here."
"I am not sure I want to see her. She knew what would have happened to me there, and she did not care. She would have left me in that pack."
"Maybe she was being blind, or she thought the foulness of that pack was better than dying packless. I agree it was wrong of her either way."
Telling her to not clutch cold bitterness to her life-flight, while true, would not be helpful. Being understanding and patient, giving her his full support had to be enough. Perhaps her dam-mother had only been ignorant or desperate, which would make it more difficult to fault her for making bad decisions.
Was-Grounded leaped to his paws in surprise at a pair of familiar roars. What were they both doing back home so soon? He had expected to hear nothing from them for at least a full moon-cycle in the above.
He roared and made room on the ledge above the shared-nest. Both Aurora and Moon-Dancer dove together and landed before him. He briefly nuzzled her forehead before stepping back and purring in welcome to Moon-Dancer.
"Before you tease me, sire-father, no, I did not give up on finding someone!" Aurora explained.
"What happened? Why have you returned so soon?" he asked.
She huffed, "The path I wanted to fly was blocked. We did not want to fight other sky-kin for no good reason, and we did not want to go through the packless Light Furies with a flight of only two. So we came back. I can go searching another time."
"Probably a good decision. Having four or five in a flight would be even safer. I hope you are not too disappointed. Your dam-mother and I know how important finding someone is to you."
Aurora answered, "Do not worry about me. Patience is one of my life-strengths, and I have no plans to go searching anytime soon."
Moon-Dancer spoke up, "Do you know where my sire-father is?"
"I believe Shadowwing is in the great-hall-den, listening to ground-kin problems."
Aurora yawned and faced Moon-Dancer, "Will you talk to him?"
Moon-Dancer nodded, "Sure. As soon as I can."
"Sire-father, will you tell dam-mother I am home?"
"I will. Good to have you back, dear one."
She spun away and took flight out toward the deeper forest and field of mushrooms.
"What do you want?" he asked Moon-Dancer.
"Sorry. She meant my sire-father. I- we have a question about ground-kin life-ways."
"Then he is the one to ask. Even after over ten season-cycles around them, I still do not understand them like he does."
Moon-Dancer entered the great-hall-den and found his sire-father inside as expected, though Shadowwing was busy listening to ground-kin complaining. Shadowwing saw him, visibly started in surprise, and nodded up toward the ceiling, so he left the great-hall-den and flew up top to wait on an available perch.
How would the answer to their question affect him and Aurora? She had assured him it was not absolutely essential that she have her own egg, though that was her preference. His too if it came to that.
Shadowwing finally dashed outside the great-hall-den, flew up top, and landed beside him.
"Sorry about that wait, son. Ground-kin can be insistent. What are you doing back so soon? Did anything happen out there?"
He shrugged, "We could not safely continue on the flight. Being only two out there is not safe enough."
"Did you just return?"
"We did. I told Was-Grounded and came straight here. How were the ground-kin this waking cycle?"
"The usual: asking for another feast, saying someone is not pulling their weight in work, and young ground-kin got in a fight and the families want to duel. There has been worse."
He yawned and glanced over the drop toward the shared-nest, "I had a question about ground-kin life-ways. I could ask kin-liver if you do not know, but it is a- twisted question about them."
Shadowwing huffed, "That does not narrow it down much. Ask."
"If I remember right, the ground-kin or the two-legs above live in packs on their own. Some packs are small and far away from others, so there might not be many possible life-mates to choose from. Like in our pack. What happens if the only option for a two-leg is one who is part-kin to them, like a cousin? Does that cause any problems, or does it happen with them?"
"There are pairs like that among the ground-kin here. Is them being mates a problem? I am not sure, but the problems like foul-twisted thought or body-problems might only happen when there are such close pairs many times across life-making-cycles. There should not be any problems if there was regular new life-water from other families."
He yawned, trying to appear uninterested, "Would the same be true for sky-kin out there?"
Shadowwing hummed in thought before shrugging, "Sky-kin without words or strong-thinking might make such pairs or even closer without knowing. I do not see how we would be different from ground-kin in this."
Much better news than he feared. While not a certain answer, there was no reason to believe him and Aurora being together would be a problem. Further, his sire-father seemed to have not realized the true reason for the question.
"I asked because I was wondering how other sky-kin packs live, and if it is best for the Light Furies and Night Furies out there to look beyond their own packs, like for guests we would have been."
"It surely is from time to time, unless a pack is big enough that it has enough packmates to search from. Thinking about your future?"
"How can I not? I do not to be alone forever."
"We trust you will find someone when the time is right. Despite their other problems, the nameless Light Fury pack and Shadow-Spark-Pack are big enough they probably do not lack possible partners. The ranges could use more Dawn Furies like you too," Shadowwing chuckled.
He rolled his eyes and huffed, "What counts as a Dawn Fury? No matter what kind I find and end up with, our young would be a mix, just with more Light Fury, Night Fury, or the same mix of both."
Shadowwing nodded, "Good observation. The best rule I thought of is by appearance if the life-water proportions are unknown. Most Light Furies and Night Furies alive might be mixes of both, just with too little of the other kind to notice in appearance. The more life-making cycles go past, the more unknown the amounts of mixing in each individual sky-kin. If a Dawn Fury looks so much like a Light Fury that the difference is too small to matter or notice, then call it a Light Fury. If still clearly a mix close to half of each like you, then call it a Dawn Fury. The rule is not perfect, but I cannot imagine a better one. Can you?"
He thought about it and shook his head, "Probably not. Thank you, sire-father."
"Anytime, son. Good to have you back with us."
He briefly nuzzled his sire-father before departing for the wild part of the range while Shadowwing returned to the shared-nest. Leaving behind the shared-nest, he continued around the bend in the range, between the mushroom tree-trunks, and out over the forest of many colors until he found a clearing in the thickest part of the forest. He landed, followed a trail between the weaving vines and hanging branches, and disturbed various birds, nibbler-terrors, and other small creatures as he passed. Finally, he arrived at a hidden grassy recess beside a waterfall.
Aurora stirred and got to her paws as he approached.
"Good news, bad news, or does he not know?" she whispered, wasting no time.
He purred and nuzzled her muzzle, seeing the concern in her beautiful green and blue eyes, "Mostly good. He is not certain beyond any doubt, but he said the problems are if life-making-cycles pass with close-pairs and their young only finding mates they are related to. As long as any of ours would find mates beyond in other packs, there would be no problem."
She deeply exhaled and relaxed, softly humming, "What a relief. Good."
He waited several peaceful wingbeats just resting at her side, "If you decide you want to be my life-mate, what would you want to do about having a family, now we know it would not be a problem?"
She looked down at her paws, "I thought as soon as I found my life-mate, he and I would immediately start trying for an egg after we agreed to become life-mates. Why wait? Now, I am not so sure I want that."
"No? I thought this was important for you."
"It is. On the other paw, we would have our whole life-flights together. Quickly becoming parents might stop us from flying to other packs, seeing more of the hidden ranges, you finding a life-bond ground-kin if you want to, or doing anything else which takes much time we would not have."
She paused, the only noise being the constant waterfall nearby.
"Knowing that us having a hatchling would not be foul, twistedly makes having one feel less important. I am not desperate for one anymore, if that is what you mean."
"I did not think you were. It would be warming to have a pawful of season-cycles to ourselves to do as we wish, fly where we want, and not have to worry about a hatchling or any of those responsibilities," he agreed.
She nuzzled his neck, "Good. I want you, now."
He returned her nuzzling, "Before we do anything, I might not know how to make this as warming for you as it could be and-"
She huffed and interrupted him, "No doubting yourself. Even if you could do better, I will help you learn, and you do the same for me."
He hummed in appreciation and began eagerly bonding with her, intimately stroking her, and whispering how beautiful she was. Nothing else mattered except making their first time together as liver-warming as possible for her. She finally growled with desire, rolled onto her back, and invited him.
Aurora rested beside Moon-Dancer and purred with delight and lingering heat. His embracing her, her flares of pleasure, their roaring at the end, and their bonding after were among the warmest moments in her whole life-flight. She had never felt more completely one with anyone.
"Aurora," he hummed.
"Oh, Moon-Dancer."
"How are you?"
"Whatever I hoped for, this is much better. I have never felt this warm everywhere."
"Good. You are so amazing and beautiful."
"You are also amazing and strong."
He softly asked, "Could I do anything better for you? Honestly."
She met his warm gaze, "Maybe we could try to go longer before you finish, but I am not complaining. All these season-cycles, I hoped it would feel like this."
"I did not know what to expect, and I want to make it last longer too."
She gave him a lick, "Do you mind if I lead next time?"
"Not at all. I am sure you have ideas what to do," he teased.
"Several ideas what to do to you. We could have enjoyed each other so many more times if you had only acted sooner."
"Wait, how is that my fault?" he exclaimed in clearly mock dismay.
"You are the one who hid how he felt for entire season-cycles!"
He snorted, "Be fair, we both had life-problems. You made it difficult to want to approach you back then."
"Fine, I made mistakes too. I might have been- a little difficult and twisted."
"A little?"
"A lot."
"You know I love you."
Liver-warmed, she deeply hummed and nuzzled him before curling up with him for rest in unfading warmth. His love for her was certain, but- speaking the words herself did not yet feel appropriate, too quick. A pawful of waking-cycles since he told her the truth of his interest and even them making love for the first time were not enough to decide on becoming life-mates or to know if she truly loved him in return. Someone else could make that mistake, but not her!
Light-Hunter relaxed in one of the more comfortable dens for sky-kin within the shared-nest. Rain-Eater reclined before him with Kin-liver resting against the Night Fury's shoulder. Rain-Eater spoke for her, sharing stories of what she had done in the above while serving a great-tusk-alpha and protecting an entire sky-kin nest. It was difficult to imagine the strange things two-legs used in the world above, and how one ground-kin could foul so many twisted plans to trap sky-kin while also living like a sky-kin.
Kin-liver was a most impressive ground-kin.
Rain-Eater chuckled after Kin-liver said something.
"What did she say?" he asked.
"She heard from a ground-kin that you and he are bonding. Kori Stoneleg, is it?"
"Yes. He has no sky-kin of his own anymore."
Rain-Eater translated for Kin-liver, and she nodded after a pawful of wingbeats.
"She says she knows that ground-kin, and he is a good one. One of her pack-duties is to give flight-guiding to all the young, so she knows most of them."
Light Wing- Fury packs he had visited in the past did similar, with older members taking the young under a wing to give advice. As he understood it, Kin-liver was one of those for the ground-kin.
"She wants to know if you and Kori have flown together."
"Not yet. He has not asked about it. Should I offer?"
Rain-Eater asked Kin-liver for him.
"Only if you want to. He would enjoy flying with you, but it is a special gift you should not share with many ground-kin."
He understood that well enough. Aurora and Rain-Eater only let certain ground-kin fly with them, and other sky-kin could be defensive if a fellow sky-kin approached their special ground-kin for bonding.
"Do you want Kin-liver to bring Kori?" Rain-Eater asked.
"Please. If he is not doing anything else, we could bond together."
Kin-liver soon after got up and walked off into the shared-nest.
"How difficult is it to learn ground-kin words? It would be much easier to bond without needing someone else to talk for me or him."
Rain-Eater answered, "Not easy at our age. Learning is fastest for young fledglings. Ground-kin sometimes mean the opposite of what they say, or words have many meanings. Keep trying and learn what you can each waking-cycle. I do not mind helping."
He purred in gratitude, "I appreciate the help."
Rain-Eater chuffed, "While it is only us here, is there anything I should know about you and Mist-Wings?"
"Such as?"
"You decide what you want to tell me."
Had she told him anything? Was this a test? That did not feel like her way.
"Nothing has changed for me. I am interested by her and want her in my life-flight. I desire her, and she knows that. We are taking our kinship slowly, but I could want live here always. Why do you ask?"
"No special reason. Only curiosity. A pawful of season-cycles have passed since any sky-kin freely joined our pack."
"What about Flies-Bravely joining here?"
Rain-Eater shrugged, "We did not force her to stay, but her joining us was not normal, not like you would anyway. She fled a worse pack, and we gave her refuge before she and I started wanting each other. If you end up staying here, what would your parents do?"
"Will they give up their small range to live here? Probably not, but they would want to know they can fly here whenever. They would surely visit many times. My fledgling-sister might want to live here too."
"I am sure we would welcome her."
Dawn-Singer stood alert on the shared-ledge in the pass leading to the beyond. Or as alert as possible, given neither he nor Flies-With-Sun had slept well the last pawful of waking-cycles. Hides-In-Clouds was already steady on her paws and had begun exploring without fear. Their hatchling daughter was also noisy and protested against sleeping. The waking-cycles immediately after she hatched had been far more peaceful since she did almost nothing except sleep back then.
Aurora arrived and landed beside him, joining him on guard. Or maybe she was-
"Some guard you are. An angry big-mouth-roarer could fly past you, and you might not know," she teased.
He yawned and lay down, "How about you watch for a while?"
"If I must. You go ahead and nap, sleepyhead."
She sat upright beside him, remaining far more alert than he could.
He chuckled, "No good fortune out there on your search? You will not find anyone if you give up so easily."
She held out a paw in his face, "Talk to the paw."
"Paw, do you know why my nestmate-sister is being a-"
She withdrew her paw and flamed at him with a small, explosive shot that struck his back, "I have not given up on finding someone! You do not know much about going out to find your life-mate either."
She paused and faced him, appearing suddenly calm or even mild, "But since my liver-close nestmate-brother knows so much about finding a life-mate, how did you know you and Flies-With-Sun would be warm and happy together? Were you thinking with your liver, or with anything else?"
"She was curious and warm to ground-kin, interested in my life-flight, willing to live here, had no twisted thoughts, and told me she was attracted to me. I told her the same. We agreed on what we wanted in our life-flights, and we did not want to wait once we agreed we could share life-flights here. Yes, maybe I acted quickly with her, but she had no twisted wants."
Aurora huffed, "Maybe you acted too quickly? Whatever. This might be a ground-kin twisted-saying, but is love a choice? The ground-kin say they fall in love, but that means love is not what they choose, instead it happens to them."
"They probably mean they cannot choose to who they are attracted."
"Do you agree with them?"
"Only a clawtip. Being attracted to someone is important, but love is also in choice, or many choices over the shared life-flight. They still have to act on their attraction and make their mate feel wanted."
"So twisted. Why do ground-kin use sayings which do not clearly mean what they should?"
"Ask your life-bond friend."
She laughed, "Alvor would feel too twisted to talk about this, and I am sure he has no experience with females either. Maybe I should find one for him so he can start learning."
He shook his head, amused, "He will surely appreciate your help."
"How did you know you loved her?" she asked.
He hummed, "There was no one moment. I just knew at liver."
"A lot of help that is," she muttered.
"The together-seeing-feeling helped once we were able to do that."
"How can I learn that together-seeing-feeling?" she asked, clearly interested.
"You will not like the answer."
"If you say it just happens, or I have to find someone first, I will-"
She froze, staring out into the distance until she announced herself with a roar. A Light Fury roar answered a wingbeat after. Despite his tiredness, he got to his paws and blinked away his weariness as he clearly saw the approaching sky-kin. The male Light Fury flew alone in clear view, calmly approached, and touched down a couple lengths away. The Light Fury was not familiar in appearance or scent, not that he knew many of them. Since there was an approaching Light Fury, he checked with life-fire sight and saw nothing else nearby.
Aurora softly growled, "Warm flights, Light Wing. I am Aurora. This is my nestmate, Dawn-Singer. Who are you, and why do you fly to our pack?"
The male bent his head low, "My name is Crushes-Rocks. Is there a mixed-kin named Skadi visiting your pack?"
"Why do you want to know?" Aurora asked after a brief pause.
"I am a packmate of hers, and I have a message for her. I ask to enter your ranges to give her the message."
If he recalled correctly, Skadi's pack was far away in an icy range which his kin had almost visited season-cycles ago. Crushes-Rocks' flight must have been of many waking-cycles.
"Fine. Sister, will you bring sire-father and Shadowwing to the tallest mushroom forest? We will meet you them there."
"Already flying."
He faced Crushes-Rocks while Aurora departed, "Do you know much about this pack? We are New-Haven-Pack, and ours is different from all others."
Crushes-Rocks answered, "No, I only asked others for flight-guiding to this range. I heard there are different ground-living not-prey-life here, but I do not know more about them."
"Are you alone?"
"Yes."
"Follow me. I will lead you to the Alphas. They can answer any questions you have. You will have many."
Shadowwing followed Aurora with Was-Grounded and Luna at his sides. Just how many guests and visitors would they need to host? Between Light-Hunter's family, Skadi, and Lone-Spark not too long ago, their tribe was gaining far more attention than they had in the first couple years here.
Once at the tallest mushrooms, he found the outcropping on which Dawn-Singer and the new messenger, Crushes-Rocks, were waiting. They landed on the largest mushroom and approached the new Light Fury, who clearly took notice of Luna but deferentially bent his head to them. Aurora and Dawn-Singer departed to resume guard duty.
"Warm flights, Crushes-Rocks. I am Shadowwing. This is my life-mate, Luna."
"I am Was-Grounded. My life-mate, Green-Wings, cannot be with us. What is your flight here?"
Crushes-Rocks answered, "You have another kin, a mixed-kin, with you. Skadi is my packmate. I was told to follow her here and bring her a message."
"What is the message?" Was-Grounded asked.
Crushes-Rocks paused before answering, "Apologies, I am not to say. It should be enough that I knew she was told to fly here to learn about your pack- and the two-leg ground-life we heard about."
"Will you be staying with us or leaving afterward?" Shadowwing asked.
"I do not need to leave immediately. It might be best for me to return with Skadi when she is finished here."
He agreed, "That would be safest. We have been showing Skadi around our ranges and helping her understand how our pack is different. You can find out from her what she has seen."
Luna suggested, "We could show you around too if you want."
Crushes-Rocks yawned, "Later. Will you please lead me to her?"
He stepped away and beckoned, "She is resting at a cave-den. Follow me."
He took flight with the other three close behind, leading Crushes-Rocks across the chamber, up a couple levels, over a wild forest and rivers, between columns, and finally to the ledge where they put up their guest far away from the village.
"Skadi, are you awake?" he called out once everyone landed on the ledge outside the cave.
A minute passed before motion came from within as Skadi emerged, likely having just woken up. She looked tired anyway.
"Shadowwing, what-" Skadi froze, silently staring at Crushes-Rocks.
Crushes-Rocks hummed and bent his head to her, "Warm flights, friend Skadi."
"Crushes-Rocks, what is- why are you- here?" she asked, visibly surprised.
"I have a message I am to give you from our pack," Crushes-Rocks answered.
Shadowwing added, "Since he flew far to arrive here, he may rest in our territory. He suggested for safety that you both return to your pack together when you are ready. We can give him a cave or ledge of his own near yours."
Crushes-Rocks faced him, "I can rest here with her. We have shared a cave-den on flights before."
He looked to Skadi, "Is that fine?"
Skadi answered, "Yes, he may stay here with me."
"Crushes-Rocks, when you want to see the rest of our territory, just let us know. We will gladly lead you around. You probably should not wander in our territory on your own because of how different our range is. We have food available if you are willing to accept it," he explained.
Crushes-Rocks hummed in acknowledgment, spun around, and followed Skadi into the cave. He, Luna, and Was-Grounded departed. Once the cave was out of sight, Was-Grounded turned toward a nearby ledge and landed on it. He and Luna followed him.
"Do either of you feel like he is hiding his purpose?" Was-Grounded asked.
"You mean, other than not saying any more than he is carrying a message for her? Yes, he is being flighty," Luna answered.
He agreed, "Hopefully he is not as suspicious as she is."
"Or planning us any harm. Think about it. Skadi has had free flight around our range for how many waking-cycles? If she wanted to learn how best to attack us, she or he could easily do so," Was-Grounded pointed out.
He considered what Skadi had recently done. Between observing people working in fields, and learning what the various structures in the village were for, it wasn't clear what could be used to advantage in an attack. Further, her supposed pack was far too distant to be a legitimate threat to them or to want to displace them. However, that didn't mean there was no reason to take precautions. If both Luna and Was-Grounded were suspicious, they had to have legitimate concern.
"We will keep close watch on them."
Skadi silently stared at Crushes-Rocks in surprise and confusion. Why had he broken her request that no one follow her? What news could be important enough that he would ignore his Alpha's order? Though, she had not specifically ordered him not to follow her, so he was not really disobeying anything.
He stood across from her, looking down to her paws, "I am sorry if you are upset. We were worried about you."
"We?"
"Reflection is also here. She said she was flying here with or without me."
Why would Reflection fly here, ignoring her commands to- wait, no, she was not Reflection's Alpha and had no such authority over the void wing. Still, why? She had to go meet Reflection to find out before too long.
She huffed, "Let me guess. There is no real news. Why did you fly here?"
"There is some news, but nothing specially important. Reflection did not tell me why she was flying here. I know you did not want any of your packmates to follow you, but I was worried about you. Our friends too. We thought you would have returned by now."
She looked away from him, "How long have I been away?"
"About three-tens of waking-cycles."
Had it been so many? It felt like she was no nearer the truth than when she first arrived. Or no nearer the correct, necessary truth. Why was that truth not revealing itself?
He continued, "I will not apologize for coming here."
"No, I am not upset with you, just surprised. What did you tell the dark wings? We need to have our stories the same so they do not suspect us."
He related what he said, which was prudently not much, and she explained which pack she supposedly came from and why she had flown here. As far as the dark wings knew, he and she were only packmates and friends who occasionally flew as Far-Fliers together.
"I should have offered to come with you when you flew here. Us flying as a pair of Far-Fliers to explore this pack would have had more lift than you going alone," he said.
He had a valid point. A pack sending a female alone as a Far-Flier might have appeared strange, but Shadowwing and Was-Grounded had not questioned that detail. Their lack of suspicion was helpful.
"What has happened while I have been away?" she asked.
"The She-Far-Fliers had their contests and made orders. The She-Fighters are preparing to make their orders soon. Another pair named themselves mates. Four of the eggs hatched well."
He did not know where the most recent egg had come from. No one else knew or needed to know. But if it had hatched, it would surely look different from a pure light wing. It had to look like her.
He said nothing else and did not appear suspicious. Nothing had yet happened with her- no, with that egg. Not hers.
"What else?" she asked.
"Deep-Pass-Pack now has a packmate with us to carry news as needed. The only important news for you is the Alphas from Shadow-Spark-Pack, Defiance and Branch-Biter, sent a message. They agreed to allow more pack-mixing between us."
"I expected them to wait far longer before allowing that."
"Bright-Zenith had only warm words to share about our pack. They want to start slowly with a pawful of us living among them at first. There are already volunteers willing to fly as soon as you approve of the flight."
"Good. I will tell our packmates as soon I return. Where is Reflection hiding?"
"She said she would stay near the lake with the waterfall onto a light-rock. She wanted to be able to flee if found."
"I know where that is."
"What have you learned about this pack? Is it as foul and twisted as you suspected?"
He likely could not appreciate or see the danger without a clear, obvious example which was so far illusive.
"Later. I would rather not talk about it now."
He looked down to his paws.
She paused and exhaled, "Sorry for being too formal with you. Being alone in this range and cave-den has been confusing and chilling."
He approached and nuzzled her neck, "I can only imagine being alone in a strange, dangerous pack for many waking-cycles."
She invited him to lay down at her side, and she held his tail. Perhaps this would appear too close for mere friends, should one of the dark wings walk in on them, but bonding felt necessary after having been apart for so many waking-cycles.
"It is liver-warming to be back with you," he softly said.
"I missed you too."
Even as she said such, it almost felt hollow. When had she seriously considered him last? Such prior musings on this flight had always been ignored or pushed off for later.
"Have you thought any more about us?" he asked.
Not with any clear answers. There were only cloudy skies about that future. It was not necessary to have a life-mate at all, and there was the problem of her being his Alpha. How could they possibly have balance in a pairing, him having to obey her commands? Could he stay a liver-close friend if they did not become mates, or stopped giving each other pleasure?
"Not much. Must anything change? Is there anything we do not have as we are now?" she asked.
"Our promise to each other known by all in the pack. An egg and hatchling eventually if you want one."
"Are you asking me to accept you? Because if you are, I-"
He interrupted, "No, not that. I only want to know if how you see me has changed at all since last time."
What had she said to him in the past? Something about a suitable partner understanding the dangers of the world above, and that he must have life-will-powers and thought-speak? Those criteria were wrong for sure, too- proud and perhaps meant to keep any potential partner at a distance, and none of that ensured her partner would truly care about her. His lack of powers or thought-speak did not matter at all, and his lack of understanding of certain dangers was not his fault. Far more important was how loyal and warm-livered a friend he was to her and to his almost-nestmate friends.
"No, I was not concerned with us while I have been here. I will consider us more when we are home."
He softly chuckled, "You should know Azure-Sparkle guessed the truth about us. She asked me before I left, and I told her. She approves of us being together as we are."
"I might have hinted at the truth when she and I were practicing fighting. What about for you, has how you see me changed at all?" she asked.
"I want you to be happy and warm, but I do not know what that means for our life-flights. Does that make us friends or should we be more?"
What he was to her and could be were questions for another waking-cycle when life was clearer and less disturbed. But it was liver-warming he was concerned enough about her that he felt he had to fly to her.
Skadi woke up next to Crushes-Rocks. His breaths were calm as he peacefully slept. All was again right with her life-flight. There was a calm or peace in her life-fire when he was at her side. Flying here on her own was always a mistake.
She blinked and shook her head. Resting here with him while pleasant was a distraction from more important flights. The lurking threat within everything in this pack. Yes, her real purpose in being at this pack. With Reflection here as well, she would have help seeing the truth which had been hiding. More important than peace. Purpose. Justification.
A nibbling, gnawing urge-
She blinked away her sleep, got to her paws, and nudged him awake.
"Wake, you sleepy kin. Your Alpha demands it," she teased.
He groaned and got to his paws, "As she commands."
"I am going to find Reflection."
"Are you flying alone?"
"It is probably best I go alone."
"I will wait outside the shared-nest. You can show me around these ranges after you get there," he offered.
She exited the cave-den, briefly stretching while looking around on the outside ledge. It did not appear any other kin were close, but they could be watching from afar. Sure enough, she spotted a dark wing casually resting on a ledge from where it could see the outside of her given cave-den. She was being watched. Nothing would be strange about her flying to a nearby lake and waterfall for a drink and swim. She took flight toward the distant cave-mouth and waterfalls while Crushes-Rocks flew off elsewhere. Around spires covered in dark light-rocks, over ledges covered in moss, and toward the echoing, rushing roaring.
Finally at the lake, she dove in, swam to shore, and continued on paw toward the waterfalls. The spraying water filled the air with a heavy mist. If any kin were in hiding nearby, this had to be a good place, although the misty air would probably chill any fade. Was a void wing's fade the same as a light wing fade or as hers?
She arrived at the waterfall which fell onto a light-rock and which appeared to be hiding a dark corner.
'Reflection, are you there?'
'Skadi! Are you alone?'
'Yes, you can show yourself.'
'Wait a wingbeat!'
Brief weakness and heaviness came over her before those faded. While Reflection never used any life-will-powers against her or any light wing packmates, simply being around the void wing could cause weariness, though that always seemed temporary.
The dark shape strode through a waterfall to her right. Reflection's spiked forehead appeared first. Her form, being half dark wing, melted into the shadows out of direct path of any light-rocks above.
Skadi purred in welcome and bounded to her, meeting Reflection just outside the waterfall but still out of sight from anyone else.
'What are you doing here?' she asked while nuzzling Reflection's muzzle.
'We could ask you the same. We were concerned how long you were gone.'
'I was fine. If anything, you and Crushes-Rocks flying here was the risk. I did not want anyone to follow and risk this pack learning the truth.'
'Perhaps this was a risk, but I will remain hidden so there are no problems. Is he going to be in trouble?'
'No. It was- good to see him again. You too.'
Reflection huffed.
'What?'
'Are you clearer on what he is to you, other than a way you both can share pleasure?'
She chuckled, 'As if you would know about that, unless I missed anything important back in my pack.'
Reflection softly hummed, 'You did not. You knowI do not care about having such experience.'
'I know. Just teasing you. What were you doing back at the pack?'
'Other than helping the Far-Fliers and keeping watch, I was around Azure-Sparkle, Amber-Fleck, Storming-Flames, and Crushes-Rocks the most. He and his friends let me be around them for rest or games. No one else is as sure of being around me. What have you learned here?'
'The two-legs are using kin for work and protection, and are shaping the range for their own needs. The dark wings and their kin are letting this happen, and they see the two-legs as truly part of their pack.'
Reflection rumbled, 'That does not sound entirely twisted. What do the dark wing Alphas intend toward other packs?'
'I am not sure what they want to do with their pack or if they mean to take more territory. They do not have any agreements with other light wing packs or Shadow-Spark-Pack.'
'Are the other kin being used against their wants? Are they trapped by force?'
Nothing she had seen indicated such trapping with force or false-vines. No, the trapping was far more subtle. Loyalty and obedience to the Alphas, or to two-legs which bring food, grooming, or other tricks, were enough to be a trap.
She huffed, 'Even if they want to stay, letting themselves be used is foul. They should be free instead.'
'Is it possible you misunderstand what you saw?' Reflection asked.
What? Even Reflection did not believe. This- should not have been such a surprise. Reflection had secluded herself for almost her entire life-flight, hiding in a range all to herself away from problems others faced! Of course she would not understand!
'Maybe, but I know what I have lived.'
Reflection hummed, 'These might be the same ones. Do any of the dark wings keep their own two-legs?'
'Yes, some do, but what do you mean by the same ones?'
'I met a flight of dark wings, a dark-light, and the two-legs they were carrying. They came to my old range where you and I first met.'
Reflection had met two-legs before? She had never mentioned that. Perhaps that meeting happened with the same group of dark wings she had heard about while she was still part of Ice-Water-Pack, so long ago.
'What were the two-legs doing?'
'I did not ask. She-Who-Sees told me to stay away from them, and I was surprised any of them were in the underground-ranges, but the two-legs appeared warm enough to the kin they flew with.'
Had the two-legs and dark wings been exploring for other ranges they could take? Shadowwing had mentioned prior explorations to find possible new ranges. Reflection did not understand the rot was- had to be on the inside, in the life-fire. That rot would spread far and foul every corner of the hidden-ranges until nowhere was safe and-
'Are you well?' Reflection asked, her thought-voice touched with concern.
She blinked and looked up from her paws, 'Sorry, I have not been well the last few waking-cycles. Tired and confused. Maybe I have not yet seen all there is here.'
'You know where to find me if you want to talk. Remember your packmates want you. They want their Alpha and their friend back.'
Reflection retreated into the waterfall.
'I know.'
Why was it so difficult for others to understand? They did not have the burden of remembering. But if everyone else thought the same and she stood alone, perhaps they were correct. How was it possible to know if her own sight and understanding was flawed?
She set out for the mixed-nest to find Crushes-Rocks. After a brief flight and locating him perching on a ledge high above the mixed-nest, she landed and bounded to him. He appeared to be alone as he observed the kin and two-legs visible below.
"There you are. What are you doing?" she asked.
He gestured down below, "Shadowwing, Luna, and Mist-Wings invited me to see the mixed-nest and walk in it. Sorry, I was too curious to wait."
Waste. She was too slow.
"What did they show you?"
"The dens for both the ground-kin and sky-kin. I believe that is what they name the two-legs and us. They gave me dried fish, and I met the ground-kin which they name Kin-liver. Why does it have that name? Did you meet that ground-kin?"
"I did. It fought against other two-legs, and helped a great-tusk-alpha protect a safe nest in the above."
He glanced at her and looked toward the visible kin-dens, "None of the other sky-kin here appeared chilled or afraid, but I have not seen much. This pack does not feel twisted from what I have seen. Our pack was far worse before you."
That at least had to be correct. For all the problems and dangers of this pack, it was not nearly as rotted as New-Flame-Pack had been, with thought-trapping everyone and twisting of wants. The entire pack did not live for the benefit of the Alpha, or Alphas, and followers.
"It surely was worse. But it is not easy to know what is inside the life-fire," she whispered.
Why did he not trust her either? Were he and Reflection both against her, doubting her understanding? Maybe they had agreed to oppose her and turn her away from her purpose. They could not be faulted for not understanding well enough, but if they were planning betrayal-
She gasped and caught herself. What was happening? Why were her own thoughts so confused and fouled, considering even him and Reflection as possible enemies, as if a foul whispering was-
She subtly looked all around, checking for any sign of a shadow only she could see. Nothing was clear nearby, but that did not mean Nameless was leaving her alone. That shadow-life had to be twisting her thoughts even toward her closest kin. But why? Nameless had never done anything foul before, and the shadow-life understood her life-flight.
Why would Nameless betray her? Why did Nameless not show itself openly now? Maybe it could not. What had changed?
Shadowwing, Luna, and Was-Grounded relaxed outside New Haven up on an isolated level while overseeing Flower-Eater, Wind-Dancer, Moon-Pinner, and Night-Light playing together, chasing on paw through branches and thick grass.
Shadowwing stirred, hearing a roar as Rock-Climber announced himself from somewhere nearby. After calling out to him, Rock-Climber and Hidden-Hope appeared in the distance, approached, and swiftly dove to land beside him. They both appeared breathless.
"Shadowwing!" Rock-Climber panted.
"What is it? What happened?" he asked.
Luna and Was-Grounded got to their paws and approached.
Hidden-Hope caught her breath, "The ground-kin Alpha came to meet us at the cave. He said there was a new two-leg on the island, and the two-leg wants to talk with you."
How could a stranger know about him, let alone where he was? Perhaps he had been seen outside the village. But the person was new to the island, not one of the shipwrecked refugees?
"Does the two-leg have a name?"
Rock-Climber answered, "Viggo Grimborne."
Hidden-Hope added, "Alpha Stonefist said this two-leg has a stinging-tail-hunter-kin."
He stiffened and faced Luna and Was-Grounded. Their eyes were narrowed as they stood frozen in place. They clearly recognized the name from years ago. Somehow, Viggo had tracked them to the unnamed island or possibly the hidden world itself.
They had been discovered.
