Chapter 1: Eavesdropping and Whispering Caves
Throbb stumbled through the sky, his blue-grey fur highlighted by the rays of the full moon.
With each flap of his massive wings, he hissed through his teeth, feeling pain. His left wing was badly burned by a lightning strike and his whole body was covered with several scratches and scrapes. Wounds he got from a fight with a young owl named Orestes. Not exactly a fighter at first glance, but ultimately an opponent not to be underestimated. Just like his three friends; the two young bats Shade and Marina and the human girl Vanessa.
Never would he have thought he would ever meet a human, shrunken to the size of a mouse. He still couldn't believe it was possible. As if regular-sized humans weren't bad enough.
Frowning, he remembered how he and his cousin Goth had been captured by such creatures and taken from their home in the jungle. By sheer luck, they managed to escape. But the way back from this strange, cold place they ended up in proved to be more difficult than they first thought. They needed help from a local to find their way south. And thank Zotz they did find someone. Unfortunately, it had to be those three who would cause them nothing but trouble in the end. If it had been up to him, they would have eaten them as soon as possible. But Goth insisted Shade lead them to his colony.
Throbb had to admit that Goth's idea made sense. At Hibernaculum, they could have eaten an enormous amount of bats. Enough food for them to get through this cursed winter and to fly back home with their strength restored. Sadly, his plan didn't work. Instead, these two northern bats and their human friend had tricked them many times. With dire consequences.
Like, for example, their last encounter with them the day before.
''I've told him we should have stayed in that cave," Throbb muttered to himself and shivered as a cold gust of wind brushed through his fur. ''But nooo!... He just had to go after them during a thunderstorm.'' He rolled his eyes and huffed.
After his fight with the young owl Orestes, he had been searching for his primo. The last he had seen of Goth was his body falling down a huge waterfall. Throbb had tried to rush to his aid, but at that moment, another flash of lightning lit up the sky, hitting his wing. The impact burned so painfully that it forced him to flee the scene and hide until nighttime.
He was lucky, his wing injury wasn't too severe. However, it would take a while until it's fully healed. Throbb had waited some time in a nearby tree for the pain to ease before flying back to the waterfall, following the river further downstream. There he was flying for hours but found no life sign of Goth. To make matters worse, he was also getting hungry. But there was no trace of potential prey anywhere.
''I hope I find food soon, or I'll starve to death if I'm not frozen to death first.'' Another shiver ran through his body. He couldn't wait to get back to the jungle with its comfortable heat and delicious prey.
He let out a sigh and looked up to check the time as the sudden flapping sound of bat wings caught his attention. ''Goth?'' he asked, looking behind him. ''Is that you?''
No answer.
Throbb flew in the direction where he had heard the wing-beating. Seconds later, he discovered its source. It wasn't Goth, but a smaller bat, a Silverwing. Not Shade, but an elderly female with grey fur and lots of fat on her ribs.
'Perfect!' Throbb licked his lips, happy to have found something to eat.
He followed the Silverwing through the forest until he found the perfect moment to strike. On an old oak tree, the female hung herself upside down from one of the lower branches. Throbb landed a few branches higher and crouched down. Quickly, he checked that his scent wasn't being blown to her by the wind. Then he stalked towards the unsuspecting bat and flinched back as two owls appeared from the dark. Well hidden behind twigs and leaves, he watched as a large owl with brown plumage settled on a snow-covered branch opposite the Silverwing. He kinda reminded him of Orestes. Perhaps they were even related. The other owl, with a long thin mustache on his beak, settled on a branch behind him. Throbb crouched even deeper into the thicket. He had no interest in being discovered. Especially not in his current state.
At that moment, the chubby female below him spoke up. ''General Brutus, it's a pleasure to see you. Thank you for coming.''
The owl general stared down grimly at the old Silverwing. ''Bathsheba. I hope for your sake you have a good reason for coming to see me.''
''Why, certainly,'' Bathsheba replied. ''I don't wish to claim your patience for too long. I'm merely here to give you some news that may be of interest to you.''
Brutus didn't seem convinced. ''The only thing that interests me is the whereabouts of your colony, Silverwing. So don't waste my time with nonsense.''
''Of course not. But what I have to tell you also involves your son.''
Now she got the general's attention. ''What did you say?'' he asked, squinting his eyes.
''You heard right'', Bathsheba replied. ''Yesterday, Shade arrived at Hibernaculum with that human brat Vanessa, a Brightwing, and your son. They even claimed he was their friend.''
Throbb thought Brutus's eyes were about to pop out of his head. That's how far he'd ripped them open.
''My only son … in league with the Silverwings?!'' his voice boomed with anger at this news. ''If you are lying … you've drawn your last breath, bat!''
Bathsheba just smirked. ''Let's make a deal. Give me what I want, and I'll deliver the traitors…''
Throbb was perplexed. Why would this Silverwing betray someone from her colony? Although he still thought he should leave, he stayed where he was. Because now a pack of wolves appeared and he wanted to know what they were doing there as well.
''Good evening Brutus,'' the alpha said with a grin, ''I see you owls have caught one of those murderous Silverwings.''
''Bathsheba has come here of her own free will with important information,'' the general replied.
She nodded. ''Indeed. To find my colony, you must follow the river upstream to the waterfall. There, on a rock above the waterfall, you will find the entrance to Hibernaculum.''
''¿Qué?'' Throbb exclaimed and quickly pressed a hand to his mouth, fearing someone had heard him. Luckily, no one even took a glance towards the branch he was hiding.
The alpha wolf chuckled with amusement. ''Behind the waterfall?! Clever!''
''No thanks to you, wolf. Without Bathsheba, we wouldn't have found it at all.''
The wolf just growled before glancing at the old female with a cruel smile. ''What is betraying your own species' worth these days?'' He asked, moving closer. Bathsheba backed away with a gasp. Then glared back at him. ''I seek only to restore order to this forest,'' she said.
''Oh, of course, you do.'' The alpha wolf chuckled.
''We fly to Hibernaculum immediately,'' Brutus declared and turned to the owl behind him. ''Atlas, inform all lieutenants.''
''Um, is that a good idea, sir? Invading the winter roost of any species, especially during wintertime, is a serious violation of the law. Perhaps it would be better to inform the King about this first.''
Brutus pondered. He didn't look too enthusiastic about it, but then he agreed. ''Very well. Send a messenger to King Boreal. We'll wait for his reply and attack afterward.'' Atlas nodded and flew off.
Throbb had heard enough. He had noticed the alpha wolf looking curiously at the web of branches he was hiding on. If he stayed here any longer, they would surely discover him. The next time the wolf turned around, Throbb used the moment to fly away as quietly as he could.
Once he was sure he had left the meeting far behind him, Throbb landed on the ground of a small clearing and thought about what he just heard.
'Hibernaculum is behind the waterfall. Behind the waterfall!' The same waterfall where they had fought those northern bats and their friends? The same one Goth had fallen from? If that was the case, Throbb could not believe how close they had been to their goal. With a frustrated growl, he rubbed his hands across his face. ''We were so close ... so close.'' He wondered whether he should fly upriver and go to Hibernaculum now that he knew where it was. He shook his head. He had enough of this place. All he wanted was to turn his back to the north and return home. He had been away far too long. Throbb couldn't wait to be back among his kind and be surrounded by the familiar scents of the jungle. It warmed his heart when he thought how happy his parents, especially his mother, would be when they saw him again. But then he remembered he still had found no life sign from Goth. Which meant that he had to tell the king and queen about the death of their only child.
Throbb knew that the royal couple had long hoped for a child of their own. So long that their relationship suffered from it. And now that Goth was most likely dead, it would break them apart for good. Goth's mother was too old to bear more children and the king himself was not the youngest anymore, either. To make it worse, his health was not at its best at the time Goth and Throbb got kidnapped. What if he had died?
Throbb gulped. If King Deimos was indeed no longer alive, who would then take the throne? With Goth no longer around, the crown should pass to the king's brother. But Throbb knew his father was not that young to be king for a long time, either. Nor had ever been very much interested in ruling. Which meant he would gladly pass the position over to his son. To Throbb.
''Oh, Zotz'', he said, grabbing his face. ''What am I going to do? I can't possibly rule a kingdom. I... I'm not made for this.''
''Who in their right mind would crown you, king?''
Throbb spun around and his eyes widened. Behind him, propped at the base of a tree, stood Goth. His body was covered in several cuts and bruises. His wings were torn with the membrane, blistered and stained. All in all, he looked worse than after what happened to him at the fire towers.
''Goth, you are alive!'' Throbb cried happily and rushed over, wanting to embrace his primo. But he quickly stopped himself in his tracks, noticing the deadly gaze Goth was giving him as if he wanted to tear him to shreds as soon as Throbb so much as thought about touching him. ''Eh, is ... Is everything all right?'' he asked cautiously.
Goth let out a half-hearted laugh. ''Oh, of course. Everything's fine. After all, it happens every day that I almost drown and freeze to death.'' His eyes glittered with rage, and Throbb backed off a little.
''I...eh...I just wanted to...'' he started, but Goth cut him off.
''What? Declare me dead and fly home alone so you can take my place as future king?!''
''N-no I...''
''Let me clarify one thing...'' Goth limped closer to Throbb and stared down at him hatefully. Before the other Vampyrum could retreat any further, his cousin had already grabbed him by the throat and pulled him to his face. ''The day someone like you becomes king is the day I turn my back on Zotz. So you better forget about that right now. ¡¿Lo tienes?!''
Throbb nodded quickly, fearing Goth might do who knows what to him. However, he realized something was different. The grip on his neck was not as tight as usual. More like Goth was clinging to him instead of choking him. Also, he noticed how exhausted Goth looked. His breathing was heavy, and he was slightly shivering. If Goth wasn't so angry, he most likely would have collapsed right on the spot.
''Listen Goth,'' began Throbb and carefully pushed his hand away from his throat. ''I can see that you're feeling... quite unwell at the moment and...''
Goth snorted. ''I'm fine.''
Throbb knew he was lying, but didn't correct him. ''Well, maybe so, but I still think we'd better find shelter. Looks like it's going to be dawn soon.''
Goth replied nothing and looked up at the sky. It was true. The stars were already fading, and the horizon glowed up in the east. ''All right. Let's go.'' Goth spread his wings to fly. Immediately, he flinched in pain and fell to his knees. Throbb wanted to help him but got almost bitten by Goth, so he stayed away. Watching the prince trying to lift his mangled body into the sky once again.
It took him about five tries before he finally got airborne. Still, the Vampyrum prince struggled hard to stay up. With every beat of his wings, he was hissing in pain. But he fought his way forward doggedly. Throbb flew as close to his side as possible, to catch him in case he threatened to fall, even if his own wing still hurt like hell.
After a while, they found a crevice in a rocky hill and flew inside, totally worn out. With the help of their echo vision, they realized the cave was stretched out in a wide net, exposing numerous side passages. As they flew deeper and deeper, the two of them noticed to their amazement how the surrounding air became warmer and warmer until delicious tropical heat surrounded them. They realized it was rising from holes in the stone floor as if it came from the depths of the earth.
While it seemed to be a natural roost for bats, the two of them couldn't find even a single one. But even though their stomachs were growling with hunger, they were not too disappointed, for the warm air felt too good. It was almost as if they were already back home in their jungle. They kept on flying until Goth couldn't go on anymore and roosted on the nearest wall.
''We will stay here for the day'', he declared.
Throbb agreed with a yawn. He wondered if he should go out hunting, so they had something in their stomachs before going to sleep. But when he turned to Goth, he saw how he was already fast asleep. Throbb briefly considered whether he should fly out anyway, but his eyes were so heavy that he could hardly keep them open. Finally, with another yawn, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Shortly after Throbb fell asleep, Goth grew restless and growled and frowned in his sleep. His dreams were filled with vivid images and a voice that repeatedly called him by his name.
''Goth!''
He woke up.
Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he turned to Throbb in annoyance, thinking it was he who kept calling him the whole time. But the other Vampyrum was peacefully asleep. Goth arched a brow. Was Throbb talking in his sleep, or did he just imagine hearing his name? With a shrug, he wrapped himself back in his silky-smooth wings and tried to go back to sleep.
''Goth.''
Frowning, he glances back at Throbb. Yet the other was still asleep. Goth was sure he had heard someone whispering his name. But who else but Throbb could it have been?
''Goth.''
He froze. This time the voice had been louder, and he didn't have to look at Throbb to know that it wasn't he who was speaking to him.
''Who's there?'' he asked in the room. With his heart pounding in his chest, he scanned the area with his sonar, but the echo only reflected the silvery image of the empty cave walls. Was he so sick that he heard voices that weren't even there?
''Where are you going?'' the voice asked.
''... Home,'' Goth replied, uncertain what he should make of the voice. The words seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. And yet he felt that there was someone else in the cave beside him and Throbb. He looked around and saw sound images painting themselves on the walls and ceiling like moving hieroglyphics: a jaguar, a feathered snake, and a pair of unblinking eyes without pupils.
''Who am I?'' the voice asked, grazing his ears.
Goth hesitated. It couldn't be. But these signs… He knew what they meant. Yet he wanted to be sure. He needed proof. ''Show yourself!'' he demended boldly.
Laughter rumbled through the room. ''Not now. Not here.''
''I-I know you,'' Goth said carefully, suddenly afraid to utter the name, now that he was in his very presence.
''Tell me.''
Gulping down a lump in his throat, he eventually gave in. "C-cama Zotz.
"Correct,'' the voice purred.
''W-what do you want from me, oh great Zotz?''
"The question is rather, what do you want from me?''
Goth frowned. "What do I want?"
''That's right,'' Zotz said. ''You say you're on your way home. But is that really what you want?''
"I... I don't understand?''
"Well, perhaps this will jog your memory.''
Pictures flashed through Goth's mind. A runty Silverwing and a human girl, shrunken to mouse-size. Shade and Vanessa. He growled. Why did Zotz show him that?
"I can feel your heart yearning for vengeance, Goth. Yet you claim to want to leave this place.''
"My lord. These two and their companions have blasphemed you. They must be punished. However...'', he stopped short, ''with my present physical condition, I am hardly able to fly.''
''I'll help you, but in exchange, you need to do exactly what I tell you.''
Goth immediately agreed. ''I'll do anything.''
''I know.'' Again the air whirled around Goth and the image of a human building in the middle of the forest painted itself in his head. "Go there. It's a few wingbeats to the north of here. If you leave after sunset, you should get there before dawn.''
Now Goth understood nothing. Why would his god send him there? He had just escaped from a similar building a few weeks ago. "But...''
"Are you questioning me, Goth?" Zotz sounded irritated, causing Goth to shudder and shake his head.
"N-no, sir. I just... don't understand why you're sending me there. The humans are our enemies. Why do I need to go to one of their places?''
"Because it's important, Goth. Only if you go there you will finally return home and get your revenge. And you'll become king.''
King? Goth wanted to ask what Zotz meant by this, but his god's presence had already vanished. Goth wondered if he'd just imagined this conversation. But it seemed too real to be a dream. He wanted to think about it further, but fatigue got its hold on him and before Goth knew, he dropped into the land of dreams.
The next evening, Goth was the first to wake up and notice something different about himself. All of his wounds were gone, including the ones he got from the electric shocks at the power station. His wings had fully healed, leaving no scars. Also, his crimson hair had regained its original fullness and length. However, it looked shaggy and in need of a good grooming session. But that could wait. Much more important now was to follow his God's orders and fly to this human building. Though it was still a mystery to Goth, why his god wanted him to go there.
Meanwhile, Throbb was also waking up and yawned while stretching his wings wildly.
''Watch it'', growled Goth and roughly pushed him away.
''Oh, perdón''. Throbb rubbed the last bits of sleep out of his eyes and looked around. ''Is it evening already?'' he asked.
''Of course,'' Goth replied curtly, and let go from his resting place. Throbb wanted to say something, but Goth was already on his way out.
''Wait,'' Throbb said as he caught up with him. ''Don't you think it might be better if you stayed inside and rested? You know, your injuries, they're... healed?'' Throbb blinked, looking closer at Goth. ''But... how is this possible? Your wings... How?''
Goth laughed with amusement at Throbb's bewildered expression. ''Amazing, isn't it?" He flexed his arms and looked pleased with his strong and healthy muscles. ''Believe it or not... It was Cama Zotz. He had spoken to me and healed my wounds.''
''But I thought only our high priest can communicate with our god'', said Throbb.
''You call me a liar?''
''N-no ... but.''
Goth's eyes narrowed to slits. ''Be assured. I'm speaking the truth. Zotz spoke to me and healed me just like ... you?!'' He paused and blinked. Only now did he realize that Throbb's wounds had healed as well. This could only have been the work of Zotz. But why?
''Huh?'' Throbb looked down at himself and realized that Goth was right. The scratches on his body plus the nasty gash in his wing were gone. ''What ... How?''
Goth was speechless. He stared at Throbb, not knowing if he should be confused or angry. Why on earth had Zotz healed Throbb as well? He wasn't as loyal to their god as he was. So why? Whatever the reason was, Goth knew he would find it out, eventually. Though for now, he had more important things to do. ''Come on now.''
''Wait, Goth Home is that way.''
The Vampyrum prince stopped in mid-flight and looked over his shoulder in the direction Throbb was pointing. South. The road to his home. To the jungle. To his kin. Looking that way, he felt something tearing at his heart and pulling him towards there. But then the words of his god came back to his mind, and he shook his head. ''We have to go this way. It's Zotz will.''
''I thought we were going home?''
''If we do what Zotz says, we'll get home soon enough'', Goth said. ''Or do you want to defy the will of your god?''
''No, no, of course not,'' Throbb hastily replied and backed off as Goth approached him with a threatening glare in his eyes.
''Then what?''
''I just wonder why Zotz doesn't want us to take the direct route home.''
''Then go that way if you insist. But I will do what Zotz told me to do.'' Goth was tired of discussing with Throbb. This was a waste of time. ''You can either come with me or not. Your choice.''And with that, he flew off and didn't look back again.
Throbb looked after him with concern. Then he threw a wavering glance to the south. With a sigh, he eventually followed his cousin, hoping the latter knew what he was doing.
