Chapter 4: Sister

Heart heavy, Thalia the flier pup snuggled close to her grieving father and baby sister. Thalia chose her human name barely a week before, but her sister was far too young to do the same. Their mother's last act had been to name the newborn a series of clicks and pulses that, to a flier, created the mental image of a circle of stones with rippling water in the center. But other species couldn't even hear most of those sounds, let alone interpret their meaning. None had echolocation on par with bats.

Often, a flier would accept a human name suggested by a friend or family member. Father hoped Thalia's sister would one day choose "Atalanta," a legendary huntress who found purpose and fulfillment despite tragedy in her infancy. To Thalia, it was far more important that her sister simply be happy. It would be Thalia's job to be joyous, funny, and encouraging. Her father and sister would both need it.

The tiny pup couldn't speak yet, but Thalia still derived deep comfort from just being with her. Especially with the latest, fearful news.

Uncle Epimetheus and his bond, Kleave, had been present for her sister's birth, which had cost Mother's life. It had been too short a time since Thalia had been born, but Mother had so wanted her to have a sibling. Now, she did have a sister… but no mother. Epimetheus and Kleave had been comforting, but not for long. When Hermes brought word of a fight that cost the lives of two gnawers, they returned to Regalia in haste. Now, her father Hephaestus was heartbroken, seeking comfort from his daughters, and trying not to acknowledge the danger the entire Underland faced.

For the dead rats had been discovered… and Gorgor launched his war.

Such things were far too big and scary for little Thalia. Though fliers grew and matured far faster than humans, it was not so swift as with crawlers, gnawers, or nibblers. It would still be two years before she was full grown. Her wingspan was barely five feet, and her baby sister had yet to spread her little wings even once.

The vast cavern stirred. Thalia's sharp ears detected the arrival of multiple bats… including Aurora, Ajax, and Euripides. They tried not to wake her sister or disturb Father as she shifted just enough to see.

As always, the humans brought torches. The detailed shapes and textures of Thalia's world now gained brightness and color. Vikus, Solovet, Mareth, Henry, and the girl queen had arrived…

…along with two Overlanders.

Thalia was just a pup. She'd never seen an Overlander. But their could be no doubt. All the people of Regalia and the Fount had the same coloring, making them quite dull compared to fliers, nibblers, gnawers, and spinners. The humans would probably take offense rather than laugh, but Thalia always lumped them in with the crawlers whenever she imagined things visually. No variety in color. But these humans… darker skin, dark hair and eyes, and they had clearly never ridden bats before. And the boy wore a bizarre helmet, that had no protection for the face or sides of the head, and a strange circular device attached. He bore no weapon, but wore a full pack, with a leather satchel tied to it. He came prepared… but for what Thalia could not guess.

The fliers landed on the stone pillar in the center of the chamber. Shaped centuries ago by the first Overlanders, it was as inaccessible to gnawers as the Regalian palace, or so Father insisted. The countless holes and ledges in the cavern walls and ceilings could house many fliers, but the pillar served many uses when non-flying visitors arrived.

Expecting these visitors, Queen Athena and her many advisors awaited them on the pillar. The humans dismounted and approached. "Queen Athena: Meet you Gregor the Overlander." The distance was great, but bat ears were keen, and Thalia listened closely.

"Be you the warrior?" Athena asked softly. "Be you he who calls?"

"Well, actually I–" the boy hesitated. Athena waited patiently, and Thalia guessed the Overlander wasn't sure of flier customs, and feared being rude to their Queen. At last, he settled for a simple, direct answer. "I am the warrior. I am he who calls."

How could a child sound so confident, so certain, about something so… big?

But the queen smiled. It was said only a heart shaper could possibly fool the wise, perceptive Athena, and her ability to gauge someone's character was unmatched. "It is he," she declared.

The whole chamber went silent. The Queen had spoken. The warrior had appeared, thus the Prophecy of Gray was at hand. Thalia knew few details of the prophecies… but she knew to fear them.

Before the advisors could announce the decision, before the Queen could formally greet the future hero…

…the littler Overlander loudly declared, "Ge-go, I pee!"

Thalia literally had to stuff the end of her wing into her own mouth to stop her laughter from echoing through the vast space.

But Athena laughed with light and joyous mirth. "Warrior… you have clearly made your sister feel safe, and loved, and welcome. A responsible man has many duties. You may see to this one, while we older ones see to other matters." With a gracious extension and tilting of her wing, Athena dismissed the young warrior, then she and her advisors entered council with the human leaders.

Thalia's sister snuffled in her sleep, and rolled over, leaning into Father. Thalia took this chance to gently disentangle herself and move closer to their little ledge. She could more easily watch and listen. The warrior quickly and efficiently changed his sister's catch cloth, clearly having done so many times. He was gentle, and smiled as the tiny human giggled. Then the girl queen addressed him, giving basic tips for how to better ride a bat.

Confirming that Father still slept, weary from grief, Thalia took to the air. She didn't have the strength to bear any burdens, and she was slow, but flying was still new enough for even the basics to be fun. She upped the intensity of her echolocation, careful to avoid getting too close to anyone else, and joined many other fliers buzzing above and around the pillar.

Once she had her bearings and a good flying rhythm, Thalia turned her attention back to the Overlanders on the pillar.

Just in time to see Luxa's cousin toss the warrior's sister off.

Ah! Good, they are going to play with us. I wish I had the strength to take part, but simply flying will do for now.

But something was wrong. "Henry!" shouted one of the soldiers, who then glared at his own queen, who was laughing.

The warrior had rushed to the edge of the pillar, but like all humans he was helpless in the dark. He looked down, when his sister was already high above him. "More!" she shouted happily. "More! More!"

Most young humans were taught to trust bats in their own homeland, so this was Thalia's first time seeing such a game. The bats tossed the little girl about, catching her, bearing her high, dropping her, and occasionally spinning about to fling her. The tiny Overlander clearly loved every aspect of the experience, laughing and squealing and begging for more.

But the warrior… was furious. "Stop it!" He stalked up to Henry, who outweighed him two to one but wasn't much taller, and seized the front of his shirt. "Bring her in now!"

What is wrong? Should he not be happy that his sister so easily takes to flight?

"Take ease, Overlander," Henry said, raising his hands as if defeated. " She is not in danger."

Luxa's voice was earnest. "In truth Gregor, she is safer with the bats than in human hands, and she is not afraid."

Thalia almost swooped in to join the conversation, wanting to reassure the Overlander, perhaps lightening the mood with a joke.

But his next words startled her. "She's two! She's going to think she can jump off anything and be caught!"

"She can!" Luxa replied, though nowhere near as loud.

"Not at home, Luxa! Not in the Overland!"

He kept talking, and the young Underlanders tried to engage, but Thalia barely heard. Her thoughts remained fixed on that statement. The warrior was only a boy, but he thought so far ahead. The Underland must be strange, and wondrous to him, for the Overland had none but humans that could think and talk on their level. She would expect him to be so caught up in her beautiful world that none of his thoughts could go elsewhere. But he cared for his sister so much. He thought ever of her safety, and he knew her well. Thalia had heard that the human city miles above them had buildings many times taller than this pillar. She imagined this happy, fearless little girl throwing herself off one… with no bats to catch her.

So that is it. This is why a human pup can be the warrior. He protects. Right now, his only thoughts are for his sister. Even with a human queen trying to argue with him, he will not back down. He will not let his sister learn something that would be dangerous in her own world.

The argument soured, and bitter words were exchanged on both sides. But Thalia felt herself agreeing with the Overlander. Fliers could be trusted. They would never let a human fall to their death… in the Underland. But the warrior knew that he and his sister would return home.

And then the Queen's cousin said something so nasty, so unforgivable, that it took a moment for Thalia to even understand his meaning.

"Let the 'warrior' be, Luxa. He is no good to us dead… yet..."

Confused, Thalia landed on a ledge so she could ponder. Why would it ever be good for this dutiful older brother to die?

Then, she remembered.

Father had mentioned there were several prophecies that talked about an Overland warrior. And one of them… said the warrior… would be killed…

Thalia gritted her teeth, and her heart sped up. That… that monster… This Henry… has darkness in his heart… He is the opposite of my precious baby sister, of the warrior's sister. I would fill the world with joy and laughter… but Henry makes a joke… of the warrior's doom…

The human queen couldn't completely hide her own reaction to those hateful words. When Henry proposed a footrace, Luxa didn't immediately comply. She kept her expression steady, but the darkness of those words had her rooted to the spot.

At last, Luxa complied, running alongside Henry and throwing herself into the darkness, trusting their bats.

I… will never… be like him. The world is dangerous, and sad, and scary... but I will make it happier. If someone dies, or it is known they will die, I will try to lift the hearts of all. Never will I scoff at anyone's pain. Never will I joke of something so sad. The Underland suffers from dark and flame and war and strife. Some go hungry, mothers die bringing their pups into the world, and illness can strike anyone. There is pain and loss and hearts breaking. But I... I will beat back the pain with laughter and joy. My sister will grow up smiling, even without Mother. Together... we will spread light.