by Cherron Riser, Ashley Nicole Davis, Tara Ann Moore, & Taylor Lexus Brown
Sunyah stood in front of her cloak, thinking about the decision she was about to make. After her meltdown the night before, she had awoken with a new perspective. A perspective of vengeance. She would help her new family, if only to kill the creature that had killed her beloved momma and stolen her real life away from her.
Verahn stood next to her, ready to help her younger sister transition into her birthright. "I know that it is daunting. I know you feel surreal," she said to Sunyah. "But once you put on your wings, sister, you will know life as you have never known it before. You will see the world as it has never existed in your human eyes."
"Yeah ... whatever." Sunyah sighed. She had no excitement. Only anger and anxiety. She stared a moment more before finally picking up her feathered cloak from the ground in front of her. It felt like the smoothest silk she had ever touched. An energy emanated from it, running up from the cloak into her fingertips and then to her heart. Sunyah inhaled sharply as she felt it pulse through her.
"You feel it," Verahn said. "You feel your life force coming back into you. Embrace it, Sunyah. Wear it. Do not fear it."
Sunyah let the current run through her body for a full minute and then flung the cloak over her shoulders in one swift movement. She felt the weight of it fall upon her, and then, everything happened.
In a flash of light, ten thousand years of legacy impacted her conscience. Understanding and knowledge hit her like a brick to the face. She heard the voices of twenty generations sing the Song of Thunder through their magnificent beaks. She heard the billowing of a thousand great wings. She saw the faces of Yarra, her mother bird, and Valmut, her father. After them came her fallen brothers and sisters.
She saw herself, newborn inside of her cloak. She saw the night she was sent away. She saw the vile face of Serpa, twisted in seething rage.
Sunyah spread her wings and let loose a mighty cry, lifting off into the sky above.
All at once, her family joined her. Kalmutt flew directly ahead with Ramull centered above. Verahn and Fallah flanked Sunyah, all singing with joyful caws at their sister's return. They flew through the air, spiraling upward and downward, sending mighty winds over the land below. They flapped their wings, cutting through the storm clouds, blowing them away from their nest. Communicating telepathically, Kalmutt ordered his family into a circle formation. And in perfect harmony, they moved their wings, sending strong gusts of wind through the sky and land below.
Sunyah watched as their efforts moved the clouds from the face of the sun and pushed the pools of water on the ground into the mixture of red clay and sand. She looked toward the trailer and saw Delilah, watching through the back door with fear and awe. She now knew what Verahn had meant when she spoke of the difference the cloak would make. The world around her had changed. She had changed, not just in physical form but in soul as well. Now she knew the glory of being Thunder Born. To soar in an ocean of skies, keeping a watchful eye on the world below. Now she knew why storms had entranced her even in human form. She was part of the storm. Bringer of the rains and winds. Bringer of Thunder.
Sunyah was about to let out another joyful cry, when she sensed them. She looked at Kalmutt. He and the others felt them too.
Loka and Morahn. The betrayers. They were coming.
As if to affirm the group's collective wariness, the rogues appeared overhead, screeching threats. Together they cut downward, soaring directly for Sunyah and her family. In her mind, she heard them speaking.
"They have the young one, Loka. She has returned. Serpa will want her."
"Yes,” replied Loka to her brother. "Kill the others, and kill the human woman in the nest. We will take the young female to the lake."
Sunyah then heard Kalmutt's voice, strained with urgency.
"Formation my family! Prepare for their attack!”
At this command, Sunyah and the others pressed their wings into their sides and shoved themselves into an upward spiral, aiming directly for Loka and Morahn.
Thunder echoed through the sky as the opposing sides impacted each other.
Sunyah heard Loka screech as Ramull ferociously ripped a clump of feathers from her head with his talons. Blood trickled down Loka's beak, and she seemed to lose air, falling below the rest of them. Upon seeing his sister in distress, Morahn let out a scream and his eyes began to burn hot silver. Sunyah cried out to her uncle, but there wasn't enough time. Sharp blades of lightning shot from Morahn's eyes and pierced Ramull's chest. Sunyah heard him cry out, and then he fell from the sky.
Sunyah dove after him as fast as she could. But the ground came to Ramull quicker than she was able to. She watched helplessly as her uncle's head hit the ground, snapping his neck. His shimmering cloak dulled and fell off him, revealing the broken man underneath. Sunyah saw the last bit of light leave his eyes as the beautiful silver turned to a dull gray.
Tears fell down her beak, and she squawked with sorrow. She had only met him days ago, but she had known him a lifetime.
Her tears were abruptly cut short when she heard Fallah scream toward her. She looked up to see Loka coming down on her with her talons out.
Sunyah wasn't sure if it was rage over Ramull's death or defense of her own life that caused what happened next.
She flipped onto her back and met Loka's talons with her own, gripping tight enough to draw blood. Loka attempted to maintain control of both herself and Sunyah, and the struggle for dominance sent them both into a head over heels spiral. Sunyah felt power surge through her, determined electric power, and with a mighty shriek, she sent lightning through Loka's body, not allowing her to fall away.
Loka's body writhed under the violent and continuous current, and black smoke started rising from her. Her screams of pain faded, and she went limp in Sunyah's talons. But Sunyah continued to throttle her body with electricity.
"SUNYAH! ENOUGH!"
Kalmutt's voice snapped her out of her murderous rage, and she dropped Loka's charred body to the ground.
Kalmutt flew to her and entered her mind. "That was .... too much child. Too much anger. We do what we must to protect ourselves and our family. But we do not murder out of hatred or vengeance."
Sunyah bowed her head to him. She didn't know what had come over her.
Kalmutt spoke again. "Morahn has fled at the sight of his dead sister. He will surely return to Serpa. I feel that she will come for us soon. Let us return to the nest to grieve my brother and rest our bodies. We have much to discuss, Sunyah."
With cloaks removed, Sunyah and her family sat around the kitchen table and mourned silently for several minutes. Kalmutt had instructed them in this, saying there was no time at the moment for proper grieving. With Serpa coming down upon them, they must remain vigilant.
Delilah made tea to refresh them, and the Elder called his diminished clan back to attention.
"My children, Serpa and Morahn will come swiftly and attempt to catch us off guard ... I have decided that we will go to them."
"Grandfather, that could prove to be a suicide mission ..." Verahn said. "Serpa is in deep waters, where she is strongest."
"I know," replied Kalmutt. "I know, child, but we must end this now. One way or the other. We cannot continue on like this for another century. She falls ..." He paused and looked at each of his grandchildren with sadness. "Or we fall."
Sunyah was taken aback by her grandfather's willingness to just die. Her anger moved her to fight and win. No matter what.
Kalmutt seemed to notice her brooding, and spoke again. "Sunyah, my dear girl, there is something else you must know."
Sunyah raised her eyes to meet Kalmutt's.
"For years the snake has waged war against us, trying to annihilate our kind. She has taken out a hundred of us, and we have killed her mate and every hatchling that came from that unholy union."
Kalmutt sipped his tea and started to pace. "Serpa strives to take out every seventh child of T
hunder ... which you are ... and then works her way up the rest of the line. But this time, we hid you, and so she struck wherever she could. That is, until Loka spotted Fallah watching you one night and reported it back to Serpa."
Sunyah spoke up. "Why does she go after the seventh?"
"Because, my girl," Kalmutt began to explain, "every seventh child is by birthright the next Elder of Thunder. The one who must grow, guide, and protect the clan."
Sunyah sat silently in minor shock for a moment and then said, "Oh."
"You are the last in line of Elders, Sunyah." Kalmutt went on. "If you die, the Order dies with you. Your brother or sister could lead, but only the seventh child is granted the full power of that title."
His eyes drifted toward the window, and Sunyah though she saw a tear roll down his cheek.
"I had a daughter, Una," he said softly. "She was your mother's junior by fifteen years, my seventh child. She was beautiful and vibrant much like you, Sunyah. She was destined to be a great Elder." Kalmutt caught a sob in his throat as he thought of his youngest daughter's face. "So beautiful ... so young. She was but twelve years old when Serpa found her and ..."
Kalmutt stopped and turned away from his family. Sunyah could see his shoulders shake as he cried. She wanted to cry with him. To cry for the beautiful aunt she never knew. To cry for her father and both of her mothers. For Ramull. She wanted the pain to end. She wanted to gut that vile serpent with her talons.
Kalmutt finished speaking without turning to face his grandchildren. "My little girl was left bloodied and broken on a riverbank. She was all alone ... she died alone ... Sunyah, I am tired." He turned and moved close to her, placing his hand on her head. "I refuse to live, to see my last children die in front of me. We will find Serpa, we will fight to continue our legacy, we will fight to protect you ... but I am willing to die."
Sunyah fought back tears. "But Grandfather"—she looked up at him—"we have no mates; we have no children ... our legacy will die with the four of us. So what is this really worth? Protecting me? Dying for me? Fighting at all?"
Kalmutt gently stroked her hair and whispered, "Sunyah, there are more as you were. Distant family from other clans, hidden away across the world for the last fifty years, waiting to hear the call of Thunder. You will find them, and you will lead them."
Sunyah's eyes widened at the revelation. A spark of hope rose in her heart. "Then let's go," she said, determination lighting her silver eyes. "What are we waiting for?"
Fallah and Verahn rose from the table and picked up their cloaks, nodding at Kalmutt.
Delilah put a hand over her chest, whispering a prayer for her birdie.
Kalmutt took Sunyah's hand. "You will only live or die today, girl. Are you ready to face either of those destinies?"
She looked her grandfather in the eye and squeezed his hand. "I will fly, one wing in life, one wing in death, my eyes to the sky, and my heart to the sound of Thunder." She kissed the old man's cheek, ran out the door, and rode her wings toward her fate.
The lake sat still and silent under the orange hues of the sunset. Here and there, a squirrel would hurriedly scurry into a treetop, as if sensing the coming events. No other creature made a sound, and the wind had stopped blowing.
The calm before the storm.
Atop the tallest trees surrounding the body of water, Sunyah and her family remained vigilant. Wings to their sides and eyes focused below, their minds linked in private conversation.
"She knows we're here, I can sense eyes on us," said Fallah.
"It is most likely Morahn, acting as her eyes," replied Kalmutt. "But yes, she certainly knows."
As if to answer their ponderings, there came a stirring in the middle of the lake.
"Be swift my children," Kalmutt commanded as he raised his wings and descended toward the shore.
Fallah and Verahn followed, but Sunyah maintained her perch. Her grandfather had commanded her to stay out of the conflict until the time was right. To watch and prepare her move. She wasn't happy with this decision, but she obeyed the Elder.
Below, Kalmutt and her siblings stood on the shore, awaiting their enemy. Sunyah heard the beating of wings and looked toward the skies. “Morahn," she whispered into the minds of her family.
The betrayer flew above the clan, circling, as if waiting to feast on bodies he hoped would soon be dead.
In the water, something reflected the dwindling sunlight, catching Sunyah's eye. She recognized the red jewel as Serpa raised her head above the water.
Sunyah held back bile as the creature came into sight. Serpa had the face of a human woman but covered in green scales. Her mouth held fangs, and her nose was that of a reptile. In the water, she had no limbs, only an elongated body that ended in a tail. And on her forehead was her ruby life stone.
Sunyah saw her family tense as the Serpent Mother slid through the water toward the shore. Their feathers ruffled, and she heard her grandfather's voice whisper, "Prepare."
Sunyah poised herself in the tree, ready to strike when needed, and watched the snake crawl onto the shore, her body shifting grotesquely as she pushed out her legs, arms, breasts, and the lower part of her female anatomy. Sunyah almost vomited.
Then she heard the monster speak.
"Kalmutt, my old bird."
Sunyah shuddered at the iciness of Serpa's voice.
The woman thing continued. "Fancy meeting you and your ragtag little family on my shore. I was going to save you a trip, you know. But it is just like you to do things the hard way."
Kalmutt screeched at her, eyes burning silver.
"Oh, come now, bird," she said and smirked, "can't even have a polite conversation? I think you owe me at least that after killing my pet and encroaching upon my territory."
"He has nothing to say to you, witch," Fallah replied to her.
"Oh my, sassy little hawk. I'd be careful with that sharp beak, boy," Serpa retorted. "That hurt my feelings, you see, and I don't take well to having my feelings hurt."
Before anyone else could speak, Serpa snapped her tail forward and struck Fallah across the face. Sunyah heard her brother shriek and then watched him lift off the ground in a fury. Next to him, Kalmutt spread his wings and beckoned the lightning from his eyes. He shot it toward the snake but hit only sand. Serpa was fast and had slithered away, back toward Fallah before the Elder could strike her. Fallah saw her coming and reached his talons toward her, ready to make a grab, but Morahn spiraled downward and knocked him into the lake.
Sunyah ached to fly to her brother's aide. But she would not go against Kalmutt's orders.
"When you have no choice, Sunyah, that is when you join us," he had said.
Now she sat as silently as possible, watching the battle below. Waiting for her chance.
In the water, her brother floated unconscious, his face blessedly turned upward. Sunyah could see his chest still rising and falling from above, and she could feel his life force. He was alive. For now.
At that moment, Serpa made for Kalmutt. She moved swiftly, almost becoming a blur. She reached him and again snapped her tail forward, but this time it was not to strike. Sunyah watched as the beast wrapped around her grandfather's neck.
"You're going to watch them die, and then I will tear you apart. I will tear you apart just like I tore apart Una," she hissed into his face.
Kalmutt tried to lift off the ground and shake her loose, but Morahn descended on him and nailed the Elder's wings to the ground with his talons.
Serpa spoke once more. "I will kill your precious Sunyah. I will rip her from the tree she sits on, and I will tear out her beating heart and shove it in your beak."
Kalmutt cawed in protest and looked toward his grandchildren—Fallah in the water, Sunyah in the tree, and Verahn standing by the shore.
"Why aren't you attacking them, Verahn!?" Sunyah cried out into her sister
's mind. "Help him!"
Verahn was silent. Sunyah looked at her grandfather. He was staring at Verahn, cawing softly toward her. Then he spoke. "I forgive you, child. I hope it is worth it."
The revelation hit Sunyah like a brick.
Her sister was a traitor.
"NO! WHY, SISTER!?" she shrieked out in her mind and through her beak.
Verahn finally spoke. "Because I am tired. Because I am tired of living in hiding. Because I am tired of taking orders. Because I am tired of being loved less than the one who lived a comfortable human existence while I fought and ran every day. While I watched my parents die."
Verahn's eyes turned bright silver as she turned her face up toward Sunyah. "You somehow deserve leadership more than I? You? You know nothing and you have done nothing. You were just lucky enough to be born in seventh place. All my life I have fought beside my family, defended them, and all I heard in return was how it would all be right when the seventh daughter returned. How SHE could save us and lead us."
Sunyah was shocked into silence. She could feel her heart breaking in her chest.
Verahn looked toward her grandfather. "You always loved her more. Just like you loved Una more than my mother and the others. You could never see that I was worthy to take your place. You could never see me."
"Verahn. It is not my choice," Kalmutt said. "And you always had every inch of my love."
"You lie!" Verahn screeched. "I should be Elder! I DESERVE to be the Elder!"
As if awakened by his twin's cries, Fallah flapped his wings against the water, rolled over, and stood.
"Sister! What is this treachery?" He questioned her with no sympathy, for he could feel her heart's intent.
"And you, brother"—Verahn was sobbing inside her mind—"always falling into line like a good soldier, happy to be a foot rest. We could have led together."
Fallah glared at her. "I will not be a party to this insolence. Right yourself, sister. I do not want to destroy your cloak."
Verahn started trembling angrily at her brother's admonishment.
"Oh dear, family drama." Serpa laughed. "I wish I had brought a few beaks to snack on during the show."
Verahn looked at the serpent. "She's giving me the sleepers, in return for you," she said, referring to those Thunderbirds currently living as humans. "I will lead them, and they will be glorious. The strongest generation since the first clans. I am not happy to see you die, but sacrifices have to be made for greatness. For what is right."
Sunyah couldn't believe what she was hearing. Verahn was going to let them die.
"I do love you grandfather." Verahn leaned into him. "I will always remember the things you taught me. You were a good leader. Know that I will be great."
In a flash, Verahn shot lightning into her grandfather's skull, while Serpa unhinged her jaw and bit down on the back of his neck.
Sunyah and Fallah shrieked and shot toward the others. At the sight of them, Morahn lifted off Kalmutt and flew directly into their path. Sunyah swerved and avoided being hit by him, but Fallah seemed to deliberately crash into the oncoming bird sending them both tumbling to the ground. Once down, and before the traitor could think, Fallah grabbed Morahn's beak in his talons and brought his own beak down on Morahn's skull so hard that Sunyah heard the crack. Sunyah averted her eyes as Fallah ripped the offender's beak off his face.
She was disturbed deeply by the events surrounding her but flew strong and steady toward the Elder. Upon reaching the heart-wrenching sight, Sunyah hooked her talons in Verahn's back and ripped her away from Kalmutt. Her sister cried out in surprise and tried to gain balance above the ground. In a moment, Sunyah had her talons in the snake's tail and tried desperately to loosen it from her fallen grandfather's neck. But Serpa's hold was fierce. The beast didn't even release her hold on Kalmutt's neck to look up.
Sunyah pecked and bit at the snake, seething with rage. Behind her, Fallah had seized his twin, and they violently thrashed at one another midair. Sunyah could tell her brother was struggling with the thought of possibly having to kill their sister. The one he was hatched with.
On the ground, Kalmutt was still, but his eyes were half-open, and he drew labored breaths. His blood poured from beneath Serpa's fangs. She still did not let go.
Sunyah gave up on the snake's tail. If she had any hope of saving her grandfather, she would have to kill Serpa here and now. She built up the lightning in her eyes and shot it at Serpa's forehead, hoping the current wouldn't transfer to the wounded bird. At the impact of the lightning, the snake threw its jaws open and then launched toward Sunyah, striking at her.
Sunyah ducked her head and then lifted off the ground, continuously shooting swords of electricity down at Serpa, careful not to hit her dying grandfather. She was fast but Serpent Mother was faster, evading every hit.
Sunyah grew weary, frustrated, and even more enraged. She thought about lying down to die beside the Elder. Slipping away into peace.
But then, in her weakest moment, Kalmutt's weakened voice interrupted her thoughts. "My Sunyah. You have found your wings; now ride them into the storm."
Sunyah felt the Elder's life force disappear, as he took his last breath on this earth.
"NO!" Sunyah's shriek echoed into the night sky. Thunder rumbled in answer, and the winds stirred.
Below, Fallah finally tore off his twin sister's cloak, and Verahn fell as a human into the path of a weary and hungry Serpa. Sunyah covered the sound of her sister's screams with the roar of thunder. She did not want to witness the gruesome sight below, but Serpa was weakest when feeding.
Sunyah called out to Fallah. “Brother! Hold her with all of your strength!"
Fallah obeyed and lunged at the gluttonous snake, sinking his razor-edged talons into her neck. Serpa hissed and screamed, dropping Verahn's lifeless body to the ground.
Above, Sunyah opened her wings and cried out. A bolt of lightning suddenly pierced the sky next to her, and her entire body was electrified. Her eyes blazed silver, shooting bolts into the clouds above, creating what meteorologists would dub a violent, freak lightning storm.
The new Elder was born. And she was pissed.
Serpa shrieked and writhed in Fallah's grip, close to breaking free. But Sunyah was already directly above her, fueled by the storm's power, and aiming true. Serpa didn't have time to gasp before the bolt hit her life stone head-on, shattering it into pieces and setting the slithering abomination on fire.
This time, Sunyah did not cover the screams, as the monster burned down into a pile of black ashes.