Wyntier's Rise (Creatures of the Lands Book 3)

by Natalie Erin

“I think she would say yes if you asked her. And I think it would work out if you tried.”

  “I would need Keota’s permission,” he mumbled lamely.

  “Go ahead and marry her,” Keota yawned from his back. “You both raised Mirabelle. I don’t see what’s holding you back.”

  Ionan was quiet. “Do you really think I should ask her?”

  Belle chuckled. “As long as you love her. Changers only mate…”

  “When they are absolutely certain.” Ionan finished her sentence, obviously deep in thought. She flew beside him in silence, leaving him to make his mind up.

  Behind them a little ways, the kids were trying to make sense of Cameliyon’s powers. “It’s just something like my telepathy. You can’t explain it,” Kennu argued. He gestured to Cameliyon, who was astride Pumpkin.

  “I disagree,” Vivienna argued upon Melodi, who had changed into a giant owl. “It’s not magic, like my powers are. It’s something else.”

  “I don’t see why it matters,” Cameliyon snapped. “I never want to do it again. The only reason I did was to get you guys out of there.”

  Zorna was having difficulty flying. Soran looked down at the black Pegasus and said, “You’re not alright, are you?”

  “No,” he coughed. After the fight with Ra and Anubis, he obviously wasn’t feeling very well. Soran brought out his wings and told Zorna to change into a phoenix, carrying him as the half-fairy flew them to Southwild himself. He could keep flying for at least another hour until they reached Southwild. Until then, Zorna would be safe in his arms.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The Land of Southwild

  The dawn broke as they reached their destination. Everyone was well awake now, and gazing down in awe at the splendor beneath them. The kids’ mouths dropped open as they stared in amazement, and Ionan rumbled, “Southwild. Home.”

  Tropical jungles encompassed the landscape, vines crawling over palm trees that sat by deep and wide rivers, thousands of tropical flowers speckled among multicolored ferns. Mirabelle flew low enough so Lyrica could pick some of the highest flowers twined within the branches of the trees. The group spotted a few monkeys swinging through trees and a crocodile basking in the sunlight by a river bank, with hundreds of parrots of all colors nesting within the branches.

  “The wildlife here is more prominent than in other parts of Nesting’s Haven,” Ionan said. “You’ll see many creatures the farther in we get.”

  It was true. Gorillas, great cats, and forest deer scattered when scared by the large shadows the group cast from above. As the sun rose, something shone in the distance.

  They were descending below to a great, golden palace, covered in vines and surrounded by a large garden. The palace was square, and had several levels, one on top of the other like a large, square pyramid. Next to the palace some distance away, several large floodgates held back the ocean, which pounded against the walls of the golden gates.

  As they trailed to the grass, they realized how big the palace really was. It was enormous, the largest building they’d ever seen. It was big enough so that dragon, nay, even dranern Changers could walk inside without having to change shape. They passed a large crystal statue of a dragon in the middle of a flowing fountain. It was Lady Ionia, her wings wrapped around a small hatchling. Hundreds of Changers and Accompanies smiled to them and continued bustling around with their work, either inside the palace or in the gardens. Southwild was almost as heavily populated as Nesting’s Haven. There were thousands, but all of the citizens seemed to live inside the giant palace.

  “This place is amazing,” Vivienna hushed, truly impressed.

  When Ignus walked to the gigantic, golden doors, dozens of servants rushed out so they could open it for him. When the group walked inside, their breath was taken away.

  Everything in Southwild was so big, so extravagant. The windows were as huge as the building was, reaching up to the heights of the clouds. Vines hung against the shining walls as a waterfall crashed down from the ceiling and splashed into a river that trickled out an opening on the other side of the doors. They had built the palace around the river, and incorporated it into their home. Children played happily in the water, underneath golden statues and ancient relics.

  “Exactly how many people live in this place?” Vivienna asked.

  Amancio smiled and said, “A great deal, though the top three floors are limited to the royal family.”

  “Royal family?” Melodi asked.

  Her question was answered when the servants stopped in their tracks as Ionan entered the palace. Their faces broke into huge smiles and Ignus trumpeted, “All hail my son, who was lost and now returns! Pay homage to your lord!”

  “Hail!” the people cheered before going back to their work. Many came and welcomed Ionan, giving him hugs, gifts, and kisses after he had been gone so long. He chatted with many friends for some time. When he was done, he rejoined the group.

  “Ionan’s a lord?” Kennu asked in disbelief.

  Ionan smiled at him and said, “I was and I am again, young prince. I left the palace after Keota became bonded to me and went to live with him. Now, I am back.”

  He turned to Maekrel and gave him a look. He was simply ducking behind Ana and hoping nobody would recognize him.

  “Up to the last three floors, then,” Ionan said. He pumped his wings and rose straight up the immense waterfall. The others followed by riding their Changers.

  When Ionan came to the top floor, which had taken them five minutes to ascend to, he hovered over the banister and the others followed his lead. He came to another set of double doors, sectioned off from the other parts of the palace. Ionan called out in his booming voice, “I, Lord Ionan, ask that you open the gate. I have returned after many years, and wish to seek refuge along with my congregation of travelers. With me I have also royalty, the young prince of the Lands.”

  “How would one know it was you?” a male voice asked from behind the door.

  “Because I knew your daughter, Veron. Let us pass.” Ionan said.

  The doors opened slowly. A dragon, speckled with brown dots along his yellow scales, clambered out of the doorway. Mirabelle giggled and said, “Look, a dotted dragon!”

  Veron didn’t hear her. Instead, he flashed his eyes over the congregation and said, “Reginae, Ionan’s back.”

  “What?” a dragoness came out from behind a set of potted plants. Her scales were pale blue, with pink stripes. Her eyes were the same sapphire as Mirabelle’s. Neither of the dragons had any feathers, but great leathery wings like Rex.

  When Reginae saw Ionan, she stepped forward and nuzzled him under the chin. “Ionan. It is good to see you, after such a long time.”

  Ionan bristled at her touch. “It is good to see you as well, Reginae. How are things?”

  “As well as they can be.” Reginae chuckled, though a bit sadly. “I have not been well in...not in a very long time, Ionan.”

  Veron was growling lowly under his breath, glaring at Ionan. Lyrica let out a big yawn and Reginae said, “Look at us, jabbering on while the little ones are tired! Come now. I’ll fetch you all rooms.”

  One by one they were all put in rooms, close to the same hallway. Sunset received the biggest, as she couldn’t change like the others. She settled down on her gigantic red pillow to sleep quietly while the girls got a room next to hers, Daren and Federin the next, and so on. Before long only Kennu, Angel, Keota and Ionan were left without a room.

  “I’ve given you your own room,” Reginae said to Kennu. “The young prince of the Lands should have his privacy.” She went to push open a fairy-sized door for him with her talon, but Ionan paused her, glancing at Angel.

  “Would you mind bunking with the prince, dear?” Ionan asked Angel. “I would like to keep you all on the same floor.”

  Angel nodded, leading Kennu inside his new room. Reginae led Keota and Ionan to their own room and asked them, “Is there any word from Rex?”

  “Rex?” Keota’s f
ace was blank. “Who is that?”

  “Rex and Luciana,” Reginae repeated. “You would know where they were more than anyone would.”

  “Yes...Rex.” Ionan flicked his tail, as if he was trying very hard to remember who that was. “It sounds familiar, but I cannot place the name. It must’ve been someone we knew, though from where, I do not know.”

  Pain shadowed Reginae’s face. “I...I see.” She nodded, as if understanding something the other two didn’t.

  The bed was huge. Kennu’s body sunk into the clean white sheets, and he watched the curtains ripple in the breeze through the open balcony. Angel looked out at the jungle, and at the beach several miles beyond. Isn’t it gorgeous? she commented, not taking her eyes off the scenery.

  Kennu didn’t answer. The white griffin stepped outside into the valance, opening her wings to take off in flight. Kennu’s hair ruffled as she beat her wings back, leaping into the sky to tour Southwild’s wonders.

  “This isn’t home,” Kennu said out loud, his voice vibrating back to him off the walls. It sounded very lonely. He got under the covers and tried to go to sleep, but sleep wouldn’t come. There was no soft breathing of a Changer to lull him this time.

  An image of his mother broke into his mind. He remembered how he could always fall asleep to the sound of her voice as it had echoed from the kitchen to his bedroom upstairs. He concentrated on imagining his mother’s voice, soothing him to sleep, and slowly, he slipped into dreamland.

  The Verinian was burning around him, the entire realm alight with black fire. A herd of deer stampeded across the plains, and Kennu turned to Allie, his Allie, in doe form. She wasn’t dead. She was alive.

  “Allie!” he cried. He began rushing towards her, the black flames growing closer and closer. But as he ran to her, she stepped backwards, shaking her head and refusing to let him near.

  “Allie, what’s wrong?” Kennu asked.

  “You killed me Kennu,” she said in a mystic voice. “You killed me.”

  “No, Allie! I didn’t mean anything I said! I love you!” he pleaded.

  “You don’t love me. You never did.”

  She turned and bounded away, her black hooves kicking up grass as she vanished into thin air.

  When the fairies were eating lunch the next day around a long, large table, Ignus suggested, “We should have a ball. A grand gathering, to celebrate your homecoming.”

  “Ignus, we’re not really in the mood to celebrate.” Keota said, watching Kennu play thoughtlessly with his food.

  “Nonsense. We here in Southwild will give any excuse for a party.” Ignus chuckled, and his beard swayed as he did so.

  “Well, we all know that,” Maekrel said, rolling his eyes. “I’m not one for dances, but that didn’t stop you from throwing them constantly while I was here.”

  “Hold on, Ignus. Give Ionan time to decide on his proposal before you start throwing festivities.” Belle laid her tail across her mate’s neck lightly while Ionan let out a frustrated puff of smoke.

  “A wedding! Wonderful!” Ignus cheered, already excited.

  “Everyone needs to calm down. I’m not sure if I am to ask her yet, and if she will even say yes.” Ionan let his head down.

  “Who are we talking about?” Soran asked. “Sunset?”

  Mirabelle fluttered her wings happily. “Oh, ask her, Papa! Then we really will be a family!”

  “Well while he’s thinking about it, why don’t I give you all a tour?” Maekrel said. “It should be fun.”

  There was a murmur of agreement and everyone left the table and went back into the gardens. Maekrel took them to the places of his childhood, through all the secret rooms Ionia’s Palace held, maneuvering around the beauty of the jungles and the gardens. Young children around Lyrica’s age began braiding the girl’s hair into the common Southwild hairstyle of two plaits down the back, while their Changers found flowers and interwove them into Mirabelle’s horns. The littler ones tagged along and asked for rides, Ignus swooping them onto his back and chortling as he did so.

  A tiny boy tugged at Soran’s pant leg and Soran swept him up, putting him on his shoulders. The little boy laughed as his tiny Changer hopped around as a lovebird on Zorna’s head.

  “They adore us,” Vivienna said, holding the hand of a Southwild girl.

  “The people here do not see prejudices. They love everyone.” Belle caught a baby swallow trying to fly just before it hit the ground, placing it tenderly back in the safety of its nest.

  Angel was carrying five children at once. She said to Kennu, It reminds me of the innocence and beauty of the wild. These children are not being separated, like back in the city.

  What do you mean? Kennu asked.

  Didn’t you know what was happening? Before I met you all, I saw it with my very own eyes, Angel said in amazement. The Council was taking Accompanies and Changers who they did not like together and splitting them up. They pared them with different ones, pairs that would be easier to control and order around. These were not adults, but young ones. Just hatchlings.

  Outraged, Kennu relayed the idea out loud to everyone. Soran shook his head and said, “That’s not right. They’re not supposed to be messing around with stuff like that. It’s…barbaric, taking you away from the Changer you were meant to be with.”

  It happens every day, Angel said.

  Out of nowhere, a tiny boy and his fawn Changeress came up from behind Kennu. The fairy prince tripped as the boy and his fawn chased each other around his feet, squealing. The little boy ran into the jungle, his fawn skipping happily after. It reminded Kennu of himself and Allie when they were that small, but this time, it somehow didn’t hurt to think of her.

  He walked over to Angel. Hey. Can we talk?

  She lifted the children off her back, and they ran off. Of course. What’s up?

  He looked down at the grass as he walked. It’s going to take a long time to get over Allie. I know that. He hesitated. But I want to be your Accompany, since you don’t have one. I think it may be destiny or something, having lost her and found you. You’re her sister, so I can’t think of a better replacement.

  Angel nestled him with her beak. Take as long as your heart needs to heal from the loss of my sister. I’ve had practice waiting forever.

  He dropped his gaze, ashamed. I know it’s not very fair to you. I’m sick, Angel. Really sick. He swallowed. I don’t have a lot of time left, but I want to make the rest of my days count with you.

  It doesn’t matter whether I have you for a few weeks or a few years, she noted gently. What matters is I was blessed with the miracle of knowing you in the first place.

  He smiled at her as they walked into the jungle. They found Sunset maneuvering through the trees carefully, hunting for a meal. Kennu put his arm around Angel as they continued after their friends, listening to the joyous birdsong ringing throughout Southwild.

  There were no words to express how much he missed Allie. It was a deep ache, one that would never go away, no matter how hard he tried to get rid of it. But even though he missed her, nothing would change the fact that she was gone, and there wasn’t anything he could do or say that was ever going to bring her back. There was no use raging at the world and cursing life because Allie had died. After all, he was still here. He couldn’t waste what little life he had left constantly missing her.

  In his heart, Kennu knew it was time to say goodbye. But if he was honest with himself, he didn’t think he’d ever be able to let her go.

  END OF PART III

  Afterward

  Her heartbeat. It didn’t exist. She’d always taken comfort in the sound of her own heart, listened to the flow of blood through her veins in order to calm herself whenever she felt anxious or in danger, but now, it was simply gone.

  She didn’t know how she could be alive, but the creature was certain…she no longer had a heart. Had she possessed a heart before? She wasn’t sure.

  Rain was falling steadily on her brown fur, flanked by the
darkness of night. She struggled to sit up and looked around. She was in the middle of a wooden bridge, inside a large canyon with red rocks reaching to the sky. Her black hooves slipped on the planks of the bridge, and she looked down. The river was only a short distance below her.

  A twinge throbbed on her shoulder. There was a large wound there, and the large doe turned around to lick it. Patches of fur had been torn out of her body, and there were large bite marks and scratches all over her pelt. By the look of the cracked planks beneath her, she must have fallen off a cliff from a very great height. Yet that was impossible. If that were the case, she would certainly be dead.

  A golden necklace hung around her neck, with a griffin talisman glistening at the end of it. The doe shook her neck, and the chain rippled along her fur. She got to her feet with difficulty and walked cautiously across the bridge, to the land on the other side. Ears up, she called out in a loud voice, “Hello?”

  Nobody heard her. Bravely, she stuck her neck out and walked carefully along the riverbed. Her resounding voice called out again, “Hello?”

  There was no answer. Her ears fell back in disappointment as she continued cautiously down the river. She would have thought that someone would be looking for her by now…but who?

  A terrible crash made her cower behind a large bush, scared for her life. It was only the thunder, but it made the doe quiver. Loud noises petrified her. It was the last rumble, however. The storm ended, fading away to a realm far away, and the rain continued on in a soft drizzle.

  She wanted to go home, but she didn’t know where home was. Her thoughts were blank, with no trace of memory. She couldn’t recall her past, recent or otherwise. She knew she must have friends or family, somewhere, but wasn’t sure who they were. She didn’t understand why she was here…she didn’t understand anything.

  The canyon dissolved into the edges of a forest. The doe walked amongst the shadowy trees, no longer feeling safe enough to cry out a friendly hello.