Volucris_Emmergence

by Nina Burman

  The French Volucris had found it liberating to now be able to fly through the sky with no threat from below of people seeing them, of being carted off to be experimented on or worse just shot out of the sky. They had had little interaction with anyone on the ground, they too had been searching for any Volucris or young Volucris they could help. Once again Mo noted the lack of empathy towards any humans they came across, the way the guards spoke it almost seemed that it was now time for the Volucris to be in control, that they now had the power. Although Mo did not say it, this did not sit comfortably with her.

  The news from the outside world re-ignited Mo’s worry for her Grandmother and Lizzie -, had they survived? She had promised her Grandmother that once she was strong enough she would come back for her, she would find her again., Sshe realised with everything that had been going on in the last few months, especially these last few weeks with Benji, she had started to forget her old life. To forget about her Grandmother and the promise she had made. She decided there and then that she would fulfil that promise., Sshe would first need to speak with Benji then Ethan about leaving Ety, she knew she would not want to go alone, she also had a suspicion that Lordes would be very reluctant to see her leave.

  She continued to show the guards around introducing them to some of the others and eventually sitting down to lunch. She was unsure of what to do, she should have been training, they all should but none of the tutors seemed to be around. She continued to eat and decided after lunch that she would seek out Benji, let him know her concerns for her grandmother, the promise she had made and her need to go back and find her. , Mmaybe his mother could help them, maybe they could all leave for the mainland together. Just as she was about to leave, Ethan appeared behind her.

  “I won’t be able to do any training today.” hHe said to Mo and then the rest of the group. “No-one will be training today, Lordes needs to speak with all of the guards and Isabella has requested the return of her own guards.” The French group stood immediately. “I will show you where to go., Moria, I suggest, as you seem so keen on flying without me, to carry on some simple moves but don’t stray too far up or from the island.” Mo pouted at being told off in front of everyone, she had suspected Ethan would not leave the fact she had been flying without him alone. Ethan then addressed the Ety born students. “Lordes requires your presence as well.” They all jumped up with glee and followed Ethan out of the main hall with the French guards, leaving Mo and the mainland born students fuming that they again were being left out. Calumn and Anabel did not hold back with their frustration and anger. “This is not right, why do they get to go, we are all just as capable.” Anabel shouted after them. Mo watched the group leave with growing frustration and jealousy. , Aas they left Benji walked back in and Mo jumped to her feet running over to him.

  “You ok?” She asked full of concern.

  “Yeah, more than ok, it’s so great to meet her, she wants to meet you too that’s why I have come to get you, they are all having a big meet.”

  “I don’t think I’m invited.” Mo frowned and gestured back to her equally down hearted friends.

  “Well, I am invited and so that means you too, come on.”

  Mo beamed and turned with Benji heading up towards Lordes’ private meeting quarters. Mo had not been to this part of the mountain before and it took a good ten minutes of winding upwards through passages to reach them. It was the only cave in the castle that actually had a door, a large wooden door carved with pictures of Volucris flying into battle. Benji didn’t knock but tentatively opened the door., Mo grasped his hand, they both started to feel a little worried about what they were about to enter. Inside was a large cave similar to Mo’s and Benji’s private cave, with a wall missing to the sea outside, although this was much higher up so no risk of spray, just a magnificent view. There were many Volucris all standing or sitting in a large circle with Lordes and Isabella in the middle. All the Volucris guards were there, including Tristan and Thea, who both smiled at Benji and Mo. Ethan of course, was back from the main group but he did not hide his displeasure at the appearance of Mo., Sshe looked over to Lordes who mirrored Ethan’s look, he too clearly was not happy with her being here. Isabella stretched out her hands and walked over to them both. “Moria, Benji has told me briefly how much you mean to him, it is so lovely to see you again, I wish it was in more happy circumstances.” She bent down and kissed Mo on one cheek then the other., Cclose up she truly was the most beautiful thing Mo had ever seen and she even blushed under her gaze, “come and join us.” Still hand in hand they walked over to a space in the circle with the other Volucris., Tthe other students seemed to Mo to be also scowling at their presence, was this really so bad Mo thought, why can’t we all just be the same?

  Once Mo and Benji had settled, Isabella returned to the middle of the circle to address them all. She spoke fluent English but with a heavy French accent.

  “I again thank Lordes for his ever warm welcome., Iit has been many years since I last visited Ety and I am so happy to see it still thriving, especially as it seems the rest of the world is not fairing so well. You have achieved so much Lordes in bringing so many young Volucris here and I can see by the training of my own son how successful you have been in your efforts to bring the best out in him and the many others. However, there is still so much to do. On our travels, we have come across many young Volucris whose wings are yet to grow, however, they need our help, they are dying at the hands of either the elements or the humans that are left. Of course, many are being looked after but by people who will never realise their full potential. , Iit is up to us to help them become what they are surely destined to be. With the collapse of the human society, while there are still dangers, they are so much less than they used to be. Wwe can fly without risk and the humans we do encounter can do nothing to harm us, they can only respect our strength and ability. We have been travelling the world over and found this to be the case in all four corners of the globe. , Iit seems the virus will not affect the Volucris and this gives us a wonderful opportunity to live free and full lives instead of hiding in fear for our own safety, so that no more young Volucris will ever have their wings cut out before they develop.”

  There was a slight cheer amongst the gathered Volucris., Mo was not entirely comfortable with what she was hearing, so the death and destruction of the human population was an opportunity? Was this how all Volucris felt, that they really had no compassion for the human race?, Wwas it just because she had grown up as a human, amongst them, that she had compassion, was she mistaken and was this why her land born friends were being excluded from the meeting, was this the reason why many there did not want her here? She looked up to Benji to try and gauge what he was feeling but he looked entranced at what his mother was saying, not a hint of concern on his face.

  Isabella continued. “There is a dark side to what we have found, a rumour that we have yet to confirm, but so concerning that I felt the need of the help of yourself Lordes. We have heard that winged Volucris are being held against their will in old military bases by some of the surviving humans, and they are using these Volucris to their own ends in no good way.”

  There was a ripple of dissent. So far Lordes had not been giving much away, but at this revelation his wings ruffled and his eyes sparkled., Wwhat was he thinking Mo wondered, he was clearly shocked by this news. “We must act, and soon, to help these Volucris, to show them the true light and what our ways should be. We do not know how these Volucris have ended up in this situation but it is abhorrent to keep them away from the rest of us, to keep them locked away like animals.” There were many cries of anger from the crowd and pledges to leave and help.

  Lordes raised his hands and calmed the gathered group. “My friends calm yourselves, we will act, do not concern yourselves with that, but we must act carefully. Rremember that even though there seem to be far fewer humans, it will only take one with a gun to wipe out a whole clan, we must take careful and measured steps to help. The informatio
n you have bought us Isabella is invaluable and we will need more detail. I propose that I gather a group together to fly back to the mainland to not only see what we can do to help any young and vulnerable Volucris, but to also see about moving us back to the mainland to set up new communes and most of all, to free any captured Volucris as soon and as safely as possible.”.

  The gathered Volucris all voiced their agreement with Lordes. He continued, “I propose we leave sooner rather than later and I will gather a group together in the next two days with the prospect of leaving in three. It goes without saying that all guards here will go, please take the next few days to prepare your supplies. I know this will affect the training of the young Volucris and I will decide which of those who have shown true strength of will and character can also join us. The others will have to remain and continue their training under the older Volucris who remain here.

  Mo felt a thrill, it looked like she would get to leave anyway. Sshe couldn’t see Isabella not letting Benji go and wherever he went she knew that she would follow. She would be able to get back to the mainland and after helping any captured Volucris, she would be able to seek out her grandmother., Ethan must know where she was and she would get it out of him. She turned to Benji smiling and squeezing his hand, he returned her smile, “we get to go home!”

  Chapter 37

  After Lordes had finished speaking there was a lot of excited chatter., Isabella came over once more to Benji and Mo and embraced them both. She took Benji’s face in her two hands, “my son, I never thought I would see you again, we have so much to talk of and so little time. I am sorry I left you but at the time I thought it best, I am so glad to see you with your wings, I had feared the worst, that Darren would have had to succumb and cut them away to protect you.”

  “Darren?” Mo queried, “He is my father,.” Benji explained. He turned back to his mother, “He died before my wings even started to appear, the virus got him, I was left alone.”

  Isabella looked shocked for a moment, the crack appearing on her beautiful face, “we need to talk further, alone if that is ok Moria?”

  “Of course.”

  Benji turned and smiled at Mo, “go to our cave,.” Mo suggested.

  “Good idea, no-one will disturb us there.” Benji beamed and he guided his mother out of the thronging crowd of very animated Volucris. Mo watched them go, she did feel slightly jealous again watching Benji and Isabella, she could only dream of such a relationship between herself and Lordes., Sshe turned away walking almost directly into him.

  “Moria.” Lordes greeted his daughter with as much affection as usual.

  “Lordes, a lot to consider don’t you think?” Mo asked.

  “Yes, there is a lot to consider. , I was surprised at your presence but it seems you and Benji have become inseparable.” He almost spat the words out not disguising his disapproval at all. This ,of course, immediately incensed Mo - who did he think he was?

  “Why shouldn’t I be here, and why shouldn’t I be with Benji?” Sshe had started to raise her voice.

  “I do not want to talk about this here, come.” He practically manhandled Mo out of the room and down the mountain to the home he shared with Phallon, they walked in silence. Phallon was busy with some new concoction when Lordes and Mo arrived, she turned and smiled at them both but she could see Lordes was not happy and made her excuses and left them to it.

  “What are you doing messing about with that boy,boy; you should be concentrating on your training.”

  “I really do not see what business it is of yours, and it doesn't mess with my training at all., Ethan, as I am sure you already know, is very pleased with my progress.”

  “It is my business Moria because I am your father and head of this clan, and yes, I have checked with Ethan and so far you are doing well, but I imagine you could do much better without the distraction. Well it leaves me with little choice but to take him with me to the mainland, at least then you can concentrate more. Tristan has already indicated he would be up to the task.

  “I am not staying here while you all head off to the mainland. Yyou cannot stop me from going, you cannot suddenly decide things for me, you cannot suddenly decide to be a parent, it’s not fair.

  “It’s not fair, really Moria, for one with such potential and as I hear from Ethan, maturity, you really do behave like a spoilt brat. The mainland will be no place for you, it will be too dangerous and you are too valuable. Yyou will remain here and continue with your training.”

  Mo could barely contain her anger. Hhow dare he speak to her this way she raged back at him.

  “Spoilt brat! How dare you., I have done nothing but your bidding since we met., Lleft with you, left the only person in my life who truly loved me, travelled the country dodging all kinds of people who would want to scalp us. Drank blood, changed my diet and then I have been brought, without any complaint I may add, to an island that doesn't even have electricity. You brought me here with Benji, he is a wonderful kind and happy person and for some reason you didn’t think I wouldn't build a relationship with him? Why am I so valuable? Yyou have told me nothing of why you hold me in such regard when in actual fact, you treat me like I am the last person you want anything to do with!” Mo was panting when she finished, she had been pacing the room her wings flapping in her increasing anger.

  “Have you quite finished?” Lordes was showing no emotion which only enraged Mo even more.

  “Don’t you even care how I feel, do you have no feelings? , Iit’s like Rebecca said, you just left me and my mother behind, you didn’t care about us at all just about yourself and your survival, you left her to die, it’s all your fault.”

  At this outburst Lordes could no longer contain his own frustration. Hhe pounded his fists on the small table splintering it into tiny pieces.

  “You know nothing of me and Illiana, nothing of my feelings for her, of the decision I had to make, NOTHING.”

  “THEN TELL ME.” Mo screamed back.

  Lordes threw his hands up into the air. He gave in, he could see the pain in her face and she looked so much like her mother, he calmed. “Ok, ok come.” He led Mo to the back of the house to a part Mo had not been to before, to an open part of the cave that overlooked the rest of the island, it was beautiful., Tthere were two large seats, Phallon was in one sewing something, seemingly unconcerned with the racket they must have been making., Sshe rose and came over to Lordes stroking the side of his face, again Mo saw something pass unspoken between them as they looked into each other's eyes. Phallon passed Mo and touched her arm gently as she left.

  “Please sit, let us be calmer.” Lordes offered. Mo went over to the beautifully carved chair and sat. She found her wings easily lifted over the back of the chair and slotted in through purposefully made slits and for the first time since her wings had grown she could lean back, which bought a small smile to her face.

  “Good chairs?” Lordes asked. Mo smiled in response to this unusually light hearted question.

  “I know I have put you through a lot Moria with little explanation, I find communicating difficult as Phallon will tell you. It is hard for me to be around you, you look so much like your mother and every time I look at you it reminds me of my failure. , I did leave her, I really did have no other choice and she begged me to go, but there is not a day that goes by that I do not regret and feel guilty for leaving her. It was my job to keep her safe, to keep you both safe.”

  Mo was taken aback by his honesty, he was clearly shaken and meant everything he was saying. Mo’s initial anger started to relent, maybe she had spoken a little out of turn.

  “You did keep me safe, you gave me to Rebecca who could not have done a better job. , I just don’t understand why you left me for such a long time, why did you not get in touch sooner?”

  “I thought it was the best thing to do, I knew you were safe, I was very busy trying to unite the clans.”

  “So, busy but you managed to start a new family.” Mo regretted saying this as s
oon as it left her lips. Sshe didn’t begrudge him Phallon, she was lovely and she loved all of her half siblings.

  Lordes’ face fell, “It may seem that way, but you have to understand Moria, within our culture there are so few of us and those that can, must reproduce., I know it sounds cold me saying it that way and believe me I love Phallon deeply but after a period of mourning your mother and searching, I knew I must find another., I come from an old clan and it is important to keep our species alive, there are so few of us.”

  Mo had never considered this before, it was a shock to be laid so bluntly before her, but she took time to consider it. , Sshe could see for Lordes and all of the Volucris they needed to survive and the only way to fully survive would be to have children. , Mo thought again about the way the pure blood Volucris were being treated compared to the half-blood.

  “Is that why there is a preference for those whose parents are both Volucris?”

  “Yes, wrongly or rightly. , Iit is important that we raise all Volucris children no matter what their heritage, but for many years there has been a preference for pure blood Volucris to keep those family lines going, and that is why Moria you are so important, you come from ancient Volucris lines on both my side and your mothers, you have no idea what your potential is yet.”

  “But that is not right, all these years in the human world we have defeated prejudice and now you are going backwards, you of all should see that it is wrong., Ddid you not convince the Volucris that even half-blood can be just as strong and powerful?”

  “Yes, and I have been proven right and in turn that has swelled the numbers of Volucris, which has been a great thing, which is why, as I said, it is important that all Volucris be raised under the system we have developed over centuries. Moria, it is only recently that we made that discovery and for many years our kind had started to die out. , I stopped the clans from fighting, made them see sense that there would be no Volucris left if we did not take on board half blood and also stopped killing each other., Dduring that agreement with all clan chiefs it was agreed that pure blood lines were vital and where possible should be encouraged.”