It was dark when Nereus returned to the cave. He had been out all day watching Msia, Aggar and Akani after they left the Dragon cave, There were two Dragons know. He would have to work quickly before there were Dragons everywhere. With only two Dragon's, Nereus thought it would be an easy battle, With the Dragons best kept secret, the location of their cave in mind. Nereus went back to his cave to wake up a few of his brothers. The war with the Dragons will be on again.
As he dropped down to land, many battle scenarios ran through his mind. He would look at one then dismiss it and move on to the next one. Once at the cave entrance, Nereus made the shift to human form. Dressed all in black, he started in then stopped. There was something wrong here. Something felt different then earlier. He could feel his brothers and sisters sleeping inside. But there was something else. There was something alive in there. With his claws extended, Nereus started into the cave. He knew it wasn't a Dragon in there, the smell was different. With his eyes adjusted for the dark, Nereus walked on past his sleeping brothers Zaharia and Notus. Past his sister the golden Hestria who was so at home in the sky, she could fly almost twice the speed of any other Griffin. Beyond her were two of the eldest Griffins of the clutch. Eurus and Pita who lay sleeping on a private shelf high above all the rest. They had not been awake in century's. Not even during the time of their last war with the Dragon's. Nereus knew their time was growing near. They may never wake to fly with the others again. But that wasn't important right now. Neither was that strange smell. It was time to get the clutch up and out in the air again.
"Rise and let the sweet mountain air full your lungs." He shouted. "It is time for the brothers and sisters of the wing to go forth and again claim the lands that we once ruled. Wake up and sleep no more. We have enemies destroy!"
One by once the Griffins asleep in the cavern opened their eyes and raised their heads. They shook out their wings to stretch their long dormant muscled then climbed up on their feet and roared.
Zaharia walked up and bowed before Nereus, showing respect to their leader.
[Hail proud Nereus.] He said, [It is good feel the ground under my paws again.]
[Aye.] Notus said as he joined them. [It will be good to be in the air hunting again. In fact, my stomach growls with hunger. I would hunt for something warm to fill my belly.]
As all the Griffins gathered at the cave entrance, Stormcrest stepped out of the shadows to join them.
Nereus looked up and noticed the grey and white Griffin and went to greet him.
"Hail Brother." He said as he bowed. "You are newly hatched. I bid you welcome to our clutch. What is your name?"
[I am Stormcrest.] Beno said as he nodded his white eagle head never taking his eyes off of Nereus. Something deep inside didn't trust Nereus. Maybe it was the Griffin cub, and maybe it was what was left of Beno. But until he knew what these Griffins were about, he was going to be reluctant to throw his future in with them. [I am newly hatched. I'm not sure where I am or what happened to me.]
"Relax." Nereus said as walked over stroked Stormcrest neck. "We are going out to hunt for dinner. Then there is something important we have to tend to. There are Dragon's here. We must destroy them. Follow me."
Nereus dived off the cliff and made the shift while he fell. With his wings spread, Nereus turned the dive and soared up high in the air. Instinctively knowing what to do, Stormcrest spread his wings and leaped in to the air. The feeling of flying was amazing. Beno had never felt such freedom before. In his heart he thanked Stormcrest for his gift of life.
As the Griffins flew high over the island, Nereus took the lead. He lead them from Assassa north across the straight and into Aspana. They passed over the tip of the continent then stopped and watched as an Elephant clan moved north along a widely used trail. From there, they turned east and entered Gorilla country. At that point Beno started getting nervous. They were getting very close to Domina. Though he was not the same Gorilla he had been the day before, Beno's loyalty hadn't changed. He knew if Nereus or any of the Griffins attacked any of the Gorilla settlements, he would have to do what he could to stop them. In a few minutes Domina was right in front of them. Nereus started to drop down into the forest out beyond the city. Stormcrest came down and set himself down right beside Nereus so he could be ready to fight if he gave an order to attack. Deep down he could hear Stormcrest reassuring Beno that he was right to worry. Nereus and the Griffins were very dangerous and volatile. They were use to being the top predators in their lands, They didn't share anything and those that lived around them and they never cared for anyone beside their own.
As Beno sat and watched Nereus, a thought crossed his mind. These Griffins were dangerous. Everyone of them. If that was so, why was Stormcrest so ready to betray them. Shouldn't his loyalty lay with them? His own kind?
[Like Dragons.] Stormcrest explained. [My mind and intelligence lay with whoever I bond with. The leader of the clan is usually very careful who they let bond with our young. You would not be normally allowed to bond with me. But it was fate that sent you, so my loyalty is with you and no one else. I have your sense of honor, your allegiance and your devotion to the Hominid people of Aspana. I will not fail you.]
Satisfied by Stormcrest's answer, Beno slowly made his way closer to Nereus. He had to get him away from Domina or they would attack and he knew Stormcrest could not stand against fifteen deranged and hungry Griffins. They would tear him up then move on to the city.
[Why are we here?] Stormcrest asked. [I thought we were hunting for food.]
[Aye.] Nereus shook his head. [There is food beyond these walls. All we have to do is attack and our bellies will be full.]
[You want to eat them?] Stormcrest with a sickening tone. [They are hairy, dirty animals. Even worst then Humans. I will not eat that.]
Nereus looked out at the city walls, then back to Stormcrest. His eyes narrowed. He didn't like to be questioned. And certainly not by anyone newly hatched. He was supposed to follow, do what he's told and keep his mouth shut. But he did have a point though it was minor. Gorilla;s weren't their normal choice for food.
[What do you suggest?]
[Follow me.] Stormcrest took off diving up into the trees then he launched himself into the sky.
On the ground, Krotus stepped up next to Nereus.
[Rather bold of him don't you think?]
[Yes.] Nereus said. [Keep a close watch on this one. I don't trust him.]
[Do we follow?]
[Yes.] Nereus leaping up into the tree's to follow. With the Griffin's following behind him, Stormcrest led them out onto the savanna and to a great herd of Water Buffalo's. Picking one, Stormcrest dived down and grabbed his catch then found a quiet place to eat. All through the herd, the Griffins fall upon them like a Dragon clan picking and choosing from the fattest of the herd. He could hear the water buffalo all around him scream out with their last breath as the Griffins settled down to eat. Through he was usually a vegetarian, Beno enjoyed his first taste of meat. He had to admit to himself that he had enjoyed the feel of hunting. The excitement had been almost unbearable. And that first taste of blood as he bit down. It was such an intense feeling. A shiver passed through his body as he took the last bite and pushed the carcass away
As Stormcrest watched them eat, he wondered what Nereus had meant when he said there were Dragon's here. There hadn't been a Dragon in Aspana for over three hundred years. Were they to go north across the sea, or had Dragon's somehow come south to Aspana. Beno had no idea, but it wouldn't take long for him to find out.
As the morning sun rose out of the western mountains, Sakura, Deja and Dar'yl woke up to find Sky and Quynn sitting by the fire waiting for them to rise. It had been late when Quynn came back to join them. He explained what had happened in Domina between him and Shumo. Most of the Hominid people wanted peace, they were tired of all the war, death and destruction. They said only Igoro and his circle profited by the sale of slave and they wanted no part of it. But Igoro ruled here and his power was absolute. They were powerless to go against him and the price of disobedience was to high for them to pay. But if we could destroy Igoro's right to rule, they would support Goren as the next Chief.
"So that means we have the honor of bringing Igoro down," Deja said as she flipped one of her knives up and caught it. "Is that it"
"Yes." Quynn nodded. "Can you blame them? If any of them get caught conspiring against my father, it won't be just that one person who will pay. He will torture and kill a whole family line, just to make a point.."
"And what about Goren?" Deja asked. "Will he treat him the same way?"
"Without a moments hesitation," Quynn said. "He's already killed his wife. Goren is just an itch that needs to be scratched. He'll use his death to show everyone that there will be no exceptions."
"How can anybody be so cold hearted?" Sky asked as a cold shiver went through him. "And I thought Aster Telor was evil."
"Who?" Deja asked. She threw her knife and sent it straight into the trunk of a palm tree.
"Just an old enemy Quynn disposed of a few years ago. He tried to give me over to be someone's sex slave. He's dead now."
"Then we are off to Starspeak after Igoro? Dar'yl asked.
"No." Sakura said. "We are off to Starspeak to find Astan." He is our highest priority. We find him first, then we go for Igoro. I'm sorry but Domina's leadership problem is not why we're out here. I'll be glad to help, after we find Astan."
"Agreed." Quynn said."Is everything ready to go?"
"Yes." Dar'yl said as he grabbed his pack and hoisted it onto his back, Sky and Quynn moved to a clear spot and made the shift. Sakura and Dar'yl climbed on Quynn's back while Deja made herself comfortable on Sky. With a nod, Sky spread his wings and launched himself into the sky leaving a bright trail of ice crystals behind him.
From Domina, they flew south then west towards the Ayss Mountains. Dar'yl and Sakura explained the different lands and people that passed below them. They passed a field of grass were Orangutan warriors were fighting some savage type of Canins. Sakura told Quynn he had never seen anything like them anywhere on Aspana. Dar'yl thought they looked familiar but he didn't recognize them. They looked like some cross between Hyenen and something wild and unknown. As they reached the shore, Dar'yl spotted six ships that bore Igoro's sign. A white Simian skull on a field of black. He explained that these were the ships he used to raid cities and villages up and down the coast. He could also use them to supply arms and warriors to his ally Mulu. Quynn wanted to go down and blast them from the water but Sakura said no. It would take just one volley of arrows from any of those ships to hit one of them and slow them down. They were to close to Astan to take that chance.
Further on as they flew into the Starspeak Mountain area, villages and towns were getting more and more sparse the deeper in they flew. There were no Gorilla's or Zebran, No Tigarns or Pantheran in these mountains. There were only goats and birds. Many different multi colored birds of all kinds.
"Astan told me this is Avian country." Sakura explained. "He said they were taking a friend back here."
"Yes." Dar'yl said as he pointed down to a charred black great oak that stood void of its limbs and branches. "I think Igoro has been here."
As they looked down they saw what was left of what must have been some kind of huge Aerie. Scattered at the base of the tree and all around its trunk were the bodies of the Avians that had made the tree their home. Sakura saw eagles, condors, swallows and crows all dead and spread out under the burned tree. There had to be hundreds of bodies down there some in bird form and in the state between bird and human. there were young and old, there were even broken shells and what was left on the unhatched.
"There must have been a horrible battle here." Deja said with a shaky voice. "I hope they took a lot of enemies with them as they fell."
"I'm sorry to tell you Deja." Dar'yl said. "But only Avians died here."
"How do you know that?" She asked.
"Look around. Do you see the bodies of anything but Avians here? No that's because Igoro did this all by himself. This was a night attack. He caught then while they slept and he killed them all."
"I wish we had time to stop and bury them." Sakura said. "But we have to move on."
From the Aerie Sky and Quynn and Quynn came down to land. There were carrion birds everywhere picking the meat from the dead bodies. It made Sky sick and he turned and buried his face in Quynn's chest.
"Be brave Snowbird." He whispered in his ear. "They're at rest now. Nothing can ever hurt them again."
As they moved from tree to tree, it was always the same. Adults with children either buried beneath them or some where close. No one could've survived this massacre. Igoro had gone to far this time. Somehow they had to stop him and they all knew.
"Which way?" Deja asked.
There were no tracks to follow, there was nothing here but death and the slightest scent of something foreign. Sakura shifted to his lion form and walked around getting the scents from the area. He could smell the fear the had raged through all of the Avians as they died. Then he smelled something that didn't belong there. It was a familial smell. It was the scent of the one he was looking for.
[Astan was here.] He sent to them. [And it was after the slaughter. He wasn't alone, there were a number of Gorillas with him. They went that way.]
As they walked in silence, Sky kept a close watch on Goren. He wasn't sure if he even wanted to continue on with the fight for Domina or Aspana. There had been so much and so many lost in his past history. His brother and sister, lost in some battle over some stupid piece of land. Land that know one but Igoro thought was at all useful. They there was Shauri, Goren's beautiful star of the night. Dead. He knew what had happened. She probably bickered over some minor event with Igoro until he had had enough. Her temper, he always told her it would get her in trouble. But he knew the fight really would have been about him. Igoro probably came to their house insisting on seeing Goren. He probably accursed them of being traitors and Shauri just couldn't stop herself. But it was just a rouge to get at Goren. His father had hated him for years since the day he choose Grand father over him. In other words, peace over war. But he couldn't stop thinking about what he had lost. First Mara and Hodari, then Beno's parents. Now Shauri and Beno? There was no one left of his family except little Awiya, Mara's one and only son. Goren had tried to stay away from him so his father couldn't use him in some scheme to get at Goren, but knew it was only a matter of time until Igoro came up with some plot didn't. Eventually Goren had to get the young one and away before Igoro did something they all would regret.
As they stepped out of the jungle and onto a rocky terrain, Quynn looked ahead to see Palas flying over head circling a slope over a small mountain. Beneath Goren come out of the jungle as three of his warriors ran out to greet them.
"The cave." Hayani said as he fell to his knees and covered his face. "We found it!"
"How do you know it's Omerian's cave?" Goren asked. "Was he there? Whats the matter with you too?"
"Yes, he was there." Nyo said. Something had scared them. Nyo was shaking so bad Goren was surprised he was still on his feet.
"What is it? Where is he?"
"He's dead." Hayani said. "We found him with stab wounds all through his body. Someone must have attacked during the night, and caught him while he was sleeping."
Quynn, Sky, Deja, Dar'yl and Sakura looked at the two Gorilla's stunned. They weren't sure what to think. Could it have been Igoro? Is he that far ahead of them? Goren didn't think so but it was possible. But if he was, why hasn't he found us yet? Then a sudden thought hit him. Or has he?
"Hayani. Nyo." He called to his warriors. "Find Palas and get him back here immediately. We may be in trouble."
Without thinking, both Hayani and Nyo both turned and leaped into the trees to start their search for Palas. Looking confused, Astan hurried over to Goren to see what had frighten him so much.
"Goren." Quynn said. "What is it? Are we in trouble?"
"Yes." He said nodding his head. "I think we are. It's my father. I think was been here. Omerion's death is a warning for us."
[Yes. It is.] A voice boomed out through their minds. Sky and Quynn both jump with surprise. They hadn't been expecting Omerion's sudden call. [Igoro was here. He caught me unprepared to do battle. But there are ways for my consciousness to stay and deliver this massage to you.]
"I am sorry Omerion." Goren said sadly. "I didn't mean to lead him here to you. It was not my intention to bring Domina's trouble to your door."
[My death was foretold long before you were born young Goren. Just like your Grand sire. We both knew when our end was near. But I don't think its your time. You Goren Baba are our hope for a more peaceful existence for our Hominid people. The future I see for you is cloudy right now, as is your fathers though that does not mean it is hopeless. There is always for those with honor and bravery."
"What am I to do Omerion? We have lost so many. How am I supposed to overcome my fathers ruthless rule?"
[Have courage Goren.] Omerion's voice started to fade. [You are strong and you are not alone. Go home, You must face your fears before you can overcome them.]
With that said, Omerion's voice faded out into the winds. As Goren looked up into Quynn's face. Quynn shook him trying to bring Goren out of Omerion's trance.
"Wake up!" Astan slapped his cheek lightly. "Wake up Goren!"
"I'm here, I'm here." He pushed Astan away from him then grabbed a water skin and took a deep drink.
"What happened? Your eyes glazed over and you started to mumble something about your father. Is he here or not."
"No." Goren said. "He isn't here anymore. But I know where we have to go."
"Where?" Palas asked as he dropped down to land.
"We are going back to Domina. Back to confront my father in the hell he's made for us."
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