I blinked away sleep as I felt Alvina land. It was our last stop before we arrived at the forest, an oasis that was marked on the maps as a common waypoint for travelers. We had decided to make camp the night before arriving at the forest so that the Harpies could rest and give Odessa time to stretch her legs. Alvina could have made it just before sundown but the Harpies, built for speed rather than endurance, were struggling to keep up with her across the desert.

  Once she had landed I hopped down from her shoulder and began to set up camp. Odessa aided me with the tents while Geena, Sky and Luna landed and collapsed at the Water’s edge. Geena and Sky were doing quite well but Luna was struggling. Even without a deep understanding of them, I could see how hard she was trying to keep up with her Mother and Geena.

  Sky hopped to her feet after a moment and stretched her wings, and the result was all of the muscles in her back flexing with them. As lean as the harpies were, one did not expect to see the thick cords of muscle that showed when they were flying or stretching. I had little doubt that if Sky or Geena wished to hurt someone with their wings they could rather easily break bone. That combined with their talons made them good company to have on the desert winds. We had had a brief encounter with a Wyvern who had been bold enough to try and attack Luna. I had only really seen a brief result of the damage that the Older pair of Harpies did to it before it fell, bloody and broken, to the sands below.

  I finished setting up the larger tent where Alvina and I would be. Geena had been staying out under the stars with Luna and Sky and I think she was explaining to them what we planned to do to prepare them. I could only guess what they would think of it. Which led to me thinking of my siblings. If they knew what I was planning… I don’t know. Would they care? Would they be angry? Would they still view me as their sibling? I couldn’t begin to guess their thoughts on it. Nor could I truly disclose why I needed to do it. I ran my hands through my hair as I sat on the water’s edge. Alvina sat down next to me and laid her head on my shoulder.

  ‘Thinking hard?’ She asked, glancing off towards the Sunset.

  ‘Trying too. I just… I’m trying to figure out what Tiran and Naravie are going to think of this. Of… Me? Us? I don’t know what we will be like when we get through this. We don’t even have a third yet.’ I responded.

  ‘I think they will accept you. You can’t change that much. You and Geena are similar enough that maybe you won’t change at all.’ She said with a chuckle.

  I turned and gave her a bemused expression.

  ‘How are we alike?’ I asked.

  ‘Well… you are both inquisitive. And quite good looking. And once anyone gets you on a subject you enjoy, you will babble until you remember to take a breath.’ She said with a laugh.

  I let out a small laugh as well. She laced her fingers into mine and we watched as the sun went down. The brilliant reds and oranges gave way to the black and blue of the night sky. As night fell, she squeezed my hand.

  ‘I’ve been thinking. I know what I want to say. You do not have to respond right now. But I want to say it before anything happens.’ She said softly.

  I met her gaze and nodded and she smiled.

  ‘I love you. I don’t mean that in a passing flight of fancy way either. I love you. Like no one I’ve ever met before. When you form your new body, I will stay with you. I will stay by your side, even if the only way I can see you is to delve into your mind and find you there, I will stay with you. If you will have me, I will stay by your side in Calanai. Scheme with you and the Royals to build a better future. To make a place where those shunned by the world can be safe. I can’t promise I won’t make mistakes or that I will never be angry or confused. But I will do my best to understand.’ She spoke clearly and confidently, her gaze meeting mine the whole way.

  We were silent for a moment after that, I could feel her pulse quicken in her hand as she waited for me to respond and I smiled.

  ‘I… I know what I want to say. But not how to say it right. I’m still thinking. But, know that I would love to have you by my side. Always.’ I replied, squeezing her hand for good measure.

  She smiled and leaned against me once more, looking up at the stars.

  ‘I can’t be mad. I love your mind, can’t be upset that you have to think about everything.’ She chuckled.

  I let out a laugh and we stared up at the sky together for a while.

  ‘Would you like to see the stars through my eyes?’ I asked.

  ‘I can see them myself. Cyan’s treatment is helping my eyes. They are still blurry but I can see them.’ She replied with a smile.

  We sat there together until Odessa called us over to the cookfire she had set up where the Harpies were eagerly gobbling up the stew she had prepared. We both took a bowl and enjoyed the company of the others until it was time to turn in. As we headed to our tent there was a noise behind us and we both turned to see Geena awkwardly scratching her talons against a rock while not looking at us.

  “Geena? What's wrong?” I asked.

  “N-Nothing’s wrong. I was just wondering if I could stay with you two tonight. Sky and Luna are staying out near the fire but I…” She stopped as her face flushed.

  ‘You would like to share our bed and our company?’ Alvina offered.

  Geena nodded.

  I glanced at Alvina who simply waved her in with a smile. Geena scurried into the tent after us and quickly made herself at home in the space between the two of us. I was grateful for the comfort her feathers provided and I could see a mischievous glint in Alvina’s eye as we both curled up on either side of the harpy. It was perfect.

  I awoke to a very sore body. My breasts were chafed, my back and hips were a bit stiffer than I would like and my wings were pinned by my two bedmates. And I was in heaven. My head was still swimming with the sensations from the previous night. I had not expected them to actually go along with it, nor had I expected Alvina to coach me like she did. For my kind at the Roost-Rock, mating was a short and almost wholly boring affair. I had tried to make it more enjoyable but… well my brethren were not particularly interested in anything that went on longer than a few moments. Even if it was pleasurable.

  I managed to free my wings from Irand and Alvina and I collected my clothes. Looking outside it was still early morning, an hour or so before dawn. I happily skipped out to the water’s edge and began to wash myself. While I was quite happy to have shared sensations with Alvina and Irand, I did not want the results from last night to linger. True I had the seal from Lord Xaranata but that didn’t help with the smell or other matters. I bathed quickly in the furthest edge of the water and when I emerged from the waters I called upon my magic and blew the water from my feathers.

  I was pulling my shirt back on when Sky approached. Ever the early riser she was.

  “So, enjoy yourself, Grandmother?” She asked with a sly smile.

  “And what if I did? You heard nothing.” I scoffed, remembering Alvina’s words.

  “Oh I didn’t hear anything. But I did see the tent moving. I can guess.” She said, laughing slightly.

  I blushed but continued rebuttoning my shirt.

  “W-Was is better than… the Roost?” She asked, her voice quivering.

  “It was, if you must pry.” I growled.

  “When you mentioned your deal with him I… I want to seek out a human mate when we arrive in this new land.” She said quietly.

  I watched her, she seemed upset at the words and I walked up alongside her.

  “Why do you sound so angry with yourself about it?” I asked.

  “Because it would mean that the child could be more human, they could be wingless. They could… be many things. I don’t know. I just know that I cannot raise another by myself. I am not mating with another idiot who will get themselves killed trying to impress me.

  “Then perhaps you can be one of the first who travels there and find a mate who will please you. You do understand that with me being gone, It will likely fall to you to speak on the Flock’s behalf? Don’t you?” I asked.

  She nodded.

  “I understand. I assume that if the King and Queen are willing to allow their friend to become a changeling, they will be accepting of our kind. Grandmother, we may be able to more than simply hunt and survive!” She said excitedly.

  I wrapped one wing around her and smiled. We spent the rest of the dark of the morning speaking of what might be. She had such hope for the future, and I prayed her hopes came true.

  I sailed through the clouds as we approached the village of Necara. Eren was lazily coasting below us and as soon as Masai pointed out the location of the village, I fell into a steep dive. It was nestled into a valley in a mountain range with on one side and a fallen forest of bleached white trees. I dove down at the base of the village and I felt Masai and Callax clinging to my back spikes as I picked up speed.

  This was one of my favorite parts of flying. Coming out of a long, steep dive was such a rush. At the last moment I flared open my wings and they strained against the wind before I slowed and landed against the stone at the entrance to the village. Eren landed just after me and I felt Masai and Callax clamber off of my back quickly before I transformed.

  “That was horrifying.” Callax groaned, kneeling on the ground.

  “If I had a stomach, I think I would have lost my breakfast.” Masai said shakily.

  “It was fine. I did a much more reckless dive back in Calanai. Mother yelled at me after she found out about it.” I mused.

  “Then don’t do that.” Eren growled.

  “Oh?”

  “Don’t be reckless. You are just like Cal. He tried to fight a bear once and I had to kill it for him and drag him to safety. Don’t do that.” Eren hissed.

  “Okay then, Little Sister. I won’t.” I snipped back at her.

  She stuck out her tongue and stormed off into the village.

  Callax and Masai wandered up to me and watched her go.

  “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” Callax asked.

  “I’d be lying if I said no.” I replied.

  “We also used to pick at her. But be gentle, she is fragile right now. We had many friends here.” Masai said softly as she followed Eren.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  We entered the village, or rather the ruins of such, and began to walk through each building. There was little of note, time and the elements had washed away any traces of the people here. Occasionally Eren or Callax would call out a spot they remembered or reminisce about an old memory. I stayed quiet as I walked with Masai who I could see was struggling to keep her composure.

  “Bad memories?” I asked.

  “I had friends and family both in this village. And past loves. I… I’ll be heading to my clan’s old grounds. If there is aught there then I need time to review it. It is up on the mountains, near the peak. Watch over them? Please dear?” She asked.

  I nodded and she all but ran from the village, leaving me to follow Eren and Callax.

  Near the center of the town we found what appeared to be a large tavern built into the cliffside, two stories and an ancient faded sign out front. Eren and Callax stood outside staring at it with sad looks on their faces.

  “I imagine this is the bar you three were talking about?” I asked.

  Callax nodded.

  “The Runoff Inn, run by our old friend Tura. She was a dear friend and before Eren and I were betrothed she was… well she…”

  “She was his Consort. And an excellent choice for that position.” Eren finished.

  He nodded and the both of them turned to go. I stood back for a moment and I heard the clinking of glass from inside. I didn’t want to risk going in the ancient structure so I cast my mind inside instead and I found consciousness there. A mind, lazing in drunkenness and misery but very much alive.

  “There is someone in there.” I called.

  Eren and Callax looked back and hurried back. Eren looked excited while Callax remained skeptical.

  “Maybe they live here!” Eren cried as she rushed in before I could grab her.

  Callax and I chased after her and we found her behind the bar in the cellar. There was a broken section of the cellar revealing a hidden room and Eren had squeezed herself in. She was standing over a woman’s form, dressed as a barmaid might be except her skin was wooden and covered in bark.

  “It’s Tura!” Eren cried excitedly.

  We carried the woman out into the bar proper and I ran a hand over her form, feeling the liquid within her with my magic. She was soaked through with alcohol, that much was obvious from the smell of her alone. I clenched my hands and made a motion like I was wringing a rag free of water. Her body resisted the attempts but I persevered and pulled the alcohol forth from her, pooling it into a bucket provided by Callax. I could hear Eren looking for something but I was busy funneling the very ancient beer from our unconscious dryad into the bucket.

  It took quite a bit of time to finish wringing her free of the beer. When I had, I leaned back into a chair and saw Eren was bringing over buckets of water. She placed the Dryad’s hand in one and the water was quickly absorbed. She repeated the process a few more times before the Dryad’s leafy hair took on a healthier green color and her outer layers looked a few shades damper than bone dry. Callax was simply frozen, staring at the woman lying on the table.

  “It can’t be her…” He mumbled.

  He didn’t have to wait long as her eyes snapped open and she sat up right away. She looked around, panic in her eyes. I held up my hands in a defensive stance and Eren did the same. Callax reached towards her and she froze when she saw him.

  “Cal?” She asked.

  “TURA!” Callax and Eren both cried.

  The dryad jumped back when she saw Eren and practically leaped into Callax’s arms. He held her and Eren’s spirits looked immediatley dampened.

  “What the fuck are you doing here you fucking world ending bitch!?” She cried.

  Eren recoiled at the words and Callax dropped her immediatley. The dryad scrambled to her feet and glared at Eren as Callax knelt before her and said something softly that sounded reassuring.

  “I would ask you not call her a bitch. She has no idea what happened here.” I growled.

  The dryad glanced at me before returning her attention to Callax.

  “Tura. You know it wasn’t her fault. She would neve-” He said softly.

  “Oh she wouldn’t? I seem to remember a certain Black Scaled Dragon bringing a fucking apocalytpic sandstorm and motherfucking lava into my village and killing all but a handful of us. Or do I have the wrong fucking dragon Cal?” She roared.

  “It was me.” Eren said quietly.

  “Eren.” Cal said softly trying to comfort her.

  “No. It was me… I… I’ll be back.” She said as she pushed past the dryad and out the bar.

  I watched her spread her wings and transform before she sailed into the sky.

  The Dryad, Tura, looked exasperated.

  “Okay Cal, you have five minutes to explain to me why she isn’t dead and gone! She burned everyone alive! Your Father included. All the kids, everyone!” Tura cried.

  I felt Callira force herself to the front of my mind and I didn’t resist.

  “Because she did not know why she did it. She had no control. How would you respond if you had the power she does and you saw your Mother’s brutalized corpse, killed by the very people you trusted with your life, Tulip?” Callira growled.

  ‘Tulip?’ I asked.

  ‘An old nickname for her.’ Callira explained.

  “Ah, Callira. Defending your bitch of a daughter? I’d kill the ones who did it, not everyone in the goddamned kingdom!” The dryad cried.

  “She was overwhelmed by grief, you remember what happened when she found out Masai and both liked her? Girl nearly split the mountain in half. She couldn’t control her emotions then when we were all there to help her, you think she would handle that level of grief alone?” Callax asked, gripping her shoulders.

  “You weren’t fucking here! I watched kids ripped apart by the sands. I don’t care what her reasons were!” She cried.

  “Tura! Explain how you are here if everyone died when she went on her rampage.” Callax roared.

  “Because I was desperate, I went to Grandmother Ash and took her up on her offer. I let her change me because I wanted to live. And so I did for a thousand fucking years, peacefully in the woods with my sisters! But no… I ended up getting to watch my sisters burn because some fucks in robes and armor decided ‘Oh we can’t allow these tree ladies to live, that would be bad.’ Because my fucking life can’t just be normal. No… Never. I get my Prince stolen by a crossdressing prince, watch everyone get killed by said fucking Prince and then watch my new family get burned fucking alive! Because I’m the butt of all the jokes aren’t I!” She cried and I watched Callax go still for a moment.

  “Oh but then on the worst week of my life in a thousand years, My traitorous prince and his new bit-” She went sailing backwards into a table as Callax delivered a blow to her jaw.

  “I loved you Tura, but circumstances made it so we couldn’t be together. And I still hold both you and Eren, and Masai in my heart. So grow the fuck up and help me understand what happened here. You are the oldest one here, so get to talking actual sense instead of your pity party. Oh and this is Naravie. Eren’s daughter.” Callax said.

  I expected her to get back up and return the punch but she just smiled and laughed as she untangled herself from the now ruined table.

  “Ah there is the bastard I love. Rough and reasonable, still the same man after a thousand years Cal? How are you here? I became a Dryad, you… you must have become a dragon didn’t you?” She asked.

  I watched Callax’s glamour flicker for a moment before steadying itself.

  “No. I died. I was killed by her rampage. Because her Father orchestrated her Mother’s death. Most likely to trigger her to go on a rampage for his mad schemes. It was not her fault. She was sent into it by him.” Callax growled.

  She rose to her feet and she approached him.

  “I watched everyone in this village wither away. Because anyone who didn’t get the mercy of a quick death, starved. I only survived because of Grandmother Ash. And she is likely dead as the rest of them. So convince me why I should forgive her for that.”

  “Because we can get you out of here so you aren’t alone.” Callax offered.

  “Keep talking.”

  “THERE YOU ARE!” Odessa cried as she scuttled into the bar.

  We stared at the desolation of the forest in shock. It was all gone. The trees were felled and looked as if they had been burned by some kind of magic. Recently. It was deathly still as we stood there.

  “Perhaps there are some still alive.” Geena offered.

  “Maybe. Search from the skies. Alvina and I can scout with our minds. Odessa?” I asked as I saw her staring off into the distance.

  I followed her stare to see a blue and black streak diving towards the mountain on the far side of the forest.

  “I’m going.” Odessa said as she broke into a run towards the diving dragons.

  Alvina and I climbed through the fallen forest, casting our minds into the debris to try and find any sign of life. We felt nothing but a sickening feeling spreading through us as we found body after body of lifeless dryads. It was horrid. Bodies entwined with each other, frozen in silent screams. Some were trying to defend others. All of them were nothing but empty husks.

  We searched for hours and found nothing until just before sundown, Alvina called out to all of us, a faint stirring in the distance. We found a black scaled dragon, smaller even than Naravie, digging in the debris. I recognized her scales and horns and tail but her size was wrong.

  “Ereneya?” I called as I stood back a ways.

  She glanced up and looked at Alvina and I as we studied her.

  “Ah, you must be people who know the older me. I am Eren. I can smell someone under here. Help me get them out.” She called as she tossed aside a fallen trunk.

  Alvina transformed and pushed Ereneya aside as she began to pull a truly impressive amount of fallen trees apart and toss them aside. It took a few moments to reach the bottom of the pile but there underneath a truly staggering amount of Dryad husks was a wizened and ancient dryad, staring back at us with pure terror and sadness.

  “Please tell me any of them made it.”

  I pulled my blade from the soldier’s neck as his blood sprayed across my body. Eight down. There had been something like twenty of them when we had seen them approaching. We hadn’t seen any of their constructs with them but that meant little. Isker had said they were here so we assumed they were hidden. We were picking off their soldiers, having had a few of the village hunters positioned on rooftops and firing arrows at them as they approached.

  I heard a pair of screams get choked out into gurgles and looked off in the distance to see Isdana pinning a pair of them to the ground. Blood ran down her chin and I watched her lick the blood off of her daggers. Perhaps I should be concerned. But I had seen her improvement with her newfound abilities and I was welcome for the aid. She wasn’t as strong as I was but she was quick and she could almost disappear into the long shadows of the afternoon forest. I heard one of the soldiers rush towards me and I held up a hand and flames enveloped his form. His scream didn’t last long as I ran my blade through his chest.

  An arrow flew past me and hit one of the hidden soldiers and I thanked Izzy’s foresight. She had helped me piecemeal some armor together. I had pulled the gauntlets, pauldrons and greaves off of the armor that Ereneya had given me and used some hastily made leather armor dyed in the village’s unique red clay. It let me stand out so they avoided shooting me. In the afternoon sun I was still visible, enough that they hadn't shot me by mistake at least.

  I glanced around and found the forest quiet aside from the crackle of the flames from the corpse in front of me. A branch snapped in the undergrowth and I spun around too slow and was rewarded with a blow to the side. I saw the stone glowing with green light and tried to steady myself. Thankfully whatever it was was smaller than the stone soldier and the leather padding absorbed quite a bit of the force. No broken bones, but probably a bruise.

  I steadied myself and looked at it. A stone cat of some kind. On the smaller side, it barely reached my waist but I could see some nasty looking claws on its feet. In the center of its carved head was a green glowing crystal and I remembered the Witch’s words. It bounded towards me, claws outstretched and I sidestepped it and drove my sword into the gem. It shattered with the sound of breaking glass and the stone cat fell to the ground unmoving. I smiled, proud of myself for just a moment before I heard a cry in the distance.

  Izzy.

  I ran towards the sound and found her pinned to a tree by one of the Stone Soldiers, its club being barely held back mid strike by her arm with her hand hanging loosely. I could see its back and the crystal housed within and I leapt at it just as I noticed the enemy soldier waiting behind a tree. He swung his blade and I felt warm blood well up across my chest. I tried to still connect with the golem’s crystal but my blade impacted the stone next to it and bounced off the golem’s frame. I scrambled to my feet to defend myself from the soldier but he was already gone, running off into the forest. The golem dropped Izzy and swung its club towards me. I ducked and managed to pull away from it as it pursued me, leaving Izzy to hopefully recover on her own.

  I managed to get the golem to follow me into a thicket that I only barely managed to slip through and while it didn’t stop it, it did slow the stone creature down. I ran backwards, never letting my eyes leave the golem as it forced its way through the forest. I spotted an opening as it pushed a tree, roots and all, out of its way and I tried to jump around its back to smash the crystal.

  My blade never connected as another of the stone cats leaped from the trees and pounced on me. I landed on my stomach as it dug its claws into my back. I let out a scream as I felt them rake right through the leather and cut deep into the skin. I glanced up as the Golem readied its club to bring down on me when it suddenly vanished as a shadow passed over me. I heard a crash before the shadow returned and the pressure on my back was lifted. I tried to get up but the pain flaring in my back stopped me.

  Everything got a bit fuzzy for a moment before I heard Izzy’s voice. She had a hand on my back and she was saying something I couldn’t make out. Her voice sounded nice. Very pretty. I wonder what she sounded like when she sang…

  My thoughts snapped back to reality as I felt something against my skin like ice. I glanced back to see a Dragon’s claw as large as my body pressed against my back. It was stark white with red and blue scales and I thought it might be Naravie before I saw the rest of the dragon.

  Massive, larger than Ereneya or Heskari. Its horns curled back into almost a crown and its eyes were a molten flame like Xaranta’s. It pulled back its lips into a smile.

  “Well Hello, you must be my new little brother. I am Vandril, eldest son of Xaranta.”