Ashton tilted his head as he leaned over the nest, "I mean, there was a battle, and many did die… but none of them gods, the fault hardly mine…" Everyone gazes jumped to him, so he let out a dramatic sigh. "There was a bird, who traversed the world, singing by day, mingling at night. Finding oddities and trinkets, each a delight. Well one day a fish, wanted to fly. Thinking with wings, she'd ascend the sky.
"Now, that bird wasn't stupid, it didn't stand still. He decided to leave, the world to roam for a thrill. A hundred years passed, and once grand destinations turned to ash. That fish full of dreams, found minions to scheme. Thought with enough companions, a bird would fall, flying fish turned reality.
"So the fish spread some rumors, and gathered the weak. Knowing this bird, didn't fight, would rather retreat. But there was a mistake, for all those grand plans, to be easily evaded… that fish roamed the land. Now that would have been fine, the bird didn't care, enjoying the sun, flying free through the air.
"But that fish found a boy, with the bird time did share. Ignoring an oath, to keep grudges up high. The fish aimed low, dampened a boys light. Well that boy held a feather, a favor to ask, in return for affection, of many years past.
"So the bird did show up, to what was clearly a trap. The body of the boy, disgraced, left in scraps.
"The fish had an army, promises bold, waiting for riches, beyond all hope.
"After a day and a night, the bird still stood tall. Watching the fish, who'd done more than just fall. The bird ripped out organs, removed all its scales. Returned every cruelty, the boy befell. Then a god came, who saw so much blood, the sea would be envious, the way the rivers did run.
"The god though the fish, was still in the right, the boy had offended, refused to help find. Now that bird wasn't a god, but he didn't back down. Another day of battle, and that god did bow. The fish was then burned, skewered and stewed, eaten by minions, its power they drew.
"So the battle did end, the bird covered in wounds. Lost a good friend, but his journey ensues." Ashton concluded with a shrug.
Beloved clapped her hands, "But why target a bird, why wish to fly? Fish belong in the water, to swim with the tide."
Ashton shrugged, "That fish was a beast, aspirations so high, wanting more power, envy of flight. Now others hope to succeed, to fly where the fish fell, want to take wings, rather than live well. Must run in the blood, much like a curse, forever wanting, an unquenchable thirst."
Beloved tilted her head, "I guess that makes sense, they do live in the sea. If thirst isn't sated, it never could be." Beloved jumped up, trotting back to the nest, "So what of the boy, who died in pain, what of his family, do any remain?"
Ashton sighed, "The boy was an outcast, family unclaimed, the few of his friends, left him betrayed. His soul laid to rest, reincarnation was set. I only saw once, our distance was far, but he seemed happy, his heart unscarred. I heard when he passed, he was greatly missed, tales of his adventures, they still do exist."
Beloved grinned, "That's how a story should end, happy, with friends. So what of the bird, does he still fly, was he free? Does he still roam, the power his own?"
Ashton lifted his Beloved up and nuzzled her nose, "That bird does still roam, his power he holds, a little more jaded, a little more cold, but the greatest gift of the sun, he does now hold."
Beloved threw her arms around Nix's neck, "Well, I'm sure he'll fly free, I'm sure he will roam, leave behind all the sadness, forgetting the cold. How could he not? With a heart prettier than gold?"
Lucera and Zane shared a look… if history was written by the victors… neither the legend, nor Nix's version made sense. After days of hard battle, and with the sacrifice of hundreds of lives, Lady Alaina helped two beasts gods seal the fallen phoenix away. That was part of the reason she could never leave her territory, she had to constantly feed it mana. With every allegiance sworn to help keep the mad phoenix sealed… if none of that was true…
Caius perked his ears as he eyed the chirping birds, "Then what is Alaina guarding under the sea? If not a mad phoenix, what manner of beast?" Ever since Mishi's attack he'd doubted everything about that bitch.
Ashton lifted his Beloved to sit on his arm, "That is a fish question, I'm just a bird. If you want that truth, you'll have to seek it out on your own."
Caius whined as his ears drooped, "What fish would answer, where can I learn, I'm just a fox, not even a bird!" Aiya, if the bird sang every word so would he! Whatever that bitch was hiding… might help rally others to their side… especially since he now had confirmation that his little Snack was the phoenix who had defeated Alaina's mother. Though… if that bitch's mother was really a goddess… aiya why was it all so tricky????
Jaxon wanted to just laugh… so beast gods were real… he'd seen that Ru. But… had he really been a god? How was Ashton related to gods then, if Ashton could defeat a god… what was the difference?
Leonard saw dawning horror on more than one face, "Lord Reece, I have… a silly questions."
Ashton turned his gaze on Marquis Silas, "Oh? Silly how?"
Leonard tried to give a flattering smile, though he was so stiff it was probably unsightly, "I know of a tribe that says they worship… a snake god… do you happen to know if that's true?"
Ashton blinked, "A god of snakes? I've never heard, but to imitate a god? Well, that absurd."
Leonard tried to understand… no snake god… but not an imitation either? Perhaps… there was a god, but it wasn't a snake?
Aaron jolted at the thought, Beast gods above… he'd believed the snake beast would be Ascended, but if it's a real god… and its wife was trying to seek asylum with Lord Reece…
Beloved clapped her hands with a pout, "I tire of these talks, rotten subjects the lot! Nix let's go play! Why waste the day?"
Ashton smiled as he hopped out of the nest to land beside the fox, "As you wish, as you say, what games my Beloved, what will we play?"
Beloved looked up, pondering as he gaze flittered around the clearing, "Hmm, this place is so dull, no fun to be had, perhaps in the trees, or maybe we should be bad?" She asked taking his hands in hers.
Ashton grinned, "A bad bird is new, so tell me Beloved, what do bad birds do?"
Beloved glanced over all the humans. How funny! They had suddenly basically become statues, "I see a mountain, I see a lake, both in conditions I'd rather not say. I also see goblins but that just fine, for the plans I have, deep in that mine."
Ashton smiled as fire burned in Beloved's eyes, "Fires to set, fires to burn, pity the creatures, who have yet to learn. I'll follow your lead, watch you take flight. I'm right behind you, always in sight." Beloved blew him a kiss, then he threw her up. She changed in a burst of white fire and took off. Ashton kept his gaze on her as he darted through the forest after her.
Caius barely blinked and they were almost out of sight. Without a word he took off running after them. Aiya!!! Little Snack!!! Wait for me!!!!!
Zane spat out a mouth of dust as the three beasts took off fast enough to send shockwaves. Zane wasn't surprised when half a moment later, several of the Inago started to chase them down… "Well, talk about a change of pace…"
Rommel brushed the settling dust off as he turned to duke Darnings, and the rattled younger brother. Two potential dragons around a phoenix… even if the legend wasn't entirely accurate, a phoenix was not an enemy to make lightly. But if Nix was an enemy to Lady Alaina… then perhaps a temporary alliance with the empire was in order.
Jaxon stood up to take his brother inside… then he felt a stare boring into him. Jaxon met the contemplative gaze of general Rommel. Jaxon just nodded, then took Monroe inside.
Rommel watched the duke leave… Darnings was definitely the smartest, Carlos of the best character, Hammer was a wildcard. If Duke Carlos weren't so close to Nix… he would have been a more ideal partner. Still, it was too early to tell.
Like a bullet in my chest, (Apollo: Timebell nightcore cover)
Beloved wove through the trees, her smaller form darting between patches of sunlight. Periodically a plain, brown eagle could be seen overhead.
It is never easy, I'll follow you Apollo!
Ashton leapt from tree to tree, if he reached out, her tail feathers would be in reach. Ashton laughed as she spun through branches, opening a rift to avoid getting a mouth full of leaves.
Give it time and we will grow!
It didn't take long to reach the foot of the mountain. The charred entrance and collapsed tunnels caused the mountain to collapse in different areas. Beloved landed near the exit the tigers had dug out.
"Psst, Nix, did you see, did you hear, so many dead, its all so unclear." Beloved mentioned using her clawed foot to kick a rock down the tunnel. It was rather similar to where she'd been born… though for goblins to experiment… well there had to be others assisting.
Ashton glanced down the tunnel from the opposite side of the opening. "A pity, a sin, they were all slain by kin, I do understand, but now gone is the truth."
Beloved heard the large fox before she saw it come skidding to a halt beside them. Then half a dozen smaller foxes came tumbling after. She tilted her head and blinked at them, "Psst, Nix, I see that one, one with two tails… how did it upset Ru, to be marked with such flare?" She landed on Nix's shoulder to whisper behind her wing.
Rahm lay on his back, desperately trying to drag air into his lungs… so fast… birds were cheaters!!! He had to avoid trees, stumps, thrones, roots, bushes! While they just flew over everything unimpeded… he wanted a bird to carry him through the forest… Case and point, Littlest was just now unwrapping himself from around the owl's leg. Deliberately showing off his still clean fur…. While Rahm was a disheveled mess… twigs, leaves, dirt all in his once immaculate fur…
Talvi lay down also panting, though her fur was mostly clean, it hadn't been easy keeping up. Wasn't the saying as the crow flies…. Because they flew in a straight line? Was the female purposefully attempting to lose them by changing direction constantly?
Caius was panting, but only lightly. If the female had not been singing… he wasn't sure if he would've been able to keep up, or track them. His Little Snack had left almost no signs of his passing, just the occasional print in loose moss as he leapt from the trees. Caius's ears twitched at the female's comment… then he turned his sight to Rahm… he didn't see any markings… curse or otherwise.