I should have known, too. The flora here is completely different from where I’ve been the past few days. Add to that I’ve been flying through airship plus and sleeping under redwoods and accidentally lighting forests on fire… of course I’d sll like an outsider to them! No wonder they think I’m a Loner!
Enyll chuckles to himself, “Well of course she wouldn’t know that, Kuro. As if loners ever get to sll their own.”
Kuro’s ears twitch and she flicks her gaze to Enyll. He grins and raises his copper wings in a shrug.
Was that supposed to be an insult? Did I just get burned by a Lithan?
Kuro turns back to with her friendliest expression yet. “I’ve never heard of a Loner visiting the Farlands. So, what were you doing there? Hunting?”
Oh, gosh. Now I’ve really been put on the spot. What should I tell her? Should I still lie and act like I have no mories of my ti in the Farlands? Or will she see through it like she saw that I had been there recently?
Lying is still my best option, I think. How could I possibly explain to them who I am and where I’m from? It’s not like mory loss makes a whole lot of sense, either. I could just tell her I only rember certain things and what I was doing in the Farlands is one of them. Then I just need to pivot the conversation…
…
I stare deep into Kuro’s face and those inquisitive, Lithan eyes of hers.
When I was still a Lemur, I occasionally had to attend posh dinners or other formal events where the royal family would be present.
It happened to all the ti — I’d be beside myself, trying to avoid all the attention mom loved to attract. Soone would approach and try to strike up so small talk with the future Queen. I’d tell them about my ti volunteering in the garden, or maybe so of the botany books I was reading.
I could watch the interest drain from their faces as I rambled on.
But in Kuro, I see the sa spark of curiosity I saw in people like Professor Willow when we talked about plants, or in Sofl when we worked in his lab. There’s a genuine, heartfelt desire in her to learn more about those strange lands on the other side of the moon.
How could I possibly lie to her, then? I know I have to do everything I can to safely return to Varecia, but how could I deceive soone so kind and pure?
“Um, w-well,” I stumble, anchoring my talons to the ground, still unsure if I’m really going to tell them the truth. “I’m from… there. I—I live in the Farlands.” The words leave my mouth as if soone else spoke them.
“What?!” Kuro recoils like a wing slapped her in the face.
Enyll wheezes, nearly choking on a piece of at. “Live in the Farlands?! Is your head full of sparrows?”
Erk! I knew this was going to happen! Why did I think being honest was the right thing to do!? What’s wrong with ?!
Kuro’s eyes narrow and she takes a defiant step toward . “Just where can you live in the Farlands and be safe from those monsters that roam the sky?”
‘Monsters’ that roam the sky? Could she an airships? Surely Lithans aren’t concerned by the threat an airship poses, right? They could down one in seconds with a single blast of fire!
“I live in…” I trail off in thought. Again I want to lie to her and try to salvage the conversation, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. “…Ellyntide. I flew from the mountains on the far end of the southern continent.”
Kuro’s face goes crooked. She swivels around and appeals to Enyll for help, but the boy seems just as confused. “What’s a continent?” he asks.
“Ellyntide… I’ve heard that na before, but I c—“ Kuro abruptly stops mid-sentence. A second later she turns to face , all the kindness in her heart dissolved. Her brow furrows and she opens her wings wide. “How did you learn that na, Loner?”
“What?” I squeak, gasping for air. Unconsciously I retreat a step, but the soot-plumaged Lithan matches and adds another two paces to close the gap. Her sprawling wings cover the sun, and it feels like they could stoop down and suffocate .
“Ellyntide. That’s a Farlander na,” she growls. “Only Kin who co of age learn knowledge of the Farlands.”
Wha…?
Farlander? Kin? Argh, I wish I knew what she was talking about!! Damn it, Asha, why didn’t you just lie to them?! Why am I so stupid?!
Enyll flattens his ears and steps out from behind the Redaga. “You can’t be Exiled-Kin, you’re too young. If you were exiled, I’d recognize your face.”
Kuro nods. “That’s right. I’d recognize you, too. So tell the truth, Loner. Where did you learn that na?”
Oh, man. This is bad. This is almost as bad as it was back in the hollow. It might even be worse because this ti I can’t rely on my instincts to co to my rescue and save . All the goodwill I’d built up with Kuro has completely disappeared. If I had just lied to her then surely she would have believed ! They don’t need to know I’m from Ellyntide, they just need to help long enough so I can learn how to survive!
I feel the urge to turn and flee, but there’s nothing but dense forest behind . And even if there wasn’t, where would I go? If I could sohow flee Kuro and Enyll, would anyone else truly help a Loner like ? Would I even survive long enough here to locate soone else?
I... I have to be honest and tell them the whole truth about who I am. The truth of my royal lineage, the attack on the hollow, and my supernatural transformation. For whatever reason knowledge of Ellyntide seems to be forbidden information here. So much that they’ve gone completely cross at just my ntioning it. But If there are teachings of Ellyntide and the ‘Farlands’, could there also be teachings of my family? If I told them I’m a Lordanou, would they know what that ans?
It’s a long shot — and I feel like I’ve been saying this a lot lately — but what other choice do I have?
There is always a choice, but this one isn’t particularly pleasant. But I will choose it.
“Um… well, I…”
No, no, no, this won’t do at all. I have to project confidence to them. Mom never carried out diplomacy with a hostile kingdom stuttering like a child. She spoke slowly, and with distinction. This situation is no different, and so I should do the sa.
Unlawfully taken from , this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
I ruffle and shake away my apprehension. Muzzle up. Back straight. Feathers and wings relaxed. Chest out.
“Kuro,” I say, staring straight into her. Our eyes lock. “You have been wonderfully kind to , so I won’t try to deceive you. I should tell you my na. It’s Asha, Asha Lordanou.”
I pause to gauge their response. Enyll’s face is stony, but Kuro’s brow is raised. Has she heard of my family’s na, too?
“I know Ellyntide because… I was born there. As a Lemur, in the city of Varecia. I am a mber of the royal family and a Princess.”
I pause again. Enyll’s expression is wavering towards annoyance and Kuro looks more confused than ever. Damn it, I think I’m losing them!
“Two days ago sothing terrible happened to and, impossibly, I beca…” I open my wings wide and curve them inwards like they were wrapping around . “…This. I took the form of a Lithan.”
I pause once more, but instead of looking at Kuro and Enyll to see their reaction, I avert my eyes to the grass below. I can’t possibly make the next request looking them straight on. Not when I know how just how cross they are right now.
“There’s no easy way for the make this request, and I’m sorry to drag the affairs of my world into yours, but… I need help. I don’t know how to live this way, hunting for prey and being self-sufficient. I have to find so way to survive and let my family know I’m safe. It’s imperative to so many people that I live to safely return to Ellyntide.” I raise my head to et Kuro and Enyll’s gaze. “Please, I’m pleading to you… help !!”
Silence stretches between us.
Enyll is staring at incredulously as I’d expect, but Kuro… Kuro’s face is firm. This ti, I don’t need to second guess what she’s feeling.
She’s disappointed in .
I feel my heart sink as she releases a sigh and shakes her head. “And here I thought you weren’t one of the weird ones…”
“Kuro…” I trail off. My wings collapse, feeling numb. How could she hear my story and still say no?
Enyll growls, “We’re wasting our ti, Kuro. So rotten exile spoke the words of Kin into her ear and now she’s gone completely mad.”
Completely mad?! “That’s not true!” I object. “Kuro, you—“
“Agreed,” she raises her voice to drown out my own. “Leave her to her madness. We fly to Flat Rock from here.”
Common sense departs and I thrust headlong towards the natives, shoving myself in-between them to prevent them from leaving.
“Wait!”
Kuro tenses, quicker than a heartbeat, baring teeth and raising the hackles on her neck. Reflexively I pull back into my own defensive posture, raising my wings to try and appear bigger than the larger, soot-plumaged Lithan in front of . A thunderous growl rises from Enyll, as nacing as any I’ve ever heard before.
Threaten all you want, I don’t care. If I can’t get through to these Lithans and convince them to help , then I’m as good as dead anyway. For those back ho who are grieving for now, I’ll risk my life if it ans the chance of seeing them again. A life where I can’t return ho to my family is a life not worth living.
“Kuro,” I say, panting heavy and locking my gaze with hers. “You’re profoundly curious why I sll like the Farlands.”
She stares at a mont before flicking her eyes to Enyll, then back towards .
Adrenaline surges through . Why is she being so stubborn? Why won’t she just admit that she wants to learn more about ? I try to suppress it but a growl escapes in frustration.
“Yes, that’s right. You’re just embarrassed to admit it. Tell , would a Loner stricken with madness truly be fit to make the crossing from the Farlands?”
Kuro says nothing, and her expression is unwavering. Behind , Enyll shifts his wings uncomfortably.
“I can tell you everything. If you’d just listen, I—“
“Listen to ,” Kuro rumbles in a voice that drowns out my own. “I’ve had enough of your nattering, Loner. Return to your lands, wherever they may be.”
I shake my head. “Kuro, ple—“
“SILENCE!!” she shrieks, opening her wings wide and lowering herself into an attack posture. I try to hold steadfast, but the sheer power of her voice echoing through the field is enough to make cower in fear. For the first ti, I truly understand why Lithans are such feared creatures.
She lets out a brooding warning growl. “Leave. Now. If I so much as see a feather of yours in Kin territory again, I’ll—“
SKREEEEECH!
A sharp call from above interrupts Kuro’s threat. Everyone present turns skyward to see a blond-colored Lithan circling down from the sky, flapping its wings hard and coming in fast.
“Hmph,” Enyll grunts behind . “Well, it’s about ti soone responded.”
‘Responded’? Do they an…
My stomach knots at the realization. Did they hear Kuro shrieking and co to help her?
Kuro grumbles, raising from her crouched position. “Good. Maybe he’ll be able to get through to this featherbrain.”
“Enyll!! Kuro!!” the blond Lithan yells as he descends, coming in fast and flapping his wings hard for a landing an order of magnitude quicker than anything I’ve been able to do so far.
Enyll glances toward and Kuro, neither of us willing to loosen our aggressive stance. He scowls, then trots forward to et the newcor. Dipping his head in greeting he asks plainly, “Blue skies, Ykuvi?” as if we weren’t even there.
In front of , Kuro hisses under her breath.
Ykuvi flicks anxious eyes toward us but doesn’t seem overly concerned about the situation. “I’m afraid not,” he says, short of breath. “Down by Vito’s Forest, an airship-prey has been spotted off the edge.”
“A-Airship?! I gasp, unable to believe my ears. There’s an airship here?!
“Of all tis…!” Enyll cries, splaying his wings wide. “That wretched beast!” Hearing nothing from Kuro I turn to see her staring at Ykuvi, eyes wide and mouth agape.
“No, no, no…” I mutter to myself, panic exploding in my chest at the realization of just where that airship ca from.
The territory directly south of us is Sarlain, but this can’t be one of their vessels. Sarlain wouldn’t retaliate against a single Lithan stealing breakfast from a logging camp. Appearances by Lithans in Sarlain are far too common. A Nortanian ship would have absolutely no reason to co here, so it can’t be that, either.
No, there’s only one place that ship could have co from.
“It’s my mother!” I announce to the Lithans. “Kuro, my mother sent the airship here! Can’t you see? She’s looking for !”
That’s a ship from Ellyntide. Mom sent it here to try to subjugate for taking her daughter’s life. My life.
Oh, mother, have you gone completely insane?! Sending one of our ships across enemy airspace to avenge the death of your daughter?! The territory directly off the edge of the Northern Continent is considered neutral territory, but to get there you have to fly through Sarlain or Nortane’s airspace. Either she flew through the country we’re currently in a border dispute with, or she flew through the Kingdom we’re technically still at war with. Either way, mom’s just done sothing indefensible.
Ykuvi looks at and folds his ears. “Enyll?” he asks, deferring to the copper plumaged Lithan.
“Ignore her,” he says. “That one’s gone mad.”
Requiring no further explanation, Ykuvi nods. “Okay. Co on, we must chase it away at once!!”
Enyll acknowledges, and the two males unfurl their wings for take-off.
KREE!
ROOAR!
They call out to the sky above them and thrust into the air, catching a breeze and flapping hard to gain altitude over the tree line. When they pass overhead they bank right and begin flying in the direction of the edge of the continent, leaving and Kuro alone in the field.
Why is Kuro still here, how co she didn’t take off with them? I relax my aggressive posture and to my surprise, Kuro does the sa. She sighs and turns to with a worried expression. All the aggression and anger I saw in her just monts ago has been replaced by genuine concern. Surely, she intends to join Ykuvi and Enyll, so why stay behind with ?
“You’re going to chase away the airship-prey?” I ask softly, still shaken from our confrontation earlier.
“Of course,” She nods. “They steal prey and attack Kin.”
Her voice had beco docile, more like the one I heard when we first t. Is she truly that concerned about the airship?
…Wait a second.
A twisted idea enters my head. One so completely deranged, I just have to suggest it to her.
“Let handle it,” I say. “I’ll talk to the airship-prey and tell it to leave.”
Her face twists in disbelief. “…You can do that?”
I nod. “Yes. I’m a Farlander, Kuro. I know everything about the airship-prey, including how to communicate with them. I’ll make it leave before it can fly into your territory and hurt anyone.”
Kuro pauses, unable to reply. I see the dissonance in her face, the conflict roiling in her head. A part of her doesn’t want to believe , but there’s sothing else that’s telling her she should.
“Please,” I say, taking a step forward. “You can trust , Kuro.”
A breath of silence passes between us. She looks to the ground and releases a sigh, then back towards .
“Alright. Follow .”
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