Prologue
They were lined up and pushed to their knees, blades placed next to their necks.
Then one by one, their heads fell down the stairs they had climbed, their blood followed closely behind.
Tears, prayers and pleas from the Oracles fell on deaf ears as the fledglings mercilessly killed them one by one.
The Fledglings' faces were hidden by black full cover masks. Golden goggles glinted in the sunlight. Brown gloves with sharp, iron claws dripped with blood. Their black boots with iron soles were now stained with blood.
Sylph knelt with her parents and her brother, Dewin, awaiting her turn to be killed. She wondered why this was happening, why the Court of Birds would authorize this.
What crime did they commit? They were a peaceful people, not all involved with the ongoing War.
So why was the injustice being permitted? Why defile the scared grounds of the Moon Goddess?
"Lord Great Horned Owl approaches!" One of the Fledglings cried out.
Sylph turned her head to the direction of hoof steps as her cyan blindfold, worn by the rest of her people as ritual and identify, prevented her from seeing.
Great Horned Owl approached the Oracles upon his great black horse. He surveyed the sight before him, his gaze cruel. He dismounted and stepped toward the Oracles with slow, calculated steps.
"You seers are aware of why this is happening right?" He began coldly. "You are threatening the Court's power with your falsehood so therefore you are to be eradicated."
Sylph gritted her teeth in fury. "You bastard!" she yelled.
The man turned and approached the Oracle.
"Looks like someone has spirit," he chuckled before kicking Sylph in her back. She grunted, falling on her face.
She felt someone, a Fledgling, grab her collar forcefully and lifted off the ground. Then felt cold steel touch her throat.
"I should kill you for your insolence," Owl pulled his sword from her throat. A sadistic smile crossed his face. "But your death will soon come. Death by my hand is far too merciful."
Sylph was shoved onto her back. She rolled, grunting.
"Now bring out the leader of these traitors," He ordered.
Madam Morgan, an elderly woman of 80 years, is hauled up the steps and is pushed to her knees at the top. She was dressed in a white robe, a blue sash worn around her waist.
Morgan wore an scarlet blindfold, her grey hair worn in a half up half down with a braid. Despite her age, she seemed ethereal and elegant in her appearance.
"Pythia, or do you prefer to be called Madam Morgan?" He sneered, narrowing his gaze.
She didn't reply, only straightened in defiance.
"Oracle of Delphi," he continued, pacing up and down, "you have spewed blasphemous words against the Court."
"No I have not," the old woman said.
He frowned deeply, and took off his helmet; revealing his long dark purple hair with one bang covering his eye.
Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "Yes you have. You know and I know that the one called the vaewolf does NOT exist".
She turned her head to him. The silk of the blindfold offered no barrier; the weight of her story was like a physical pressure against his throat.
"I only said what the Moon Goddess showed me," she spoke firmly. "And what your leader, Harpy Eagle, asked of me."
He stood to his feet and lifted her face to his eye level. "Any last words?" he asked, tiling his head to the side.
"I'm merely the messenger of the Moon Goddess. And the truth is, Great Horned Owl, is that the vaewolf shall end this war," she repeated. "That is my truth."
Great Horned Owl scoffed lightly. "Poor choice of last words, Hag," he snarled venomously.
"Tell me Owl," Morgan continued. "Why do you carry out Harpy Eagle's will? What has he done for you?"
Owl stopped then stepped closer towards her. "I share a luxurious position at the Court of Birds. I, once a fledgling, now commands them. They listen to me and Harpy only. And when Harpy is say eliminated, I will take over."
"So you have no honor," Madam Morgan whispered back. "A dishonorable fool to the bitter end."
"Oh, I'm not dying any soon," he smiled. "I'll outlive you, you hag."
"Are you sure?" She asked him.
He stiffened, his smile disappeared. "Y-You're trying to scare me—" he grabbed her forcefully by the chin. "I will not die here. Only you!"
He gave the signal and a fledgling approached the old woman.
"No! Stop!" Dewin yelled. "It's too late Dewin," Sylph replied. The axe was raised up into the air.
"Vaewolf, if you're out there. Save her please," she pleaded softly. The blade came down with exceedingly force.
It never reached its mark.
Great Horned Owl stared in horror. The axe was blocked by a long broadsword.
The Oracles rose their heads, Sylph and her brother Dewin included.
The Fledgling looked up at the wielder slowly. His silver white hair, cropped short, blew in the wind. His red eye glared at him, one side-swept bang covered his left.
"It's impossible," Great Horned Owl gasped.
The vaewolf lifted his sword, disarming him of the ax. The Fledgling staggered back.
Recomposing himself, Owl points at him.
"Get him!" Great Horned Owl commanded.
Fledglings charged at him. He smirked and charged at them in turn. He swung his blade, slicing two of them in half.
One shot him in the chest. He looked at the arrow, a splinter in his flesh, then pulled it out effortlessly. He threw the arrow back at the archer, killing him.
Great Horned Owl ran for his horse to escape. He didn't care if in the end he was called a coward, he wasn't about to die here.
As he reached for the reins, a black glove grabbed it first. He turned to his left to see the vaewolf there.
His eyes quivered in fear.
The vaewolf grabbed him, flinging him off the animal. He slapped the horse's side, it neighed and ran off, generating a huge cloud of dust.
As the dust settled, the Vaewolf surged forward, blood dripping onto the ground from his blade, as Great Horned Owl stared in horror.
"Now for you," he growled.
"Not so fast!" Great Horned Owl said, hand raised.
The Vaewolf halted, a bored eyebrow raised.
"What about the seers?" Owl asked him, pointing at them.
The vaewolf turned around. All the Oracles had swords at their throats. "Or did you come to save the Hag?"
The Vaewolf glanced over at the old woman. She too was held at sword point.
"Well?" Owl smugly smiled at the vaewolf.
The vaewolf chuckled which slowly evolved into a laugh. The fledglings turned to each other, heads tilted in confusion
"You think this is funny?" Great Horned Owl asked in disbelief. "Why should I care? You don't care about your own men?" the vaewolf questioned.
"You hear that? He doesn't-"
Sylph felt a sticky substance cover her.
Great Horned Owl, stared on shock. He turned slowly, unable to believe it.
"So fast!" he thought. "In the blink of an eye-"
Sylph heard the thud of bodies. Her head darted around. "We're alive?" she asked. "Yes," she heard the vaewolf replied.
"Stay here," he ordered then she heard his footsteps fade away. "No problem. I am tied up," she muttered.
"If you're going to kill her," he said to the Fledgling threatening the old woman, "Just do it already."
The Fledging hesitated and gazed into his eyes.
The vaewolf stared back at him, something cold in his gaze made him move around nervously. He faltered and ran off.
"Wise choice," he said. He then turned around to face the man. "Now birdy. Should I pluck your feathers or just behead you?" he asked nonchalantly.
"You will do neither," Owl unsheathing his sword. The vaewolf's gaze burned coldly into him "Poor choice of last words, birdy," he sneered
Owl charged at him with a roar and the two clashed swords.
The two men strained, pushing the blades to each other. The vaewolf and Owl gazes locked on the other.
"You should be dominating this fight," Owl commented. "Instead, you're struggling."
"You're right," he said sarcastically then headbutts him. He staggered, stunned.
"You honestly have the best ideas," he added then slapped him, the force sent him flying.
Owl hit the ground, tumbling before rolling to a stop. He attempted to get up but the vaewolf flipped him off, his boots pressed on his chest.
Owl hissed in pain, feeling his ribs break.
"Poor birdy, are you hurt?" the vaewolf asked, tilting his head.
Owl spat a stream of blood in defiance, glaring up at his enemy.
The vaewolf wiped the smear off. He brought his sword down, the blade penetrating his chest.
Owl gasped, as blood trickles out of his mouth. He stilled, eyes slowly close. His blood pooled from his body, leaking through his armor and staining the ground.
The vaewolf pulled out his sword from the man's dead body. He approached Madam Morgan and loosed her binds. "Sorry," he apologized.
"It's alright my child," she smile sweetly. A small smile graced his lips.
He went to the other oracles and untied them as well. Sylph got to her feet immediately after he freed her. "Are you really him?" she asked curiously.
"Seeing is believing," he responded. Sylph turned to Madam Morgan who was helped down the steps.
"Mother. Can I..." Sylph asked shyly.
"Yes child. All of you take it off," Madam Morgan bade them. "I have no need to. My eyes are no use to me, but you have yours. So take them off and see."
They all simultaneously pulled the blindfold off, marveling at him.
"Vampire and werewolf, all in one," Dewin whispered.
"Did you save us because you heard me whispering to save our Mother, Madam Morgan?" Sylph asked, stepping closer to him.
The vaewolf simply nodded and she bowed her head, her cheeks red.
"I must be going now. I'm tracking someone," he replied.
"Who?" Sylph asked anxiously.
"Doesn't matter" he said, looking at the body of the man. He took one step towards it. "But I have one more thing to do before I depart to continue my mission."
"Vaewolf," Madam Morgan spoke. He turned, facing her. "This path...it's not the way. It won't heal the wound in your soul."
"Trust me, Mother," he said, glaring at Owl's corpse. He unsheathed his sword. "This isn't for healing. It's about sending a message."
Around the table, the Birds were in discussion. It was a vast room, with gold sewn into brown curtains. A massive round table were ten people sat.
They were dressed in fancy suits and elegant dresses, and their chairs were red, shimmering with precious stones, and designed like thrones.
"We should be getting back word from him by now," Hummingbird asked impatiently, rubbing the long beak of his mask.
"Patience Hummingbird," Harpy Eagle said. He wore a black cloak worn over his black suit which shone in the light. His bird's mask feathers were elegant and well groomed.
A Fledgling entered, its brown baggy trousers covered in dust.
"What took you so long? Where were you?" snapped Peacock, her mask's feathers bristled angrily.
The Fledgling got on one knee and bowed. "My Lords, the Oracles are still alive," he said.
Every bird, except Harpy and Peacock, stood to their feet.
"WHAT!" exclaimed Pelican, his gular bobbled with shock. Peacock reclined in her seat, crossing her legs, completely unconcerned.
"What else?" asked Harpy calmly. The fledgling, shaking, approached the table and placed a sack on the porcelain surface and opened the bag.
He took out something from the bag and placed it down. The Birds gaged and gasped at the sight. It was a head on a plate but it wasn't any head; it was the head of Great Horned Owl. His hair had been shaved off and stuffed in his mouth.
Harpy looked at the fledgling, his mask's feathers moving him.
"Who did this?" he inquired him. "The vaewolf," he replied. The room was filled with choruses of outrage. The Birds got to their feet and shook their fists in anger.
"Impossible!"
"He is not real!"
"His existence isn't probable!"
"ENOUGH!" Harpy Eagle slammed his hands down. All the Birds sat down. "Peacock. What shall we do with your husband's head?" he questioned.
Peacock turned to him and smirked. "Feed it to the dogs," she replied smugly.
Harpy nodded and dismissed the fledgling. "Do as she said," he ordered. The fledgling bowed and left the room.
"What shall we do?" asked Sparrow. "Tell no one of this," Harpy said. "As for the oracles, let them be. I believe we scared them enough. They'll never speak about the vaewolf again."
Sylph sat down, slapping the yellow parchment on the table. She took hold of her pen fashioned from a Dove's quill, and began to write a letter.
"Dear Christie, something terrible has happened today in Sorek. In Phoenicia. You've probably heard it by now. My people the Oracles, the Seers as we're called, were killed without rhyme or reason. But we were saved by the vaewolf and I saw him," she spoke as she wrote on the parchment.
"He was so cool and handsome, and I hate myself that I can't describe how fearless he was. He saved our Mother, Madam Morgan, and the rest of my people from the horrid man, Great Horned Owl."
"Great Horned Owl is dead. The vaewolf killed him! I even got covered in fledgling blood for my trouble, ugh. I have to go help Dewin now. I'll write soon. Your bestie friend, Sylph." She signed the letter with her signature.
She folded the letter and went to her window. A hawk flew up to her and she placed the letter in a cylinder tied to its back.
"Go to Nod," she said. "There's a girl waiting. She'll give you crackers."
The hawk squawked before taking off to the sky.
The bird made it to the walled city of Nod. It perched on the window still and a little girl with red hair opened the window. Smiling, she petted the bird and produced crackers from her pockets.
She fed it to the hungry animal, petting it in comfort. Seeing the letter, she took it and read quickly.
She then disappeared back into the room for an hour.
Returning, she rolled up the written parchment and placed in the cylinder.
"Go back to Sorek, 'kay? Oh, and thank Sylph for me," she instructed the hawk. The bird took off as the sun rose in the distance.
