The refugees, 2nd draft

The first civil war

Cordlen

Third month, February 46, 2998

I opened my eyes to the view from a high mountain peak. I looked at myself and realized that I was in my own body. I scowled, a vision then. A massive storm brewed in front of me, it slowly turned and as I watched it began to move as time sped by, it swept towards a ring of mountains behind me. My vision sharpened and I saw a wolf fighting a fiery bird as I watched a bird of pure black and white swooped past me and I jolted back into my own body.

When I woke, I touched the circle of feathers was still in my hair. Wings cannot fly in the rain the river sagely advised. I dressed then headed down to the kitchens. When I prepared my meal and finished, I headed down to the throne room and rang for Akran.

Not a few seconds later as I studied the map of the valley on my table Akran stepped in. Without a word he placed markers indicating opposing fire and night's watch forces in the wolfpaw forest.

I looked up, startled, and said, "They're on the move?" He nodded and said, "they are beginning to negotiate but you know Charolette, I suggest moving to Atlantis and preparing your citizens to move, I don't think that would be that complicated for a floating city." I nodded and said, "prepare your forces and place them on the wall. We need to defend the entire forest."

He nodded and said, "I would except that Valentine's Day is soon and the people will have our heads if we start a war but ignore the day of love." "Something is wrong with them." I remarked. He laughed at that.

-O-*

On that day Ligh took Aspira to wife, both swearing their oaths with a blood oath. Blood for blood Doggerel said to that. Charolette and Niki kissed, seeing it objectively Charolette was trying to manipulate Niki into staying with her faction, no doubt it would be helpful in the coming wars.

At midnight that day the rains started, no one thought much of it. Then Shiani and her faction attacked. I was asleep but with Doggerel letting me see I know what happened there.

Night's soldiers stood in the trees, hidden from the clear view of Energy soldiers. A howl sounded in the woods, then another and another. As one the Night soldiers tried to swoop out, but the rain made many lose their hold on the walls that they tried to swing.

The fire faction tried to respond but by then the few that had put too much strength just barely landed on the wall. The nights knocked out many Energy soldiers and quickly opened the doors. One of those was Shiani, while she attacked one snuck up behind her and might have been able to knock her off except that a grey blur appeared in front of him and distracted him long enough for Shiani to fight back.

I saw Shiani open her arm to the bird, which promptly hopped on. My gaze then turned to inside the factory where I saw Energy soldiers trying to summon fire to wood placed throughout but nothing happened.

Then the soldiers broke the walls, the energy soldiers merely swooped up to hidden niches in the walls and shot at the soldiers. Much to our surprise many Nights sliced down the arrows or caught them as they flew.

They began to retreat at that, leaving a few inside to return fire, and my mind skipped to when they had set up tents and raised their banner above within the shadow of the walls. Then I saw Shiani tucking a small scroll onto the leg of the bird, a peregrine falcon, I realised. "Fly pregine," Shiani said, stroking its wings, then it took off.

I then commanded my dream and looked to Charolette's throne room, but it was empty. I then swooped through the levels and saw a council room built around a large map of the valley with small notes in random places.

Then my energy failed me, and I woke to a howling rain. I touched the catcher at my ears and looked to the window, a black and white bird tilted its head at me. I saw a small white thing on its leg. The bird brings words you already know Doggerel whispered as I grabbed the scroll.