A Mirage Of Milk And Honey

Chapter 13 - The Kingdom Of Bones

They were the bones of the Apaios. The once indigenous people.

Suddenly, the wild and untamed jungle didn't seem quite so dream-like. The silence in the air was no longer a peaceful one, and the rowboat felt more like a funeral pyre than a saving grace as they floated through this River of Bones.

There were other creatures at the bottom. Large ones—bigger than the boat. Their skeletons lay limp on the riverbed, their skulls and wings holding armour of the same pale shade of gold as the rest.

Honey wondered, of course, but decided it better not to ask, for when she glanced back at the others, she could tell this was far more than it seemed.

This was a funeral for them.

Her question, however, was promptly answered by a deep twittering from above.

A shadow soared through the sky above them, blocking the sun for a split second before it emerged and Honey was greeted by giant blue and white feathered wings, pale eyes and a snout-like beak. It's head was almost oval shaped until the back of its cranium, where two ear-like tufts were.

It circled around them, eyes narrowing as it observed, before its giant wings beat against the air and it lifted into the sky.

The giant bird-like creature twittered again, before crying out.

"Honey... get away from the bow..." Aedis said cautiously, tugging at her belt loop for good measure.

Before Honey could question why, however, the bird had swooped around and begun to dive.

"It's a Blue-Jar!" Zemira yelled.

The creature tucked its wings in, plummeting head first before its wings spread and blue scaled feet and obsidian talons stretched out, reaching for Honey.

Aedis tugged at her belt loop, toppling the two of them in the water as the bird let out another cry.

Gasping for air but finding none, Honey choked as she desperately followed the others to the shore, but it was impossible to outrun the creature. It had begun another dive, and was steadily aiming for Aedis this time.

Honey turned back, her lungs stinging and eyes burning, but her resolve intent on helping him stand his ground, but Zemira tugged at her arm roughly, causing her to topple over into the shallow bay of the river.

Zemira continued to haul a sputtering and choking Honey as she clambered to her feet unsteadily, turning back to see Aedis stood facing the bird as its wings spread once more, ready to pluck him from the ground.

Zemira tugged, Honey stumbled.

She looked back. The bird was closer.

"Come on, Honey!" She looked at Zemira.

The bird let out a screech.

A glance back at Aedis.

Onyx talons.

A flash of wings.

Not the birds.

A hiss.

Another screech.

Honey tumbled to the ground and suddenly another pair of hands had grabbed her and both Zemira and Aedis were hauling her to her feet as she coughed, dragging her into the thick underbrush of the jungle.

"Are you okay?" Zemira asked in a high pitched voice, eyes wide and brows creased.

"I think so." She replied, voice raspy as she heaved for breath. Strands of pale hair had escaped the milkmaid braids Zemira had done the day before and wetly clung to her neck and suit.