Fresh Starts: On Phantom Wings

Chapter 1, Fledgling

Over 300 years ago

A large snow leopard made of grey stone and multicolored gemstones walked into the shrine. Her broad shoulders were strong with a tree rooted to the right one covered in snow along with her back. A white cloak hid her two Stoney wings. Four horns sprouted from her head, two going backwards and two forwards forwards like tusks. Crystal jewelry complimented her majestic form and amethyst eyes. Lady Bhuta, spirit of the Startouched Mountains, looked across her shrine trying to find a good cave while her mate Negaf stood at her side.

The shrine was made of a series of caves throughout Mount Andromeda, some even exposed to the outside. Streams, waterfalls, gemstone lined pillars, statues of spirits, trees, and wall carvings filled the caves adding a sense of wonder and beauty. Mortal priests also walked the halls, though Bhuta had chosen only a few families to serve her through the generations.

Bhuta currently didn't care how her shrine looked at the moment and looked around for a comfortable place to lie down. Her daughter Kokopel walked from around one of the shrine walls.

Kokopel's body was made of foliage with her pelt being made of heart shaped leaves instead of fur. She had a single tree like horn protruding from her head and two branch like wings. She had glowing flowers instead of spots which were similar to her mother's gem pattern. She had two gold earrings on each ear and a gold rings around her limbs and tail

"I prepared the nest mother, it should be comfy enough." Kokopel mewed somewhat sheepishly

"Thank you Koko, could you help me over? Your sibling is a bit eager to see the world." Bhuta mewed motherly as she wobbled a bit.

"Yes mother." Koko replied and joined her father in helping Bhuta towards the nest made of leaves and snow.

Bhuta walked and wobbled before laying down comfortably on the nest her daughter made. She didn't need much being a spirit, an incredibly powerful one at that, but giving birth still required some care. It was hard to see her bulged torso with her large bulky stone body. Negaf and Koko sat nearby ready to help if anything happened. Priests also came to check on her to see how their patron spirit was faring.

Other spirits came in as well. From River spirits to love spirits, all came to see the cat that was basically their queen give birth to her second cub. Negaf and the priests kept them at a distance so that his mate could have some room. Everyone was eager none the less.

After a while Bhuta's body began to glow before a little winged leopard cub was born. His body glowed with the light of a new spirit as he tussled around seeking warmth or something similar to it. Bhuta spread her wing and enveloped her newly born child into it.

The chattering of the spirits and even a few priests could be heard. Some fawning over the cub, others wondering what kind of spirit he would become, while others wondered how would the other mortals respond to a new spirit in the world. Bhuta paid no heed to them and instead looked fondly on her cub.

She pulled him gently towards her face before she started to clean him off. The cub tried to escape this go right back under her wing, but the glowing cub was no match for his mother. Negaf walked closer to see his son while Koko peaked between her parents to see the cub.

"He's beautiful like you dear, he even has your eyes." Negaf purred affectionately

"Yes he is, sparkling like a phantom in twilight. He has your patterns after all." Bhuta purred back

"I hope he's a fun playmate." mewed Koko trying to see her brother but not too close to her parents lovey dovey exchanges.

"I'm sure he will be. Phantom sounds like a good name, for he was trying to vanish like one." Negaf purred looking into the eyes of his mate and cub.

The cub seemed to respond to the name, squirming blindly towards his parents voices. He was very adorable in his attempts.

Bhuta purred seeing her cub trying to reach forwards her with his paws. "Welcome my dear Phantom."