F.O.W.L

Prologue

Aquina couldn't believe how many people had shown up for her funeral, she couldn't help but be touched. Okay, so there were only a few faces she recognized completely, but still, at least her family had such a large support group.

Her mother and father stood closest to the empty grave, the coffin still lying beside it. Her older brother and sister were next to them. Only her mother had tears in her eyes still, the others just looked tired and miserable. It had been a very long two days. Aquina noted Kelvin standing right next to her family and smiled her approval. He was more family than the rest of them as far as she was concerned.

"Let us remember that the dead are never truly gone," the priest said, "But are always close by watching over us. Even now, young Aquina is right here in this place with us..."

"All too true, sir priest." Aquina said to herself.

She briefly pondered hearing that people who talked to themselves were mad. Ah well, did it matter if she was mad now that she was dead?

The preacher finished his sermon after a while and Aquina was all choked up. It was a general reusable sermon, but still beautiful. Some men came and started to lower her coffin into the grave. Her father scooped up a pile of dirt from a giant mound and threw it into the now occupied grave with such a sad look on his face Aquina's heart broke all over again. The older ladies started a song and the people sang along as her grave was covered,

We mfumu, utu belele ulose...

(Our God, have mercy on us)

We ngamone ifwo twa chita tata

(do not look at what we have done father)

Pakuti twa kunkule pa chinso chobe tata

(and now we kneel before your face father)

utwelele we fumu Lesa eh,

(have mecy on us oh God)

They sang and Aquina hummed along until all that remained of her grave was a soft plain of dirt and bouquets of flowers. The funeral was over, time for people to leave. Aquina watched people leave until everyone was gone, her mother and father, brother and sister and her very best friend.

It was official now, her life was over. She lowered her binoculars and heaved a heavy sigh. The others were planning a celebration back at headquarters for her, to lift her spirits. She didn't want to go but they'd put so much effort in it...

Climbing into her custom made air ship with a large F.O.W.L on the side, Aquina took off from the roof top she was on and flew away from her life and her grave.