Researcher's Journal: A Journey Across Pyrrhia

Chapter 18: Riverside Stroll, The Carnage Left by War

(Day 9) 6:30 am, River bank of the Diamond Spray River

Hornbill stirred awake as the morning sun filtered through the leaves above, casting dappled patterns of light on his mud-covered eyelids. The events of the previous day had taken a toll on his body, and he could still feel the lingering exhaustion and aches from their escape and the constant trek away from the palace. He regretted not allowing any breaks during their journey through the forest, realizing that they both needed time to rest.

Twisting his body, Hornbill yawned widely, feeling the stiffness in his muscles as he stretched. The aches and stiffness served as a reminder of the challenges they had endured when they escaped the palace. Carefully, he removed his wing from Laguna, who was still asleep and padded a few paces away to perform his usual morning stretches. As he arched his back and limbs, a strained groan escaped his mouth, helping to wake his body and alleviate the muscle kinks caused by sleeping on the forest floor.

Once his stretching routine was complete, Hornbill took a few paces around their campsite, scanning the sunny sky and assessing their surroundings. With a cautious glance back at Laguna, still peacefully sleeping, he made his way to the nearby river. There, he leaned down to take a drink and freshen up, being mindful to wash off only the dried clumps of mud that had become irritating, careful not to disturb his camouflage.

Sitting by the river's edge, Hornbill took his fill of the cool, refreshing water. It had been some time since he could recall his last drink, and he attributed his ability to endure without sustenance to his SandWing lineage. As his thirst was finally quenched, he remained there for a moment, gazing at his reflection in the gently flowing water. It was a rare moment of self-reflection, something he hadn't had the opportunity to do since the beginning of his mission and his subsequent capture.

He knew what he should look like, having meticulously designed Hornbill's appearance when he was given the prototype Vale System before the research expedition, but he had never actually seen his reflection while embodying the alias of Hornbill.

As Hornbill gazed at his reflection on the river's surface, the image that stared back at him was indeed that of a SkyWing and SandWing hybrid, just as he had designed himself to be. Taking in his appearance, he couldn't help but analyze the intricate details of his scales and features.

Starting at his scales, the primary scale color was a deep saffron hue, giving him a distinct and vibrant appearance. His belly scales, on the other talon, were a sandy ecru shade, providing a subtle contrast. His claws, horns, the spikes running down his neck, and the sail on his tail were all adorned with a rich maroon color. A hint of black ink stained his front talons from the updates he did in the research log and journal. Hornbill's nose, the insides of his ears, and the undersides of his arms and talons exhibited a pale carmine shade, adding a subtle contrast to the dominant colors.

However, one of his personal features that made Hornbill special to him was his striking cobalt blue eyes. Whether it was because of the limitations of the Vale System or his personal preference, they remained unchanged, giving a glimpse into his original identity. Additionally, he sported a prominent, solid cobalt blue stripe that ran from his neck down to his tail, akin to the markings found on other SkyWings.

Hornbill's physical form seamlessly blended SandWing and SkyWing traits. His torso, legs, and arms bore the large and angular scales typical of SandWings, while his tail displayed the distinctive sail and venomous tail barb unique to the SandWing tribe. On the SkyWing side, he exhibited facial structures akin to his SkyWing heritage, including a small horn on the tip of his snout, superior vision, and the presence of spine spikes. Of course, his most striking feature was his set of massive wings, despite their injury, held a commanding presence and retained their remarkable light saffron membranes.