Fight or Flight

CHAPTER TWO

The mention of Errals sent a crushing unease through me. Caulder's words confirmed the whispers that had been circulating for months. The uneasy coexistence with our sister city was shattered.

An older avian nearby muttered, "First they cut our trade routes, now they're on the attack?"

His disbelief wasn't misplaced. Even within my lifetime, Errals had been systematically cutting ties to our island. From ceasing exports to discouraging letters to friends, it seemed that the longer time dragged on the less and less avians were connected to the outside world. It wasn't something that I entirely disliked, though. As long as I had my home, the rest of the world could burn for all I cared.

I watched Eylan's stare intensify as he listened. His fingers tapped a rhythmic pattern against his leg, a habit I recognized from our strategy games in flight school. He was already planning, analyzing everything about the situation. I could almost see the thoughts— the need to make Caulder proud. I knew him, though. I knew that death and carnage would still shred his soul, regardless of how vigorously he trained.

Another voice in the crowd called out, sharp with panic. "Are they attacking? Are we going to war?"

Caulder raised a hand, commanding silence. His survey swept across the gathered avians, eyes narrowing in a way that made my feathers bristle. "No," he said firmly. "There will be no war. Not yet."

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the crowd, but the tension didn't ease, not entirely. My own relief felt hollow within my chest.

"They call it progress," Caulder spat the word as if it tasted foul. "But make no mistake, this is no step toward peace. This is preparation for conflict."

No.

I felt heat rise in my cheeks as I shoved my way forward, a frenzy of elbows and wings. I wasn't entirely sure where I was going, but I tried to ignore the angered exclamations as I pressed through the masses. Eylan trailed behind me to smooth things over with those who looked ready to strike me back.

"When do we even the score?" I eventually broke through to the front to face Caulder directly.

"Your eagerness is noted, Aria," he said, his chin lifting with impression. "But this is not a battle we will be fighting. The Council has discussed the situation thoroughly and we've decided it's in our best interest to lay low. We do not need any casualties."

No.

My fingers dug into my palms as Caulder suggested inaction. The very thought of sitting still while murderous humans circled us like vultures sent tremors from my toes to my wingtips. How could we 'lay low' after centuries of holding our own against Errals? From trade disputes to border skirmishes, we'd always stood firm.

"We can't do nothing," my voice rose above the din. I spoke more to the crowd than to Caulder. "This is where we live, our legacy. We've defended against the threat of Errals for centuries."

I sucked in a breath as agreement swept through the crowd, but Caulder raised his hand to silence them. "Our main concern is staying alive. Think of your children, your grandchildren," he soothed, addressing me directly. "Not every child has to end up an orphan."

I felt Eylan shift beside me, his wing brushing mine in a gesture of silent support.

"You leave my parents out of this," I spat, jabbing a finger toward Caulder as if it might puncture him. The gasps from the crowd barely registered as I continued. "If you really wanted to do what's best for the avians you should start by taking that stick out of your—"

"—Aria, enough," Hilda's voice cut my tirade short. Her grip on my shoulder was firm and unwavering. "We're leaving. Now," she steered me away from the Council and through the murmuring crowd, leaving no room for debate.