Fight or Flight

CHAPTER FOUR

I burst through the door, the bang echoing within our small house. "Hilda?" My voice cracked with desperation.

"What's happened?" She appeared at the top of the stairs, concern draping itself over her presence. As soon as she beheld my shredded coat and shirt, berry juice staining my navel, she frantically descended the stairs. Her wings slid around mine in a thoughtful embrace, warmth enveloping my own. "Are you okay?"

It took me a moment to speak again. "The High Altum," I finally forced the syllables past the lump in my throat. "He's dead. The Shadow- it killed him."

"Tell me everything," she insisted calmly, guiding me to the couch.

I recounted the events, my words quivering in the air between us as I described the creature and the High Altum's final moments.The scene spilled back into me and fear seized my muscles yet again. Hilda listened intently. Her squint was a slit of concentration as she digested every sentence.

When I finished, she stood. "This is very odd," her voice was low and determined.

"Do you know something about this?"

She turned to me. "It makes me think of... of the whispers I've heard."

Whispers? Had others been discussing this?

I pressed further, ignoring the thrumming in my ribcage. "What do you mean?"

Hilda shook her head, teeth clenched behind her thin lips. "I don't know exactly. It's just pieces, fragments I've overheard or noticed. But your mother... I think she might have taken—." She was cut off by a thunderous pounding on the door.

"Open up! By order of the Council."

Hilda's wings flared out, her stance shifting to place herself between me and the door just as it flung open. The Guard filed into the room, but Eylan was not among them. "Aria of Falcon," one announced, "you are under arrest."

"For what?" Hilda's voice rang out, fierce and defiant. "She's done nothing wrong."

One of them gruffed a short laugh and motioned for the others to surround me. I felt a surge of panic and anger. "No," I shouted, backing away. "You don't understand!"

I thrashed violently as two of them lurched for my arms. "Let go of me!" My shoulders screamed in pain, their firm grip surely leaving a bruise.

"Leave her alone!" Hilda's frail fists pounded on the one holding her back, but he didn't so much as flinch at the attacks.

I decided that I would not go easily. I managed to wrench one arm free, my elbow connecting with one of their faces. Feeling satisfied, I reached to repeat the action but a knee slammed into my ribs before I was able. My breath lurched and heaved, muscles growing limp as I was forced to address the sudden lack of air in my lungs. Someone had pinned my head to the floor shortly after, my skull meeting the wood violently. More hands grabbed me. I felt a tightness in my feathers as my wings were twisted to my back and secured with a chain around my waist.

"Stop resisting," one of them growled, tightening his grip.

I didn't listen, of course. I continued to struggle after catching my breath, my feet scrabbling against the floor as they dragged me away. "Hilda!" The plea tore from my throat.

"Aria," her voice was strained as she fought to reach me. "I'll find a way to get you back!" At that moment, I knew she would challenge the Sun Father himself to bring me home.

The streets of Riem felt foreign as the Guard marched me to the capital. My cheeks and nose began to stain pink with the cold of night, a snapping contrast to the warmth of the cottage only moments before. My bound wings ached at my back, the chain way too tight. One caught my glare and yanked at my restraints like I was a beast on a leash; perhaps I was.