The Seventh Member of the Storm Hawks

Age of Heroes: Part Two

It was suggested by one of my readers that Nika sounds like Ellie from the Last of Us franchise, so I added a video - though beware of swearing! What do you all think?

The Elders returned their attention to the Storm Hawks, Elder Harrow especially as he gazed at Nika with a mixture of disappointment and anger, but his eyes softened when he spotted the forming purple bruise on her cheek. "Aerrow. I would like a word with you and Nika." Harrow spoke, his voice void of any emotion as he looked between the two said teenagers. As Nika wobbled towards Harrow, soon helped by Aerrow slinging her arm around his shoulder, Aerrow glanced at the elder's hand – holding a very familiar envelope. His stomach twisted at the sight of it, he knew exactly what that meant but as far as he was aware – all his blood relatives were long gone, his only family were the current Storm Hawks that stood with him now. His eyes fell to Nika, who was either holding a brave face or she hadn't noticed the letter at all.

"What's this about?" Nika asked, rather ignorant to the significance to the letter as she limped beside Aerrow with Elder Harrow leading the way. "I have some bad news for you, Nika." Harrow eventually replied, taking the two Sky Knights into a room pointing Aerrow towards a chaise lounge which he sat Nika onto before deciding to sit next to her. "But first, I must reprimand you both for your actions. I'm not sure how you came to join the Storm Hawks on their mission, but I presume you did not tell Aerrow the full story." Nika bowed her head in shame as Aerrow looked at her with wonder, disappointed in her but she stood up for him on more than one occasion, so he owed it to her, "I don't care, my squadron doesn't care. Nika has been nothing but brave, helpful and loyal to Atmos." He spoke, Harrow chuckled a little at Aerrow's words, "I am not lecturing you, Sky Knight. I admire your courage and willingness to look after Nika, especially with recent events. We could not have predicted Carver's treachery, but we foresaw Nika's eagerness to help." Harrow said as he gestured to the brunette who slumped in defeat, "I'm sorry, I just wanted to help. Guess I'll be staying in here from now on." Nika apologised, distancing herself from Aerrow as she bowed her head further. "On the contrary, I have decided to let you go and bestow the role of guardian onto Aerrow." Harrow smiled, chuckling as Nika shot her head up in surprise and Aerrow blinked with equal shock – how could he be a guardian of someone that was the same age as him?! "However, this news comes at a price. A price that you didn't ask to pay, I am afraid to tell you that your brother has passed on." Aerrow turned his head at the sound of Nika gasping in upset horror, her hand over her mouth as her blue eyes filled with tears, spilling onto her cheeks. Her reaction tugged at his heartstrings, just hours earlier she took on Cyclonia head on and now she was as fragile as glass. Her shoulders shuddered and jerked violently as her sobs filled the painfully quiet room, ignoring the fact that he barely knew her, Aerrow knelt in front of her pulling her form into his arms. "Your brother was a brave Sky Knight, Nika. He and the Striker squadron will be forever immortalised for their actions." Harrow spoke despite Nika not wanting to hear it, now she was truly alone in the world. All her family were ripped away from her by the Cyclonians, the same people who nearly took her life today.

After several minutes, she moved so her forehead rested on his right shoulder, it was then that Aerrow noticed how small she was compared to himself. His eyes glanced down to see her sniffing, looking at his neck blankly with watery eyes and, the very purple bruise that the Dark Ace left on her cheek – he couldn't help but silently wince at it. It was strange for her to be quiet, "Once you are ready, I have a few things to explain to you, Aerrow." Harrow coughed, clearing his throat. "Will you be okay?" Aerrow asked quietly and gently, she nodded her head from side to side as she weighed up an answer, "Y-yeah. Just go, I'll be ok." She stuttered out, her arms hugging herself as Aerrow got to his feet with Harrow nodding at him to follow to the other side of the room.