The Fray of Werebirds [Discontinued]

Chapter 31 - Sirena's Resolve

Millicent led us to one of the smaller islands nearby. When we landed in our human forms, we took some more time to appreciate the flock's beauty.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Millicent said. "It's been so long, I almost forgot what it looks like."

"How?" Brock gestured with awe at the islands around us. "How are they floating like that?"

"Spells," she answered. "All the little lands like this one are called Skylets. They're usually numbered on maps, but it's not like we were expected to remember each and every digit. As for that," she pointed at the largest island in the middle. "That's Skylar City. That's where everything happens."

"This is just..." Brock trailed off. I couldn't blame him. It was other-worldly. It was a sight I would've never imagined I would see. When Brock spoke again, though, it wasn't about the flock. "Isn't that Jay?"

It was Jay. He was flying towards us, and, although I wasn't very fond of him, I was quite glad to see a familiar feathery face in such an alien setting. He landed and hugged Millicent tightly, patted Brock and I on the back, then frowned.

"Where's Leigh?"

"Don't worry," I said quickly, catching the gloomy look on Millicent's face. "He's alive. He was just captured."

After that, Brock and I took turns to explain what had happened, how Lady Alexis took Leigh into custody for apparently 'bullying' Arthur. When we were done, I hurtled a question of my own at Jay, the one I had been hoping to ask since our arrival.

"Lady Sirena – and the rest – they're alright?"

Jay nodded. "Believe it or not, we beat all of Tamara's followers."

"Really?! That's great, isn't it? Now we only have Queen Isabella to deal with."

"No, actually, we still haven't beaten Tamara herself. As we were fighting her followers, Lady Sirena went to battle Tamara on her own. Just when we managed to defeat them, Lady Sirena returned and told us to retreat."

I felt my jaw drop. "What? Why?"

"We're not sure why." Jay shook his head. "She wouldn't explain anything to us. It does make sense either. The path is clear, Tamara is vulnerable, and Queen Isabella's forces haven't even arrived yet. It's the perfect chance and yet she's refusing to take it!"

"That's odd." I furrowed my brow. "Isn't that everything Sirena wanted ever since she asked for Gregory's help? Why would she choose to back down now, when things are finally going her way?"

"That's what we're trying to figure out," Jay said, "She's refusing to speak to any of us now. The only possibility I could think of is that Tamara had threatened her, or maybe they struck a deal of some sort. I doubt it, though."

"Where are they now?" Brock asked.

Jay led us to a Skylet a few paces away. There was nothing on it but a round house made of stone, a pond, and a little garden that stretched out to the back of the house.

"Isn't this..." Millicent began, scanning the house with amazement and a hint of nostalgia.

"Ethan's house," Jay grinned. "His mother still thinks we're fledglings."

The house smelled of freshly baked bread. Inside, everything was antique and small, and it was either carved of wood or made from stone. On the far side of the wall, Gregory was leaning next to the fireplace, while Ethan was crouched next to a skinny old woman sitting on a sagged bed – his mother, probably. When she saw us, a toothless smile cracked through her wrinkled face.