Skyfall

Blooded

When I awoke again, the sun was high in the sky, and Ravar was nowhere to be seen. I lay still for a moment, staring at the intense blue sky.

Grief hit me again. I was stripped, exiled and watched by two of the Lik'ma's guards. I would never mate with Kalo, or see my friends' chicks. I would never attend another Avatar Reunion, or speak with Akiki.

I would never help bring Kiemo back to our people.

I sighed, shifting on the branch I lay on, turning sideways. My wings moved slowly and painfully to accommodate.

What was I now? I wasn't Masli. Not an Avatar. I couldn't even call myself a daughter of Kiemo.

I was a freak with wings, and nothing more.

Tears started flowing down my cheek, dripping off of my crest. I could fall off this branch, fall to my death, and who would care? Akiki, but he was K'mess. Death was in his nature; he'd get over it. Ravar? She would never see me again after she left me near the City, anyway. Nossi? He'd be glad to see me gone.

I bit back a sob. I had nothing. No family, no friends, no mate. I may as well die, save everyone the guilt.

I moaned, and shifted to the edge. My chest constricted. I was going to die, right now, for everyone else's convenience. It was wrong, so wrong, but I had nothing left to give.

I took a deep breath, held it, and shoved myself into the air.

And swung, arms tied to my chest with vines, right beneath my perch. I cawed in surprise, then screamed in frustration.

Ravar dropped beside me, blade ready in her hand, a small smile in her face. "Good morning."

I glared at her. "Get me down."

She dipped her head, as if in acceptance, but merely gripped her blade tighter in response. "Don't tell me you were planning to harm yourself."

I snarled. "What I do doesn't have to be explained to an Ok'siglu! Now stop talking, and do your duty!"

She merely smiled. "Not even an Ok'ravi speaks to my kind in that way. You may want to tone it down, exile, or I may have to show my skill with this blade."

I bared my teeth. "Brakk khaliss, lowly one flight."

Her lips pursed at the insults, but she only straightened the guard on the blade, the dried leaf cover turning black with age, dirty white feathers swinging. Then she hooked a talon over one of the vine restraints, and pulled so it let out a low 'twang'.

I growled again. "Dirty Black Flight. Your father chose exile over spending time with you. You don't deserve that blade, and you even less so deserve the flock. Even the LIK'MA loathes your presence. No mate, no chicks, not even -" She cut my words short by shoving the blade into my throat, not hard enough to cut but enough to make her point.

"Watch that mouth, exile. My father was twice the Masli you'll ever be." Her grip tightened, my blood now leaking to the forest floor. "I hope you die in the human lands, for what you've said to me. No amount of forgiveness would make me forget this insult." She dug the blade deeper, getting a squeal from me, before withdrawing. "Flightless." She spat.

"Outsider." I replied in turn.

She glared at me, then plunger her hand into my ravaged wings.

I screamed in agony as she twisted the feathers, pulling them out by the roots. Tears rolled down my face as she grinned savagely, a red glint in her eyes.

"Please," I blubbered. "I didn't mean it! No, no, not again!" She reached now for my leg, and tied as I was, I couldn't get away. She slashed her talons across my skin, blood welling as I screamed again.