Dark Days

Chapter 6

                Miyuki awoke next to Niyol on a bed made of straw, in a small, dark cottage. The only thing she could remember was Ritsu leaving her with one of the humans and him taking off to help Malelia. As her memory flowed back to her, she realized that everyone had to be in trouble. The others left to fight the Shadows and defend these humans. She sat straight up real quick only to have a surge of pain force her to lie back down in the bed. Niyol lifted her head and looked at her with sorrow in her eyes.

                “Miyuki, we need to rest… I know you want to try and help but we can’t. We’ll only hinder the others,” Niyol murmured.

                “I’m going to help them,” Miyuki said sitting up slowly, “We can’t lose what we just found…”

                Miyuki forced herself to her feet and gently stretched out her arms and wings. All her muscles were stiff from the strenuous flight that she had made to get to this place to begin with. She stared at the entrance of the cottage, trying to push herself to face everyone that was probably outside it. She didn’t feel like they were particularly welcome when Ritsu left her here. Miyuki glanced back at Niyol, looking for suggestions, but she only shook her head, telling her to just stay behind.

                “You should really learn to listen to that Elemental,” a deep voice came from the front of the cottage. Miyuki turned around quickly to find the source of the voice. She felt pain overtake her body and almost fell to the ground, but the man caught her before she did.

                “And who are you to judge,” Miyuki snapped at the man. She looked into his ocean blue eyes, searching for an answer. He just stared at her for a second before helping her back up and directing her back to the straw bed. Miyuki pulled herself away from the man and turned around to face him; she was adamant about leaving and helping her friends.

                “You’re clearly in no shape to be fighting,” the man smiled playfully, “I mean; you can barely turn your own head without having pain take you to your knees.”

                Miyuki felt her anger boil up inside of her as this tall blond man seemed to mock her strength. She spread out her wings slightly, getting ready to burst forward out the door and into the sky. She wanted nothing to do with this blue eyed human anymore. The man just kind of smiled at her though, almost mocking her posture and actions. Miyuki paused; all her muscles locked, and took notice to this man’s build. He was tall and thin like most humans, but he had strong shoulders and chest like most Ralquid. She felt realization take hold of her, and she zipped around him to the door to block him in.

                “You’re a Ralquid…” she whispered at him. Niyol, who had been ignoring the two the whole time, turned toward Miyuki with shock on her face.

                “Miyuki, I know you’re not feeling well, but now you’re just acting ridiculous… We’re lucky enough to have found two other Ralquid, another would be just shocking. None the less in a human village that hates Ralquid,” Niyol tried to keep her voice steady.

                “While it does seem impossible,” the man started, “Miyuki is correct, I am a Ralquid. My name is Kaitos, and one of the villagers here found me when I was a baby. My mother had hid me and her Elemental, Kaimana, in a tree hollow during an attack. Kaimana left in search of someone and found a woman with a kind heart gathering food. She took us both in and made sure I hid my wings so I would remain safe from the others.”

                “So how did you learn to fly? You clearly must know by your build,” Miyuki questioned.

                “I may have had something to do with that,” a falcon said gliding down from the ceiling. “At night, I would take Kaitos out and give him flying lessons while everyone was asleep. I knew he needed to learn and night was best.”

                “So, where is this woman now?” Niyol asked hopping over by Kaimana, “It’s hard to find humans that trust Ralquid anymore because of these Shadows.”

                “Unfortunately, she passed away a couple years ago,” Kaimana solemnly said. Kaitos just kind of lowered his eyes to the ground. He didn’t look at anyone, but instead turned to sit on the bed in silence.

                “She was the only family I had beside Kaimana, and now she’s gone to. I feel like such an outcast in this village. I can’t even be myself because they hate all Ralquid; they see them as Shadow magnets…” Kaitos whispered toward the ground.

                “You have a bigger family now though,” Miyuki smiled sitting next to him, “You know you’re not alone anymore and that we can fight to stop this, right?”

                “How are we supposed to stop this?” he snapped, “We fly, that’s pretty much it!”

                “Kaitos, you also have your water powers though,” Kaimana spoke up. Kaitos shot a glare at him, almost yelling at him for saying what he had.

                “You’ve accessed your powers?” Niyol questioned quickly, “So Kaimana, you’re a water elemental then?” Kaimana just nodded toward Niyol. “Miyuki is going to have the power of ice one day, it’s just a matter of getting her to access that power,” Niyol spoke proudly.

                “Besides, we also transform,” Miyuki smiled transforming into a snow leopard, “giving us more agility and power then our human forms.” Miyuki demonstrated by beating down her wings and launching herself up into the ceiling where Kaimana must have been hiding, before turning back and jumping to the ground.

                “Transform?” Kaitos questioned in shock, “I’ve never even seen that yet? Kaimana, why didn’t you tell me?”

                “No one in our village really used them… We came from one of the peaceful tribes that only used our flight to get fruits from the tops of trees. I suppose you do have one, it’s just a matter of how we’ll unlock it,” Kaimana explained.

                A harsh demonic like scream pierced the village shortly after, and everyone fell silent. Miyuki felt panic fill her and remembered that her friends had to be in trouble. She glanced at Niyol who once again, just shook her head.

                “I have to go help,” Miyuki said rushing toward the door, but Kaitos stopped her.

                “No, you need to rest. You can’t fight,” he said sternly, “Kaimana and I will go. I may have next to no fighting experience, but I have strong control over my water powers, and I may be able to at least help them get away.”

                Miyuki stared at him before finally giving way, “you’re going to expose yourself, you do know that,” she said.

                “I know,” he said, his eyes falling to the ground, “but, I think my own kind is slightly more important than these uncompassionate humans,” he smiled. “I’ll be back, with your friends, and the Shadows will be gone, I promise,” he said flying off through the door. You could hear all the murmurs of disbelief as he shot off over the fort wall.