“Cye! Thank the gods your okay” Mel exclaims.
“Mel, Master Delmont, good to see you are still with us as well. Did Kei get some healing for her eye?”
“Yes, but they can’t repair the eye nor prevent the scar. Whatever those grey being were, they are particularly nasty.”
“Yes, I think I might have an idea of what those things were.” Master Delmont offers.
“At this point, any idea helps.” Mel suggests.
“During the second world war I attempted to rescue some of our people from a particularly nasty camp. One of them was an elf whose skin had started to turn grey.”
“You're suggesting that these things were our people?” Cye interrupts.
“Our first night at camp he killed three other rescues before I could stop him. He was the only Elf I ever found that way but I suspect there might have been more. If that is the case, then what we were attacked by were either the victims of the holocaust or their descendants.”
“There is only one solution here. If anyone asks what those things are, our best guess is some kind of genetic experiment by the hunters to help them fight us. I want numbers on casualties for both sides and updated numbers on how many we have as soon as possible. We are moving out.”
“Where are we going?”
“Halifax.”
“We can’t take an entire city!”
“We don’t have to. Just after sunrise the Hunters stormed Citadel Hill. They have a female tied to some kind of altar and a strange storm has begun emanating from the hill.”
“You want us to go from one battle to the next? This is madness.” Cye rebuffs
“This is what we gathered for, no one else can stop this. Besides you have a matter to attend to.” Mel replies pointing with a nod at an approaching avian.
“I will need some privacy for this.” Mel and Master Delmont agree and leave to attend their own responsibilities. “Ava, it is good to see your wings mended.”
“I made a grave mistake Master Cye.” Cye was genuinely surprised by the use of the honorarium. “Those of us who abided by your instructions survived the battle spare one. Those who followed me were drawn down from the sky and we lost two for every three.” she removes her helmet and turns it over thoughtfully in her wings. “If I had followed your guidance and let go of my anger, those lost would still be here. I am not fit to lead.” she bends to a knee while bowing her head passing the helmet over.
Cye recognizes the gesture and accepts the helmet. Standing stoically while she returns to her feet. “We have another battle ahead of us so I will require a leader among your people. Gather them all together here, I will wait.”
The girl takes off immediately with tears streaming from her eyes. Cye remained in place standing over the corpse of one of the greys. Its tattered clothing seemed pointless to him. Master Delmonts discovery of a grey elf was not the only one during the war. Another camp was stalked by one of these creatures, mauling nearly a hundred prisoners before it finally went after a guard and was killed. Cye had hoped against hope itself that those camps had not produced more than a few greys. These twisted creatures had no place in this world. With any luck this army had killed all that remained of them.
Lost in his thoughts he didn’t notice the flock of avians that had arrived. “Master Cye, your troops have assembled sir.”
Shaking his head clear of his terrible woes he turns to face the troops. A quick count makes him take a second glance. “Ava, how many are here?”
“Two hundred and seventy four sir.”
“How do we have more people now than when we went to battle. You estimated losses of the people following you at two in three.”
“The flock stripped its defences to join the cause sir, all the nearby sub communities are doing it now that the hunters have made a move.”
“They already know about Halifax?”
“Yes sir.”
“For those that don’t know yet,” Cye begins to the crowd. “The Hunters have started something big. What we know, is that it is a storm that is keeping everyone from getting close to the hill. For you, this means harsh flying conditions.”
“We’re going after them sir?” a voice asks timidly.
“Of course we are! This is why we assembled is it not? You!” Cye points to a new face in the crowd. “Why did you come?”
“Orders.”
“Don’t lie to me. No one would ever order you to fight the Hunters, we all know what they are capable of. Why did you come?”
“Her sir.” The voice replied meekly.
“Her?” Cye asks pointing at Ava. “You mean the girl here who just surrendered her command to me because she made a mistake?” Cye says holding up the helmet.
The troops gasp in shock. “Everyone here who came to follow Ava raise your wing.”
The entire group raise a wing in unison. “Every single one of you? Alright, lower your wing if you have never known a leader to make a mistake.” Not a single wing lowers. “Lower your wing if you have never known a leader to do what they thought was best.” again not a single wing falters. “Alright lower your wings. I have one more question for you before we get to business. Knowing that Ava made a mistake and caused the unfortunate death of the people she cared about. Knowing now more than ever before that she is not perfect. Knowing that she gave up her post to prevent future mistakes. Knowing these things, raise your wing if you would still follow her.” The troops again raise their wings in unison triumphantly signalling their support for her command.
Loud enough for everyone to hear Cye continues as he turns to Ava with even more tears in her eyes. “I made mistakes too. I failed to earn your respect when you needed me too. I failed to be the leader you needed. My biggest mistake though, was accepting this helmet from you.” He hands it to the stunned girl before him. “Have them form up around me. We need to inspire them to greatness.”
