The Alien You Know... (Original Story)

CHAPTER 4: FEATHERS FLYING, TALONS TEARING.

I sigh. Knarf and I walk through the tall grass in the Plains. Knarf stops, and looks around. "We're almost there. Just a little bit further." I swallow.

His face softens, his beak curling into a smile. "You'll be fine, and I'll be just a yell away." I nod. "Do I at least get a weapon?", I ask. He sighs. "They have strong hides. It's better to get them into light."

I nod. "Right. Let's do it?", I say, with a shrug. He chuckles. "You have the spirit of an old Myosan." I smile, as we continue walking. After a short while, I see a cave, going down into the ground.

"In there.", Knarf says, pointing at the cave. I take a shaky breath. I walk towards the cave, and look inside. The Faera provides enough natural light to see a few feet in. At least 10 Lycixs are lying on the ground, asleep.

I tiptoe into the cave. Do I want to do this? I think. If I can't do this, what will happen if Grygore comes back? He believes I can do this. With a deep breath, I step closer towards one of the Lycixs.

You just need one. I remind myself. I hit something hard, a rock, maybe? Pain shoots through my talons. I glance down, my talon-nail is chipped. I kneel down to assess the damage, and a screech echoes through the cave.

I freeze. I guess one is awake. Another Lycixs chitters, and swoops down at my face. I yelp, and dive backwards. I hit another rock, now my upper wing stings. I rub my wing. I squint, trying to find my attacker.

I try to stand up, but two more Lycixs' dive bomb me. They crash into my back, knocking me back down. A drilling pain rushes through my skull. Blood runs down the back of my neck. I grab my head with my good arm, and let out a whimper.

I can't do this. I need to get out of here! I push myself up to my knees, but yet another one attacks my injury on my head. Instead of trying to stand up, and get knocked down again, I crawl my way to the entrance.

Blood spills to the front of my neck, down my red shirt, staining my yellow straps. A Lycixs bites my side, and I try to swat it off, but it's grip is tight. I just need to get to the entrance.

As I pull myself towards the entrance, more Lycixs' latch themselves onto my legs, flying backwards, dragging me backwards. I dig my wingtips into the dirt, clawing my body forward.

I push with my feet, propelling myself closer to entrance. Blood pours out of my side, and some of my feathers on my legs float beside me. I can't die here! I need to get out. For Mother, Father, Juli, and Doli... they need me.

I let out a shout, and with a new-found determination, I pull myself onto my feet, and sprint for the exit. As I reach the lit part of the cave, there are three thuds. I frown, and around me, lie three Lycixs corpses.

I grab my side, as blood flows down my hip. "I guess I did it?" I pick up two of the corpses, and drag the third out to see Knarf standing right at the entrance, holding his staff out, in an attack formation.

He sets his staff away, and rushes to my aid. "I was worried you didn't even survive long enough to yell." Knarf smiles, his face swelling with pride. He gets out some bandages, and wraps my side, and my legs.

"I don't know if I'm worthy of your teaching...", I say, looking down at three Lycixs' on the ground. "I... I was gonna give up.", I admit, biting my beak. Knarf nods, and shrugs. "Two things, dear; one, sometimes it's better to not try, and come back when you are ready, and two, honesty is the best form of strength."

I look back at him, and he grabs the corpses, and tosses them over his wing. "You need help?", I ask, even though I'm not sure I could carry one for long. He chuckles. "You can hold my staff." He slams the bottom of his staff into the ground, and it sticks into it.