Gift Of Justice #NaNoWriMo2k18

Chapter 10

 "Whoa."

They'd spent the last few hours slowing picking over the savannah, which had by now started to fade out, even the smallest of shrubs and grasses shrivelling as it reached the edge of the windswept plateaus. From up close, he could see the bands of sediments making up each layer of the rocks, creating an endless cliff that ran all the way around the entire area. Akira had told him the outer lying plateaus didn't really inhabit many harpies, and the main city was further in. Even so, Niel could hardly imagine such an obviously deserted area. The wind blew across the land with no one to hear it shriek.

Now though, standing at the top of the farthest plateau of the land, he could see shapes flying in the distance. There was too large to birds, too small for gryphons. They were undeniably harpies.

Akira stood beside him with a slightly haunted look on her face as she regarded the scene before her. He knew that thoughts were probably running around in her head right now, thoughts about home, the people there, and what she might find now. Beaver stood beside her with a wide, curious stare, and he looked up at Akira quickly as if he knew what she was thinking.

He turned back forwards right as she inhaled deeply, preparing herself. "I guess this is it then.  No holding back."

"Not exactly like we can back down now anyways."

"Well, we can. Technically. But then it'd be such a waste of time."

He shook his head. "Do you have a plan for what we'll do once we get there?"

"Probably do some snooping. I know a few harpies who are trustworthy, although I haven't been back in a few years. I hope they're alright."

She suddenly shuddered as a cold wind blew in from nowhere. "Gah, why is the weather so wild now all of a sudden?"

He shrugged. "Maybe the seasons are all mixed up this year. How exactly are we going to get there though?"

"I don't know. We could just walk in through the entrance, although that attracts attention. Or sneak in through the sides, but then that seems suspicious."

"Honestly I'd say through the sides. At least then if any of the members of that cult are watching, we'l have a better chance of getting in safely."

"Alright, I guess." She squared her shoulders, narrowing her eyes against the city as if she were a military strategist surveying a battleground. "And let's pray to the gods that my family won't see me. If they're still here."

He decided against questioning that statement, and they made their way down a very steep path on the side of the cliff. They slipped through the low valleys between the plateaus to circle around though to the sides of Anemos. As they drew closer, Niel noticed that the crevices between the cliffs were actually bursting full of harpies, with shacks and other makeshift shops created out of carved sandstone. Akira lead him around to a dark deserted corner, down into a very shot alleyway between two of the shacks. She stopped right before they walked into the light to hide Beaver in her bag, as they couldn't risk anyone finding out she had an Arcanus as it could bring severe danger to both of them. He jumped in without resistance, and with heart pounding furiously in his chest, Niel stepped forwards into full view of the street.

The area they were in was actually mostly deserted, but Akira didn't waste any time in letting him get comfortable. She was already marching ahead with her head held high, talons click-clacking on the ground as she strutted with a regal pose as if to exert her dominance over everyone else. He himself followed meekly behind, as if he were just a servant following orders from his queen.

It wasn't before long when harpies started appearing more in numbers along the roads. The sight of so many of them in one place was overwhelming - plumage of a rainbow of colours and harpies of all sizes lines the streets, walking, flying, selling or buying wares at the stores. He saw two harpies fly into the air and land on a perch outside of a small crevice in the wall of one of the plateaus, where he could see shapes moving inside. There was a fight occurring to the left where a vendor and another harpy were arguing over a broken pot. A hatchling harpy ran past him, barely half a metre tall, running on stubby stick legs as it called out fearfully for her mother in a high pitched, heartbreaking voice. There was a lingering smell of dirt and sweat that waffled through the air, probably from the harpies themselves. He saw the haunted look briefly return to Akira's face, but she brushed it off quickly and continues looking, scanning the face of everyone there.