Heavenly Harpies

Chapter 1: Special?

     You woke up, panting, those nightmares were becoming more and more frequent. You stretch, your wings opening up and accidentally hitting your jar of coins, it shattered on the ground. "Are you freaking kidding me..." Sighing, you grab the broom and sweep it up, picking the coins out and putting them on your bed.

    You walk to your closet and go through your clothes. "Wore that, and that, that's ugly." Finding your black turtle neck you put it on, with difficulty, all these clothes had to be modified for your wings. They were beautiful, red, cardinal wings. You were a rare harpy. Cardinals were barely seen anymore. Your parents had migrated to the kingdom of Chirpy from the north. It was so beautiful there, you missed it so much. But going back wasnt a option.

  You go out of your home and look around. The sun was shining and the border looked peaceful. You spread your wings and start running down the runway you made, about to take off. You skid to a stop when Poppy, your best friend, lands right in front of you. She was a pigeon harpy. "Hey! Jackie needs to talk to you." You groan, Jackie wasnt much of a talker but when she was it never meant anything good. "Poppy, I don't have time for her lectures. I know winter is coming. We are short in wings." Poppy nods, "But Leona, you cant skip this one." She scratches her side and a bunch of feathers fly off and the wind takes them away. "Your molting early Poppy." She nods then sighs. "Earlier than last year. I know."

   You secure your footing and flap your wings. "Come on, let go see Jackie." You fly, Poppy flying behind you. Landing at the bottom of the tree, you spot Jackie pacing back and forth. "Jackie? Hey." She looks up and gives Poppy a glance. "I only asked for Leona." Poppy looks at you then flies off. "Now, Leona-" "I know, we are short of wings, winter is coming, something needs to be done." She scratches the ground, "Actually, its more important." You look up in surprise. "The queen needs you. The king has gone missing and you have the best knowledge of the north." The queen. She needed you? The king missing, in the north. That cant be good.

   The darkness had been spreading, it hit the north first. The king was on a voyage and never returned. "Leona?" You snap out of your thoughts. "Yeah. I'm listening." Jackie's dove wings folded back. "Go see the queen. And, Leona?" You look back, "Return safely to us with the king, okay?" You nod and fly to the willow tree.