The Legacy of Dirty Birds

Old Faces and How They Burn

"Calum," Edwin's voice shook.

"I see it."

The fire was small, Calum could see it had only spread to a few trees. The closer the got to home the closer they drew to the center of the inferno.

"Land there!" Calum waved him towards a thin patch in the trees.

Calum's boots plunged into the snow. Edwin dropped down beside him without a sound. Out of the corner of his eye Calum caught a telltale flash of green. Edwin's lips parted. Before he could ask, Calum shoved a hand to their mouth and yanked them behind a tree. Edwin glared at him. They both noticed the way Calum's hand shook.

"A reaper," he whispered, "thirty yards north."

Edwin's eyes widened. Calum drew his hand away and then they glanced around the edge of the tree. Calum was aware of every single breath that left his lungs as he caught sight of the reaper walking away from the direction of the nest. It was a long-forgotten familiar face. A boy just barely a man holding a crossbow that was too big for him. Every bone in his body screamed flight. He steeled himself and clenched his fists. Edwin's wings quivered against his shoulder. If not for himself, he had to be strong for them.

The two of them crouched in the snow, unmoving until the reaper was out of sight. By that time the air had grown hazy with smoke. Calum pulled his shirt up over his mouth and gestured for Edwin to do the same.

"That was too close," Edwin breathed through the fabric of his clothes. "We have to get out of here. How fast can you pack?"

"Fast, provided there's..."

Edwin met Calum's worried eyes, both of them were thinking the same thing. Provided there's anything left to gather up. Calum took their hand and the two of them ran through the woods. Peering through smoke turned to shielding their eyes from the burning glow of fire as it crawled down trees. The ground was slick with mud from melting snow and ash. The heat made Calum dizzy but his grip on Edwin's hand kept his purpose clear in mind. If only they weren't too late.

Their home was on fire. It was completely engulfed, the door had already burnt away and left a gaping black mouth in the side of the old, sequoia trunk. Edwin cried out in something between a gasp and an anguished choke. Calum was looking at something else, something that made his heated blood freeze over. Something that made his knees lock in place. Something that made his heart stop.

There was a man with a torch in his hand standing at the base of their tree. He had a wet cloth tied around his nose and mouth but Calum already recognized him. How could he forget that horrible red stripe running across his uniform? How could he forget those burning coal eyes?

"All this time," Tarif pulled a leather bag from his belt, "no wonder you were such a disappointment. I can't believe I ever expected a deadwing to amount to anything. I must give credit where credit is due, however. We wouldn't have found your den if it hadn't been for you, Calum."

He threw the bag on the ground in front of them. The cord was already loose and dozens upon dozens of Calum's ruddy feathers spilled out. He recoiled in horror, catching Edwin's confused stare from the corner of his eye.

"Calum?" His eyes were wide and reflecting red.

"I...I..."

"We found them littered about the forest, after that it was just too easy." His eyes gleamed.

"Calum..." Edwin was already putting it together in his own mind. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I sorry...I'm so sorry-"