Volucris_Emmergence Read online

Mo chuckled, the thought of Benji trying to make light conversation with the both of them when it was custom to shut up really tickled her.

  “Oh, funny is it.”

  “Yeah, it is.” Mo laughed out loud now, Benji joining in. She liked this boy and the way he could make her laugh.

  Once her amusement had calmed down her curiosity took over, “Anything else they do or don’t do?”

  “I haven’t been told too much, you can see what Ethan is like, hardly Mr Chatty and if you think he is bad Lordes is practically mute. They want you to concentrate on your diet and training and building your body up, those are the most important things.”

  “Have you had a really good look at their wings? You know, up close?”

  “No, I haven’t got the balls to ask.”

  “Me neither.” And they both collapsed into heaps of laughter once again. They were laughing so much they didn’t hear Ethan’s return, he startled Mo as he sauntered back into camp. He had wet hair and was glistening all over.

  “You both should be more careful, I could hear your’re laughing from a mile up!” Ethan snapped.

  They both stopped laughing and Mo felt annoyed that her fun had been curtailed.

  “We are in the middle of the desert, who is going to hear us?” sShe snapped back at Ethan.

  “There are people out there Mo who would not think twice about coming in here and using you both for exactly what they wanted before shooting you in the head, this world is dying and people are desperate. Tthey know there are no consequences to their actions and they will take what they want when they want, there may not be many or anyone out there, but it only takes one person with a gun and a desire to do bad, so I suggest you pipe down a little.”

  Mo sank back in her seat feeling thoroughly put in her place, they had only been laughing, were things really that bad? Benji gave her a small reassuring smile, he got up and went to the fire with the food, throwing it in a large pot.

  “I’m going to get dry.” Ethan went into the RV. , Mo sat in the chair staring into her hands, she had gone from feeling giddy with laughter to like an errant child in less than a minute, tears pricked the back of her eyes. Benji kneeled down in front of her and clasped her hands in his. She looked up into his smiling eyes.

  “Don’t take it personally, if you had to look after the only long lost child of one of the largest clan leaders I think you would be a bit nervous too.”

  Mo smiled at Benji, grateful of his kindness., Sshe thought it may be a little tough for Ethan carrying all the worry, looking out for them both, but did he really have to be so blunt. She shrugged it off and started to lay the plates out for dinner.

  As usual they all ate in silence, the food was simple but good, just what Mo needed, it felt good to a get a hot wholesome meal inside her. It reminded her of her Grandmother’s cooking and her thoughts once again wondered how she was coping, if she was safe and if she was facing the kind of dangers they had encountered. Her holo was still not working and she did not like to ask Ethan to use his, she thought maybe she should ask Benji, surely, he would not begrudge her speaking to her Grandmother. After they had cleared up the dinner there was not enough time to ask Benji though, he was given his blood ration and quickly disappeared into the desert to run off the effects. Mo was glad when Ethan decide to fly off himself, she did not fancy making small talk with him tonight after he had told her off. She knew Ethan would be keeping an eye on her and Benji from up above so was not worried, she took herself back to her room. She felt safe in this little room in more ways than one, she was finding things with Benji fun but things with Ethan couldn’t be frostier, it was nice to shut the door and be herself for a little while.

  She just wished she could be in touch with someone she knew well like her Grandmother or Lizzie. What was Lizzie doing now, did she know or understand why Mo had left? Mo really wished her holo was working, she checked it again but it was showing the same as before, no signal. She thought about having a look for Benji’s holo, she was pretty sure he wouldn’t take it with him on his run but she didn’t like the idea of using it without his permission, the last thing she needed was to upset Benji too. She decided she would ask him as soon as he got back., Sshe settled back into her bed but before she knew it she was asleep, dreaming of armed men trying to grab her while she tried to fly but her feet never left the ground.

  Chapter 20

  Mo woke once again with her room filled with sunlight, it was hot and stuffy too so she threw on her clothes and went out of her room, Benji was sprawled out on the sofa sound asleep. Mo ventured outside not sure she was ready to face Ethan yet. It was already warm outside but a lot less stuffy than the RV, another beautiful morning blue sky and everything covered in a light dew. Ethan was sitting at the table with his winged back to her.

  “Good morning.” hHe said without turning around, but also there was no sign of any malice in his voice, “I have made you some tea and there are pancakes and berries.” It was like nothing had happened., Mo thought maybe she was taking things too much to heart and was glad there was no ill feeling from him towards her. She sat down joining him at the table.

  “Thank you.” She smiled, and he returned her smile with a no problem kind of look. They sat and enjoyed their breakfast in silence and afterwards both did not feel they had to talk, they just enjoyed the morning sun rise together.

  Mo sat up, she had suddenly remembered she had fallen asleep before asking Benji if she could use his holo. Ethan reacted to her sudden movement and change of mood. “Everything ok?”

  “Yeah, it’s nothing, something I forgot to do.”

  “Something I can help with?”

  “I don’t think so.” Mo was not sure she wanted to talk to Ethan about her longing to talk to her Grandmother again, it had not gone so well last time. As if reading her mind, it seemed Ethan already knew what she was thinking.

  “You want to talk to Rebecca.” It was a statement not a question.

  “Yes, I want to know she is ok.”

  “You are missing her?”

  “Yes.”

  “And your friends, and your old life.”

  “Yes.”

  “Mo, I know it is hard, harder for you than it has been for Benji, he was not leaving anyone behind, all the people he had loved are now dead.”

  Mo was shocked again at Ethan’s bluntness but she did not say anything, she let him carry on talking.

  “The most important person to you is not dead, she is as safe as she can be, she could not come and I think you understand why, but at least she is safe. What is important now is that you move on, there is no point living in the past but moving forward with your new life, speaking to Rebecca may bring you and her some solace but it will also remind you both of a life you can no longer lead, not for the foreseeable future anyway.”

  “Do you think I will ever see her again?” Mo’s voice was cracking under the realisation of something she had been not daring to think about, knowing this was probably a truth she could not bear to face.

  “I don’t know Mo, we never know what path our life will truly take, but I do know it is more important for you to focus on this life you now have and not waste energy in being upset about the life you have lost.”

  Mo nodded looking at her hands, a single tear escaped from her eye but she managed to keep the flood that was threatening at bay. Ethan looked at her, he wished he had the words to help her more but he knew he did not, he was not like Benji and never would be. Right on cue the door to the RV flung open and a very sleepy Benji stumbled out looking for food. Mo wiped her eyes, she helped sit him down and started making him some breakfast, glad of the distraction.

  After Benji had wolfed down a few pancakes and numerous cups of coffee he began to wake up.

  “So, is the big guy coming for a visit again this morning?” hHe asked.

  “If you mean Lordes, then no, not today.” Ethan responded.

  “How do you know?” Mo asked.

  “I spoke w
ith him last night, you were both asleep.”

  “He was here?”

  “Yes.”

  Mo was disappointed that she had missed her Father’s visit, she still had a lot of questions.

  “What did he say?”

  “He thought it was unlikely we would see him until the final flight towards Ety, things in this world are failing at a dramatic rate and he wants to get as many Volucris to safety as he can.”

  “What do you mean things are failing.”

  “There is no law and order any more, the army and authorities have failed, there is not enough of them to control those who are left, it is every man, woman and child for themselves. We will have to be careful from now on, no stopping in areas of population.”

  Mo felt her heart sink, she could only guess at the peril all her friends were now in, and she imagined whatever she thought it was like it was probably a thousand times worse. She was glad that Ethan with his strength was here, she felt sure in a fight he would always win.

  “What about food?” Benji asked with a mouth full of berries, Mo could see this was the most important thing to him, as Ethan said he had already lost everyone close to him.

  “We have a rendezvous today with a Volucris called Tristan, he will provide us with enough for the rest of the trip don’t worry.”

  Benji genuinely looked relieved his appetite was insatiable. Mo thought of all the people in the cities that must be starving, not knowing how to get food, surviving the virus but now trying to survive the fall out.

  “Is there nothing we can do?” She asked.

  Ethan turned to her with a surprised look on his face, it was as though this question had never once crossed his mind.

  “No, Mo believe me, Lordes and many others are doing as much as they can to help take Volucris to Ety where we will all be safe.”

  “But what about everyone else?”

  “They are not our problem.”

  Ethan as blunt as ever, it shocked Mo once more that he could be so matter of fact, did he even care?

  “So, you are just leaving everyone else to their fate.”

  “The humans, yes.”

  He was so sure of his words, to him that was the only option, there was no choice.

  “Don’t you want to help them?”

  “Why would we?”

  “Because people are dying, because you could take them to safety.”

  “We have our hands full, or should I say wings full carrying the young Volucris without the rest of the population.”

  “But what about their friends and family, why can’t you help them too?”

  “You already know the reason Mo, it’s the same reason Rebecca could not come with us, we cannot carry everyone, and yes we will always favour Volucris, wouldn’t you?”

  At that Ethan got up and started clearing up, Benji gave Mo a half smile, he clearly felt the same as Ethan, they only cared for Volucris now, nothing else mattered. Did she feel the same? Once her wings had grown and she looked like a real Volucris would she only care about their fate and not the humans as Ethan called them, but she was human, or she always thought she was. How could she stop caring about everyone else, her family, her friends? It did not sit well with her and she knew that if she could she would try and save everyone, but the problem was it was not up to her and there was nothing she could do.

  They cleared up and headed back onto the road. The landscape was very empty and they did not pass anyone, as they approached small townships they sped through but they saw no-one just ghost towns.

  They stopped about 10 miles outside one of these towns next to a large truck that a large Volucris was standing beside, Mo guessed this must be Tristan.

  They all got out of the RV and walked up to him glad to be out of the stuffy RV. Tristan was, of course huge, wearing similar clothes to Ethan but his wings were white with dark brown flecks, he had dark hair and tanned skin and a kind face, he looked like he was few years older than Mo and Benji but a little younger than Ethan., Hhe smiled as they all approached and grasped Ethan’s arm in a friendly embrace.

  “It’s been a while.” Tristan spoke with great fondness towards Ethan.

  “It has, how are things? Ethan smiled with as much affection, this was clearly someone he liked and respected deeply.

  “Tough, Ety is full to the brim with new Volucris, it’s going to take a lot of training, and farming and feeding them all.”

  “I’m sure you will be up to the task Tristan.” Ethan smiled. “Come and meet some of the latest recruits.”

  Tristan walked over to Benji and Mo who were standing like two surely teenagers. He grasped Benji’s hand first and smiled warmly at him, he then moved to Mo and did the same, Mo liked him straight away.

  “So, you are our great leaders first born eh?”

  “Err.” Mo wasn’t sure what to say, she felt uncomfortable under his stare, he was very imposing. And the words he used, first born, did that mean she had siblings? The thought had not even crossed her mind before. She didn’t get a chance to ask, though as he looked behind her down the road, she followed his eye line and saw on the horizon a line of dust, someone was coming.

  “No time for introductions I’m afraid, let’s get you some supplies.” Tristan set about quickly transferring over the food and water they would need; he moved surprisingly quickly for such a large man. They all helped., Mo could feel the tension rising in the group, whatever was down the road was getting closer. They quickly finished and Benji and Mo got in the RV, Ethan grasped Tristan’s hand firmly,

  “Be safe.”

  “You too.”

  He clambered in the RV and they set off at a pace down the highway, once round the first bend they got off the road and headed into the desert.

  “Will he be ok?” Mo asked Ethan.

  Ethan smiled “Yes, he will be fine.”

  Chapter 21

  The next few days melted into each other with nothing much happening., Tthe three travellers started to fit into a simple daily routine., Mo and Ethan would get up first and always sit enjoying the sunrise together, they would set off when Benji had got up then hit the road with either Ethan or Benji driving. , Ffor some reason no-one even asked Mo if she would like to drive but she didn’t fancy driving such a large vehicle, so it didn’t really matter. Benji loved music and would often play them his favourite tracks from his holo while dancing round the RV, Mo would sometimes join in letting her hair down a bit, but during these times Ethan would barely look at them, seemingly finding it all very uncomfortable to witness.

  When the sun went down they would find a secluded place to stop off the road, they would eat and then take turns in who got to drink the blood first and then one after the other go and run off the effects. Mo was settling in more to the feeling the blood gave her and her and Benji’s wings were now growing at an incredible pace. Mo could no longer sit or lay back, it was too uncomfortable and Benji’s now had two perfectly formed but small wings completely covered in soft downy white feathers. He could still cover them up with a large top but it was becoming more difficult. Fortunately, they had enough supplies not to have to venture into populated areas and even if they had to, there were so few people around no-one would be there to notice.

  Mo’s wings had not completely broken free of her skin so it was still very painful, she had been constantly applying the cream but after checking supplies she had started to ration it more. Benji no longer needed the cream as his wings just needed to grow but it meant his appetite was even greater if that could be possible. Ethan had even started to hunt for Benji to supplement his diet., Hhe would fly off during the evening and in the morning and, would have some beast cooking on the fire, usually a sheep, sometimes a pig., Mo guessed the farmers that used to own them had succumbed to the virus.

  Mo asked each morning about Lordes, Ethan seemed to have some kind of constant contact with him that she could only guess must be through his holo. They did not see Lordes again though, Ethan said he was just
too busy and that they would next see him on the final flight to Ety. Mo wasn’t too bothered, she guessed they would have plenty of time to talk once they got to their destination. Mo was enjoying being with Benji and Ethan, particularly Benji who was quickly becoming someone she could confess anything too. She still found Ethan cold and blunt, but she enjoyed their quiet mornings together when it was just the two of them.

  They would pass by cities regularly and Mo was always relieved they did not have to go through any., Ssmoke would rise above them and they would often pass bodies on the side of the road the closer they were. There really was no order anymore. Eeither all of the police and army were dead or they had all retreated somewhere safer. Mo and Benji often debated what would happen to society and how people would survive, even if they would survive at all. Ethan was not interested in these conversations, it was clear that his only priority was Volucris.

  In the evening, they would talk more about Volucris society. Mo learned that many of the clans had only recently become civilized, as Ethan called it. Many older clan leaders believed Volucris were more animal than human and should behave that way. They would not indulge in any of the trappings of a human world like houses for shelter or even clothes. Ethan explained that it was Lordes who bought the clans together, many of whom at the time were still fighting one another in age old rivalries. Lordes had realised long ago that the preservation of the race was the most important thing and that to lose one Volucris in a battle to another Volucris was ridiculous. Over many years, he managed to convince the other clan leaders the errors of their ways and while rivalries still existed there had not been a battle for a very long time, meaning a healthier Volucris population.

  Once Lordes had united the clans he had become legendary in Volucris culture, but his attentions turned elsewhere to try and help the race. For many years Volucris had ignored those who were Volucris but outside the race, those who were born to human parents, although it was soon discovered that there was some Volucris blood in their heritage whether direct from a young Volucris who had mixed with the human population, or even if the connection was not as direct, a Volucris could still be born to apparent human parents. The pure bred Volucris did not believe them to be worthy Volucris., For tthose whose wings had not been cut away, when their wings developed they did not form correctly, not growing to full size and looking weak and useless. The Volucris had believed this was because of bad breeding, too much human genetics involved but Lordes realised it was not genetics but the lack of training and bad diet. He began to search for young Volucris born to human parents and just as their wings began to grow, he would seek them out see if they wanted to come with him to grow wings, some did, some did not. Those who did join Lordes and Volucris society were given a proper diet and training and the half breed Volucris grew just as big and strong as the pure bred Volucris. This also meant there was more Volucris adding to the gene pool and their numbers were increasing and more Volucris were having children.