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  “Enjoy that while you can.” She said to Mo. “Once your wings grow there is no more swimming, your wings get too water logged and drag you down.”

  Mo was not concerned about not being able to swim anymore, she was sure that flying would soon make up for it.

  Once they had bathed they dried themselves and slipped their robes back on. Thea took Mo back up to the central meeting place, it was fuller now and the Volucris seemed to be gathering towards the centre where there was a stone platform. Thea took Mo over to where other wingless Volucris were sitting. Benji was already there talking animatedly to another girl who looked about Mo’s age. As Mo approached both the girl and Benji, he turned towards her. , Benji burst into his usual broad grin, however, the girl seemed less welcoming, taking Mo in from top to bottom.

  “Hey I saved you a place, apparently Lordes is going to say a few words.” Benji patted the ground next to him which Mo dutifully sat in.

  “This is Anabel, her story is a bit like mine, grew up human and left alone until the Volucris found her, Anabel this is Moria or Mo for short.”

  Anabel nodded towards Mo curtly then turned her back to speak with someone else. Benji did not seem to notice and he began to ask Mo about her experiences so far. Mo felt happy to be back in Benji’s company, he seemed to put her at ease making her laugh about the toilets and baths, where she had felt horror it seems Benji had dived straight in not caring what anyone thought.

  “You noticed the lights, you may be able to plug your music in after all,.” Mo suggested.

  “Yeah, I think it maybe frowned on a little though, I have seen some of the guys with instruments but nothing electrical, how will I cope without a bit of air guitar?”

  Mo chuckled remembering the many days in the RV, Benji on the air guitar her on the air drums rocking away to Benji’s selection of late 20th century music. They were still regaling each other with fond memories of the RV when a hush fell over the crowded Volucris. Mo, now looking up, noticing that most of those sitting in the middle were young wingless Volucris and as the circle went out there were more Volucris with white wings and then on the edge the Volucris with coloured wings. She guessed rightly that the older you were the further you stood back. Mo and Benji were near the middle but they were far from the youngest. She could see that all had either lumps on their backs or the start of the red itching marks, she did not envy them going through that process.

  Lordes came to the stone platform followed by Phallon who stayed on the ground next to him. , Nnext to her were four young children, all blond, three girls and one young boy, Mo’s siblings she realised. They were all beautiful and nothing like her, blond hair, blue eyes, similar to both Lordes and Phallon.

  Lordes started to speak . “My fellow Volucris, it is my pleasure to tell you that for now our family here is complete.” As he spoke his wings and arms gestured over the crowd gathered at his feet. “I finally have all of my children under our great mountain home and my eldest, Moria, now ready to start her training.” Mo bowed her head as she knew she was flushing scarlet., Sshe reached out her hand and as usual, Benji’s hand was there ready to take hers into his and give it a gentle supporting squeeze.

  “So far we have only started to train the newest Volucris a little, but now all are here that training will start more in earnest. Tomorrow you will be assigned a particular trainer who will stay with you throughout your 3 years until you find your speciality.”

  Benji leaned into Mo and whispered. “All the trainers are over there by Tristan, I hope he is my trainer, he is awesome don’t you think?.” Mo smiled and nodded in agreement. She looked over to the other trainers, Thea was there sharing a joke with Tristan as were some of the other Volucris who had carried Mo and Benji to Ety, and towards the back was Ethan standing slightly away from the rest of the group. Mo thought she wouldn’t mind who trained her as long as it was not Ethan.

  Chapter 26

  The meeting did not go on much longer, Lordes briefly explaining that the group of young Volucris whose wings had begun to grow, would be split into in to groups with different trainers., Tthey would start with the physical training and intersperse that with training in all the different aspects of Volucris life until one became their vocation. The few young Volucris stayed together and chatted after Lordes had spoken. Apart from Anabel, Mo met another girl, Lucy, who was a lot friendlier with Mo. , Sshe had come from the mainland too with Anabel, they had been on Ety for about a month and she explained about some of the training they had been doing. She was lovely, very animated and Mo could see she was already benefiting from training; her muscles and wings were a lot further on than her own. Lucy reassured her that with the diet and exercise Mo would not be far behind. Benji, as usual, was the centre of attention regaling all with hilarious tales of escape on the mainland and his first taste of blood. He could make anyone laugh and soon a small crowd of young and old alike had settled around him all laughing along at his stories, Benji was in his element.

  Mo laughed along with them and Benji often caught her eye, almost as though he was reassuring her that he hadn’t forgotten she was there. Mo looked around the crowd that had gathered, they all were engaged with Benji; he managed to draw them all in so well. , Mo felt a little hum in her tummy that she knew him best out of all of these people and she smiled. As she scanned the faces in the crowd she could see a figure at the back, his face was obscured by someone else’s shoulder but there was no mistaking it was Ethan., Mo could tell from his deep dark brown wings, she could imagine him there, scowling at Benji, feeling jealous of the attention. Then the crowd shifted and she could see Ethan’s face., Sshe had been wrong, he had a broad grin across his face enjoying listening as much as everyone else, he looked so young and carefree Mo thought for once. , Hhe suddenly looked over at Mo and caught her looking at him, he did not stop smiling and something passed between them, a knowing look for they had both spent time with this boy and already knew many of his stories, it was a bond all three of them shared and Mo smiled back. In some way in that moment she felt she had forgiven Ethan a little for his behaviour, maybe she should give him the benefit of the doubt that it was very hard for him alone to get her and Benji safely to Ety. She was still a little unsure of him but she did know she wanted to know more about Ethan and decided she would ask Thea at the next opportunity.

  The crowd were all laughing hard along with Benji when a hush started to spread amongst them. , Mo looked over the many heads and wings to see who was approaching., Iit was Lordes, his imposing wings and body demanding instant respect., Hhe walked straight to Mo who felt embarrassed to be singled out.

  “Moria, will you join me?”

  The crowd was silently dispersing around her and Mo felt very hot in the cheeks, aware that most were still staring at her. She just nodded and got up and with a quick wink from Benji she followed her father through the mountain.

  He led her through the winding pathways of her new home without speaking a word to her. Mo, as usual, found the company of her father more than a little intimidating. They finally stopped outside one of the many rooms and Lordes opened the curtain and beckoned Mo through. What faced her was a purely domestic scene. The room was again sparse, but also with a homely feel., Tthere was a table in the centre and Mo could see other rooms coming off this one. To one side was what can only be described as a basic kitchen with a small stove, a wash basin and dishes being filled with some sort of stew by Phallon. The children seemed to be everywhere, chasing each other about while attempting to help their mother get the dinner on the table. Lordes turned to Mo.

  “We thought you may like to have dinner with us tonight and meet the rest of your family.” He said this so matter of factly with little emotion that Mo could only give a meek smile in response.

  “Children,” Lordes commanded and at once they all stopped and came over to him. “They all know your name Moria but I believe you are yet to learn theirs.”

  The four children lined up, the two eldest girls w
ere holding each other’s hands and whispering as they approached Mo.

  “This is Aria and Mia.” They were both very pretty, Mo could see both Phallon and Lordes in them., Mo said hello and they both nodded and giggled in the only way little girls can. Next came the youngest girl followed by a little boy who was standing shyly behind her.

  “And this is Lucille and Issac.” They both nodded again then swiftly ran back to their mother and the game they had been playing. Lordes smiled after them and then at Mo, they all seemed to be as scared of him as she was, maybe it wasn’t just her problem after all.

  Phallon came over telling Mo to sit and feel at home and sure enough after the introductions were out of the way Mo just fitted in around their family meal time. Lordes asked each of the children what their day had been like and once that was done the family ate in silence as was the Volucris custom, only a few giggles from the children. When finished, the children took away their dishes and washed up before asking if they could go out and play, which of course their mother duly agreed to. Their home was by no-way means small but to fit all of them in, Mo could see it becoming quite claustrophobic.

  Once the children had left, quietness entered the home. Phallon took out some sewing and Lordes rested his hands on the table. Phallon nodded to Lordes as if to push him into speaking.

  “Phallon tells me that your wings have not been badly damaged, that is good news.” He smiled slightly as he said this and Mo politely smiled back. The trio fell into an awkward silence. Mo had the feeling Phallon could easily fill this silence but she was refraining, hoping that Lordes would make the effort.

  “Why did you not look for me sooner?” Mo blurted out before she could stop herself.

  “Sooner, what do you mean?”

  “Grandma said she never tried to hide us, not properly, she never changed our names, she said if you had properly looked you would have found us.”

  Lordes sighed.

  “Rebecca has always been slightly against me., I understand more now that I realise that she thought I just abandoned your mother, but yes, in some ways she is right, I did always know where you were.”

  “And you chose to stay away?” Mo was not as shocked as she thought she maybe should be at this revelation.

  “Moria, please do not be angry with me, yes I chose to stay away. Aapart from the logistics of hiding myself to come and see you, I knew you were safe with Rebecca. I had so much to do looking for your mother and we had all kinds of issues with other tribe’s, I was busy.” He knew as soon as he had said it that is was a mistake.

  “Busy, too busy to come and see your own daughter, to even write to let me know that you cared.”

  “It would never have been that easy. I thought it would be easier to let you grow up without complicating things, there was so much going on, I am not explaining myself well.”

  Phallon looked towards him and gave him a reassuring smile, this however just led Mo down another path of thought.

  “So busy that you still managed to find another wife and have four children!”

  They both looked at her and Mo felt instantly guilty at her harsh words., Phallon had been nothing but kind to her and Mo could see the hurt in her eyes. Instead of backtracking, she got up, she could not deal with this now, so much was happening, so much to take in. She got up from the table mumbling a thank you to Phallon and headed out of the door.

  Phallon placed her hand on Lordes arm and kissed him on his head.

  “Don’t worry my love, she will understand eventually, this is all so new to her.”

  “That is not the point, she needs to forget about all of this stuff and concentrate on herself, her new life, her life being a Volucris.”

  “And she will Lordes, but she is a teenager brought up in a life away from our customs, she does not know how important she is yet, all she can see is the day ahead of her not the years, you must be patient with her.”

  Lordes shrugged and Phallon could see the worry etched on his scarred face.

  “Don’t force it Lordes you will only push her the other way, let her find her place in her own time.”

  “I can’t it’s too important, she needs to understand, to be told.”

  “Then you will lose her too.”

  Chapter 27

  The next morning Mo awoke to the sound of a bell chiming through the mountain. A few minutes later the lights flickered on. She had discovered to her horror that all the lights go out at a certain time and plunge the mountain and her room into complete darkness. At the time Mo fortunately had been lying on her bed going over her recent conversation with her father. She had thought that she could have quite easily been on her way to the bathroom and would never have found her way out. , Sshe made a mental note to ask Thea what time lights out was and what she would do if she needed to go to the toilet at night. Lying in the pitch black had felt very oppressive, like the whole mountain was pushing down on her. She had longed for some light, something to hold on to, or for a friendly voice like Benji to sooth her to sleep. She had eventually drifted off but her sleep and dreams were fitful and she would often wake up to blackness, no light. , Sshe was not used to the room so found it hard to imagine where things were and she dared not even get out of bed and peer into the long passage way to see if the lights were out there too. The mountain was not quiet however, and she seemed to just know she could trust everyone her. e, Sshe could hear people moving around at night and the occasional voice, and it was only these murmurings that helped her fall back asleep.

  Now the lights were back on a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Sshe rose and washed her face in the basin of water. She had slept in her casual clothes but had no idea if this was the correct etiquette or not. She did not know if she should go and bath or dress in her work clothes. Sshe sat on her bed with her fingers crossed in front of her, indecision filling her thoughts.

  “Mo?” A voice called from outside her room and it made Mo jump.

  “Err yes, come in?” Mo was not sure who was there and she again was not sure of the protocol - should she be already dressed?. A familiar face poked round her curtain, it was Lucy, Mo smiled with relief.

  “Hi, you ok? Just wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing, it’s all a bit daunting at first eh.”

  Mo could have flung her arms round her. Instead she just smiled and nodded.

  “I have no idea.” She replied to Lucy.

  Lucy bounded in. She was in her tan clothes, work clothes Mo guessed correctly, and as she turned to close the curtain on the door Mo could see her wings were becoming quite large, they already covered half her back.

  “Did anyone even tell you about the lights?”

  Mo shook her head.

  “It takes a bit of getting used to of course, all the Volucris who were raised Volucris know exactly what happens, when and why, and find it totally bewildering that we don’t. I imagine all the little things Thea did not tell you eventually add up to a big thing!”

  Mo nodded in agreement, “Yeah, like me sitting here wondering if I slept in the right clothes or not,. aAnd the darkness, it was so black my eyes didn’t even adjust to it.”

  “Poor you, at least I had Anabel to share a room with so had some company. I guess you didn’t get much shut eye.”

  “No, not much.”

  “Well the way it works is, yes, you sleep in your casual clothes. Yyou should have 2 sets of each so you can wash one.”

  “I think I only have one set and where and how do you wash stuff?.”

  “I know it’s totally bizarre, you have to wash stuff by hand, it’s down in the baths. , I was totally useless at first but with all the training you really need to get stuff clean otherwise you just hum.”

  Both of the girls giggled at this and Mo felt a real sense of relief chatting to someone who had already gone through what she was about to.

  “We will get you another set today if you like, after breakfast. So lights go off when the sun goes down as there is nothing to cha
rge the solar panels., I see you have candles in here.”

  “Yes, but nothing to light them with.”

  “There should be something in here, let’s have a look.”

  There was a small chest in Mo’s room which she had not looked in yet, she had been too preoccupied with other events. Lucy opened it and took out extra candles and a holder, a spare cloth that Mo recognised as what they used as a towel in the baths, and another set of clothes.

  Mo’s cheeks went a bit red when she realized she had not even examined her room yet.

  Lucy came back beside her and put her hand on her knee.

  “Don’t worry, I know how new this all is and it must be even harder for you, with Lordes being your Dad and all.”

  Mo nodded.

  Lucy placed the candle and holder along with a box of matches next to Mo’s bed reassuring Mo that this is what everyone used if they needed to venture about at night. She did warn her to be sparing with the matches though as they were rationed as this was a luxury item they collected from the mainland.

  “So me and Anabel have been kind of training., Eevery day after breakfast we will train and work out which is always really tough, then we lunch and in the afternoon we are either taught about flying or we go and learn about some of the work other Volucris do here. Today we will get a proper trainer though, haven’t been able to so far as they have all been on the mainland, but now everyone is back we can start properly.”

  “I see your wings are already well on their way even with the basic training.”

  Lucy beamed as she turned to show off her wings to Mo. “They really have started to get big over the last month, they were already breaking through when Thea found me. “