Volucris_Emmergence Read online

  “Ready,.” hHe asked.

  She nodded, they walked back into the cave and turned again to the opening. Tthey both drank some of the saved blood and allowed it to flow through their bodies, fuelling them for flight. They ran together matching each other’s steps before leaping off the edge and into the sky. The feeling of flying was of pure joy and to fly with someone you loved even more so. It was during that first flight with Benji, spinning around him and catching uplift, she realised that she did love him. It had crept up on her slowly but she knew now that he was everything to her, and life without him could not be possible.

  After flying for only a short amount of time they flew back to their cave, a tricky landing ensued and they both stumbled as they negotiated the low ceiling. Benji helped Mo up and walked her over to where they had left their food and his iIPod., Tthey both felt exhilarated and no words were needed, they knew how the other was feeling. They drank some more of their saved blood and ate. Benji turned on his music to a beautiful beguiling voice singing about love.

  If I should die this very moment, I wouldn't fear

  For I've never known completeness like being here

  Wrapped in the warmth of you, loving every breath of you

  Still my heart this moment, oh it might burst

  Could we stay right here till the end of time

  Until the earth stops turning

  Wanna love you until the seas run dry

  I've found the one I've waited for

  All this time I've loved you and never known your face

  All this time I've missed you and searched this human race

  Here is true peace here my heart knows calm

  Safe in your soul bathed in your sighs

  Wanna stay right here till the end of time

  Till the earth stops turning

  Gonna love you until the seas run dry

  I've found the one I've waited for, the one I've waited for

  All I've known, all I've done

  All I've felt was leading to this

  All I've known, all I've done

  All I've felt was leading to this

  Wanna stay right here

  Till the end of time till the earth stops turning

  Gonna love you till the seas run dry

  I've found the one I've waited for, the one I've waited for

  Wanna stay right here

  Till the end of time, till the earth stops turning

  Gonna love you till the seas run dry

  I've found the one I've been waited for, the one I've waited for

  The one I've waited for.*

  The music was beautiful., Mo’s heart raced at the lyrics and what Benji was telling her. He turned to Mo and took her hands in his, drawing her close to his body. She looked deep into his blue eyes, they both instinctively drew their wings above and around each other and when their wings touched, the feeling was truly exceptional like a spark of pure sunlight. Benji stroked the side of Mo’s face., Ssurrounded by their white wings he lifted her chin and kissed her so gently but with such passion tears sprang from her eyes.

  “I love you.” He spoke,

  “I love you too,.” sShe acknowledged, “aAnd I always will.” He kissed her again with more depth and feeling, neither had ever been so happy. They wrapped their wings around each other moving gently in time with the music letting it play over and over again.

  *Lamb-Gorecki-Album Lamb 1996

  Chapter 35

  Mo could not stop smiling. Eeveryone around her noticed even Ethan, although she had tried to suppress her happiness during her training sessions. After breakfast Ethan commented, “It is nice to see you so settled and happy here, I know it has been a long journey for you , and for Benji too.” Mo was so shocked he had even mentioned it that all she could do was smile and nod before brusquely stating they should be getting on with the lesson. Ethan only laughed at her response but did as asked and they took off. Mo had not kept her and Benji’s relationship secret but they had also not screamed it from the mountain top. It seemed, however, on Ety everyone would find out your secret whether hidden or not.

  She met with Benji as often as she could in their cave. They would continue to fly together getting stronger every time and would push a little further away from Ety, although this could make Mo a little nervous. She had heard the stories of Volucris being caught out in violent storms that meant they could not get back to the island and so drowned off the coast. Benji was always full of confidence though and he led them safely home every time. They would continue to talk and listen to music as well as kiss and enjoy each other’s company. Sometimes Mo would feel guilty for feeling so happy knowing that her grandmother and other friends were in such peril or worse. She would express these feelings to Benji, but he had embraced the Volucris life so thoroughly. , Aalthough he sympathised with Mo about her grandmother, she could see he had no care for his old human life. And why should he Mo thought, all that he had left behind was death and violence. Hhis life here, their life here, was perfect, Benji told her to feel lucky rather than guilty, lucky to have survived to be Volucris, to be able to fly and live life where so many could not.

  So that is what Mo did, she became so strong with her training, her wings still white but now fully grown. There was always much speculation over the colour their wings would finally take especially as gold wings usually meant leader. Mo did not take much heed of all the teasing she received from her friends over this matter, nor did she concern herself with Lordes and her new-found family. She still attended dinner with them a couple of times a week., Sshe had started to really enjoy the company of her siblings, they were great fun and she would spend much of her time playing, making up for not growing up with any of them. She also enjoyed spending time with Phallon. Sshe was such a mothering figure which Mo craved after the loss of her grandmother. Phallon was so easy to talk with and always happy to listen., Mo had told her about Benji and Phallon was nothing but pleased for her, although she warned her against speaking with Lordes about it.

  Apparently, he would have frowned on the union, preferring her to match herself with someone more like Ethan. Mo had asked why this would be so important and Phallon responded, although Lordes had changed much in Volucris society, he still saw the value in a good match of blood. Ethan came from an ancient line as did Mo and this would increase the chance of strong children, of making sure the Volucris produce the best. Mo turned her nose up at this idea as did Phallon however., Ffor Lordes and many other Volucris the survival of the species was utmost and a healthy species at that. Why Benji would be considered unhealthy neither of them were sure and they laughed at the silliness of it. Especially as Mo and Benji were so young and just starting out in their life together. However, Phallon made a valid point that there was no form of contraception. Iif Mo did not want to be a young mother she and Benji must abstain. Sex had not really been on Mo’s mind. Sshe enjoyed being with Benji and kissing but nothing further and she certainly did not feel any pressure from Benji that he wanted more, she guessed maybe in time they both would, but as Phallon so calmly pointed out, they would not be able to until they were ready to have a child. She had noticed some young Volucris only a few years older than her with children or pregnant, she guessed maybe they had not been able to wait but she thought she would, she certainly was not ready to be a mother yet.

  Mo did not converse much with her father, she saw him during her visits but as they always ate in silence he would ask her afterward about her training and then, as he often left, she had no opportunity to ask him anything. In the beginning, she had seemed to have so many questions for him about her mother, about what was happening on the mainland, but she supposed her focus had shifted and if he wasn’t going to talk to her about anything but training she didn't see why she should be curious about his previous life with her mother. She also suspected he probably would not tell her anything anyway having lived a new life with a new partner and children, his old life, much like hers, would now seem like
a lifetime ago.

  Mo was thoroughly enjoying her life on Ety which had fallen into a simple routine of training every day, learning about Ety and the Volucris and spending as much spare time as she could with Benji. Little did she know that soon things would change and the short idyllic time she had lived on the island would soon be over.

  Benji and Mo were flying together high above Ety, soaring in and out of the bubbling cloud., Tthey never flew too high knowing through experience that the higher you flew the less oxygen there was and if you were not careful you could lose consciousness. Benji was full of laughter and playfulness as usual, banking left and right and flying what Mo could only describe as dangerously close to the water. He abruptly flew straight over to Mo concern on his face. “What is it?” Mo shouted over the uplift wind that was holding them. “Over there” Benji pointed. Mo squinted her eyes and at first could not see anything, then sure enough figures started appearing in the skyline. More Volucris. She knew that there had been no more Volucris on the island since herself and Benji had arrived. Although she suspected that there could be no announcement of an imminent arrival as how would the news arrive? “ “Let’s head back. Wwe should let Lordes know there are some visitors.” Mo spoke and banked at the same time, spiralling down instead of going through their cave. Sshe took the most direct route down the mouth of the open Volcano. Benji followed., Aas she swirled down she could see some of the Volucris looking up and pointing, she had forgotten that although she had taken this route many times with her tutor she had not with another student and she guessed she may be in a little trouble for flying without proper instruction.

  As she guessed a nonplussed Ethan strode up to them both, his wings visibly bristling. “What do you think you are doing, you know you are not meant to fly without me.” Ethan growled.

  “I know, I am sorry, but there is not time to discuss this now, there are other Volucris arriving, we just saw them coming from the east.”

  Immediately Ethan’s tack changed as he barked orders to the older guard Volucris, sending them up and out to greet the new guests., Hhe also sent word to Lordes who minutes later, Mo caught a glimpse of rushing up to the head of the mountain.

  Mo and Benji followed the rest of the Volucris who were heading outside, although she saw Phallon heading in the opposite direction with the young Volucris, could this be dangerous?

  “You think they may not be friendly?” she asked Benji.

  “I don’t know, Tristan has spoken to me about the clan wars so I know not all Volucris got on, but I always had the impression these were over a very long time ago. I guess they are just being careful.”

  Mo and Benji moved over to where the other students were standing, watching as Lordes and the other more experienced Volucris jumped off the edge of the Volcano flying to meet the unexpected visitors.

  “It’s so unfair that Lorenzo gets to go, I am just as good as him if not better.” Calumn complained to Lucy. It was true. Iit seemed that the Ety born students had gone with the other guards while the main land dwellers were left behind. Mo could see them all itching to be up there with their kin helping to protect the island. She was glad however to be here and have Benji safe by her side. She did not want to invite an unwanted danger into her perfect life. Mo wondered, not for the first time, why her group of original land dwellers seemed to be left behind, she knew that most were not pure blood Volucris but she also did not see any difference now in strength or ability. It was true, at first the Ety born had all flown first but the rest of them soon caught up. Maybe there was some stigma to being half blood, although she felt she was not being included too and she knew both her parents had been Volucris. She remembered the conversations she and Benji had had in the RV about how the blood had affected her more, maybe because she was pure blood and how being half blood was frowned upon in some clans. Hadn’t Benji’s own Volucris mother given him up, was that because she was ashamed of him?

  They all watched in hushed silence as the two sets of Volucris met up slightly off the coast of the Ety. There were four newcomers, it looked like a female and three men. Tthey all circled each other for some time clearly talking but too far off for anyone on the ground to hear. They then all started towards the opening of the volcano and flew in. Everyone who had been outside now rushed to get back in.

  There was obviously no threat, Lordes would not allow any danger to come to anyone on Ety so everyone was a lot more relaxed and more excited to find out who these new Volucris were, did they have any news? Mo thought of what had been happening these last few months on the mainland.

  As they entered the main cave Mo could see on the raised rock at one end Lordes leading the group of new arrivals. She had been wrong, there were actually two women and two men, it was just that one of the women was so large and muscular Mo had mistaken her for a man. The two men were huge as well and pretty much dwarfed the lady at the front of the group, although it seemed that she was the most important. Lordes was smiling broadly at her and beckoning her forward while the others held back. She was beautiful with long almost platinum blond hair and wings that could only be described as silver. , Mo thought how well they complemented Lordes’ gold wings and turned to Benji to joke about it, but when she looked at Benji his face was in shock, he was staring so intently at the silver winged Volucris as though he knew her. “What is it?.” Mo asked. “Look at her eyes Mo, it’s her, I have seen those eyes before in a picture, it’s really her.” Mo looked at her eyes, they were almond shape and a deep amber, very recognizable., Mo had seen those eyes before on Benji’s holo, the only picture he had of his mother, and Mo was as sure as Benji was that they were both looking at the same Volucris.

  Lordes broke their reverie and started to speak. “My fellow Volucris, a great day is here, we welcome our cousins from far afield., Isabella, clan leader of Europe, has travelled a great distance to bring us news of the world, may we all welcome her and her guards.” A great cheer went up from the assembled Volucris as they all welcomed the new arrivals with great anticipation.

  “Isabella.” Benji mouthed, “I need to meet her, to tell her who I am, to tell her what happened.” He was smiling, joyous to see someone who he was related to who was alive. Mo had been his world for months now, he loved her completely and after the loss of his father she had been such a welcome addition to his life., Tto love again had been wonderful, but he always felt keenly the grief at the loss of his father and the grief of never knowing his mother and yet here she was standing in front of him.

  “Of course,” Mo agreed, she knew how important this must be for Benji, they had talked so much about their past lives about the death of his father. She looked up to see Lordes guiding Isabella and her guards away from the main hall,hall; she grabbed Benji’s hand and led him away. “I know where Lordes will take them.” Mo guessed correctly that Lordes would take them to his private quarters., Sshe had a fleeting thought that maybe this was the wrong protocol, but she didn’t care what Lordes thought, what mattered was Benji not her absent father.

  They approached Lordes’ rooms quietly, they could hear many voices talking inside, introductions being made. Mo did not announce her and Benji’s presence, they just walked in. The room was large, but even so it was engulfed with many wings. , Isabella’s guards were truly huge and Mo could see her siblings dashing between their legs laughing and joking. Isabella was being introduced to Phallon but even though Mo did not think they had made a sound, she turned as they both entered. Lordes looked up to Mo and Benji as they entered, a slight frown appearing as he saw them holding hands.

  “This is Moria, my eldest daughter,daughter; you will remember her mother Illiana.” Lordes explained.

  “Yes of course,” Isabella’s words trailed off. Sshe was not looking at Mo but at Benji, she gasped raising her hand to her mouth. “My son.” She knew straight away without needing to be told, “How is this possible.” Tears fell from her eyes as she rushed towards him, Mo let go of Benji’s hand and stepped away, keen n
ot to interrupt this reunion. They were both crying as Benji fell into the arms of his mother. Mo looked up to Lordes, his face was that of complete surprise, she guessed rightly that this was the last thing he was expecting. She thought of the first time they had met. Hhe certainly had not cried for her and she had not run into his arms, how different their first meeting had been. She looked back to Isabella and Benj,iBenji they were just staring at each other complete joy and recognition on their faces, Mo was so happy to see him reunited with part of his family.

  Chapter 36

  Lordes found a private room for Benji and Isabella, they clearly had a lot to discuss and Mo took it upon herself to show her guards around and introduce them to the Ety guards. The two men, Jean and Balthas, had similar wings to Ethan, although Mo noticed they did not have the same shimmer of blue, more just dark brown with white undersides. Grace was the other woman. Sshe had plain white wings, Mo wondered if she was just young like herself but she soon discovered she was not, it seemed some Volucris did just have white wings although this was quite unusual.

  The group all came from France and had had an epic journey to reach Ety., Ttheir English was ok but not great so it was hard to understand everything that they talked about. However, it seemed by what Mo could understand that the whole world had completely changed in the last few months. The virus had killed millions worldwide and caused chaos among those that remained. Governments had fallen, there was no law and order, every person for themselves. Some groups had formed small communities, but there was nowhere near enough people to provide the old services, especially any form of energy, so no electric, and travel was very limited with no oil, except for the Volucris of course, who could fly anywhere. There was no money anymore and people were just struggling to survive.