Continued from Here

Most of the young group trailing her enthusiastic tread could not fly. In fact, as she turned to encourage them with gently smiling lips pulling clear from marbled teeth, the Starry-Eyed noted vaguely that no other had wings but herself. It was strange to think that barely a year before, Dragon’s Throat had harboured a majority of Pegasus; primed warriors mostly. Now there seemed to be a far better multicultural influence and she was learning (the longer the time spent in their company), that the wingless population of Helovia were not nearly as terrible as she had been led to believe.

Africa guided them along the bridge towards the mainland, picking carefully her path so that they would hopefully not stumble on the scattered rock and loose gravel. Their home had undergone such a significant physical shift while they had sheltered beneath the earth through the time of darkness and wraiths, and even though she had passed along this link many times already since, the way through never seemed to grow any safer. Angry waves lashed the cliffs as they fell away to each side, and the dull roar of the ocean below rose steadily to flood the indolent waver of long charcoal ears.

She skirted the coastline in a westerly direction once they had parted from the bridge to the Throat, and already the giant mass of land looming above the Veins was as plainly obvious as a summer storm brewing on the horizon- a mountain raised where no landmark existed before. “There, can you see it?” She paused by the southernmost point of the river running through Helovia’s centre, the lush green carpet of grass swishing restlessly about her fetlocks as the warm breeze rushed by. With her wing extended, primary feathers flared to point, Africa showed them the silhouette of the strange phenomenon.

Fire licked wildly through her mane and tail as she turned again to continue. The final leg of the familiar journey would lead them to stand above the blue lava- normal perhaps, but the Starry-Eyed knew already that powdery clouds would gather beneath their hooves like miniature islands and carry them up and away. She wasn’t sure if she should tell them of the surprise flight soon to follow, or let them discover the wonder themselves. With a playful chuckle, the one-winged chose silence. Sure enough, when they came to stand right under the hovering mass of land, they were lifted, and Africa watched her family with both amusement and thoughtful confidence bracing her expression.

She could not have imagined what flight would be like for those not born with such a gift.

Briefly she paused where the clouds delivered them. “Interesting, no?” She stood there for a little while. There was no reason to rush; and the beauty of the flower-filled valley was not a picture she wished to abandon too quickly. Gaping eyes wandered more carefully this time, absorbing the intricate detail of the landscape, the bodies scattered now throughout, and the little village that lay down the hill towards the centre of the island. With a broadening smile the Starry-Eyed turned to them. “Shall we?” she asked, and set off through the long fresh grass towards a little path which wound eventually down to the town.

A large sandy arena was the focal point (she thought), and they passed by it slowly, as well as a stage and a great communal tent before their own replica desert welcomed them forward. Africa paused before wandering between the iron spears into the oasis, “I’m sure Sohalia will be here soon. What do you think? With expanding interest, she studied them, eager to learn their opinion of Sky Island.