Flight Series © ChantalCruz30 and Yuchiyoo

2015

The Wingless One and The Golden One, written by ChantalCruz30, The Price of Flight, written by ChantalCruz30 and Yuchiyoo

Written for Wattpad Writing Battle of the Year 2015 Second Round: Collaborations

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, photocopy, recording, or any other, without the written permission of the author/authors.

Part 1: The Wingless One

The sound of the drums underscored the excitement brewing in the clearing. All around are signs of merriment; the sweet smell of summer flowers strung in garlands, the aroma of food cooked in an open fire with sweet herbs, turquoise and emerald silk banners that flapped and snapped in the mild breeze, laughter breaking out here and there, and couples that danced in circles. Tonight is an important celebration for the Aenialle.

Eumelia used to love the coming-of-age celebrations. She, together with other girls from their village would join in to prepare and witness the Unveiling. The Unveiling is the first time an aenial shows his or her wings; a mark that they are now adults. Every child of the Aenialle looked forward to becoming an official part of society where they could vote, marry, and choose their career.

This year she dreaded the ceremony.

"Let's go Eumelia!" Her mother called out to her. The sun had just set and dusk is slowly settling in. She donned her white smock with a grimace. Yet another reminder that her time has not yet come. This year, Euphemia and Cassadia will take part in the ceremony. She will be the only one left among her circle of friends without wings.

"Eumelia we will be late!"

"Yes, mother!" She placed the crown of bright blue and silver feathers over her rich black hair- her father's last memento. She has yet to grow her own and she despaired each day that passes by without any sign that she will have her own.

She stepped out into the cool night air. Bright points of light hovered all over the clearing.

"Finally," her mother clucked disapprovingly. She gave her a once-over and fussed over her hair. "Smile, Eumelia."

She forced a smile. She didn't want to disappoint her mother. It was bad enough that her father died when she was very young, but being unable to fly is much worse. She felt her time running out.

"Your time will come too." She raised her eyes to her mother. Her mother knew what she was thinking of without her saying a word.

"But-" Mother shook her head. She wanted to protest. She had been waiting for years and they both knew it. Both Euphemia and Cassidia are younger than her. Their tribesmen are starting to whisper behind their back.

"Stop seeing shadows where there are none." It was so easy to believe that everything would be alright, but her daily life had been anything but easy.

She was tired of waiting--a kind of waiting that required patience and faith for there was no specific time of when her wings will come. Or will it ever come? It was not the question that terrified her, but the answer. As years went by, the slightest of hopes that she has been holding on to is slowly fading away- like how a candle melts as it gives light to a dark place. For how long the candle can stay, she didn't know.

They reached the clearing. Her mother offered to carry her to one of the higher branches of the trees but she refused. She has learned to compensate her lack of wings by being lithe of limb. She reached the branch her mother perched on almost at the same time. She squeezed beside another family who came earlier and their younger children.

The children looked curiously at her and she smiled down at them. She heard the little boy whisper loudly.

"She doesn't have wings..." The boy's mother shushed him. She felt a sting behind her lids and quickly averted her eyes. She felt her mother's arm around her shoulders.

There was a hush. Several pairs of young white-robed men and women entered the circle of torchlight in the middle of the clearing. They have not been seen for the past five months while they grew out their wings. Tonight they will be welcomed by the elders.

Light and Shadow, Wind and Sea

Let thou welcome the blessings of thy Fathers

Hope for the Future, we welcome thee

Spread thy wings, show thy feathers,

We wait for thy coming

The Golden One's blessing

The chief elder's voice rang clear in the clearing.

Words were exchanged. The new adults all shed their robes one by one and showed off their bright plumage to the admiration of the onlookers. They beat their wings for the first time and dust and feathers rose in the clearing. They clasped hands and the elders blessed them with a shower of different colored powders and fragrant petals. The group beat their wings together. This is a crucial part of the ritual.

A winged full-grown aenial must be able to fly. Flight is what marked their race.

She watched her friends test their new wings. Their wings beat an unsure cadence before they slowly gained confidence. Their final test: one must jump over the edge of the cliff that marked the end of their village and fly back to the top of the Tritran, the oldest and tallest tree in their mountain kingdom. To fail means sudden death for the drop is hundreds of miles long and the bottom was full of jagged rocks. Beyond the Tritran also lies the border to their kingdom, the Forbidden Forest. The place is ripe with deadly animals and other creatures of nightmare. Beyond the forest is much, much worse... the kingdom of Nemesis the evil warlock whose powers drained the very earth of sustenance.

Everyone held their breath as one by one the young winged ones went over the edge on their first flight. The crowd would gasp every time someone would slip down. They would only be able to breathe when they see them emerge and fly towards their destination. It was a great success this year. All of them passed.

Eumelia went down her perch to congratulate her friends. She pushed past the excited crowd to reach them. Everyone was cheering and the music and dancing started.

"Euphie, Cassia you look beautiful!" She took their hands. The smile vanished from their faces upon seeing her.

"Oh, it's just you Eumelia." Euphemia pulled her hand away. "Thanks." Eumelia felt there was something wrong. Everyone was staring and pointing at her. She cast her eyes downward.

"I was just... I mean I'm really happy for you." She mumbled.

"Um, well let's celebrate then!" Someone in the crowd said. "Let's race to the Tritran!" Eumelia raised her head. She saw all of her former friends spread their wings, laughing and giggling. Others have launched to a game among the trees already.

"Uh, wait!" She called out to them but they were already too high in the sky.

"Look, she still has no wings."

"Is she really aenial?"

"Poor girl."

She didn't like being pitied but what could she do? Everywhere she looked she saw pity in her people's eyes. She began to draw back from the crowd.

"She's too old. Maybe she'll never grow her wings."

She turned and fled.