Bringing her deeper into the huge maw of the cave, I open my wings, the stars on my feathers illuminating the sandy-stone wall. "Here," I tell her, indicating where some of the many wall etchings begin. I watch as Zahreenah steps closer, her adorable little brow scrunching as she tries to make out the drawings and writings first made here, many generations ago.
"I can read it!" she gasps, tracing a finger over the written word of my ancestors. "The Punishment," she reads aloud.
I nod my head. "Your... trans-late-tor gift from the Goddesses is truly remarkable."
Around the words are depictions of dead or dying females. I squint, realizing that the drawings have the Trixikka figures sporting mounds on their chests, just like the mesmerizing ones my Zahreenah has. Though they do not have her starless skin, wingless back, orfascinatingtailless rump. "We did not treat our females kindly," I say, turning back to the etchings. "Their wings were clipped and they were imprisoned here in the Eyrie Caves. The Goddesses witnessed our disgrace and saw fit to punish us by sending a sickness, taking our females from us," I explain, moving on to the next area where the drawings continued. This section read 'The Salvation'. "With only males to our tribe, our future seemed lost. We prayed and prayed for salvation. We swore we would right our wrongs. I have heard stories that some even tore all their feathers from their wings to try and appease the Goddesses. And one day, they sent their answer."
Zahreenah's face is rapt with attention as she studies the ancient etchings on the wall. I flare my wings further, giving her more light, and touch my fingertips to the drawing of one of the temples. "One day, the Temples arrived. My ancestors knew they were an answer from the Goddesses and so we brought our offerings of meat, feathers, and life-stone straight to the strange temple, and one day, they spoke to us, told us to make offerings of our seed and in return, our females inside will choose whether we are worthy to bear children for." I watch as Zahreenah strokes a finger down a depiction of the first son to ever be delivered from the Temple."
"Hold up," she says, pausing to look up at me. "Offerings of your seed?... Of your...?"
She is making a gesture to where my cock lay beneath my loincloth and I must confess, it is a struggle to not excite the skin-stars that will race toward the current focus of her attention. "Yes," I tell her, not sure why the subject should feel anything but ordinary. "We fill our seed pot and give it to the Goddesses for our females within the temple to accept or reject."
Zahreenah's nose scrunches adorably. "So that sparkly stuff Aloryk gave me was his-... Oh, my God! You guys have glittery jizz?"
"If I am understanding your trans-late-tor correctly, yes, our seed is flecked with life." Zahreenah's lips press together like she is trying to hold in her amusement. The expression is both curious and adorable. "What is it?"
"Nothing!" she says, though I do not suspect it is nothing. Nevertheless, she turns back to the etchings on the cave wall. "Are you sure that it's Goddesses inside that...Temple?" she asks, tracing the rough shape with her fingertips.
"Goddesses, and our females. What else might it be? What else could give us sons?"
She does not answer but continues on, studying the drawn scene in front of her, the light from my skin-stars illuminating her soft face in a soft green glow. "There's more than one?" she asks, finding the other depictions of Temples.
"Yes, two others. Once, our people were of one tribe. We all lived here in the Elder Caves. After The Punishment and when the Goddesses deemed us worthy of salvation, they sent three Temples. One to the foot of each mountain on our island. Our tribe separated into three, each choosing a High Spear to lead them and to serve the Temples. Fortune did not smile upon one of the tribes. Their Temple was overrun and destroyed by a band of mimyckah. The other two are ours and High Spear Zarriko's to protect."
Zahreenah touches the depiction of one mimyckah, the deadly creatures that can echo any sound they hear."Demon-chimps” she mutters to herself before turning swiftly, eyes bright as she asks, "there is another tribe? Could they help find the others?"
My stomach twists. The longer the Trixikka people have lived in separate tribes, the more territorial we have naturally become. Never have I heard of one tribe asking aid of the other and rarely do our tribes mix. Sometimes, hunting parties will cross paths but we generally try to stay separate. They have their Temple of females to protect, and we have ours. An inner war wages within me but I quell it as best I can. Yes, I cannot deny, I would like to find all of Zahreenah's fellow females and keep them safe within my tribe. Goddess knows my Protectors are keen to find more females to perhaps ignite their own heart-stars. But Zarriko will claim any females his people find.
Should that mean they should not be found, though? Absolutely not.
These females are defenseless against the wild of the forest and I would slumber more easily in my nest knowing they are being protected by the Trixikka, even if not by my own tribe's Protectors. "We will see about sending word to High Spear Zarriko," I say, swallowing the knot in my throat, adding, "I'm sure he will be keen to aid the search."
Try as I may, I cannot help the way my jaw tightens at the thought.
Chapter 11
SERENA
When we return to the village from the caves high up on the mountain, both Bea and Alana have woken. "They are weak and must drink the broth," one of the older Trixikka males tells me. "This one refuses." He indicates to Bea.
"I told her they're the good guys," Chastity sighs beside me, helping to feed Alana.
Looking around, I notice the small hut is crammed with Trixikka muscle and feathers. Tails flicking, anxiously. "I think it might be best if us human girls had some space."
Nothing.
The men are utterly transfixed, obviously curious to see the new arrivals. "You heard my female," Rynn's voice echoes with authority (myfemale?). "Get out." When all the other bird-men file out, some giving us mournful glances as they go, Rynn is left standing in the corner.
"You too, twinkles," I tell him, standing to try to talk face-to-face though failing miserably. I have to crane my neck just to look up at him.
Rynn leans down to look me in the eye. His are sparkling like a turquoise tropical sea. "I do not like these names you give me," he says, though there's a shade of amusement in his tone, his tail coming to wrap around my calf. So strange that I'm used to the feel of that now. "And I am High Spear," he says. "I do not take orders."
"Well, now you do,Your High Spearness."
Rynn tilts his chin as he regards me, his tail giving a little squeeze before he swaggers from the hut, a smirk threatening at the corners of his mouth.
Chastity's eyes are alight when I turn to face the girls. "Don'tyoustart," I snap, coming to sit beside Bea.
