Blue Raptor
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Let’s say it’s night now, does that sound good? (Btw, time difference in Pantala, it’s going to be almost sunset if it’s night in Pyrrhia, morning in Parsealia)
Cicada waited on a large platform for the escort guard. A LeafWing guard stood nearby, keeping an eye on her. She couldn’t see over the tops of the trees, but through the dense foliage, looking east, she could just make out the flaming colors of the receding sun. She heard talonsteps behind her and turned. Acacia tied off a loaded belt around her waist and stepped next to Cicada. “Let’s go.” She said with a light smile. Cicada’s eyes widened. “You’re bringing me home?” She said in surprise. Acacia nodded. “Might as well.” She lifted her wings and flapped up with an ‘oof.’ “I feel like it gets harder to fly every time I take off. Seriously.” She said with a struggling laugh. Cicada rose into the air beside her as they began to fly southwest.
The LeafWing queen was twice her size, and every inch the grand, imposing queen she’d remembered. *The oldest queen in Pantala.* She remembered from her history lesson. *Wow.*
The two flew on for a while over the treetops until the sun was visible, barely a half-circle as it vanished into the sea. They finally reached the edge of LafWing territory, and the edge of the jungle. The savanna spread hugely before them, the grass a molten gold color as the sun dyed everything the color of its fading rays. The SilkWing Kingdom lay just beyond view, in the open forests of the high northwest of Pantala. “I’ve been to the edge of the kingdom many, many times.” Acacia saw with a fond smile. “Mostly just to see the savanna. I can’t deny that the HiveWings have the best view of Pantala. Don’t tell my subjects I said this, but I’ve seen many of them gazing out here before. They’re never admit they do it, but they do.” The setting sun shine brightly on the queen’s faded rough scales, filling them with an emerald light.
She turned to the young HiveWing with a gentle look. “You can get home from here, right?” Cicada nodded. “My mother’s at Mantis Hive. It’s not far away.” Acacia smiled again, but her breathing was becoming ragged. A hint of old pain shone in her eyes.
“Go on then.” She said, backing up. “I have to get back.” She faltered a moment, but then steadily began flying back towards the Poison Jungle.
“Thank you!” Cicada called back. She grinned, and flew over the tall golden grass. Back home.
Cicada waited on a large platform for the escort guard. A LeafWing guard stood nearby, keeping an eye on her. She couldn’t see over the tops of the trees, but through the dense foliage, looking east, she could just make out the flaming colors of the receding sun. She heard talonsteps behind her and turned. Acacia tied off a loaded belt around her waist and stepped next to Cicada. “Let’s go.” She said with a light smile. Cicada’s eyes widened. “You’re bringing me home?” She said in surprise. Acacia nodded. “Might as well.” She lifted her wings and flapped up with an ‘oof.’ “I feel like it gets harder to fly every time I take off. Seriously.” She said with a struggling laugh. Cicada rose into the air beside her as they began to fly southwest.
The LeafWing queen was twice her size, and every inch the grand, imposing queen she’d remembered. *The oldest queen in Pantala.* She remembered from her history lesson. *Wow.*
The two flew on for a while over the treetops until the sun was visible, barely a half-circle as it vanished into the sea. They finally reached the edge of LafWing territory, and the edge of the jungle. The savanna spread hugely before them, the grass a molten gold color as the sun dyed everything the color of its fading rays. The SilkWing Kingdom lay just beyond view, in the open forests of the high northwest of Pantala. “I’ve been to the edge of the kingdom many, many times.” Acacia saw with a fond smile. “Mostly just to see the savanna. I can’t deny that the HiveWings have the best view of Pantala. Don’t tell my subjects I said this, but I’ve seen many of them gazing out here before. They’re never admit they do it, but they do.” The setting sun shine brightly on the queen’s faded rough scales, filling them with an emerald light.
She turned to the young HiveWing with a gentle look. “You can get home from here, right?” Cicada nodded. “My mother’s at Mantis Hive. It’s not far away.” Acacia smiled again, but her breathing was becoming ragged. A hint of old pain shone in her eyes.
“Go on then.” She said, backing up. “I have to get back.” She faltered a moment, but then steadily began flying back towards the Poison Jungle.
“Thank you!” Cicada called back. She grinned, and flew over the tall golden grass. Back home.