I'd been alternating from walking to flying for hours without sleep. I was scared to sleep because if I did, it would be harder for anyone to heal my family.
I’d seen Mary flying above when I was walking on the ground and raced to try and catch up with her, using the bit of stored up energy to pick up my own pace. She’d finally noticed me and had slowed down, but once she got a good look at me, she landed so I could explain without exhausting myself.
"My family needs help. I need to heal them. They told me to go to the nest nearby. They need help, Mary. Their bodies are cold, and the heart sound is gone," I cried, unable to hold my tears back any longer.
Mary wrapped her double wings around me, holding me against her warm body. The hug reminded me of Mommy's warm hugs she gave me at bedtime, prompting me to cry harder.
"Take me there. By the time we get to the nest and back, it will be two days, and another storm is approaching," Mary comforted.
"My wings hurt," I confessed. I didn't think I could manage flying for a while. Each flap was painful, and I was already struggling to stay awake.
"No worries, my dear. You'll ride on my back. I want you to take a nap once you show me which direction," Mary encouraged.
"But..."
Mary lowered her head to press against my forehead. "No buts, little one. You're far too young to be taking such a journey alone. Let me help you. Just rest."
"Okay."
She pulled away and stretched her wings out, two large purple and white ones at the top and two at the bottom. She then lowered to the ground, just like Aaron and Alec would, making me whimper as I hopped on.
"Don't cry yet, my dear. Let's see how bad it is when we get there. Which way?" She requested.
"That way." I pointed to where I'd come from with my wing. "I walked and flew straight the whole time."
"Okay, my dear. What's your name little one?"
"Arielle. Mommy said I'm a hybrid" I replied.
"A hybrid. I can tell you have harpy in you, but I sense your fire magic. Did they call you a phoenix harpy?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Ah. Makes sense now. Alright, Arielle. Let's go try to save your family. I'm not a strong healer, but if they're still fighting, I'll try my best," Mary vowed.
"Thank you, Mary. I love you," I cried.
"Aww, Arielle. I love you too. Just rest and leave it to Auntie Mary to take you back home."
I made sure I was securely in place on her back, and she pushed off the ground, soaring above into the multi-colored sky. The sun was already setting, so we wouldn't get back until it was night or maybe even morning.
My eyes trailed over to the vines that still strapped around me, and I looked at the pink button that remained on my back.
I got help for everyone. I'm coming to heal you.
"Arielle. We're here."
I opened my heavy eyes to look up, wondering where Mommy and the others were. "Mommy?" I asked with confusion.
"Oh dear. You need to wake up so you can show me where your family is. We don't have much time," Mary urged, glancing up at the sky. The sky was becoming cloudy and dark, the similar sky triggering my memory of the Dark birds approaching.
"The Dark birds! Are they coming again?!" I panicked, flapping my wings to get off Mary's back.
She shook her head. "I don't sense anything approaching, but the rain will be harder than two days ago. Are we close to your family, Arielle?" Mary asked.
I scanned the area in haste, realizing Aaron would be the closest as my foggy thoughts cleared and I remembered my current predicament.
"Aaron isn't too far ahead!" I announced. Mary must have flown over our nest first and landed at the entrance.
I struggled to fly over to the bundle of leaves I'd placed, unable to hold myself for too long before dropping to the ground. My efforts were enough to get me to Aaron, and I moved the leaves that contained a significant amount of water on them, making it hard for me to pull in my tired state.
Mary reached me as I pulled the last leaf with enough force that it knocked me over into a muddy puddle. She gasped, which didn't sound good, prompting me to scurry up to look up at her.
"Mary, can you heal him?" I asked. She blinked a few times and tears pooled in her soft purple eyes as she shook her head from side to side.
"Arielle. I'm sorry. He's gone," Mary whispered.
"Gone where? He's coming back, right? I...I told him I'd bring help. I said the same with Mommy and Alec. Even Daddy needs our help. We can't heal them, Mary? Why?" I asked, trying not to break down.
I went all the way to find help, yet Mary couldn't save them? Maybe I should try again to reach the new nest, but the storm might come soon.
Mary stared down at me and shook her head, picking up on my new resolve. "No one can heal them, Arielle. Not even you. Your brother's flame is gone. He's dead, my dear."
"Dead. Aaron won't come back?" I asked.
"No, Arielle."
I lowered my head at Aaron's body, walking up to press my head against his. "Aaron. I brought help. But. But, you’re dead. Was I too slow?" I whimpered.
"Arielle, you weren't too slow. It’s just, the journey to the nest would take you two to three days. With the rain and everything, he wouldn't have been able to live long enough, my dear. It's not your fault," Mary explained.
"Maybe Mommy's still there. Maybe she took a nap and is waiting for me! Aaron, I'll be back, and we'll make you a nice place to sleep like they did for that older phoenix," I suggested.
The least I could do was conduct the farewell ceremony. That's what Mother called it. It was when you placed a phoenix that had no flame in a nice cozy bed and said your goodbyes. Then you lit them up with your flame.
Father said the fire would help burn the phoenix to ash and they would rise from their ashes to start a new life elsewhere.
"Mary! Let's go to Mommy. We'll do a farewell ceremony for Aaron and probably Daddy. But at least Mommy and Alec can come!" I stressed.
She looked down at me with sad eyes but nodded, and I hopped forward as quickly as I could forward. I felt something pick me up, Mary holding me up with her beak and spreading her wings out, lifting us into the air.
"THERE!" I shouted at the broken branch that had leaves on top of Mother. We landed carefully, not wanting the disruption to cause the branches to collapse further.
"Mommy. I brought Mary to help," I announced as Mary lowered me to stand in front of her. I moved the leaves, using as much strength as I could to reveal Mother’s still form.
I looked up at Mary with hopeful eyes, but more tears rolled down her cheeks as she shook her head. I felt my feathered shoulders sink in disappointment as I slowly turned back to Mother.
"Is Mommy gone too?" I asked.
"Yes, Arielle. Mommy's gone as well," Mary replied quietly.
I nodded, lowering my head to Mother's and brushed her wet, cold feathers. "Mommy I tried. I brought help for you and Aaron and Daddy. I'll go help Alec and then...then we'll do a ceremony for you too. You can be right next to Aaron. He'd like that. He loved when you cuddled him and sang. I like your singing too. Maybe...maybe you can sing one more time? Huh, Mommy?" My beak trembled as I tried not to break down again.
There's still hope. Alec. He took a nap, right? He just went to play with everyone; he'll be back if I call out to him.
I lifted up into the air, not caring about how my wings didn't want to flap anymore. I just had to get to Alec. Even if I lost Mother, Father, and Aaron, at least if I saved Alec, my efforts wouldn't go to waste. We could cry together and then go to the nest with Mary.
I heard Mary’s wings behind me, but I focused on the path ahead, my eyes landing on Alec's and Father's bundle of leaves.
I tripped when I tried to land, falling straight into a puddle of mud and blood.
"Arielle!" Mary called out, and my body was lifted up. I fluttered my wings, trying to shake off as much mud and blood as I could, but I didn't delay any longer.
Every second I waste mea
ns it will be harder to heal Alec.
"Mary, down please," I begged. She lowered me to the ground, and I rushed over to Alec, beginning to move the leaves from his body.
"Alec! I'm here. You can wake up now! I'm here with Mary who can heal. She can heal you, and we'll go to the nest together. Mother and Aaron are gone, but I still have you. Alec?" I called out.
He remained still, and I began to nudge his head. "Alec, please? You have to wake up. Mary can't heal you unless you wake up. Alec?"
"Arielle."
I paused, looking over my shoulder to see Mary's sad eyes.
"No."
"Ari-"
"NO! You have to try. Please, Mary. Please, I beg you! I can't...I can't lose everyone. Who will tuck me in at night? Who will sing to me when I'm sad like Mommy does? Who will get me nice food like Daddy? Who will play with me like Alec?! Who will let me fly on their back like Aaron? Who...who...will keep me company? Mary...I...I'm lonely. Please? Can't you save just one of them? Please..."
Mary cried quietly and lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Arielle. I can't heal the dead. They're gone. I'm so sorry."
I stood there in silence, opening my beak to speak but a sob broke out. I closed my mouth and shut my eyes, squeezing them as tightly as I could.
It's just a bad dream. A nightmare. My family is alive. I'm just sleeping and need to wake up.
"Arielle. If you want the ceremony, we need to do it soon. It's about to rain, and once it grows in intensity, it will be impossible to burn their bodies," Mary disclosed.
"No...this is a nightmare. I want to wake up," I argued.
"Ari," Mary sighed.
I trembled in agony, just praying to wake up. I felt feathers wrap around me, holding me against a warm body. Mommy?!
I opened my eyes to look up, thinking I'd see Mother's vibrant eyes that always greeted me when I woke up from nightmares, but Mary's sad purple ones met mine instead.
"This isn't a dream, Arielle. I'm sorry."
Tears pooled in my eyes, slowly falling down my cheeks as I stared up at her in despair. She lowered her head to press against mine, and I couldn't fight it anymore.
Sob after sob began to escape me and, in seconds, I wailed loudly. I wept as Mary held me in her warm hold.
"Mommy! Daddy! Aaron! Alec! Come back! I'm here!" I cried, but I was finally realizing they would never come back. I would never again hear the sound of their chirping or praise. They left me behind, and now I was alone.
Alone...
I stared down at Mother, Aaron, and Alec's bodies that were nestled in a circle. We'd left enough space for Father's body to fit between Mother and Alec, and I waited for Mary to bring his remains over. She told me to guard the others while she worked on removing the tower of branches.
There were ravens around, poking and eating the other dead phoenix familiar remains. Once we finished the ceremony for my family, we'd set the rest of the place on fire, ensuring no other bodies were left. That way their ashes could rise as well.
I heard Mary's talons from afar, and I lifted my head to see her carrying Father's body on her back. She reached my side and positioned herself so that she could lower Father's body in place. His feathers were dried with blood and a few sticks stuck out of his back.
"You should be ready, Arielle."
I gazed upon my family, the loving familiars who'd raised me up to this point. They had loved me and made my short life the best it could be. As I stared at their bodies, I realized just how blessed I had been.
Who cared about the bullying or the teasing? Who cared about the physical pain I endured during lessons and the trips and falls? The pain I felt now was deep within my heart, and the loneliness was hard to bear. Everything from the past I could have healed from. With a little leaf band-aid, the pain would have gone away.
The pain in my heart from the loss of my family, I knew would never vanish. Maybe it would dull or ache, but I would always feel the pain and, at this point, I didn't think anyone or anything could fill the wound.
"I...don't know what to say," I whispered.
"Say whatever comes to your mind. Then I'll sing, and you do what you have to when you're ready," Mary soothed.
I slowly nodded, letting how I felt come out in words.
"Dear Family. Thank you. I'm happy to have had an awesome family like you. Thanks, Daddy, for always bringing the best dinner and protecting us from evil birds. Thanks, Mommy, for loving me and always being my comforter. Thank you, Aaron and Alec, for being the best brothers I could ever ask for. You protected me and always cheered me up. I love all of you. I'll work hard and be strong for you all. You'll watch me, right? I hope to make you all proud." I broke down and bawled.
"I love you. I'll never forget any of you," I vowed. I took a final glance at their bodies, blinking away my tears so I could get a clear image of all of them. I closed my eyes for a moment, envisioning their happy faces staring at me. Goodbye.
I turned my gaze up to Mary, opening my eyes to see her nod in understanding, her own tears rolling down her feathered cheeks.
"Let the Farewell Ceremony begin."
Mary began to sing, her voice flowing on the breeze that passed as the sky darkened. I took a deep breath, feeling the heat of my flame inside me. The flame that my family gave me. Rise from the ashes and be free.
I blew out a stream of fire that hit their bodies, blowing until all four of them were engulfed in flames. I held back my tears, standing proudly as Mary continued the song. They deserved to see the strong me. That was the least I could do for them.
The sounds of the fire disintegrating their bones made me shiver, but I stood my ground. We watched their remains burn until all that was left was black and grey ashes. Mary finished the hymn she sang and placed her wing across my back, patting me gently.
"Bye Mommy, Daddy, Aaron, and Alec. I love you," I whispered.
I looked to the ground and began to hop away, too tired and sad to try and fly. I'd go and cry my heart out alone. There was no point in going to the other nest if they were gone.
"Arielle? Look," Mary whispered. I only turned around due to the astonishment in Mary's voice. My eyes landed on the circle of ashes but grew wide in shock.
A large amber magic circle appeared on the floor, and the four places where my family's bodies had once been began to glow in purple and pink light.
Their ashes lifted from the ground and slowly, the glow expanded until all four balls of light combined into one large one. I looked up at Mary in awe as four phoenix silhouettes burst out of the ball. They soared up and danced around one another before they hovered above us.
I noticed two larger birds that reminded me of Mother and Father, and the two smaller ones that looked like Aaron and Alec.
Even though it was nothing but an outlined image, I could feel their pride and joy through the emotions that ran through my mind as they stared directly at me.
Thank you, Arielle. We love you.
I felt the tears course down my cheeks at the words that echoed in my mind, the voices resonating like my family were alive and were speaking them in unison.
"Bye, everyone. I love you too," I wept, lifting my wings up as if to wave goodbye.
My eyes followed their movements as they darted into the sky, moving higher and higher until their silhouettes were lost in the dark clouds above.
Just like that, they were gone, and it was at that moment the first droplet of rain fell.
"Arielle, I think we should leave," Mary suggested.
We took shelter under a square wooden sheet that was big enough to cover Mary's taller frame. I still huddled next to her, feeling cold and empty as I watched the rain fall. I didn't know how I should feel. Sad? Angry?
I felt numb and lonely, even though Mary was snuggled right next to me. It was like there was a film over my awareness, and her existence barely touched the surface of it.
"Arielle. We need to leave." The hard tone of Mary’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I lifted my
head to notice she was staring ahead, her purple eyes reflecting anger.
"Why?" I asked.
"Dark birds are coming. They still look far off and may not come here, but we should leave just in case," Mary explained.
"Okay," I replied. I should have been frightened by the announcement, yet it didn't faze me. In fact, I wondered if there was any point to leaving. If they came back and took my flame, I would be with my family again. But they told me to be strong. That means I can't...die, right?
"Arielle, close your eyes for a moment," Mary suggested.
"Why?" I asked again.
"I have something to give you." She gave me a small smile, which was enough to motivate me to close my eyes. With a large sigh, I did as she asked.
Mary had asked for my pink button earlier, wanting to clean the remaining blood from it. I hadn't argued, seeing that I knew she wouldn't take the last possession I had of my family. It was a symbol that they had once lived and were proud that I'd learned how to fly with Ms. Free's help. She's just giving the button back. What's the point of closing my eyes for?
"Alright, Arielle. You can open them," Mary announced. I opened my eyes, expecting to see my pink sparkly button, which I did in a way. However, the added features made my eyes grow wide and my beak drop open in astonishment.
My pink button was as shiny as ever, but what blew me away was the assortment of feathers. I could tell right away there were two each from Father, Mother, Aaron, and Alec.
Mother's and Father's feathers were on the left half, while Aaron's and Alec's were on the right half. The stems of the feathers were pinned down thanks to a long vine that resembled thread. It was threaded into the four little holes in the button, securely keeping the feathers attached. There were two vine loops, one on each side, that were big enough for me to slide my wings through like a backpack.
Mary had a pleased smile on her face, her eyes twinkling with joy. "I know you feel hollow right now and this may not be much, but at least this way, when you carry this on your back, you'll have a part of your family with you at all times."
Arielle Rainbow (Familiar Blessed Chronicles Book 1) Page 4
