Lillia's Tale, pt II

She spent many days in mourning flying down to the valley and sunning on the tall, cool grass. Every night, at moonbreak, she would soar to the top of the cliff and sing the mourning songs. Her screeches and bellows echoed off of the valley, surrounding her with the cacophony of her pain. On the tenth day, she realized she was not alone.

Her head spun around and she scanned the landscape looking for this invader. catching sight of a winged creature perched in a tree in the distance she wondered, "Could it be..." Of course not, it was so far away; but it was so big. If it were merely a bird she would not be able to see it from where she perched. If this was one from her mother's clan they would have to approach her. She was the daughter of an outcast even though she committed no sin.

Her mother had drilled into her head that the first approach was always to be made by a full clan member. She had dreamed of the day when a clan member would approach both her and her mother and reinstate them into the clutch. They would accept her as family, and teach her their history, their ways. They would show her things her mother could not.

Lillia's scattered thoughts came back to the present as she realized that the far away vision was definately flying closer. It most assuredly was no bird. It had to be one of the clan.

She continued staring directly at the approaching figure with a look of wonder on her face. The figure's details grew as it's proximity grew closer. The look of wonder on Lillia's face turned into a look of awe. Lillia was not being approached by just any Cathmari. This Cathmari had the royal plumage.

The figure hovered above her like an ethereal being. Blue and green/golden feathers ruffled in the breeze as they glowed with an other-worldly brilliance. He slowly lowered himself onto the ground, wings beating, talons brushing his hips.

"Are you the child of Zhalim?"

Lillia began nodding slowly, not sure how to answer the most royal of her mother's clan. Lillia's clan.

"We have heard your cries. Your mother's death is a great sadness to us." In one painfully sweeping glance he looked her over, his eyes showed no displeasure, but she could almost sense a strange tension. "You are alone now?"

Lillia nodded again, daring not to speak in case she offend.

"Your mother's sins are not yours. You are allowed back into the clan. Her death releases you from the binds of her shame. You shall exist among us as a relished part of the clutch. Gather your possessions and fly to this cliff's edge. One of you sisters shall meet you here at dawn and lead you to the clutch." He glanced at her wings curiously, his voice lowered and he spoke with the same curiosity which was apparent in his eyes, "You CAN fly can you not?"

Again Lillia nodded. He returned her nod and outstretched his wings in one fluid motion. As he began flapping them Lillia timidly spoke for the first time, "Good flight to you. And thank you." Her words were lost in the soft fluttering of his wings. He seemed to understand her meaning anyway, and nodded again majestically before taking off.

Lillia watched after him until he had crossed the valley. She breathed deeply she flew back to the cave which had been her home for so many years.

She had been waiting on the edge of the cliff for quite a long time after dawn. So long that Lillia was beginning to have thoughts. Horrible thoughts of betrayal and lost faith wafted through her head - What if he was only joking with me? After giving false hopes, he is now back with them telling about the monstrosity he saw today and how she is probably waiting in the same spot they had met, anxiously awaiting the open arms of the clutch. Oh how they would laugh. Laugh at the daughter of Zhalim for her pathetic hopes of joining their clutch.

Just as she was about to give up all hope and go back to the cave, secure in the knowledge she would be forever alone, she saw a figure growing ever closer.

-How dare I have such thoughts. Mother said that they are fair. She said that they would not look upon me as a freak, an abomination. That I am a mystical creature to them and that I would be treated with respect if ever given the opportunity to be brought into the clutch. I should never have harbored such thoughts.

The person drew closer and closer. Lillia stared at the figure, transfixed by the sight which gave her so much hope.