Sunset’s Journey

==Map==
None, I’ll make them later (This is based in U.S.A. and Canada)
==Prologue==
Sunrise’s POV
Sunrise’s wings were drenched but that didn’t slow her down, she had to protect her egg. Sunrise had never meant to have her egg in the middle of a thunderstorm perhaps even avalanche, Don’t think that She scolded herself, it was supposed to be safe in her nest. She shook her feathers If you don’t do this she won’t survive and her father will never meet her She grasped the egg in her claws and lifted into the air. Suddenly she had a thought Why do I keep calling this egg her Sunrise couldn’t dwell on that she had a job to do. She flew as fast as she could studying the landscape for the cave There She thought relief flooding through her Just a bit further. Sunrise clutched the egg as close as she could her claws were meant for prey not eggs she kept worrying she would drop it. Using the agility being a golden eagle gave her she swooped down to the entrance of the cave with startling speed Be more carefull She thought in dismay checking her egg for cracks None good. “Sunrise you’re back” A familiar voice called “What’s that you have with you”. Sunrise looked up Cliff her mate was standing by the nest on the cave floor “Hi Cliff” Sunrise chirped forcing a smile onto her beak “Our egg”.She nudged it with one wing towards him and Cliff rolled it into the nest. “Great job” Cliff cooed pulling Sunrise in for a quick hug.He went back to the nest wiping the egg with his wings leaving Sunrise standing there panting. There was a ominous rumble from over head Sunrise heard Cliff caw a warning but it was to late she had been crushed by the avalanche. “No” Cliff screeched flapping over to where Sunrise had been a moment ago “You can’t be gone” He wailed miserably “Sunrise I promise you if it’s a girl I’ll name it Sunset to remember the last rays that you shone on us before you died”
==Chapter 1==
7 years later
“Dad how did mom die” Sunset pestered him only to get the usual response “When you’re older sweetie” Cliff replied. Sunset cawed grumpily to herself, That’s what you said 5 years ago She thought bitterly immediately feeling guilty it probably hurt to think about Sunrise’s death. “Sunset” Cliff cawed brightly “Do you want to explore the mountain with me today”. Sunset’s eyes brightened “Really” She chirped “We can” Her face fell a bit “But you never let me go farther than the trees” the trees she was talking about were a small grove of trees a short distance from the cave she lived in. Her father sighed “I think you’re old enough to go further now” He replied making Sunset squeal in delight. Seeing the look on her beak made it hard to be stern “But remember” Cliff crowed as she flew to the entrance “We have to stick together” “I know” She chirped. Cliff rolled his eyes knowing Sunset he knew she would get lost almost immediately, from the moment she had crawled out of her egg she looked mischievous and she still did. Sunset spread her brown, black and grey wings, today was going to be glorious. Cliff hurried out of the nest and cave to where Sunset stood, “Do you promise” He twittered “I promise” Sunset chirruped “You know I wouldn’t leave your side”. Do I Cliff thought sighing You would probably accidentally get lost. Cliff nodded and smiled reluctantly, Sunset beamed at him. Today is going to be awesome Sunset thought still grinning at Cliff who opened his wings with her. “Ready” He asked “Ready” Sunset agreed. Cliff and Sunset leaped into the sky together in a whirl of brown, black and gray.
==Chapter 2==
Sunset giggled as she flew through the air. She had never felt so free before, there had always been borders but now those borders had been ripped down and she was free. “Sunset wait up” A voice called from below her “I’m not as fast as you”. “Sorry father” She paused in the air so Cliff could catch up. “I’m not as young as I used to be” Her father panted “You’re not that old” Sunset twittered down “Are you?”. How old was her father? “Well” Cliff cawed “I haven’t gotten out much, after your mother died I had to keep an eye on you”. She considered this and had another thought while considering what her father said Why had her father kept her alive if she reminded him of her mother, his mate. Sunset repeated her thought to Cliff “Why do you keep me alive if I remind you of Sunrise”. She didn’t notice that her father had shifted air currents “Your mother wouldn’t have wanted it” He replied uncomfortably “And wouldn’t your mother’s death be for nothing if I killed you”. Sunset nodded “I guess you could say that”. There was an uncomfortable beat “Now come on” Cliff cawed a smile spreading across his beak “We have to explore the mountain”. They swooped around the mountain her father pointing stuff out. “There are caves all along this side that other birds live in” He chirped then pointed to the biggest cave at the highest peak with one of his wings “We meet there every 2 moons for things like funerals, help and talking about how everyone was doing”. Sunset nodded “May I explore a bit myself” She pleaded stopping suddenly in the air. Her father regarded Sunset slowly “Are you sure” Cliff asked. Sunset widened her eyes pleadingly “Mhm” She said putting an innocent expression on her beak. Cliff finally nodded. She swooped down so fast she knocked him out of the sky “Sorry” She cawed not looking back. She studied the landscape below her beak dropping in aww, everything was so big.
==Chapter 3==
Most of the days past like this. Sunset was starting to get bored of exploring she wanted something new to explore. I wonder what the outside world is like She caught herself thinking as she stared at the gray-blue sky, her father was flying beside her he was flying faster now that he was out more. The sky was darkening a bit but she didn’t really notice. “I have good news” Cliff cawed “Well for you” “Yes?” Sunset asked. Cliff sighed “I’m going to tell you the story of how your mother died”. Sunset gasped “Really you will”. Was this a good idea Cliff wondered. “Yes” Cliff agreed. Was that reluctance in his voice Sunset thought I’ll ask him about it later. Rain started pouring from the clouds. Thunder rumbled in the clouds making the sky shudder. “It was a day much like this one” Cliff started “Well it was more of a thunderstorm”. Sunset widened her eyes in admiration so her father would know she was listening and that he had her full attention. Cliff smiled in approval as he saw Sunset watching with wide eyes. Yes, I’m finally learning about how my mother died Sunset thought in glee then felt guilt I shouldn’t be so happy, sure I’m learning what I always wanted to… Her thoughts trailed off as her father continued “I was hunting, mice usually come to our cave in a storm, your mother had gone to visit some friends” He stopped to take a breath. Sunset tapped her claws together impatiently, though it was kind of hard while flying. Cliff sighed and started again “I had had a successful hunt and had gone to our nest to wait for Sunrise, she had your egg on the way back”. Not much longer Sunset thought. “And when she returned she was standing by the entrance with your egg, I brought it to the nest while she was catching her breath, a-and then there was avalanche and she didn’t move fast enough” He looked miserable. Sunset felt bad so she flew a bit closer and rubbed his neck with her beak. “We should go” Cliff cawed “The storm is getting worse”. “Just a bit longer” Sunset pleaded. “Fine” Her father sighed. “Race you to the top” Sunset tweeted. Cliff quickly over took her with powerful wing strokes. Then there was a flash of light as quick as lightning and Cliff was falling.
==Chapter 4==
“Father” Sunset wailed “Dad, Cliff”. She tucked in her wings and dived down trying to catch up with her dad. Sunset past her father’s body and spread her wings and waited. Cliff’s body knocked the air out of her. Her dad’s body slipped off her back but if he was still alive, He is alive Sunset thought with determination, she would have broke his fall enough for him to live when he hit the ground. Sunset heard a bone-jarring crack from below her and she knew her father had hit the ground, she had to try really hard not to cry. Sunset slowly lowered herself to the ground. When she reached the the ground Sunset saw the broken body of her father. He has to live She thought miserably, tears filling her eyes. “Dad” She cawed “Come on, you’re safe now, we’ll get help, just get up!”. Sunset pressed himself against Cliff’s body she put her pressed her beak and face into her father’s wet cold feathers. He felt and smelled nothing like the father she’d lived with all her life. He smelled weird and the warmth he had radiated was gone, but now he was a cold wet lump of feathers. Sunset was still crying on her father’s dead body when she felt warmth cross her feathers but it wasn’t the warmth of the sun it was the warmth of birds reassuring her. “Hello” She said glumly not looking up. “Sunset” a female voice said it sounded strangely familiar given she never met any female birds. “How do you know my name” Sunset tried not to wail, her father’s death was not helping her. She looked up and gasped.
==Chapter 5==
She saw two pale figures one that looked like an older version of herself and the second “Father!” She cried spreading her wings to hug him. Cliff smiled at his daughter then tears rolled down Sunset’s cheaks and beak “Your death was my fault” She wailed. Her father spread his pale wings “It wasn’t your fault” He said “And now I can be with your mother. He gestured to the golden eagle who looked like her. My mother, Sunrise, My mother,Sunrise She thought beak dropping Sunrise was beautiful she radiated authority and kindness at the same time. She spread her wings even wider so her mother could come into Sunset’s wings as well. Her parents stepped forward in unison and instead of coming into her wings they spread they’re wings around her. She practically melted into her parents wings, she wanted to stay here forever. “C-can you take me with you” Sunset asked “Can I die and stay with you forever. Sunrise shook her head sadly. “No” Cliff said from above her head “You have a journey to make”. Sunset tilted her beak in confusion. “Didn’t you notice all the storms” Her mother asked. Sunset nodded slightly. “The mountain’s are warming we need the birds to move north”. Sunset’s eyes widened in shock “Really” She cawed in alarm “But won’t you fade first”. Her father laughed “Bird spirits never fade” He chirruped “There’s a place we go to never fade, we would only fade if we stayed out to long” seeing the look of alarm on Sunset’s beak he hurried on “Months I mean. Sunset, you know we would never leave you”. I do? She thought I caused both your deaths. “Really” She asked “Didn’t I kill both of you”. Sunrise shook her head. “No” She replied “We have to go to the meeting”. With her two ghost parents flying beside her they headed to the meeting cave.
==Chapter 6==
Astonished gasped and murmurs eddied around the crowd of golden eagles. Sunset wasn’t sure if it was the dramatic entrance or the two ghost birds beside her, or perhaps both. “Umm” A small bird chirped from the front of the crowd “Who are you and what is that” She pointed to Sunset and her parents. “I’m Sunset” She started “And those are my parents”. Older golden eagles studied her parents. “Cliff” One called “Sunrise”. Sunrise nodded “This is my brother” She whispered to Sunset and then said “Yes Thrush I’m Sunset, we need to make an announcement”. Suddenly a wave of anger washed over Thrush’s face “After all this time” He cawed angrily “You finally come, but only to make an announcement not to comfort us”. Sunset’s father stepped in front of her mother “It doesn’t matter” Cliff twittered “She’s here to save you now”. “Cliff it’s fine” Sunrise told him “I should’ve visited”. Sunset studied the golden eagles, if she would travel with some of them she needed to know there names and faces. “So why are you here” Thrush asked a bit more calm now “You said you needed to make an announcement and Cliff said you were here to save us”. Sunset responded instead of Sunrise “The storms are unusual” Sunset cawed “The mountains are warming we must move north”. The golden eagles gasped again a variety of birds nodded while others shook there heads. “We need volunteers, I’ll lead them” Sunset continued “My parents will help, so anyone willing to help?”. A very old golden eagle shook his head “We can’t risk it” He croaked barely loud enough for her to hear “We don’t even know what we’re looking for”. “But” Sunset chirruped exasperated “We need to, it’s our only hope”. A few more birds shook there heads, light dimmed in younger birds eyes, hope couldn’t be lost yet. “Please” She pleaded “At least let birds choose for themselves”. He shook his head again and sighed “No” The old bird said “I told you we can’t risk it”. “Fine” Sunset cawed angrily. She opened her wings to fly away but then “I’ll go” said a familiar voice.
==Chapter 7==
Sunset whirled around to see who spoke. “Snowstorm” The old golden eagle called in alarm “You can’t”. Snowstorm was the small bird who asked her who Sunset was. “I have to” Snowstorm replied sadness in her eyes “It’s our only hope”. Finally She thought with relief A bird who thinks like me. “Father don’t you understand” Snowstorm whispered so soft Sunset had to strain her ears to hear “We need to do this”. “Rock” Cliff interjected “If she wants to let her”. Rock nodded miserably “Be careful” He cawed to her “And remember you can always come back if you want to”. Snowstorm nodded and smiled at Sunset and Rock. There was more whispering now “I want to come” A bird shouted “Me too” agreed another. There was still birds who shook there heads and said “No” but more of the younger birds raised there wings and asked to join. “We need to find a new home” Sunrise said when Rock, Thrush and a few other older birds started to protest “And if these birds are willing to help us let them”. Cliff nodded to Sunrise’s words while Sunset was amazed how her mother stayed so calm even through all the glares and head shaking. There were at least 30 birds in the mountain and 7 of the birds in this meeting wanted to come on Sunset’s expedition with her. Wow Sunset thought amazed I didn’t think this would work, should I do a speech?. “I would like to thank everyone who has joined me on this perilous mission” Sunset started “All these brave birds will be rewarded with a new home”. Not the great speech I was imagining She thought rubbing her eyes with her feathers Umm now what. The birds who had joined her stood taller and looked more fierce. Some of the older birds started nodding in approval. “I know some of us can’t come with you” Thrush replied “But we can still be proud”. Sunset felt blood rushing to her face in embarrassment, her parents put there wings in pride. “Now what should we do” Snowstorm asked and the others nodded. “Umm?” Sunset replied “Go north?”. She snorted and rolled her eyes “Well let’s go then” Snowstorm grinned.
==Chapter 8==
“Nope, not yet” Sunset replied, Snowstorm tilted her head in confusion “We need to wait for sunrise so we have any idea where we’re going”. “We already have Sunrise” A bird joked flicking his wing at Sunset’s mother. “You need a night’s rest” Sunrise sighed “Then you can have a clear mind in the morning”. Cliff nodded and in a whirl of mist they disappeared. Sunset felt a twinge of loneliness as her parents vanished. Seriously Sunset thought with an internal slap You have to act like a strong leader. “They’re right” Rock agreed with a dry cough “I’ll wake you up at dawn”. “Thanks” Sunset said relieved “Thank you so much”. “It’s the least I could do” The old bird smiled. Snowstorm spread her wings and squeezed her father. “You’re a true hero” Snowstorm said her voice muffled by Rock’s feathers “We’ll always remember you, I’ll try to come back and visit”. Thrush smiled at this he brushed his niece’s wing “You’ll be a great leader” He whispered. Sunset shifted embarrassed “Umm” She replied “Thanks”. The other birds beside her broke off and went to there parents muttering excitedly “A new home” One chirped to his mother. “Come on” Thrush said “You have to go to sleep”. Sunset yawned and nodded sleepily. “Guys” Sunset called “My mom is right we should sleep, thanks again Rock”. Rock nodded politely. “We should get you some bedding” A golden eagle with a baby bird chirped “You should sleep here”. They all nodded in agreement. They waited for something like 10 minutes and then there was a bunch of leaves and hay in front of them. The birds with Sunset murmured thanks and curled up to sleep. Sunset yawned one more time and then she was out.
==Chapter 9==
Sunset woke to wings brushing her shoulder. She looked up, Rock, Thrush and a few other birds were waking up the birds beside her. Sunset blinked then opened her beak “Thanks again” She yawned softly “Let’s hunt”. Suddenly there was a loud thump from outside. “Umm” Sunset asked “What was that?”. A group of five birds swooped and ran in, three were carrying mice, the two others were wearing panicked expressions. Rock got up but an old female bird was quicker “What happened” She demanded “Why are you looking like that”. A bird shook his head dropping his three mice “There was a disease overnight” He choked “Two birds died and six are still terribly ill”. Every bird slumped forward with anguished expressions “Who?” One murmured almost starting to cry. “I’m not sure” Another bird answered “We only got reports”. Thrush shook his head sadly “You lot better get going, this is for older birds to deal with”. “What” A bird with Sunset screeched “You’re telling us to go when you’re in a crisis”. “Cloud” Snowstorm cut in “You can stay if you want but we’re going”. Pine, another bird with Sunset nodded, which was helpful. The sun was starting to rise and they could see its rays inside the dark cave, the 2 birds who hadn’t dropped there mice did. “Eat up” One said “You’re going to need it”. They started forward with uneasy expressions and started to eat. “Are you sure you don’t want any” Sunset asked through a beakfull of mouse “There’s plenty left”. One bird looked like he wanted to say yes but said nothing. The older female who had been faster then Rock shook her head “You young birds need food, there’s plenty more mice”. Once they had finished Sunset walked out of the cave to see the vast world ahead. Wow She thought I’m going out into that big dangerous place, the place I always wanted to be
==Chapter 10==
Category:Original Stories (Unfinished)
Category:Stories
Category:Literature
Category:Fiction
Category:Fantasy
Category:Original Stories