Chapter Six: "THE PROPHECY AEREIS"

The four creatures flew across the desert. A dried-blood-red Salrahn watched them flying. “Don’t they know where they are? Hmmm, better report this to General Sand Shark. Oh wait, he’s not here. So, report it to…uh…Firefly maybe. Can’t report it to anyone else, no sir.” The Salrahn thought. He looked at them once more, and left.

The Zofs, they called themselves, had heatstroke. Zela was actually doing well, considering she lived in the desert and the Flower Cove during the winter. Her eyes were bright and clear. Ora, due to just being a Ghibli in general, was naturally adapted. Flower however, that was another case. Her head drooped and she let her tongue loll out, panting. Her legs were no longer tucked in like for most flying techniques, but just hanging now. Her tail was failing too now. Sweat dripped off her body as her body tried to cool her down. SunDrop would be flying in happy loops as she saw the sun, but once they eached the Redwoods she was hot. The desert, now she was officially dead. Juvenile Norskogg aren’t meant to fly for long till they become adults, gaining their special magic flying trail.

“C-can we…stop” SunDrop wheezed. The band looked over to their left, and saw a large mountain looming in the distance. “Ora? With your…Ghibli’s eyesight, you can tell us how far that…thing is.” SunDrop said.

Ora looked. “Hmm, about a good hour’s worth of flying. Maybe half if we catch a wind current.” They sighed. After about a week’s worth of desert, the Zofs were ready to try anything.

They were there. A couple of what look to be tier 5 bones stuck out of the wall of the mountain. The Zofs quickly landed and got comfy. The mountain blocked some of the sun’s light, providing a safe haven for them. “I’ll go out to get food.” Zela yawned. She got up and leapt into the sky, gliding on a complicated series of wind currents. The Wardens knew where she would find berries in the desert, but find them she will. First, Zela knew where she needed to go. Down, down, down she spiraled on the burrows. A Knalriki stuck its head out, and knew its doom was here.

Zela’s gold breath sprayed over the creature, blurring its vision immensely. She pounced on the thrashing creature, bite down on its belly. It flipped over and stabbed her tail with its stinger. She jumped at it, raking her claws down its face. It bit her ear, leaving an ugly nick.

It squealed and pinned her down. With her hind legs she kicked it hard in the stomach. It reeled back and winced. She leapt on it once more, and bit down on its neck. It turned its head to her and nodded. She knew it knew it died to feed someone.

Turning to the nearest cactus, she carefully picked off the juicy, delicate flowers with her nimble blood-stained claws, carefully tucking a few into her mane.

Flower looked sadly at the petals. “There is so little.” SunDrop nodded in agreement. “At least I can share with only Zela.” Flower looked at her and walked over to the Knalriki. Ora dipped her beak into the soft, tender flesh and took a big sip of the blood. She then tore into its stomach and ate a large chunk of meat.

Flower just stared. She looked at its face, and turned its head so she needn’t stare at the creature. Ora licked her lips in satisfaction. SunDrop loved the taste of the new flowers of was too, very content. Zela liked the flowers as well. Flower still felt nervous on eating creatures, though she must admit it was filling and tasty.

As the night air settled over Sonaria, the desert cooled down enough for them to sleep. Tiredly, they flew down to the cave at the mountain’s bottom and slept, the cool mist of the waterfall making them feel right at home, especially Flower.

The next day, they awoke as the sun started to rise. The lovely golden light pierced through the shade, bringing back to warmth of the desert. The four got up in shock at what they saw.

A small Aereis stood in front of them. Her body was tan, and she had dapples of blue-black and white. Her halo seemed like it should glow, but wasn’t quite there. “What an odd sight.” They all thought.

She looked at them with her big black eyes. “Hello there. Who might you be?” The four looked at each other. “I’m Zela, and this is Ora, Flower and SunDrop. Together, we are the Zofs.” The Aereis nodded. “Well then, my name is Oracle. I see you happened to crash in my misty nook, though I have no problem sharing it.”

Oracle got up and bent down near the waterfall, taking a drink. Her elegant tail swayed in the morning mist. Oracle was a very elegant, thin and pretty Aereis. Zela wondered how she didn’t have a mate, as according to her fur and feathers she was about 35.

She sat back down again, and nodded. “So, indeed I do know what you are doing. You are the four of the prophecy. Fair, Beauty, Pure and Elegant you are.” Oracle knew the prophecy by heart. She looked up to Visteria. “Did you know, this cave is the exact place

Visteria died?” They looked shocked and all looked at the ground. Surely enough, the blue blood of the Equenix was here, though faint. The smell would soon wash away. “I know you all must want Visteria to tell you what you are to do. Well, there is a way. Visteria’s spirit is still here, and I can help you find her.”

Next Chapter: Chapter Seven: "VISTERIA"

Previous Chapter: Chapter Five: "BATTLE PLANS"