Capítulo 2: Chapter 2: Three years ago
3 years ago
"Welcome to the Aquila-Predonum! Eagle-predators in other words" an eagle welcomed Luna and me as we both walked inside the castle.
I guess our new life starts here. Of course, I was not happy about our parents leaving us all alone but we accepted the fact that we were eagles.
As Luna and I walked inside the huge castle, we could see an eagle-like animal but as they flew closer, we could see three figures. It was a Griffin, a Hippogriff, and a Roc.
The Griffin, had a yellow beak, white feathers on its head, golden wings, two front eagle claws, two lion paws at the back, and a lion tail.
As for the Hippogriff, its beak, front claws were similar to those of the Griffin, except for the head, wings, back paws, and tail; it had a grey head, pale blue wings and the rest of the body is that of a horse. Reminds me of Harry Potter.
The Roc is actually the most powerful of all. He is exactly like an eagle but he was enormous. Its body is covered with white feathers, a dark brown beak and powerful claws. The legend says that he used to hunt elephants, ripped them to pieces, and feed his babies. He also has strong wings that can create blustery wind.
How did I know all of that? I was interested in mythical creatures since I was ten but I did not expect that they would be real. The legendary eagles were in their true form. It looked a bit shocking to us because the world in which we had been living was normal; well now it looks like a hidden world. Can't trust this world I guess.
I looked up at my big sister, Luna, she was totally speechless. She was not really into fantasies so she doesn't really know about all these things. She always says that I'm a strong girl but I can see that she is also strong, to be able to handle all these.
"Welcome newbies!!" the eagle-like creature greeted us warmly. "We are the legendary eagles. Humans usually call us hybrids but we're not. We are born like a legend that is why we are called the legendary eagles. We are the strongest eagles known in this entire kingdom. However, there is one that could be stronger than us too, it has been given the status of 'The Overpowering eagle'. This monster is known for its speed, agility, and aggressivity. Fortunately, it does not exist yet." The legendary eagle said. Are they trying to show off or what? I rolled my eyes.
"By the way, can I know more about the Aquila Predonum?" I asked, interrupting their show-offs. "Of course! This is a group where only unique and legendary eagles are allowed to enter and only 5 types are the unique ones: the bald eagle, the golden eagle, the harpy eagle, the crowned eagle, and finally the black eagle. The legendary ones are the Roc, the Griffin, the Hippogriff, the Orphan bird, and the Phoenix." the Griffin explained. I already knew some of them but I remained silent until a voice broke the silence.
"What is the Orphan bird?" Luna asked. I unexpectedly replied instead of the other eagles. I know what she is thinking 'she really is into these kinda things'
"The Orphan Bird is described as having the body of a crane, the neck and chest of a peacock, the feet of an eagle, and feathers that are black, red, and white. The eggs that are laid in the water are the good and the bad eggs. When the good eggs are laid, it floats on the water and hatches but the bad ones sink until it hatches in total darkness. It is said that the bad one is bound to stay in the darkness forever" I explained. Ok maybe I knew all of them. I looked at Luna, giving her a warm smile.
"You know quite a lot about these things! I'm impressed!!" Roc grinned at me. "I've always wanted to know a lot of things on mythical creatures," I replied. I showed off, feeling proud.
"But there are two things that are not true about this! There is only one egg each that is laid and the bad one won't remain trapped in the darkness at least not for too long." the Hippogriff alerted us. He seemed quite serious about this. As if all of this was true. I still couldn't believe that there were a bunch of mythical eagles in front of me.
"What do you mean, it can actually come out of the darkness?" My sister asked surprisingly. Suddenly I noticed that the Griffin was staring at me and then he stopped. Why in the hell was he looking at me? I turned my face the other way, trying to ignore him.
"On the day you will be receiving your powers, the same day the dark Orphan Bird will get released from the dark lake. However, it needs to be stronger to be able to destroy everything. It will take at least three to four years to gain all its powers back. If this ever happens do inform us quickly. That thing if it gets completely out, it's going to destroy all of our kind." I guess we're already getting along quite well, even my sister is getting along.
"But where is the good one?" Luna frowned. "We just found out recently that it died. Our only hope was that the good one kills the bad one but unfortunately not this time." I could feel disappointment in everyone's eyes, even mine.
"What about the overpowering eagle? Is it going to destroy us too?" I asked. I'm getting quite curious about this now. I can see how Luna is already getting used to it too. "No. Actually the overpowering eagle is a stage that an eagle reaches. When they reach this stage, they are called the overpowering one because it's the strongest eagle but I'm afraid and at the same time quite happy that it's not here yet." The Griffin said.
"I can guess why you're afraid about that eagle showing up," I smirked. "It's because he will be the one who will take your place isn't it?" I also added. I could see Luna looking at me in confusion.
"Anyways where were we?" The griffin tried to change the subject. "We were explaining the rules to the girls!!" Roc replied to Griffin. I don't know why but he seems scary to me. Looking at the expression on Luna's face, I can tell that she was not even paying attention to their expressions. She was so focused in their story telling.
"Oh yes! So to enter the Aquila group you must take a test. I mean three tests; the first test is transforming yourselves, the second test is to hunt a hare and the third one is to hunt one member of a wolf pack. All of these tests should be carried alone individually." The Griffin explained.
"But how are we going to attack a wolf pack? Alone!!" Luna and I uttered in confusion. "That's the test!! You should hunt wisely that is only when you'll pass the test. I must admit that the test is not really that easy but you girls have the potential, I just know it!" He grinned.
"Thank you, Sir!!" We both replied. "Oh, and call us by our title!" The Hippogriff said. "OK Hippogriff!!"
The following day we both got prepared and headed to the forest, where we saw the legendary eagles outside waiting for us. "Your first test starts now and you will be doing the other tests as soon as you transform," Roc said.
"Bring them in the forest, bring the ravens, the hares, and the wolf pack!" He ordered. OK... this is weird but even though I'm excited but Luna somehow seems to be scared or more nervous than me.
"Sis, you alright?" I asked. She seemed to be trembling with fear. "I'm good just a bit nervous, don't worry!"She just put a weak smile on her face to reassure me.
We followed the bald eagles until we reached the forest. As soon as we entered the forest, the eagles flew away. I'm having a really bad feeling about this. Luna and I were left all alone in this forest.
As I looked at Luna, I was shocked. Her eyes were yellow but she did not seem to notice and I didn't feel the urge to tell her anything. I looked at her arms and I could see black feathers growing. The worst thing was that I could not say anything because I completely froze but eventually, she noticed and started freaking out, I tried to calm her down but it was useless.
After a few minutes, she transformed completely. She had a dark brown head with long crest feathers tipped in white, her whole body was covered with reddish feathers and was also covered with black bars and her wings were black on the top and reddish underneath. As I analyzed her, I could tell that she was a Crowned eagle. Obviously, she was freaking out and she flew away.
But why I am not transforming? I looked at the legendary eagles who were watching us from afar they seemed to be suspicious. Why the hell was I not transforming? Somehow I felt worried and scared. Out of the blue, I noticed Luna returning.
'Why haven't you transform yet?' She asked me anxiously. At first, I was surprised by the way she was talking to me. She was talking telepathically to me but I answered normally. "I don't know!! Aren't you doing your test?" I added. 'Not without you sis!' She replied as she landed on a perch.
We all waited for about 15 minutes and still, nothing happened. The legendary eagles finally ordered Luna to carry on with her test. Later they called me declaring that I'm not an eagle and told me to wait while my sister comes back.
"There must be some mistakes because my parents are eagles!!'' I explained.
"We're very sorry Hannah!" Griffin and Hippogriff replied sadly.
"Then I'm sorry to tell you but you have to-" Roc was about to tell me to leave when suddenly two ravens came down attacking me. I tried to dodge them but while doing it somehow I think they saw my eyes and they flew away. I was wondering how I did that, then everyone started glaring at me. "Your eyes have finally changed. They've turned light brown!! Quite unusual though" Hippogriff said as he analyzed my eyes.
"Usually an eagle's eyes would turn yellow as your sister's but in your case, I can't really explain!" Roc said. I could say that they were kind of confused but on the other hand, I was happy. While they were figuring how my eyes turned brown, I could see feathers growing on my arms. It was not painful at all; I can't really explain how I felt, maybe ticklish. Slate grey feathers grew on my back. My arms covered with deep grey feathers which turned into a wing. My foot turned into a bird claw; more like talons. This was so fascinating.
I finally transformed. Turns out I was a Harpy eagle. I am the largest extant Eagle. I'm also known to have the largest talons. My eyesight was 100 times powerful and I could almost hear every single thing that was around me. "I guess you can carry on with the test now" Roc proudly told me. I could tell that they were all relieved. I looked at them in a thankful way and finally flew away.
The sensation that I had when I was flying was inexplicable. I literally didn't want to land, just keep flying was so satisfying. It might be weird to say but I was feeling connected with the wind. I flew exploring the area. That was when I noticed a herd of hares eating. I was at least 3 kilometers away from them.
'Who cares all I have to do is kill one of them! And I can't believe I just said that. So, let's first watch them closely,' I said to myself as I land on a branch. As far as I know, they are capable of hearing almost at a distance of 3 kilometers and they also have a great sense of smell. If I make a single noise, they will definitely hear me and will run away. Regarding their agility, they have very good stamina.
Ok! Here goes nothing! I started flying towards them. As soon as they saw me, they alerted the other hares, making them panic but there was one of them which seemed to be my best target. I started diving towards it but it immediately changed direction. I was not the type to give up though. I continued pursuing it until I grabbed it by its head. 'I guess I passed the second test.' I flew back to the leaders, with the hare hanging in my claws.
'Did I pass my second test?' I asked Roc as I dropped the prey in front of him. He looked quite surprised at first then told me; "carry on!" I nodded and flew away again.
This is the last and the most difficult test. I have to be extremely careful with this one; wolves are not something to mess with. After 25 minutes of flight, I finally saw a pack of wolves. There were five of them and my objective was to kill one of them. 'I love wolves but I've got no choice!' I repeatedly said to myself as I watched them closely from my perch.
It was a pack of grey wolves. 'Wait!! there must be an alpha!' I realized but confused at the same time. 'How am I supposed to distinguish it?' I watched the grey wolf which seemed to be the dominant one and which I thought it to be the alpha. I then saw an injured wolf, it was crippled but the whole pack surrounded it to protect it 'Well I don't really have a choice let's attack the pack!' I finally left my perch to my target.
As I got closer the wolves got in their defense mode while trying to protect the injured one. It's as if they already knew which one was my prey. As I dived in the wolves started jumping at me to grab my talons. 'If they get my claws I'm dead!' I flew back up and returned diving again at my prey. I scratched it on it's back while the others tried to get me. I continued on like this until I finally grabbed it but as I did that another wolf grabbed my talon. I yelled in pain. I looked back to see the alpha biting my claws.
If I continued to be like this everyone is going to pounce on me. I continued to fly but the alpha was not giving up. Moreover, both the alpha and the prey's weight was dragging me down onto the ground. I started flying as high as I could and it finally released me. I rushed on a branch and paused for a while, looking at my wound. I decided to fly back to the leaders.
I reached and put the wolf on the ground as I landed. Rok saw the injury and asked me to come with him but I refused asking where Luna was. Not long enough Luna also came with a wolf in her claws.
She saw me in my other form and gave me a look of relief. "Now the results you've been waiting for!" Roc grinned. "You both passed with flying colors!!" an excited Hippogriff interrupted Rok. Everyone turned their gaze at him awkwardly. Well, at least they have emotions, unlike yesterday.
"As someone said, you both passed!" Rok repeated. "Now to transformed back all you need to do is ask your eagle spirit to turn you in your human form," Griffin looked at us. "Try to find the voice of your eagle self inside you! Close your eyes and try to find it" Hippogriff added.
I closed my eyes. 'Hi Hannah! I'm Spark!' I heard a voice and opened my eyes. 'I heard it!!' I gestured to the leaders not forgetting that I was still an eagle. "Now tell her to change you back!" I nodded and try to speak to it in my mind. 'You want to change back?' I nodded and she agreed letting my human form take over. Luna also made it but the worst part was that we had no clothes on us.
As expected our leaders gave us our clothes and we changed. "Now let me remind you! You can transform whenever you want by just asking that eagle inside you. However, you should be careful that in contact with the forest, enemies and even anger can get you to transform automatically. Be careful and don't reveal them" Roc warned us.
"Oh, and you are not allowed to hunt together unless with someone the same eagle as you. It is observed as an odd behavior for two different eagles to hunt together in the human world. But you can hunt secretly just be careful!" Hippogriff grinned at us playfully.
"If ever there is anything happening do inform us immediately. That's all! Oh! and by the way, I can read mind that's why I was looking at you yesterday," Griffin added with a huge smile on his face.
"Welcome in the Aquila Predonum Group! You are officially a member of the group!" Our leaders welcomed us warmly. We bowed as a sign of respect.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder