2 : FIRST FLIGHT

The new batch of Irris who have reached their designated age to fly outside and help in their survival, lined up in rows. Groups of four, five and six. Atleast one would lead and take charge of commands.

"Stay out of sight. Do not appear in the sunlight. Follow the flow of the wind." The elder Aedima paced infront of the youngsters, warning them about the dangers and giving recaps of what they've been taught for years. He eyed every Irris, searching their faces of fear and half of them reeked of it. They were anxiouss, it was normal. But a certain group, dispatched in the center, he could hear the giggles of the young female. Callista, as expected, his brightest student was the most excited to venture the human world and see it with her own eyes.

They were only able to watch the outside from the humongous opening of the cave. No humans would dare enter because of the darkness it crept inside and uncertainty of whatever lived in there. They were grateful for that, because they managed to hide in silence without a curious human stepping inside their hidden territory. The cave was part of a rocky mountain, no mortals would climb it and risk losing their lives.

It was indeed sad because these children could only watch the rise and fall of the sun and moon, the swaying of green trees that beared fruits, the bluish river leading as far as it could, the storms, snow and calamities that fall.

"Watch out for each other. Never leave an Irris behind." Aedima said sternly. He could sense the anxiety of the other elders and the look on their faces, not wanting disappointment.

"On my command!" The youngsters stretched their wigs as big as they can. But none of the wings were as beautiful, strong and large like the four Kidemónes. Soon, they will rely their future on these four but while the right time hasn't arrived yet, he wishes to see these four enjoy their moments outside. Like how he used to before the Irris were forced to hide and make the humans believe that they never existed.

Callista, the female, serving as the special bond between the three males. She warms their hearts at times of frustration. A motherly figure when needed sometimes. The source of their light, the lantern.

Laureitum, sharp like a knife, he may not look like it but he's their hidden weapon. The carrier of their knowledge and watches their backs.

Zamilioxan, the strongest. Their shield. He'll protect his siblings at all costs. He's feared on the outside but he has a pure heart of kindness inside.

Halcassi, the oldest, the bearer of responsibilty. He acts like a true leader and reminds them of their obligations when they seem to forget. He's the mystery out of the three, but everyone knows that all he wants is for them to stay together forever.

Aedima hoped for the best that everything will go well. With a contented smile on his face, he started the count and raised his hand, quickly pulling it down with force. He signalled them to fly and they ran pass him to the edge. The youngsters jumped off and spreaded their different colored wings in the air. He was proud of his students, he can't wait for their evolving.

"Fresh air! This is fantastic!" Callista shouted on the top of her lungs. Her long hair flying in all directions as Halcassi hovered above the three. "Don't shout too much, we're hiding from those filthy humans, remember?"

"Not all of the human race are filthy, you've never seen one before." She justified and stopped talking when she lifted her head to meet his glare.

"We're nearing the area, let's lay low now." Said Laureitum and let his body sunk to the ground, flapping his silver wings when he landed.

Zamilioxan abruptly sniffed the air after his failed landing on a bush. "I smell something stinky." Callista chuckled at him, "Maybe it's your wings that you haven't washed in awhile."

"I hate water! You too!" He pointed out.

"I smell creatures approaching." Halcassi said, facing his head to the south direction. "They're coming."

"Hide." He commanded and they rised up to the trees, hiding as they waited for the mere people to pads by.

"Humans, disgusting." He gritted his teeth, camouflaging themselves. "I can't believe these people tie their hair up all the time." Laureitum added, observing their movements with his own eyes.

They were aware that some would wander off by themselves but these people were in a huge group as if they were protecring a certain person. They all carried weapons with them, swords, bows, creations made for protection or execution.

"How long? Such slow walkers." Zamil rolled his eyes while Callista paid attention to the way they acted around their surroundings. They were being wary, like any moment a wild animal would attack them. They were all on guard, stern haunting faces. Especially the one in silk. His skin is milky like the moon, smooth even from afar. His sharp eyes, if he ever met hers, she would faint.

"He's mesmerizing." She whispered. "Probably because of his clothes." Zamil scoffed and Laureitum added, "His clothes are different from the others. That mortal is definitely a prince."

"A prince? You mean, a son of the king and queen? Then he must have live in a huge palace with servants and guards and chambers of gold and-"

"Don't get yourself way too excited, there's no way you're going to his stupid palace." Halcassi uttered from behind them, his muscular arms crossed with a cold look on his face.

"We wait for them to leave the area before we hunt." He said. "Laur, you and Zamil go to the river. Callista, you're coming with me." The two nodded without question and watched as

"We're separating?" Callista widened her eyes in disbelief. "They will be capturing fishes. You hate rivers remember?" Because of the last time she had an encounter with a river, she nearly burned herself in a hot river of molten lava. But this is different, she wanted to see what water looks like from its source, high up from the so-called waterfalls. What does the clear liquid look like out in the sun?

Zamil frowned at the thought of having to deal with rivers. "They're already leaving, let's go." She whisperred. "Not yet." Halcassi said through gritted teeth and ignored his sister's impatience.

"Let's go, they won't see- ah!"

The thick figs she was sitting on, broke. She helplessly fell down the lower branches along with some leaves slowly dropping in the air.

"What was that?" Uttered a rough strained voice. One of the humans spoke and the entire crew stopped on their tracks.

"Oh blackbirds." She cursed lowly and balanced herself.

"We're doomed. We're going to get caught. They're going to slice our wings and boil us to death and make soup with our bodies." Laur slapped his own face, waiting for the seconds to quickly pass by. Zamil prepared himself to fight, he kept his daggers with him on his pouches. His fingers ready to serve attacks.

"No movement." Halcassi uttered as they all stilled while panicking inside, their sister who's almost visible to human sight thanks to that weak branch that broke.

"It might just be birds! I'm bored, let's move already." The arrogant prince ordered his commandrates to move forward. "Yes, your highness."

Callista let out a sigh of relief when she heard the footsteps moving farther away. She mentally thanked the prince for speaking or else she would have been dead.

After a few moments when it was confirmed safe to step on land, the three brothers dropped only to hear Halcassi start scolding their sister. "You were nearly caught." He glared with his dark eyes turning brown in the light, dropping on the mossy ground. "It was the branch, don't balme me!"

"Always so irresponsible. You're still young, I can't blame you." He added.

They went with their plan, separated into two. Laur and Zamil headed to the river to catch fishes. While Callista was stuck with her bossy brother.

"Hal," she called but he ignored her nonetheless. "Halcassi, talk to me please." She remained five steps behind, afraid to touch him because he might burst out in rage.

"Hal, are you mad?" She asked in a low voice but he heard it and stopped on his tracks. "No, I'm not mad Callista. I was frightened. I was afraid that I was going to have to kill some mere humans if they ever saw you."

"I'm sorry! I won't do it again, I swear on my left wing!" She exclaimed and made a face of confusion when Halcassi laughed. "I can't stay mad at you forever. I will protect you better in the future."

He tried to cheer her up when he noticed her silence. She was thinking deeply about what he said, will there be a time when her brother won't be with her? Will there be a time of loneliness? "Say, why don't you search over there? While I stay here? I'll check on you in a few minutes if you found anything."

"Really? Alright then! I'll head over there! I'll meet you in fifteen minutes." Her enthusiasm was back again as she ran off, skipping as her feet touched the green grass.

"Oh blackbirds. That girl, she's going to get herself in trouble oneday." He mumbled to himself and stood on the same spot, watching her back, making sure of her directions before he head off to hunt. A little training by her own couldn't possibly lead to trouble.

Callista crouched as she neared the herd of cattles feeding on grass. She was about to call onto them and lead them to Halcassi, because her voice was powerful enough to compel creatures to oblige her commands. She's not all powerful yet, she hasn't practiced on a single human. The perks of being a part of the Kidemónes. Granted unique powers.

Before she almost jumped on them, a figure from the tall grass rises. He was laying in there the entire time. It was the same face she saw earlier, the same mortal. What was he doing there? She wondered if humans had the ability to communicate with animals. Because that would be absolutely wonderful- to her opinion atleast.

She hid herself behind the nearest thick tree she could spot. The trees near the mountain are the best indeed because they're better in width and height than normal fruit bearing trees.

She slowly peeked her head out at the prince staring at her in confusion. "You. Come out. Now." He ordered, pointing his pale finger at her. His tone of voice is cold yet somehow magnetic like she could listen to him for long.

"I-I refuse!"

"You? Refuse me?" He raised his brows, amused. No one has clearly refused his commands before. A first wouldn't hurt.

"I don't even know you!" The prince hissed in fury, his pride was stabbed, he holds pride in his name. "Were you living under a rock your whole life?"

How did he know?!

"You're so dumb to not even know the future king of your kingdom. I am the second prince Jeong Yo, son of the great emperor Jung."

Ofcourse, it was some sort of human language twist.

"Come out now." He said, his voice getting louder as he walked closer. "Stop! Don't! I-I can't be seen by people!" Aedima would scold her non-stop when he learns about these twist of events. So much for hoping for such a bright start.

The prince widened his eyes and took a few steps back. "Are you- How careless of a woman to wander around naked?!"

"I'm not- I mean, yes, I'm naked! Don't come any closer!" She lied for the sake of her fellow creatures and his sanity. From history books that she had read, humans would go crazy or faint when they see an Irris' wings.

"Unbelievable." He let out sentences of filthy rants and curses about women. He turned around when he noticed her reddish cheeks. Thinking it was because of embarrasment, he turned around and said, "Quickly, wear your clothes and I shall bring you to the chief for questioning. The people of the village needs proper teachings about mannerism and ettiquete. I can't believe the king sent me here for negotiation." He kept on blabbering, chuckling to himself without knowing that Callista took her chance to use her wings and fly away from his sight.

When the prince noticed it was becoming too silent, he faced the thick tree. He took cautious steps and cursed again in frustration once he found her gone.

"How dare that woman play jokes on a prince? I will make sure to teach her a lesson once I find that mischievous lady! The audacity to play around without clothes!" He exclaimed to himself and stomped on his path out of the forest. Callista lowly chuckled, hiding on top of another tree as she watched the handsome arrogant prince disappear from her sight.

"Where have you been?" Halcassi asked. "Oh, I was distracted by a-a rabbit!" It was only a few short moments but he regretted leaving her by herself. "A rabbit?"

"Where's your collect?" He asked and looked at her empty hands. "I-I forgot."

"Haiss. Let's just go back and meet the others. These sheeps are so noisy." He pointed to the flock of four legged short creatures covered in wool. The flock was divided in two, by the color of their soft fluff, whites and greys. The two siblings hovered above, landing from tree to tree as they met up with the other two Kidemónes.

The night air was freezing cold. She sat by the edge, swaying her feet as she chewed on a sweet persimmon. Its rich honey-like taste lingers on her tongue.

"Jeong Yo. Jeong Yo. Jeong Yo. His name is Jeong Yo, just his name makes me so crazy." And after their hunting, she spent a long time using Laur's books for a conducted research about emperors. She had to stop though to not cause curiousity of why she suddenly wanted to learn about humans. She's always been eager to learn but her first conversation with the prince, the first mortal she's spoken to, makes her filled with energy.

She looked up at the stars in the nightsky and heard her name being called by her brothers. She let out a tired sigh, even an Irris can be tired if there's nothing much happening in their life. Their encounter earlier made her hearts hopeful.

She wanted to see him again- no, she needed to see him. She must. "Jeong, I hope we meet again."