Chapter 3: Suspicious Figure-Beginnings of the Attack

I opened my eyes to see my siblings looking over me as Allit growled softly," Can you carry him, Innurth? We must warn our mother and father about what just transpired."

Innurth growled," Go on ahead. I will handle Xyverinos now."

Speaking softly," It's alright, Innurth, but what happened after I passed out."

Innurth shook his head," Nothing other than the humans figured out you were there, and you released strange energy before falling unconscious."

Allit growled and spoke," I will get moving for now. Are you strong enough to get up, Xyverinos?"

Responding softly," I think I can."

Standing up shakily as Innurth spoke," Let's go."

He jumped into the air as Allit quickly followed Innurth. Breathing outwards, I jumped into the air, beating my wings.

Following them, I noticed they were flying far faster than I imagined was possible. Pumping my wing muscles harder, I tried to close the distance, but I was causing myself to get even further exhausted with my smaller wings—both Innurth and Allit dove into our home. When a single earth-shattering roar came from behind, our cave stood before us.

Glancing back, I squeaked in surprise, seeing red glowing eyes following me. A spire of darkness came rushing at me. Going into evasive maneuvers, I dodged it before diving into our home; knowing I was safe, I shivered as Mother raised an eyebrow," You back early; it's still thirty minutes before sundown?"

I was afraid as my brother's eyes widened," What happened? You were fine a moment ago."

I was looking outside as I finally found my voice," Something is stalking me."

Closing my eyes, I extended my range, feeling the same creature's feelings, and only one was their glee. I realized why it was gleeful, the excitement for the hunt. And I was its prey.

Allit's eyes narrowed," What did this thing look like?"

Breathing shallowly, speaking softly," It looked like the creature wrapped in shadows with red glowing eyes. It controlled the darkness around it, creating a spike made of Something dark."

Their eyes widened as I questioned in fear," What is it? What is that thing?"

Mother sighed and replied," What you saw is a Dragon/Wyvern Hunter. Since it went after you, it has chosen you to be its next target."

Shivering in fear, Allit yelled," Was that necessary, Mother!?"

She said," Would you want him to be prepared for what's coming or let him figure it out alone!"

I yelled, causing them to jump," Be quiet! None of you are helping at all!" They noticed I was trying my hardest not to cry as I had just discovered I was prey.

Innurth growled," If that thing tries to go after my little brother, I will vaporize it into ash."

Still not used to this entirely different side of my older brother, I looked at him shocked, while mother growled," If his mother couldn't hurt one, what makes you think us lowly Wind Wyverns can!"

My brother growled rhetorically," Do I not radiate the same aura of Lady Argenta? That's what I thought. I am a wind wyvern of equipollence."

Our eyes widened in pure shock as we gapped at him while my sister spoke," No wonder you look more different than you used to."

As he mentioned it, I realized his voice sounded similar to Lady Argenta's. Innurth's talons were sharpened and curved to perfection, like his scales.

He suddenly released a pressure around him as he smirked," See my point? At least I would still put up one hell of a fight; what can you do to wind? Also, I thought it was evidence of how well I could control it."

Shaking my head, I spoke up again softly, having calmed down a bit," What about the humans?"

Our father growled," What happened with the humans? Did they spot you?"

Allit sighed," We aren't sure. We were in the forest, and a group of humans approached us. Innurth told Xyverinos to hide in the trees, which he did. We faced off against the small group of humans; none were armed, but they seemed to hold a certain confidence in them. One had seen through Innurth's lie and called him out on it. Xyverinos released sudden white energy that seemed very close to a mix of fire, lightning, and wind wyverns. They all had knowing smirks like they already knew of his existence but wanted to confirm. After they left well, Xyverinos fell unconscious from the strange energy burst," Allit stopped reading father and mother's expressions of shock and fear," Alright, spill, what does that mean exactly?"

Innurth growled," I would answer her question. While I am still jealous of my little brother for some things, I want to keep him safe."

Father sighed," Alright, fine, that is more or less a sign of Xyverinos awakening his powers. I must ask, how bright was the energy burst?"

Allit paused for that question as she finally answered," Extremely bright. By bright, I mean enough to illuminate the entire woods."

Mother sighed," He is genuinely Queen Shondrass's son to have released that kind of brightness. Well enough of that, let's get ready for food."

Without another word, I moved into my room, laying on the furs beneath my small form. Breathing again, I looked out the window and shivered softly, thinking,' So I am now prey, and that thing killed my mother and father. My real parents!"

Innurth voice came by the door," You alright, little brother?"

Shivering still, I responded, glancing at him," I am fine, a bit freaked out."

He sighed," Fair enough; well, are you going to eat or what."

Minorly surprised that it was dinner, I sighed and nodded, jumping off my ledge and headed to the dining area. As usual, my family was arguing about who was getting the liver. Sharpening my wing feathers, I flicked them, hitting my brother in his tail causing him to yelp, stop, and glare at me.

With their attention, I hissed," Why don't we have a schedule? Mother had it last night. So it's father's turn. Tomorrow is Innurth's turn, Allit is the next, and I am last. Or if you disagree, I eat the liver every night."

They all looked at each other and groaned as Allit laughed and shook her head," Welp, we should probably stop underestimating the intelligence of our little brother."

Glaring at her, I hissed," Seriously, how many times have you underestimated."

She gulped as I didn't get mad often. Despite being a veteran, she gets nervous when I get angry, as I am a bit of a wildcard when I am irritated or angry.

Innurth spoke up," Honestly, we underestimate you often."

Narrowing my blue eyes, I hissed," Whatever, I am going to eat."

Moving over to the dead goat for me, I dug in, having my fill of our dinner before leaving without another word. My brother's tail wrapped around me as I yelped," Let go, you horse-faced dung beetle!"

Our mother barked a laugh," I had no idea that sweet little Xyverinos could swear like that."

Allit laughed," He is quite the creative little swearer. Also, this is what he said to his dear older brother a few weeks ago, and I quote,' pig-headed pile of horse dung!'"

Hissing at her, I sharpened my wing feathers as Innurth winced while my now sharp wing feathers scratched him.

Still struggling, he threw me into the water, and for once, it was warm.

Appearing at the surface, Innurth chuckled," I thought you would get out of the water with it so cold."

Using my tail, I got him slightly wet as he realized the water was warm for once and shrugged," You know what? Screw it."

He jumped into the water, creating a large wave when he dove. Getting washed by the water, I choked on some of the water from Innurth's massive wave.

Gasping for air as he surfaced and sighed," This feels nice." He noticed and spoke so casually that I wanted to stab him with Something secret they didn't know yet," Oops, sorry, Xyverinos."

Hissing as a brilliant white light flared from me again as he paled, and this time around, I only felt slightly light-headed as I spoke," I'm fine, just light-headed this time."

He breathed a sigh of relief," So that means you shouldn't be affected by this, alright? Let's get out."

Shrugging, I nodded," Alright, okay."

Climbing out of the water, I flicked my wings to get rid of the water as he smirked," Welp, let us get a move on."

Looking at him, I shrugged, following him out while he spoke," Alright, I am going to give a heads up that another flare of energy came from you."

Quickly, I protested," They probably already saw the light, though!"

He shrugged," You are most likely right, little brother. But we instead are better off safe than sorry."

Groaning, I followed him while Mother sighed," We saw the light already, so don't worry, Innurth."

Innurth shrugged," Alright, I am curious: what happens when he stops releasing those white auras?"

Our father sighed," In short, it means his powers have ultimately manifested. Since he didn't black out this time, only four more light pulses are probably left. He will have to train to control and handle his immense power."

Deadpanned, I said," I am right here, Father."

He gulped as my feathers sharpened, and I was still annoyed. It was funny, though, as I was much smaller than him.

Mother was stifling a laugh; this I could tell from her emotions. Allit, who was full-blown laughing, glared at her.

She laughed harder as she spoke in between laughs," You really... think that... a glare... like that... can scare... me, a veteran!" \

Flicking my right wing, sending a volley of sharpened feathers at her as she yelped, ducking under them, causing them to stick into the cave wall as I glared at her," For your information, I have been training with our brother. Also, why don't you ask him how fast I can fling my feathers at Something."

Innurth shivered and spoke up," He is right; as I told you earlier, he is a natural with the Wind Dance Style, and when his feathers become sharpened, our little brother can block a pressurized blast of wind from me while it is a weaker blast at least for me. Still, he knows how to fight exceptionally well at his age. In short, if he ever reaches my power level or hits equipollence well, not even I can touch him in combat."

Moving away from them, I entered my room, sitting in front of the window.

A light breeze blew as I closed my eyes, enjoying the serenity in the cool night air until a warning roar echoed as my brother yelled," Seriously! I knew those humans were scouts! Why didn't I kill them!?"

Running inside as my brother ordered," Alright, Xyv, I am entering equipollence now; I will blast out the entire back of the mountain and use that chance to flee towards Mount Treaty. They must not capture you."

Nodding, I answered him softly," Understood, elder brother."

A pulse of power spread from my older brother as a blast of wind destroyed the back of our home wall. Looking back at him, he was suddenly just a funnel of wind and spoke," No need to be scared; I am in control. Go now!"

Shooting out of the cave, I said," Please be safe, everyone, and don't you dare die!"

Forcing my wing muscles to pump harder than I ever had, I heard a whirring sound behind me; glancing back, I saw two human machines flying at me. They were gaining fast as I squeaked before using a more complex maneuver in the air. Using my wing feathers, I sent several feathers hitting one of the strange contraptions. Hard, the flying machine spun and fell out of the sky. A loud boom sounded with a cloud of smoke, and flames from the ground obscured the second machine's vision; with that, I bolted into the night.