Spirit Butterflies

Rav learned the way. But he didn't know exactly why Loud-Wings and One-Soul were being so secretive about it. It's great, sure, but it's not like so much greatness that the normal eyes can't see.

He had to make a connection with the Aster Fate.

...

Which he barely knew about, sure. Yea, he might have seen her before, but no, he had no idea who she really was. Not the name, her name is Aster Fate! Well, no, technically that's her replaced name... But what ever, Rav still needed to make a connection with her.

Or, there was a alternative if it didn't work. You can wait till the Aster Fate comes back, because you'll still make a connection with her when she tries to revive you.

And what did Rav chose?

"The original plan is great, sure, but I have no idea how to make a connection," he pointed out to One-Soul. "So the alternative-"

"Is what I want to do, yes," One-Soul finished, her tone of voice bored.

Rav straightened up and felt for his face feathers. Nope, not here.

One-Soul, seeing this action, did the same, confused. "What are you reaching for?"

"My face feathers."

"Oh, I forgot."

Then a awkward silence enveloped them until Loud-Wings came running towards them.

"One-Soul! One-Soul!" he yelled as he reached her. "One-Soul, something different happened!"

The male spirit did little jumps, kind of exhausting to Rav, but that showed the urgency if a old spirit like him were to do something so childish like that.

"What happened?" The usually stern spirit asked with a grave expression.

Loud-Wings eyes were big as he said, "Shine called the Aster Fate."

Rav was puzzled. By the look of it, so was One-Soul.

"Er, what?"

"Shine! The sister of Rav!" he attested.

"No no no, I mean, how..?"

I don't remember having a sister.

What?

He doesn't remember having a sister? Then what's this? What's happening here?

"Shine's a Healer, right?" One-Soul started, her eyes closed in consideration. "Healers are third in power, since Guardians come fourth for unknown reasons.. how old is she?"

"13 Lakemoons old," Loud-Wings said, looking serious.

"Then it's basically-- oh, I know why she can do that."

"What?" Rav and the other spirit queried at the same time.

"She needs her Soul Name," One-Soul's eye opened, her expression remained focused. "And she might not get it, so it's either out of fear or just she randomly connected herself to the Aster Fate, reminding her that she needed her name. That's another way to connect yourself with the Aster Fate I guess, but I would've expected the Guardian Apprentices to do that, since they are fated to be a Aster Fate-- only one of them-- too."

"Then that means they might live for as long as how Morning-Prase did?" Rav asked in astonishment.

"Yep," she concluded.

Loud-Wings jumped excitedly. "We just have to wait then!"

One-Soul, looking proud, "yep."

"That means you're going to take me too, right?"

"No."

*****

Morning-Prase sat there, bored. The spirit butterfly's camp was boring. Ughhhhh, boring. What should she do? Glare at someone? Boring.

She herself was sitting on a nice chair, with a squared table in front of her. Others were here at the table themselves, but they looked as bored as she did too.

Honestly, back at camp, there were new surprises almost everyday. Even though they repeat the same things all over again.

Like when Lightning wanted to be a Guardian, when it was already due that Hua was the next Guardian of the Aster Fate, meaning the deputy.

And the other time, when Cloud was almost overdue on her visions since that training period was halted that it came rushing to her all at the same time, well, at least Kem-Lock was there to teach her that.

Kem-Lock isn't there now, though. Congratulations Vaite-Key, your sister died because of you.

But it's always with the Apprentices. So no mind to that.

Rolling her eyes, Morning-Prase accidentally received some hard or confused looks from the Spirit Butterflies.

She sighed as she knew what was going to follow.

"Why did it roll its eyes at us?" One of them spoke up, sounding puzzled, but with the disrespect it was giving itself, yea. Whatever.

"Because I wasn't," she said blandly. "I'm but thinking of something."

"That might be a excuse--"

"And you didn't get killed because I rolled my eyes, yes? So there ain't no problem," she hissed brutishly. Gripping the handle of her chair, she relaxed, then fell back again with boredom. Trying to make a alliance with such people is going to be impossible if they are always looking for a reason to fight.

Disgusting.

It was only her and a couple of other Spirit Butterfly deputies in the room, they were waiting for the two leaders that were in the other room.

Although Morning-Prase was told to stay here, she still looked at the door continuously, and perking up her ears to hear better.

"I didn't expect there to be one elite soldier of the Fallen Angels," a Spirit Butterfly said, with its bright, shiney wings resting dullfully behind it. "What exactly is your name?"

"Morning-Prase," she said. "The one and only deputy of Crescent Tribe. Female, don't called me it."

"Why's it called Crescent Tribe?" It asked again, eyes firm on Morning-Prase.

"It was the first Aster Fate's decision, not mine. I don't know." Easing herself, she locked her arms, staring at the judging butterfly.

"I will like to know your name myself, butterfly," she said with a calm but challenging tone.

It moved closer to the table, then smiled. "For dawn that seeks the Night. Dawn's Night."

What? What kind of ridiculous name was that? For dawn that seeks the Night? Who are your parents?

Forrowed eyebrows, Morning-Prase knew that Dawn's Night also knew it was going to confuse her.

"Male, too." he added.

"And what's your group's name?" she asked cautiously.

"Spirit Butterflies. Easy," it sounded like he was kind of embarrassed at such a basic name, but the other ones at the table nodded along.

"Rain Feather was the first leader of the Spirit Butterflies, and by his knowledge, he might've picked just our species so it can be more simple to start on this huge city we built." one of them launched into a explanation. "I'm the brain of the Spirit Butterflies, since I'm so smart. Female. And how can you tell one is a female or male as a Spirit Butterfly? By the annoying tail."

The 'brain' of the group turned slightly around as she revealed a long, silky tail, which looked like it barely worked.

"Ok..."

Then they all sat in silence.

**

The Aster Fate and the Leader finally arrived. They walked in as if they were partners together, although the Leader doesn't know the Aster Fate's age.

"Now we can discuss this," the Leader said with authority as the Aster Fate flicked her huge wings.

"Let us all take seats, then start."

*

After calling everyone to take seats, the Spirit Butterflies all sat on the right side of the table to the windows as the Fallen Angels sat on the opposite side.

They stared at each other until finally, just finally, the Leader spoke.

"I go by 'the Leader,' as many of you know," he started, folded wings clinking together. "But for here, my name is plainly Wither Feather. From how the first Leader was named Rain Feather, we all inherit the last suffix 'Feather' so that hopefully, Rain Feather is always connected to us." Pausing for a moment, Wither Feather continued, "now, should we make the alliance, or do you think that the Space Birds and Half Dragons are going to team up together. Go."