You saw how many Wolves there were. Our guard was not prepared to defend against such numbers."
Adahy could only agree. "The guard, the first one, he spoke of the Eyrie. Do you think they could be in danger?"
His father raised his head to regard the fortress on the cliffs high above them. "If I was to attack my enemy, I would strike at the heart of their operations before taking out outlying fortifications. We can only assume the Eyrie has already fallen."
The prince did his best to quell his rising panic, steeling himself to think like a leader. "But will the Wolves be thinking like that? I did not think that there was much planning behind their attacks."
His father nodded in approval at Adahy's statement. "An hour ago, I would have agreed with you. But we have already seen more organisation from them than I ever thought was possible."
As his father took his first leap towards the cliffs, Adahy could only hope that the Eyrie and his family and friends could hold off attack better than the shrine did. After all, they did have more soldiers up there.
Clinging to his father's back, Adahy's heart was in his throat as the Magpie King bounded upwards, his massive hands finding purchase in what appeared to be a sheer cliff face. The knowledge that his father's physical attributes were not natural had somehow lessened Adahy's fear of his own inadequacies. He no longer expected himself to be capable of the feats he had seen his father perform, confident in the knowledge that he would inherit them when he solved the riddle of the flower. Adahy's fear now came from what he expected to find when he reached home, from the fates of his household. He may not have the body of a Magpie King yet, but Adahy was now determined to face his fear of conflict head on, and vowed to do all he could to help liberate his home.
Upon reaching the castle foundations, the Magpie King took several more bounds to bring them both to the roof. The Wolves were not unaware of their enemy's capabilities, and three of them were prowling in the area that Adahy’s father landed on. The first was easily dealt with, as the Magpie King grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and hurled it into the abyss behind them. Unfortunately, the monster's screams alerted its remaining companions to the fact that they were no longer alone. These two posed more of a problem, quickly moving to circle the Magpie King and his son, making sure to remain at opposite sides of the King. The animals had realised Adahy's vulnerability, forcing his father to stay his hand from an attack that would leave Adahy open to the remaining Wolf.
The two animals howled, presumably to attract reinforcements. With time not on their side, Adahy cursed the fact that his own uselessness would be their undoing. In fact…
If my father does not need to protect me, then their advantage is lost. The young prince took a deep breath, furrowed his brow and ran directly at one of the Wolves. The Wolf's animalistic instincts came into play and it leapt towards the oncoming prey. Unfortunately for it, the Magpie King was faster, and he bounded over his son, in one movement turning to face the other Wolf behind him whilst breaking his son's assailant's neck with a wet crunch. The remaining animal turned to flee, but only made a few feet before it was caught too, silently dispatched by the Magpie King's brutal hands.
"That was well done," his father commented without turning his mask towards Adahy, but the boy could hear the smile in the Magpie King's voice.
His heart, previously doing its best to escape from his rib cage due to panic and fear, now felt twice its size. I will do whatever possible to take back this castle , Adahy vowed silently.
They moved along in the darkness, coming into contact with no others on the roof. His father made Adahy wait for a few agonising seconds whilst he entered the window to his own chambers. Adahy spent most of that time spinning his head wildly, fully expecting to have a
Adahy could only agree. "The guard, the first one, he spoke of the Eyrie. Do you think they could be in danger?"
His father raised his head to regard the fortress on the cliffs high above them. "If I was to attack my enemy, I would strike at the heart of their operations before taking out outlying fortifications. We can only assume the Eyrie has already fallen."
The prince did his best to quell his rising panic, steeling himself to think like a leader. "But will the Wolves be thinking like that? I did not think that there was much planning behind their attacks."
His father nodded in approval at Adahy's statement. "An hour ago, I would have agreed with you. But we have already seen more organisation from them than I ever thought was possible."
As his father took his first leap towards the cliffs, Adahy could only hope that the Eyrie and his family and friends could hold off attack better than the shrine did. After all, they did have more soldiers up there.
Clinging to his father's back, Adahy's heart was in his throat as the Magpie King bounded upwards, his massive hands finding purchase in what appeared to be a sheer cliff face. The knowledge that his father's physical attributes were not natural had somehow lessened Adahy's fear of his own inadequacies. He no longer expected himself to be capable of the feats he had seen his father perform, confident in the knowledge that he would inherit them when he solved the riddle of the flower. Adahy's fear now came from what he expected to find when he reached home, from the fates of his household. He may not have the body of a Magpie King yet, but Adahy was now determined to face his fear of conflict head on, and vowed to do all he could to help liberate his home.
Upon reaching the castle foundations, the Magpie King took several more bounds to bring them both to the roof. The Wolves were not unaware of their enemy's capabilities, and three of them were prowling in the area that Adahy’s father landed on. The first was easily dealt with, as the Magpie King grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and hurled it into the abyss behind them. Unfortunately, the monster's screams alerted its remaining companions to the fact that they were no longer alone. These two posed more of a problem, quickly moving to circle the Magpie King and his son, making sure to remain at opposite sides of the King. The animals had realised Adahy's vulnerability, forcing his father to stay his hand from an attack that would leave Adahy open to the remaining Wolf.
The two animals howled, presumably to attract reinforcements. With time not on their side, Adahy cursed the fact that his own uselessness would be their undoing. In fact…
If my father does not need to protect me, then their advantage is lost. The young prince took a deep breath, furrowed his brow and ran directly at one of the Wolves. The Wolf's animalistic instincts came into play and it leapt towards the oncoming prey. Unfortunately for it, the Magpie King was faster, and he bounded over his son, in one movement turning to face the other Wolf behind him whilst breaking his son's assailant's neck with a wet crunch. The remaining animal turned to flee, but only made a few feet before it was caught too, silently dispatched by the Magpie King's brutal hands.
"That was well done," his father commented without turning his mask towards Adahy, but the boy could hear the smile in the Magpie King's voice.
His heart, previously doing its best to escape from his rib cage due to panic and fear, now felt twice its size. I will do whatever possible to take back this castle , Adahy vowed silently.
They moved along in the darkness, coming into contact with no others on the roof. His father made Adahy wait for a few agonising seconds whilst he entered the window to his own chambers. Adahy spent most of that time spinning his head wildly, fully expecting to have a
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