The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into Finishing Business

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into Finishing Business

       The battle with the Frost Giants was hard-won, but in the end, proved to all the Asgardian warriors the mettle of Iriisii and her people. Much of the conversations around the campfires while the wounded were treated, was of their tactics, how everyone knew how to fight with whoever they were paired with. Even the mortal, Sanshae, earned the respect of many of the warriors, for her work on that battlefield. Many of them owed their lives to her as she worked her way around the giants, occupied fighting whoever was in front of them. To find themselves falling to the ground, easy pickings for the warriors as Shansae hamstrung them by slicing their leg tendons.

     And those who saw Iriisii and Dettlaff fight together swore that those two simply forged ahead and through anything in their path. Of how they reached the Frost Giant King, and Iriisii raised her blade to the heavens, called down the biggest bolt of sustained lightning they had ever seen. Some said even Wotan was impressed, as she absorbed the bolt, then channeled it through her sword and pointed it at the 'King'. The sound it made even drowned out the King's screams as the lightning bolt struck him and burned a hole clear through his chest, burning out his heart and lungs, even as he was about to drive his spear into Thor's body lying at his feet.

     The women were back in Asgard, preparing the victory feast, and it promised to be spectacular, for as many as had been wounded, the number of dead was far fewer than in any preceding battle with the Frost Giants. This was the kind of victory that songs and ballads are written of, ones that far outlast those they were made about.

     Long into the starry night the feasting went, course after course brought out. Speech after speech given about bravery and battle prowess displayed on that bloody field. And then Wotan stands, and a hushed silence falls over the hall, the shouting, the clamoring, all fades as his presence stretches out over the hall. 

     "It is time, to recognize those who came to our aid, without whom, the numbers of dead and wounded would have been far higher. We know this not to be an exaggeration, for many times before we have fought the Frost Giants and know them to be fierce adversaries, not to be taken lightly."       Accolades are given to each as they fought according to their specific skills.

     "And now I wish to give special recognition to one who went above and beyond, who showed valor in the face of an overwhelming enemy, courage, and determination that I have not seen in many long years. Actions that saved many Asgardian lives on that battlefield, and helped to determine the clear defeat of our enemy. And all of this describes the feats, not of a God in that battle, but a mortal. Sanshae, please step forward", as she looks shocked, the acclaim from the those seated there, as they all stand to their feet, striking their clenched fists against their chests and over their hearts. She walks up to stand in front of Wotan. 

     "Sanshae, daughter of Lorem, we honor you at this time, for what you did to aid Asgard on that battlefield against the Frost Giants. We lost count of the number of Frost Giants you brought down to their knees or flat to the ground for our forces to finish off. Be it known that this mortal, when our forces were confronting the giants, went behind them and cut the tendons of those giants, behind their knees, causing them to fall and allowing our warriors the opportunity to finish them. 

     Because of what she did, many of our warriors survived that battle that would not otherwise have done so. And so it is with a glad and joyous heart that I proclaim you a 'Daughter of Asgard', for this is the greatest honor it is given to me to bestow upon a mortal. I give unto you this blade from my personal trove, may it serve you well in battle and be a bane to your enemies. I also give unto you the ability to call upon and use the 'Rainbow Bridge', know you are welcome to come and visit whenever you should so wish. As I have spoken, so it shall be, so speaks Wotan, Lord of Asgard."

      Frea then stands and steps down next to Sanshae, "May I now be the first to greet a new 'Daughter of Asgard'." And Frea then embraces Sanshae, "be forever welcome in the Halls of Asgard, daughter, you have earned the gratitude of many of your sisters and mothers this day. Let the celebration continue until the last one falls to sleep, the last keg is breached, the last roast pig is taken off the spit."

     The walls and ceiling of that great Hall shake with the thunder of the response of those gathered there. And then Thor walks to her, kneels before her, and speaks, "sister if ever there be one who speaks ill of you, who threatens you, who causes you any manner of pain or distraught. Know that I will be there to set it right, my hammer will seek justice for you, and be as a shield to protect you from all harm."

     Sanshae simply looks at Thor, leans in to kiss his cheek, and replies, "thank you, my brother."

     The next few years of subjective time is spent working on the weapons and armor for those front-line troops that will need protection from the nightmare effects of the shards of the Ravenous Darkness that must be captured before going after the parent. She fully expects that when they get back to the 'Second' Creation, they will face at least one shard if not more. The parent may be around but not likely to face them since they are not directly fighting against the destruction.

     The visitors have moved through at a steady pace, having heard of what happened in Jotunheim, and Wotan's glowing support for her. For the most part, the visitors are curious but leave with a sense of interest in what she might do in the future, that could affect them. One visitor, in particular, seems to be interested but a strange aloof type, he showed up one day, patiently waiting for her to complete what she was working on. The only thing he said to Rigmor, who greeted him was that his name was Corum. She thought it strange he was so quiet, yet she did not question him further, as her 'nose for trouble' did not give her any reason to doubt his intentions.

     "My mate says your name is Corum, and that you have been very patiently waiting for me. I apologize for the wait, but I was at a stage in my current work that required my full attention."

     "No need for an apology, I was very interested in your technique. It was fascinating for me to watch."

     "Are there any questions you wish to ask of me?"

     "I am interested in your relations to dragons, in my home realm, we do not have any and so our information is only what we learn from travelers of the planes, and in my case some of the places I am called to perform tasks."

     "So you are called outside of your home realm?"

     "Yes, I am."

     "Is there anything specific you wish to know?"

     "It has come to my attention that a specific group of dragons that you have met is somehow infused with a crystalline substance I understand is called Lyrium? I have encountered it a few times on my travels but the few times I have heard of it interacting with other beings in such a fashion, it is another form of it that is spoken of."

     "The 'red lyrium' form."

     "Ah, you know of it, then?"

     "Yes, although my encounters have been very few, I have indeed encountered it."

     "Then I may be of service, I have been places where there has been a greater influence of both and a few of these places also have dragons. These dragons are ones I would speak with you of, to know if you have encountered their like before and if so what the result was?"

     "You are aware that 'red lyrium' is infected with a form of corruption which is what causes the change in color."

     "Yes, I am trying to ascertain the source of the corruption, exactly what it is, how is it able to do what it does. Some of the things I have seen are troubling to the extreme."

     "Do you know of the 'Red Woman', as I have heard her called?"

     "I have run across mention of her, yes. She is also of interest, I do not know if it is the same but", and he launches into a description of a  situation he witnessed from a distance on a world he had been called to, but for whatever reason arrived too late to be of help. He talks about what happened within a particular port city torn by factional strife. Between different races of people and magic, between the use of 'blue lyrium' and the appearance of 'red lyrium'. 

     What he was able to observe of both kinds, and of some other form corruption had taken on this world, whether it was caused by the 'red lyrium' or caused the corruption of 'blue lyrium' into 'red'. 

     "As to the 'Red Woman', there was a woman there who was completely consumed by the 'red lyrium', but she became a statue, unmoving, unliving, at least as far as anyone could tell."

     "And you think she is not the one who calls herself the 'Red Woman', but that she is someone else?"

     "Yes. I am not usually called to that world or any nearby. There are those I call brothers and sisters, who go there from time to time."

     "You think maybe a 'sister' became infected and transformed into this 'Red Woman'?"

     "Indeed, that is exactly what I think, and I am hoping there may be a way to purge the red lyrium from her and restore her to us."

     "I fought such a one in the future from this time. The result then was that her soul became freed when her body was destroyed. Whether it was the one you seek, that I cannot say. She was connected to the Lyrium Dragons in some way, having corrupted them here in this time. When I first saw them, I saw only their bones, with the tracings of red lyrium embedded within."

     "Then it is not likely the one I seek, but possibly another, different one. The one I seek would be exceedingly difficult to battle, much less to destroy."

     "Then perhaps you need to tell me more of yourself and why you think she would be so difficult to deal with. Only then may I be of more help."

     "As I said earlier, my name is Corum. I am also a brother to the one you know, Elric of Melnibone. I am not of his race, we are both Aspects of the Eternal Champion."

     "Now I see, you know of the relationship he has entered into with me, and as well you believe this 'red woman' is another Aspect who has been corrupted by the red lyrium."

     "Correct on all counts, I cannot find or help her alone. I need someone who has encountered them before. If she has been corrupted, then I dare not try and find her alone."

     "Because she may corrupt you as well."

     "Indeed, and I may not be strong enough on my own, to either capture her or destroy her if it came to that."

     "I knew from Elric that there were more Aspects, indeed we intended to visit Tanelorn to see if we could convince any others to assist us with what we face in the 'third' Creation."

     "If I can presume to ask for your assistance, I would be glad to have you call on me when you visit Tanelorn. I would be honored to speak to the others there on your behalf, some think upon me more favorably than they do Elric, although I have never had issues with him."

     "I cannot say exactly when I can help you, but it would be better to deal with this in my present time to avoid paradoxes."

     "I understand, I will with your permission, contact you in the 'third' Creation, and then when you are able, we can see to this."

     "I will spread the word that if any of mine hear or speak with you, they are to contact me right away. Then we can see as to dealing with the 'Red Woman'. Hopefully, we can purge the lyrium from her and free her from its grasp."

     "I thank you. I will find what I can to repay you with, even if it is naught but my service."

     "We can discuss that when we meet again. I have little to no need for material wealth, your service for a period of time however is quite another matter. We will speak of it then, and I will allow you to speak with Elric beforehand so as to assure yourself you will not be betrayed."

     "With your permission, I will go. I still have much to see to."

     "If you have need of me, call my name, I will hear and come."

     Corum bows then turns, and walks away, as enigmatically as he arrived.

     Everything is done that she can do now. She has her own new weapons, armor, and her frontline troops have theirs waiting here to be handed out when she gets back to them. Dettlaff, Rigmor, Illyria, have already taken theirs. Looking at them you could not imagine the materials that went into their making. Everything blended smoothly into a coherent whole, and her two new skull helms. Well, those went so well, there may be fights breaking out over who gets to wear them.

     When she tested the Balrog Helm and evoked its inherent power, it was like she transformed into that Balrog. She felt a total affinity for fire, all of her fire skills, magic, shouts, magnified almost beyond belief. Her sword would switch between a flaming blade into a flame whip with but a slight thought. The flame whip was so versatile, it was almost like it had a mind of its own. She only had to imagine what she wanted it to do, and so it happened. Its movements, even at the extreme length of its reach was so precise, it was uncanny.

     Then when she tested the Kuurii Helm, this is where she felt like it was hers. She became a liquid shadow, able to flow from one place to another as a pool of shadow, entering the smallest cracks to get to where she wanted to go. Then go full form with but a thought and at the same speed as one. She could summon her dragon claws and become a dragon of shadow, if she chose to fly in the night sky like this, no one would know she was even there until it was too late. Even in broad daylight, where ever there was a shadow, she could call it to come and envelope her in its cool embrace. And the shadow could become as any weapon she could imagine, utilizing her power to do its damage. When she finished testing, she claimed the Kuurii Helm as hers, the Balrog Helm could go to whoever wanted it and having seen what it would do for her, no one said a word.

     When she was ready to leave, she went to the Forgemaster, embraced him for a time, as the tears came unbidden to lament her parting from him. "Father, I so wish I could have more time with you."

     "I know, my child, this has been what I truly believe to be the best time in all of my long life. To see how you have progressed in your skill at the forge...there is no one now, not even me, who is better. If I could have had a blood daughter with the Mother, I would wish she was you. Now if my time is done, I can go to meet my ancestors with my head held higher than all of them. For none can match you in anything you set your mind to do, and I have the blessing to call you 'daughter'. Go now, and do what only you can do. Save the Creations from destruction, give them a new life, and know that there will never be another who will do as you have done. All that is existence, waits for you to put your guiding hand to it. I know you will do what is right. Goodbye and go with my blessing."

     She turns to walk to the portal back and sees Wotan standing with his twin ravens on his shoulder.

     "What you will face when you go to retrieve your daughter, there is no name that has survived to say who he is, who he was. But he will be one of the most dangerous opponents you have faced to this point. You will find him in a long-abandoned fortress built over an even more ancient city, once a true jewel, now gone the way of age and neglect. Allies you will find in a most unexpected place, surrounded above by death and horror. You must delve deep into the past of the city, by way of its heart, and then find the way to your goal.

     It is not for me to see what more you must do, somehow I think you will know. If it should please you, you will be given a chance to restore the deathless city, bring beauty back from its rotting grave, and make the whole of what you have found there, your Garden of Forever."

     "I will remember your words when I reach that place, and remember the friend who pointed the way for me."

     "Would that I could go with you, but it is not to be. You know this, just as you know who must go with you. One last vision to impart to you, beware the 'Miko'."

     "Who or what?"

     "I can say no more, or I risk bringing doom to your efforts. And I could not live with myself if I did that."

     "Then say no more. I will remember what you have said and take your warning to heart. Would you and yours be willing to fight with me when the Great Jihad begins?"

     "I would hazard to say, you would be hard-pressed to keep us away. Every warrior within Asgard will want to follow you after what you did to the Frost Giants."

     "Thank them for me if you would, now I have a Creation to save."

     Everyone steps back through, looking around there is no one in attendance, not sure how much time has come and gone since they left, Iriisii has them form up behind her while they go and see if anyone is outside they can get some information from.

     They step out into the outside air, the scent of it is still clean, with no trace of death or corruption remaining. They start to relax just a bit when they hear running footsteps coming toward them. They start to change position but Iriisii only hears one set of footsteps.

     "Wait, it is only one person, maybe a messenger, let us see who comes."

     They wait and soon a young court page is seen running toward the Great Hall. Iriisii gets his attention and he changes direction to them.

     "Glad am I to see you back, what troops we can gather are mustered at the front gates. The councilors are there hoping for your quick return."

     "How long has it been since we left?"

     The page seems off-put by the question.

     "Just answer the question, do not worry about why."

     "It has been a week since you left."

     "Thank you, go back and tell the High Councilor we are following you. Now go!"

     As the page turns and begins running, "ok, a week gone, and something dire waits for us outside the gates. Business as usual, let us go!"

     They take off at a run, on the way. Rigmor puts out a question, "if we face any shards, how will we deal with them, we do not have a Mantella to trap them in?"

     "We only need the Mantella when we want to put them away for good. Right now, I can hold them within the blade, until a more suitable prison is available."

     "Are you cert..., oh, of course, the new spells forged with the metal of the blade itself?"

     "Yes indeed, I have not yet begun to delve into what they can do, the spells the Quantum Lords gave me, change everything about the ones I inscribed. Even my Ancestral Memories can only make out a few of the new abilities of this blade. It is going to be one fantastic ride to see just what it can do. And do not forget your armor, it will give you the protection you need to take the fight directly to the shards, and that new weapon can do them serious hurt. Something I surmise they have not felt since they were ripped from the Ravenous Darkness within the wormhole."

     "I cannot wait for some payback, too long have they gone unchecked."

     "That ends here and now. And the Ravenous Darkness will learn from what we do to the shards, that he is not invulnerable. There are the gates, we need to go up and see what waits to taste our blades."

     "You have returned!"

     "And just in time, I see."

     "Did all go well for you?"

     "Better than I thought it would."

     "Sanshae, look at you, you are very different than the young girl who left, now you return, an experienced Maiden Warrior in full armor and weapons."

     "Something else you should know about her."

     "Please tell me, good or bad, tell me!"

     "Wotan has declared her to be a 'Daughter of Asgard', one of only a handful of mortals to ever be given that accolade from the time Asgard was formed. And he has given her the ability to call and travel the 'Rainbow Bridge'."

     "I do not know what to say to this."

     "Father, you do not have to say anything. This is something I earned from my own efforts, but without the training, I learned from Iriisii and her mates, their patience, and hard work in teaching me. It would not have been possible."

     "She was with us when we, with the warriors of Asgard, repelled an invasion from the Frost Giants of Jotunheim. She saved the lives of many of Asgards' warriors that day, she sought out the giants' weakness and took full advantage of it, to turn the tide of battle to Asgard's favor. There is not a single warrior who survived that battle that would not come at her call. I have not before now said anything, but when we are done here, I would like to discuss having her train with my Sirens. They, like her, are mortal, but there is much more she can learn from them.

     We will speak of this later, for now, it looks like we have a fight on our hands. Look, out there to the right flank, that is the Black Worm. Come on, we need to hit them head-on, draw their attention to us and give him some room to do what he does best. Alright, keep the gates closed, we go over the top! FOR CREATION!"

     Iriisii goes over the top of the battlements, having cast a 'feather' spell on her group before leaping. All land softly and take their strongest positions, then run full out straight into the mass of enemy soldiers, seeing zombies back behind, their reins being held in check by Wamphyrie. Iriisii can sense the presence of shards, but they seem to be staying well back, out of sight. No matter, they will come forth soon enough when this army of theirs is decimated. She dons the Kuurii Helm and calls, Beast, forward to merge with her, even as Dettlaff dons the Balrog Helm, and calls his own, Beast.

     They begin to spread apart a bit to separate the forces, channeling those in the center, right into the grinding blades of Rigmor, and her Dark Side Beast, Illyria, channeling Desidarius, and Sanshae dead center between them, killing anything left. The Black Worm sees the commotion forming at the gates, and knows what is happening, he then redoubles his efforts to gain as many enemy dead as he can, while adding to the bounty total.

     Iriisii draws shadows to her, wrapping herself in them. She then melts to the ground forming a large pool of shadow. The enemy not noticing this, seeing only her absence, surge forward. Then she raises the shadow pool, blinding them in darkness, and the slaughter begins.

     Dettlaff, his form encased in fire and smoke, lashing about with a whip of flame, setting enemies aflame as they run amok among their fellows spreading the flames further. 

The fire whip is very effective in wrapping around heads, boiling their eyes while still in their sockets. The blinded soldiers, screaming in agony, flailing about, running into others, disrupting any chance of order among them.

     Then the Wamphyrie let loose the zombies. Which proved to be a grave mistake for them as Iriisii activates the Amulet of Necromancy she took from the body on the ship. The one who previously used it to command the zombies given to him as his army to sow fear and discord. She commands the zombies to turn on the Wamphyrie, which they mindlessly do. A few Wamphyrie getting torn apart and the zombies starting to eat them along with the leeches is enough to alert the Wamphyrie to massive trouble.

     And to make matters for them even worse, a trail of shadow moves under the feet of a group of Wamphyrie fighting the zombies they had been controlling then released, and now are unable to regain that control. Suddenly the trail of shadow expands into a pool, that rises up enveloping them. It solidifies until it is as strong as steel, steel several feet thick that closes in on them, crushing them to a squishy pulp, leeches and all. Then as the shadow recedes from them, a flame whip lashes out, laying itself among the remains, igniting it into a bonfire.

     The shards begin to take notice of the battle not going the way they anticipated. This was a vital distraction for the main event to be initiated properly. The complete destruction of this Creation was the intended goal, and nothing must be allowed to interfere with it. And so the shards take the field, to witness their carefully constructed plan unraveling around them. They look to see where their enemies are, but only see three warriors in strange armor, putting their troops into a 'meatgrinder'. 

     They then choose those to be the first they attack and shred their minds. Rigmor's nose alerts her to the trouble coming toward them.

     "Trouble coming, straight ahead of us."

     They gird themselves, not really knowing just how effective this new armor is going to be. As the first of the shards reach out, it screams in anguish as it tries to relinquish its hold on the warrior. It does not know what is happening, but it feels itself being burned by something it is touching. This burning is scouring it, pouring itself into every aspect of its thoughts, ripping through to expose it to a searing light.

     It does not know that this is the Light of Truth, a weapon to some, a balm to others. It opens the shards' mind, showing it how it was created, and worst of all. The paths that it could have gone down, had the Ravenous Darkness made other choices than the ones it did. Its cries of pain, fueled by the knowledge of choices that could have been, but will never be now. It sees all that it could have been, fading into the mists of time, and it strives to follow, losing itself forever in the possibilities of what might have been.

     One by one, they all follow, as Iriisii's blade absorbs the shards and isolates them into their own little 'hell' caused by the Poison of Transcendence working with the Catalyst. Soon enough the battle here is over as silence reigns over the field. Iriisii goes to Rigmor, "are you all right?"

     "I saw what it saw within itself. I now know how close I came to the same, happening to me if you had not been there to guide me during my trial. This is truly some powerful stuff."

     "I know, but it is the only thing that will work against it and protect us at the same time. It just will not be so easy against the Ravenous Darkness as against these shards." 

     "Where is it? How close is the destruction? How close do we have to be?"

     "We can do what we need to from here. It is the timing that is important, not where we are. And we still have time to prepare, it is just getting started, I can feel it reaching into the underlying void."

     Iriisii feels the presence of the Child of Infinity reaching out to her.

     "Are you ready sister?"

     "I am, this field is cleared, we should have no interruptions."

     "Good, we cannot waver for even a second. I can feel the Quantum Lords stirring, preparing to open a conduit for us to draw the raw power through. I will convert it into magic, for that is what we are most familiar with. Then together we will cast the Rebirth spell, this time we need not entreat for it to happen, it follows our 'will' now. At the moment before Rebirth, merge yourself, and together we will guide the new Creation into its new home. And the Ravenous Darkness will be none the wiser, thinking it has done as it wished and destroyed this Creation.

     We will know it is safe within another dimension. I will transport all of you with the new Creation into its new home, and it will for a while believe it has taken care of you as well. Wait! Something comes, you must hurry, we cannot afford a delay now!"

     Iriisii concentrates hard and expands her awareness, she senses what comes, the Red Woman. Then away in another direction, she senses the Lyrium Dragons approaching as well. Very well, events will occur as they must, and she is secure in the knowledge that she will do justice to the sacrifice these dragons will make on her behalf, even if it must happen in the far future from now.

     "All of you, back behind the walls, this is my battle to fight! Do not argue, it must happen as it must happen, in order for the future to unfold as it must. Under no circumstances do any of you interfere, no matter what you see, I will be all right."

     "Ah, there you are my adversary. The entity you know as the Ravenous Darkness has given me the task of seeing to you. He cannot afford to have you interfere with his plans now."

     "And yet, I have succeeded in everything I have done to thwart him and all the others, what makes you think you will succeed where they have failed."

     "For they sought your demise, while I only seek to delay you for a bit. Your demise will occur as this Creation is destroyed. A neat arrangement I believe I have set up."

     "Then I shall have to see to it that you go down with me."

     The Red Woman screams her denial as she lets loose with a series of crystalline daggers propelled from her hand. Iriisii's shield comes up in time to shatter them. She then sends her own force attack that the Red Woman avoids. Even as this is going on the Lyrium Dragons approach and Iriisii feels something growing underneath her feet. Something was being made from the crystalline shards that have been shattering on her shield.

     She gives it just a few seconds from a spare portion of her mind, feeds it to her Ancestral Memories, who returns to her with an answer. 'She is building a Mantella underneath you. It is not strong enough to hold you indefinitely, but it would hold you until you would not escape the Creation's destruction.' 

     'What is it made of, or more specifically is it not made of red lyrium?'

     'As far as we can discern it is not made of Red Lyrium. The structure of Red Lyrium will not create a Mantella, so you do not have to consider infection. May we ask how you intend to escape in time?'

     'The Lyrium Dragons will release me at the cost of themselves becoming infected. You know that in the future, I will release them from the Red Lyrium, I will be released to perform Rebirth and go with the reborn Creation to its new home. You need not worry about your continued existence. All of you are vital to me and so I will do what I must to see to your survival.'

     'Thank you, 'Mother of Dragons.'

     The Red Woman senses the Lyrium Dragons coming, as she steps up her attacks. Once she has enough of the shattered crystal pieces she activates an artifact which causes the crystal pieces to recombine around her into a Mantella. The Memories are right, this Mantella is not strong enough to hold her, but it is strong enough to delay her if she has no help in shattering it again. The Red Woman takes off in the direction she came, cackling to herself over her supposed victory.

     The dragons land around her as the lead comes up.

     "How may we help Mother of Dragons?"

     "Break this Mantella from around me, if you would, then we go find the Red Woman."

     The dragon looks to the closest ones to him, they look over the Mantella and nod their heads.

     "It cannot resist the Dragonfire of three of us, it was hastily made from inferior crystals."

     "Then let us be about it, I want to see her again before she gets too far."

     "As you wish, Mother of Dragons."

     He lets loose with a blast of Dragonfire to warm the crystal, then the three of them release another blast all at once. It takes some seconds but the Mantella crystal cracks and shatters. Iriisii standing and basking in the Dragonfire, absorbing the power, then pooling it to give it to the Red Woman when she sees her.

     "Do you wish to mount?"

     Iriisii smiles at the courtesy the lead dragon is showing and answers, "thank you but no need." And unfurls her own wings. The lead raises his head and roars, "Dragons of Lyrium, we fly with the 'Mother'!" She leaps up into the air as her wings catch an upward draft and she follows the direction the Red Woman took. The lead's wings grab air and he is soon right beside her. The others follow around, above, and below.

     "Never in all of my life have I ever expected to see such a thing as I have just witnessed."

     "Stick around here for a while longer and you are likely to see a lot more."