The Bonding Chronicles Ch. 18

"Quinault Rain Forest — Where Nature Lives"

The message was cliche, but for some unknown reason the image was haunting. "No, don't do it." the voice screamed out in the back of her mind, begging her not to look at the other side of the card.

The paper shook in her unsteady grip, sweat pouring down her face and clinging to her body as she failed to notice that she had stopped breathing. It took her longer than she realized to flip the card over, and the moment she saw the back, it fell from her retreating grip.

There was a single word, written in what appeared to be blood, using what Tani'm assumed to be a child's small hand. It was the last thing she saw before she fainted, and the only word she could think of as the inky abyss consumed her.

"BROTHER"

***** The Girl From Ipanema *****

A warm wind blew across Caili's wings, her feathers twisting and guiding her through the air high above the ocean below. While monstrous creatures swam beneath the crystal clear waters, she surveyed the area around her. A small army of birds were giving her chase, their sleek bodies being driven forward by the powerful strokes of their wings.

She twisted to the side, her large, snow owl body plummeting dozens of feet as a hawk zoomed passed, its talons missing her by inches as the sound of its screech filled the air. They were getting close, and Caili knew their battle was far from over, sensing her pursuers frustration as they tightened their noose. While she could outpace many of the smaller birds, the hawks speed was unbeatable, and their bodies were better suited for aerial combat, making them far more maneuverable than her.

There was something about their battle that lit a fire within her heart, chasing away her thoughts of the mortal realm, and the war that threatened Andrew and his family. Small clouds littered the sky above, diffusing the sunlight and highlighting the vastness of their arena. Turning her attention, she screeched in triumph as she crossed the peak of a high cliff wall which rose out from the ocean below, a broad and grassy plain replacing the vast water that had been beneath them.

A few more twists of her body thwarted the daring and yet fruitless attacks of her hunters, her powerful claws lashing out and wounding a couple of her pursuers as they passed. Their battle had forced her to drop in altitude until she found herself precisely where she wanted to be, her body shifting form until her human feet made contact with the ground.

Caili's broad wings extended out behind her, catching the wind and slowing her to a near stop in a matter of yards. She could hear the whispers of attack in the breeze, and as her wings folded against her back, vanishing into the ether from whence they came, she allowed her remaining momentum to propel her into a forward roll, dodging a massive hawk that almost caught her with its powerful and razor sharp talons.

She rose from her roll and spun around, her arm reaching out and catching another hawk by the throat, causing her to slide a few feet back as its momentum pressed into her. Caili stood in the middle of a vast field of green, dozens of aerial predators circling above as the sun bathed her naked body. At almost six feet tall she was impressive, muscles defining her curves in dangerous and threatening ways.

Her build alone was enough to deter most who would consider challenging her, but what struck fear in the hearts of her foes were the scars that adorned almost every inch of her body. Her face and neck were smooth and unblemished, but the rest of her was covered in a latticework of criss-crossing scars, which under other circumstances might have been considered beautiful or intriguing, but when drawn upon flesh seemed frightening in their implementation. They curved and traced long narrow pathways around her body, almost appearing decorative from a distance.

She squeezed the hawk's neck and grimaced as its claws dug into her forearm before she slammed it into the ground, breaking one of its wings and knocking the creature unconscious. The mighty looking bird went limp, its black and brown feathers pulling into its body as it shifted into the form of a moderate sized man.

While the rest of the birds circled above, two more men rose up out of the grass off in the distance, a series of open wounds running across their bodies from where her claws had punished them for attacking her. Having been wounded already, she figured they would have given up, and as they approached she seemed almost bored by their continued assault.

Her movements were minimal, just enough to avoid each attack, and with every dodge she forced her assailants closer together. In a matter of moments, the two men were almost tripping over each other, each one trying to wound the infuriating woman who barely watched them as they continued their onslaught. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, watching as more celestials landed and shifted into their human forms. Birds of remarkable coloring and beauty transitioning into men of exceptional physique, all watching her with determination as they took up position in a circle around her.

The truth was, Caili was frustrated with The Harbingers of Light, and tired of all the honor fights they forced her into. She knew why they did it, their emotions were too strong for her to ignore their thoughts even if she tried, but it was against her nature to explain to them how childish they were being. Every confrontation they forced upon her only solidified her place of favor in the Mother Superior's eyes. A place of honor they all desired and coveted with a dangerous zeal.

Despite how it appeared, the two men were extremely gifted at combat, attempting to seize at every opportunity she gave them. The problem was, there were never any openings she did not present to them on purpose, and as the moments wore on, they began to realize that. The gathering crowd of lithe and naked men silently chanted a wordless hymn, its melody haunting and enchanting.

Their thoughts pressed out, each of them focusing on different maneuvers they would have performed if they were facing her, their minds rich with possibilities. If Caili was less gifted, their plan may have worked, but as she focused her will upon the two men she faced, she could hear their thoughts clearly, and saw each of their moves before they were made.

Knowing how the honor fight was bound to end, she quickly brought the scuffle with the two men to its conclusion, sweeping one of their legs out and tripping him, while sidestepping the other's punch, hitting him in pressure points along the bicep and armpit. Pain shot through the man's arm as it dropped lifelessly to his side, Caili's gift convincing him that it was useless. Before he could mentally regroup, and while his friend rolled back onto his feed, Caili punched him hard in the chin, her strike perfectly placed to knock him out.

Just as the second man got to his feet, he saw Caili take a step towards him, her face a blank mask as she studied him. Never before had he known the cold indifference of war, and despite all the training he had endured with his brothers, nothing had prepared him more than seeing her steely eyes gazing down upon him. She was unstoppable, unbreakable and never ending. He was young and brash, sure, but she was the embodiment of everything he had been training to overcome.

He lashed out, and with a slight shift of Caili's head, his jab missed her entirely. A few more strikes flew out in rapid succession, none of them eliciting a response as she dodged or deflected them with ease. Through it all she continued to walk towards him with slow and casual purpose. The young man backed away, his feet finding purchase by luck more than skill, until the inevitable happened and he fumbled over a loose rock. Falling onto his back, his eyes were wide with panic as she stared into his soul.

"Which of you wishes to challenge me today?!" Caili yelled at the gathered men. "You dare interrupt my leisure with these petty games, and this is what you offer me?"

Their chanting never ceased, though murmuring could be heard mixing into the melody. The young man scuffled to his feet, vanishing into the crowd as a much older man came out from a short distance away.

"Your arrogance continues to be your weakness, Caili!" he declared, his eyes meeting hers as she turned to face him.

"I didn't pick this fight, Gabriel. I would still be enjoying my flight if you sycophants would've left me in peace."

They circled each other, the gathered throng's chorus rising in tempo as their pace built speed.

"Same rules as always?"

"Yeah, yeah," Caili responded. "No wings or telepathy. Get on with it."

No sooner had the words left her lips, than the small and muscular man closed the distance between them.

Years of training, and an unyielding determination to serve their mistress well, had given all of the Harbingers of Light a distinctive build. Fully clothed, Gabriel would have seemed unimpressive at only five foot six, his stocky build easily being mistaken for fat rather than muscle. Nudity revealed his true nature, every inch of his tanned and sturdy frame was rippling with unmistakable athletic power.

He closed the distance to Caili in a zigzag pattern of short and quick movements, his momentum shifting with sudden and unexpected speed. Caili had fought Gabriel many times before, and admired the effort he had put into mimicking her style from their previous fights. Her recent contact with the human world had began to influence Caili's methods, though she was not prepared to reveal those secrets just yet.

So, as Gabriel struck out, attempting to hit her major muscle groups, she decided to see how much he had learned. True to her word, she never once reached out with her mind, instead focusing on each and every movement of her opponent. His foot placement was perfect, even on the uncertain terrain, and with every strike he was careful to close and cover any opening he may have presented.

Caili took a few hits as she measured his technique, and was pleased to find that her lack of offense offended the proud Celestial, who was putting his all into his assault. In that moment, just as she was preparing to retaliate and use everything she had learned against Gabriel, a song broke through the murmering chant that surrounded them. The music seemed to come from all directions as it was placed directly into each of their minds by some unknown force.

"Tall and tan and young and lovely"

The choir of chaos grew silent as confusion crossed their assembled faces, all eyes turning towards Caili. They expected to find a gloating smirk on her face, but only found mirrored astonishment as she studied Gabriel, the solid man continuing his assault despite the unexpected music.

"The girl from Ipanema goes walking and"

Caili misplaced a foot as she sidestepped another of Gabriel's attacks, creating enough of an opening for him to punch her directly between her scarred and mutilated breasts. She had plenty of time to prepare for the hit, and while it hurt, it failed to take her breath from her.

Knowing her momentum was carrying her towards the ground anyways, she decided to go with it, lunging into a roll and moving further from her opponent.

"When she passes, each one she passes goes"

Rising to her feet, she spun back towards Gabriel, deflecting a punch while stabilizing her footing. The growing sounds of tittering whispers from the congregation that surrounded them joined the music in her head, working to distract her from what had been a simple task a moment before.

She wanted to scan her surroundings, to look at the gathered Celestials and try to see what they had found, but she dared not take her attention from Gabriel, who continued to press his advantage. They traded a few hits, each of them performing an amazing ballet of martial arts accomplished only through a level of mastery few would ever know.

"When she walks, she's like a samba"

Through the corner of her eye, Caili could see one of the Harbingers looking off to her side, well outside of her line of sight. The subtle thrum of their whispers changed in tones as they began to share in that same discovery, and through those silent voices she began to hear a distant whistle that seemed to be singing along with the music that filled their minds.

Caili continued to focus on her fight, refusing to allow herself to be distracted no matter how enticing the trap. Through her concentration she could see Gabriel losing the battle she had won within herself, his eyes shifting towards the growing sound of the whistling, eager to know who was creating it.

"That swings so cool and sways so gentle that"

The lure was finally too great for Gabriel, whose eyes jerked a moment too long, and by the time he looked back, Caili's fist was right at his face, a microsecond away from landing. Stars filled his vision as her strike hit home, the dull thud of its impact felt in the gut of all who heard it. He stood there for a moment, swaying and shifting from side to side as he tried to regain his balance, his hands never leaving their casual combat position despite the far off look that rested on his face.

She knew he would not stop, the older Harbingers never did. Pride making them continue, when common sense should have dictated that victory was unattainable.

"When she passes, each one she passes goes"

Before Gabriel could regain his focus she struck out once more, landing her punch perfectly on his chin and sending him to the ground. By that point, the whistling had grown loud enough that Caili knew who was creating the music they were all forced to listen to.

Turning her gaze, she glowered through the saddened throng of the Harbingers of Light, directly into the eyes of the source of her annoyance.

"Oren, if you don't stop that music, I'll be forced to stop it for you."

The old wizard chuckled to himself as he stepped through the crowd of naked men, the melody fading away as his influence vanished from the assembled celestials.

"That's a great song, right?" Oren declared, seeming oblivious to the battle that he had stepped into.

Walking with the assistance of his cane, the old man approached Gabriel's unconscious body. "Aww, he's so sleepy. The poor little fella'." He concluded his statement by jabbing the prostrate body with his walking stick.

If looks could kill, Oren would have died a million times over by the stares he got from the Harbingers as they gathered their fallen men and rushed from the scene, their honor still seeming hurt as they traded glances between Oren and Caili.

"What? Was it something I said?" he asked as he turned his attention back on Caili. "You sure seem to have a full social calendar, young lady."

As always, his tone was gentle and kind, joy written across the wrinkles of his face as he smiled at her, waiting for an answer.

"What do you want, Oren? You know I hate humans, wizards doubly so." She paused and narrowed her eyes towards him, grimacing slightly as she took the bait she knew he had presented. "And, I'm not that much younger than you."

Oren found a soft spot in the grassy terrain and pressed the tip of his cane a few inches into the soil, weaving magic into the device as he responded. "Hey, thirty years is thirty years, little miss."

No sooner had his statement concluded, than the cane had reshaped itself into a small but sturdy stool. The smile never left his face as he slowly lowered himself onto the seat, the dramatics of the process played up for comedic effect.

"What is it, old man?"

The congenial smile vanished from Oren's face, and was replaced by shock as he stammered, "But... but... I'm not that much older than you, old lady."

Caili exasperated as she flexed her muscles in frustration, her wings appearing from the ether and unfolding from her back as she glowered down on Oren.

"What do you want?!"

Her wings spread out behind her, the platinum tips of her flight feathers glinting in the midday sun as she took a threatening step towards him. The smile returned to his face as he studied her gorgeous wings, her display seeming to have no effect on the infuriating man.

"You know, for an immortal race of angels, you sure seem to have a lot of anger problems. But, then again, that might just be you, pumpkin."

Her wings dropped to her sides, reflecting the defeat that showed in her shoulders as she turned away from him.

"I'll take my leave, then. Since you seem more interested in your games than my company."

"Why must those two things be in conflict. Perhaps I enjoy your company because of my games?"

Caili's eyes burned with a barely restrained scream as she turned her gaze back towards him. A look she had seen many of her own race wilt before, but he remained within it, happy and carefree as he looked at her like he was studying a long and seldom seen friend.

"I'm sure Wilcox told you everything he saw in my mind."

Oren's grin widened as he tilted his head. "Ohhh, he did, and I saw the memory as clearly as he did..." There was a long and dramatic pause as Oren and Caili studied each other. "Perhaps more clearly, in fact."

A few moments passed by as they watched each other, Caili too frustrated to continue their contest of wills. "Well, if you saw it, then what questions could you possibly have? You know I won't tell you our business in The Mortal Realm."

"Ohh, my dear child, I'm aware of The Treaty, and the rights granted to you by your station as Emissary of your people."

"Then, why would The Council waste my time by sending you to inquire with me what you cannot know?"

There was a glint in Oren's eye as he smiled at her, before answering her question. "They didn't. I was just feeling a little bored and decided to go for a walk, and wouldn't you know it, my feet took me here. Crazy old feet."

She hated herself for it, but she chuckled for the first time in decades, that crazy old man's antics finally finding a path through her walls.

"And I figured, 'heck, since I'm in The Celestial Realm, I might as well look up my old friend Caili, that charming and sophisticated beacon of joy and happiness.' But, since you mention Wilcox and that memory... No, never mind."

"In the name of all that's holy, out with it old man."

Oren smirked. "See. I come here for the scenery, but I stay for the pleasant people."

Caili smiled and shook her head, hating him for making her like him. Her look spoke more than any words she could use to plead with him to get on with his observations.

"It's just, I've known your people for a long time, and even you would have a hard time not helping someone who was about to be murdered like that kid was. I mean, you were right there, all you had to do was drop down."

Caili felt the rush of emotion she had experienced when Andrew had been attacked that night those few days back. Mercedes cornering him against that tree, her hand digging the flesh from his chest.

Oren was a gifted telepath, probably the most powerful one out of all of the wizards who possessed that gift, but even he was no match for Caili. She was almost certain he couldn't hear her thoughts, or see her memories, but she didn't risk it, remembering the emotions of that moment but refusing to imagine the scene.

"Anyways, I figured since my willy old legs took me here, I might as well check in and see how you were doing. It must've been hard to watch that, and be unable to do anything to help."

She knew there were other reasons for his talking with her, but could sense in his tone the truth of that statement. He was genuinely concerned for her well being.

As Oren rose from his stool, the dramatics of the moment just as exaggerated as before, Caili could sense a series of images being projected by the strange old man.