Chapter Text
I hated the feeling of cobble-stone. It wasn't easy to grip and screamed like nails on a chalkboard as I scaled the wall in front of me. I looked up at the ever growing height of the rocky mountain like barrier, the top seemingly further away than when I started. I dug my claws into the closest gap between the rocks I could find and continued. I wasn't the best species for this job but if I stupidly soared around the castle like a sitting duck they would shoot me down without hesitation. My wings were tucked tight against my back, trying to make myself seem as small as humanly possible. I didn't know if I was succeeding or failing massively but until I was caught in a net or thrown in a disgusting rotting cell in the pits of firesburg, I would say that I was succeeding. Despite this, my lungs were on fire and my heart was beating so fast I was scared that they would catch me purely because of the noise. The weak scent of gunpowder surrounded the walls leaving a bitter taste on my tongue. I really hated what they have done to this world, what they’ve done to the country, what they’ve done to us.
My arms shook as I started to grip onto another ledge, beginning to bring myself up. A quiet crack, so quiet that a human wouldn't be able to hear it, was my only warning before the ledge was gone with a tumble and the only thing keeping me from falling was my other hand. Still unbelievably holding my body weight. For the first time that night, doubts filled my brain, clouded my eyes and covered my mind. I didn’t bother to blow the hair out of my eyes, nor clear the water that was running down my face. The wind did that for me.
I buried my claws into the barricade, grinding my teeth and enduring the pain of my muscles yelling, screaming even, to stop this madness and go back home to Fumikage and dark shadow. To be at home, asleep, curled up with the two most amazing little kits a parent could ever ask for. To hear their laughter, and whining and quiet whispers as they drift off to sleep. To feel the soft feathers under my claws and small tails around my leg, no bigger than my arm.
I was doing this for them, for every single creature that had to endure this pain throughout the ten years that king Enji had been in power. How he had banished magic besides his own and how shifters had to hide in the slums. Cast out and forbidden from ever taking another foot in the kingdom. Kicked out of houses with nothing but a suitcase.
Sometimes even less.
I scraped the top of the wall, cobblestone screaming in agony as I scratched across the rocks. Creating small canyons that reached across the crag like a snake’s shedded skin. My chest rumbled as I bared my teeth. Dark, ominous clouds loomed over my head like fate, like a promise or a prediction. A promise that I wouldn’t come back, that everything would go wrong and no one would ever find my body.
Hair brushed my eyes and my feathers stuck up on end as I tucked them around myself for a moment. The wind was stronger up here, bitter and icy. Perching myself on the edge of the wall I took a moment to gaze down at the city below me. There were people, hundreds, thousands even going about like they didn’t have a care in the world, as if they don't know what the king that they follow had done. What they had done. Even this late at night there were still some walking around. Lights in homes were on and the lamps flickered with life. Children laughed and played inside the comfort of their homes and weren't worried about where their father was, how much they could earn for the next meal or whether they were being too loud. It looked like home.
The thing that surprised me most though, was not the people but what they were. Or more or less what they weren't. My eyes kept frantically searching for someone with horns, or wings, tails or ears that rested on top of their heads. As I kept searching, a deep disappointment and hatred sunk to the bottom of my stomach. I felt heavy and my brain foggy. I had read stories, legends about how the Kingdom of Flame was a place where creatures could come and be themselves, it was a safe haven.
Key word; was.
Feathers bristled and head heavy I continued to crawl (unnoticed) towards the palace. My bow banged against my leg as I continued, reminding me of my duty. Arrows whispering into my ear from the case that sat in the middle of my wings, the gas was locked in a jar inside my belt pocket. It felt fiery, as though burning a hole through my trousers.
The clouds rolled over one another, as though the gods were fighting, wondering whether I should live or die, that was when I felt it, the light drizzle of rain. Sinking into my clothes and rolling off my wings in large droplets. Clearly they had made up their mind by the time I had reached my target.
Hands shaking I almost dropped my arrow. My talons gripped the edge of the wall as though my life depended on it, creating a horrific grinding sensation that made a shiver shoot up my spine. Biting the shaft of the arrow and reaching into my pocket. I gathered the contents. I could see the swirling contents inside of the jar, lapping and fighting as though I held the world in the palm of my hand. Strapping it to the point I replayed what he had said.
The man wasn't anything special, he looked like he’d been living out of a dumpster his whole life, although I wasn't much better. His ears twitched on top of his head, matted with dust and shavings of fur that he’d never bothered to brush off. Eyes wrinkled with age and craze, glassy as though he’d just come back from a shared circle of smoking.
His voice was gruff and smokey as though his lungs had collapsed and all that was left was the singular airway between his blood and his mouth “When you strap it to the point, make sure to release the pin before shooting, otherwise the gas won’t do anything and it will just sit there, ready to be taken for investigation” I nodded and handed him the bag of money. He quickly snatched it without hesitation and began counting the coins, rolling the dhéir across the table in my direction. I almost didn't catch it.
The air was covered in smoke and incense with a hint of whiskey on the carpet, if the lined bottles weren't much of a giveaway.
The man’s long and greying tail swept the floor as he got up and unscrewed a bank at the right corner of the room, like many in this district there wasn't much in there. A ball of yarn, some fluff, and a few small bags of coins. Adding his bag to the sad collection he turned around to face me. A snarl overtook his lips “well what are you still doing here? Go away! You’re shedding your godforsaken feathers everywhere!”
I ruffled them, purely for spite before taking my leave and slamming the crooked door behind me.
Unhooking my bow and readjusting my angle so that it fit with the open window I waited.
Not a moment too soon he came. Strutting down his hall with such ego I'm surprised his head hasn't swollen, although I'd much rather it exploded.
Swallowing the lump in my throat I pulled back the trigger, I only got one shot at this, only one shot to save my people. To save my kingdom and to save my home. My hands shook and my palms were coated with the now torrential downpour.
I had taken many lives, what’s one more?