I was right, it took us forever to get to the Edge. The first night was similar to the other, Arwen staring at Sorata across the fire while Aratazz was stuck by Ozani. The next morning we left again and before even mid-day, we reached the edge of the grass. With no trees or flowers, we saw, Kirham’s Edge.  

Looking forward, the ground just, vanished. Dirt and soil until bright blue, the sky meeting Kirham. That’s when I saw our problem.   

Pegasus and griffens, flying with carts on their backs and thick collars around their necks. Flying around the creatures, were what I could only call ugly things. They had a dove body with the limbs of a human. Skin stretched between the body and the hands, making featherless wings. It was as if they were skin bags trying to contain miscellaneous bones and muscles.  

People filled the carts being pulled by the flying creatures. Most were workers, sawing down flowers and saplings. With each pull, I could feel the pain within me. That’s why the grass was so far from Kirlam’s edge, they were destroying the island. Next to the workers were tall woman, each with string like hair reaching the dirt; Banshee were guarding the edge also.  

I looked over at Sora, tears were building up in his eyes. If they were willing to step on the Angel’s holy land, the Faires would be next. There was no safe place for us now, even if Sora wanted to stay here. Kirham will be taken next.  

We backed away from the Edge, further into the grass. Once we were safely away, we circled up again.  

“What do we do?” 

Arwen asked, but there was no answer. From what we saw earlier, we wouldn't have to just deal with Harpies, but Banshees too. Sora was still healing; he couldn’t even fly. I had magic but it was all based on the plants they had already removed and the Wizards weren’t graduated Wizards yet. We weren’t a group of people that could take on a swarm on Harpies and Banshees. We couldn’t do this, but we couldn’t stay either.  

“How did you guys get here?” 

Oh, right, Sora had a point. Kirham was supposed to be holy ground.  

“Research pass.” Aratazz pulled a piece of parchment out of her robes. “We showed the Gargoyles at the entrance, they verified it and then we crossed. That also means we can cross back just as easily.” 

“But not with me or Sorata. 

The Wizards looked down, doubt in all our minds. We couldn’t fight, we couldn’t slip by, what else could we do?  

“We can capture them.” 

We all turned to Ozani, surprised that she even added into the conversation. I honestly, just kind of forgot about her.  

“What do you mean, Zani.” 

“We walk up, say that we found these creatures and that we are taking you guys back to research. We hide Angel’s hair and we slip by.” 

That, could work. They say that took us to research, or to take back to the Dragons. Marakin would be a wonderful creature to study; that would get us on Volar. 

“I don’t kno-” 

“We’ll do it!” 

Arwen and Sora looked at me, but I wasn’t even ashamed. We had to get off the island and into Volar to fight Zinuth, the sooner the better. I didn’t care how we did that, even if it was embarrassing. 

“Are you not going to think this through, Mina? We could be killed before we even reached land, and there is a lot of air between here and there.” 

I looked over at Sora, his eyes were just like how I found him all those years ago. Scared, tired, lacking hope. And that meant it was my job to give him that hope.  

“We can do this Sora, bring freedom to our people and the kingdom.” I grabbed his hands, staring up at him. “I believe in you Sora, in us.” 

He glanced around at the group but I stayed focused on him. I had to make him believe, to inspire hope in him. This wouldn’t work without the Main-Character. 

“But what about me? What about my life? Do I just give it all up because someone told me to?” 

Sora didn’t ask for this like I did, but I didn’t have an answer. 

A hand landed on Sora’s shoulder, we both looked up to see Arwen smiling at us.  

“Change can be good, shall we see what fate has written for us?” 

Sora had a moment for himself, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking but he changed. It was like he was in training again, eyes focused and mind clear. He stood, doubling his height and looking strong. 

“Well then, let’s do this.” 

~~~~ 

“I don’t like this.” 

Sora was pouting and it took all my effort to keep from laughing. To hide his hair, white hair was something that only angels had, we smothering him in ink and dirt. He looked like a child that had fallen into the mud. Ozani and Aratazz kept glancing back and giggling. 

We had bound both of our wings which made me fidget along with Sora frowning. The wizards had to do it, I couldn’t bring myself to harm anyone’s wings. We had to play along so I could no longer fly, my power limited. Sorata was hiding under Marakin while I was tied to Ozani. I would be the fairy they find and bring back; I have no idea what they are going to call Sora if he was found. Either way, it was worth it to see him like this. Sora was usually quite clean, he liked to be organized. Dirt covering him was probably driving him insane. 

“Hush!” 

Ozani pulled on my rope, tugging me away from where Sora was hiding. Right now, it looked like she was pulling me, but I was really the one in control. This way, she can’t run away and snitch on us.  

“We’re coming up on the bridge, stay quiet you two.” 

Arwen was in the lead, pulling the cart that held Marakin with his magic. Aratazz was on his right, Ozani on his left. I ducked my head, acting like the scared fairy I was supposed to be. Eventually we stopped and Arwen introduced us. 

“We are here to return to school, we have specimens to study at Ixon Acadamy.” 

There was a pause and soon I saw green feet enter my vison. The creature grunted, pulling on my arm and pushing me around. He soon left, and then I heard Marakin shout out. 

“Don’t hurt her!” 

When I looked up, that goblin was pulling at her feathers without a care in the world. I jerked on the rope, but Ozani wouldn’t let me move. The goblin looked back at me and sneered. He should just be grateful that he’s too short for Mara to stab him. Murder was in her eyes and I wouldn’t even stop her. 

The goblin must have decided that was enough and we were ushered to the loading dock.  

With a broken heart I watched Arwen hook up Marakin to a pegasus. She was beautiful, silky purple hair with lavender skin. Her wings fluttered, but the thick collar around her neck ruined the whole thing. I wanted to rip that thing off and free her. No creature or person should be forced to wear such a thing. 

“Calm down pixie.” 

I glared at Ozani once more, not even bothering to settle down. I don’t know how they could stand to live in a world where this was normal. 

Once we were all loaded up, the pegasus took off, Harpies on either side. For once, I was glad I was looking down, harpies were defiantly not creatures of Kirlam. 

Suddenly Arwen was at my side, breathing down my neck. 

“Once we reach Volar, we have to go to the school but then we can do whatever you need. You do have a plan, right?” 

Sure, we go to the throne and fight, right? 

Thankfully, I've lived a lot of lives and had the experience. Rebelions start small but if we were lucky one would have already been started. If not, things would take a lot more time. Time we didn't want to waste. Once the fighting starts and freedom becomes an option, the rest of the oppressed people are sure to join in. Easy. 

But halfway between Kirlam and Volar, we were stopped with nothing below us.  

“What’s going on Arwen?” 

He left my side to go to the front where Aratazz was waiting.  

“I don’t know, let’s just wait.” 

I glanced up to see the harpy watching me, and my heart began to race. This couldn’t be good. 

Then the harpies left, leaving us in the middle of nowhere. 

“We find that most people relax in the middle of the ride.” 

I glanced around, but couldn’t see who was speaking. The voice seemed to echo around, coming from everywhere and nowhere. 

“So, we stop and see what they are hiding, by royal decree.” 

Royals, that meant only one thing.  

A black blurr raced up, coming from the cart and stopping several feet above us. I had to tilt my head to catch him, and my worries were right. 

“As Crown prince of Mistros, Tuvon the Protective, we seize your cargo.” 

He was beautiful, with black wings extending from his shoulders, and red cloth covering his tan skin. His hair was black, a shining gold crown upon his head. The next king of the dragons had found us. 

Before Arwen could speak, two more dragons appeared, one feminine with hot pink details on her wings and black hair, the other seemed male with blue scales and blond hair. We were surrounded, and if Sora was found, we were dead.  

The girl was flying around, laughing and inspecting Marakin. The other was still, watching from a distance. He scared me more because I didn’t know what he was hiding.  

“Is this a pixie!” 

She played with my arms and hair, even touching my wings. I had to focus on the ground to not lash out. Wings for any race or delicate, you didn’t just touch them. Apparently, dragons were less educated than I thought. 

“You know what I heard, that pixies are so light you can throw them like a little toy.” 

I stared into her eyes, pink like her wings. I didn’t like the wildness in them. 

Thankfully, Arwen didn’t either. 

“We want to study them at school, so please don’t ruin the test subjects.” 

She tilted her head, playing with the rope that connected me to Ozani. One cut from a sharped nail and I was hers to play with.  

“So she just came with you willingly? Do you know how many I’ve had to kill just to steal away one little fairy? Family is what they live by, I don’t believe you little wizard.” 

With that, the rope was cut and I was dangling over a fall that never ends, her hand holding my neck was my only salvation. 

I grasped her hands, pulling away to breathe. My legs were shaking, I could barely even see Arwen standing at the edge of the cart. This was it. 

“Please, we need her. I don’t know her story-” 

“Well, you should!”  

Her hand tightened, my vision going spotty. 

“Shemir.” 

She stopped, and I was able to fit in some gasps of air. 

“I see nothing here, let them do what they want to her on the ground.” 

For a second, it seemed like she was going to throw me, but instead, I was set on the cart. Free at last, I took in some deep breaths and hid in Marakin’s feathers. 

“Your majesty,” The blue dragon turned to the prince who did nothing. “I believe they aren’t hiding anything; we should let them go.” 

Arwen kept turning between me and the dragons, but couldn’t do anything. 

“Very well, go on your way.”  

The harpies reappeared and we continued flying. Arwen knelt down, Aratazz joining him. 

“Are you okay?” 

Yes Aratazz, I’m totally fine after being choked by a dragon. 

I nodded anyway, burring my face into Marakin.  

I was scared. 

I wasn’t prepared for this. I knew there would be problems but we could get through them. I never thought I would be hung over an edge with my wings tied. Just seconds ago, a dragon held my life within her hands. If there were hundreds of them, along with their warriors. We couldn’t do this as a small rebel group. We needed an army, everyone in Mistros to fight back against the oppression.  

I wasn’t ready, none of us were. Not yet

Eventually, we landed, Arwen pulling Marakin and Sora in the cart while I went with Ozani. I stumbled along, not even realizing where we were going.

“Yasmin?” 

I jerked up, almost hitting Arwen in the process. I glanced around, seeing we were at some sort of deserted stables, probably on the edge of Volar. 

“Are you okay?” 

“Where’s Sorata?” 

He sighed, pointing to where Marakin was resting. He probably hadn’t left her this whole time. 

I ran over, needing him. Yes, I was older, but he gave big brother hugs. And that’s what I needed right now. 

“Sora?” 

He popped out from nowhere, encasing me in his arms. Hugging around his neck, I rested and for a while, I was home. Back where we were safe from harm. Where we could hike the grass all day long and never leave the Home Tree. With him, I didn’t feel disconnected from the land, from life. 

“What are we gonna do Sora?” 

He pulled back and I settled on the ground, staring up at him. 

“We are gonna win, Mina.” He smiled and my worries went away. “You got us into this mess, now we gotta fix it.” 

I turned to see the Wizards watching us, even Ozani. Red decorated their coats, but it wouldn’t be for long. We had connections; we could build an army. In time, we would take the dragons off the throne where Sora would sit.  We would defeat Tuvon and dethrone Zinuth, the wrongful King of Mistros. We had to.