CHAPTER 1
For the citizens within the City of Trees, reverential obedience to the Divine Laws passed from parent to child almost as if they were woven into the organic makeup of their bodies. From the tips of their long pointed ears to the soles of their feet, consistent trust in their divine coursed through their veins, thicker than blood and almost as necessary for life. When a citizen turned their woody brown eyes to the woods that surrounded them, they did not care to fear what lay beyond- instead they whispered a prayer to the hunters or a thanks to their champions and enjoyed the narrow peace that the forest and her confines provided.
Birdie did not belong to those spanning generations that feared the trees and blindly accepted their safety. And unlike the citizens of the City of trees, she knew better than to blindly trust in powers outside of her control.
There was not a citizen alive within the walls of the city who had seen what Birdie and her companions had seen. When she turned her eyes to the woods, she did not feel gratitude or fear of the unknown. She only thought of what waited for her on the other side…
And by the end of the night, she would finally have the strength to challenge the woods and the wilds.
Birdie jogged down the smooth cobbled streets, her destination fixed on the wall. Each step carried her closer and closer to the city limits and the opportunity on the horizon. The thought evoked a rush of anticipation and giddy joy, like a swarm of butterflies quivering in her stomach.
It was almost too much. She fought back the impulse to break into a skipping sprint as the rush of wild joy and chill morning air threatened to overpower her determination to remain cool and collected.
Tomorrow morning, She thought, hungry anticipation driving her flight to the wall, Just one more day until the last ten years pay off!
Fresh scents of lilac and wood smoke filled the air around her, brushing past her cheeks and playing in her hair as she ran, breaking through the crisp spring morning like a boat carving against a glassy current.
When Birdie reached the arched gate at the city's perimeter, she wasn't surprised to find it empty. She remembered standing here six years prior, waiting in this courtyard with Gabriel as crowds of people made their way outside to welcome Brooke on her day of Sacrifice. The occasion was typically regarded as a cause for celebration amongst the people, but Birdie doubted the same amount of fanfare would arise today. After all, Brooke was a beloved local and Gabriel... Well, both he and Birdie were fighting uphill battles from the time they set foot in this narrow place.
Despite the shamefully empty yard, Birdie smiled as she walked through the gate and directly to the large stone door, placing her hand on the raised placard beside the sealed opening.
It didn't take an exorbitant amount of magic to elicit a response from the gate; quite the contrary in fact. Even an untrained citizen could trigger the flares. Still, Birdie couldn’t help but admire the swirling display as it unfolded before her. Derived simply from the warmth of her touch, silver light bled from the hand shaped indent in the stone and leeched its way up the wall in swirling patterns until it reached two sconces fixed to the top. The cold torches, towering tall enough to be spotted from most nearby posts, sprang to life with pale white fire, casting a cool glow through the early morning din. It was common magic and considered unremarkable, but Birdie still regarded it as one of her favorite shows of power. She doubted any other trick or display would ever top it, even once she became a full Champion herself and could wield refined magic of her own.
"Ready to welcome our Champion?"
Birdie felt a blossoming warmth of fondness as from atop of the wall several yards away, Ammi's voice called down in mellow cheer. She looked up to see the human smiling down at her, her large Champion’s sword bobbing over her shoulder as she strode toward a matching pedestal from where she patrolled above.
"Yes mam!" Birdie called, imitating the Hunters and giving a mock salute by placing her rigid fingers on her right brow, covering her eye.
“Now you cut that out young lady!” Ammi chuckled in good natured reprimand, “If a Hunter sees you doing that they will make you offer up another public prayer of apology and Shields will lose it.”
Birdie laughed and dropped the bit, happy for the chance to make the woman laugh but aware that Ammi was probably not joking. She glanced around the gateyard just in case, but didn’t see any Hunters lurking in the shadows to catch her.
“Hey! Am I the only one going out to meet him? Town seems pretty empty for a reception morning- even if it is for Gabriel."
Ammi gave her a knowing smile, the pale flame from the torches and her gentle burn scars giving her a sage look as she placed her hand on the pedestal. Light bled down from her and joined the silver fire, which flashed brightly once before finally snuffing out.
"I think you'll be surprised. There is a decent turnout, even if it's for one of our two local rabble rousers."
"Well as one of those alleged rabble rousers, I have to say I am thoroughly impressed! I guess he hasn't turned everyone off of him yet!"
Ammi waved at her through the opening door, but Birdie had already dashed through, too impatient to wait for it to swing completely wide. The human's voice called after her as she flew down the pasture, ignoring the gently winding path and running straight to a distant line of high torches that surrounded the city clearing.
"You behave out there! And tell our boy congratulations from me!"
"Yes mam!" She hollered back.
Though faint twilight stars still lingered on the western horizon, rays of morning light were creeping up beyond the treeline ahead of her. Down at the edge of the meadow, a modest gathering of well wishers milled about in the shadow of the woods, watched faithfully by the Champion Ammi from upon her post at the wall.
Huh! She wasn't kidding, people actually did show up.
Birdie slowed before she reached the modest group, pulling her sleeveless cloak tighter around her chin as she slipped into the crowd, wading through the tall pasture grass and keeping to herself as she picked a spot to wait.
Nobody told her good morning or beckoned her to join them as she wove quietly by. They were all too busy whispering and gazing in anxious anticipation into the woods, their elvish eyes wide as they searched it’s dark sloping depths for any sign of the returning procession.
The City of Trees housed nearly five thousand native elves of the wood- that being what they called themselves. One would think the reasonable size would allow an individual a certain level of anonymity, but due to the unfortunate circumstances of their arrival, Ammi, Gabriel, and Birdie were notorious. Sometimes it felt to Birdie like all five thousand townspeople knew and resented her, a fact even more prevalent today as she made her way to the outskirts of the pitifully small group.
Though she was glad the celebration wasn't bigger- Birdie hated hippacrites- she didn't know if she liked the atmosphere in the clearing very much. The air was thick with gossip, as though summer was early and the cicadas were already buzzing in impetuous speculation. Birdie eyed them all in distrust, remembering once again Brooke's celebration day… there hadn't been such fiendish whispering and pointing then.
One more day. Then we will see how their attitudes change. And when they do I'm not going to care.
She shook her head, trying to physically dispel her cynicism and summon forth the positive facts that transcended the feelings around her.
There was, after all, so much for her to celebrate today. Gabriel’s triumphant return today, and hers scheduled for tomorrow, marked the culmination of ten years of training, study and effort. No amount of petty city drama could bring her down.
She focused instead on the sky. Morning mist rose in cottony sheets from the forest floor, up and up above the treeline, catching the hazy golden light of the rising sun and casting its glow across the glen like watercolor.
From where she stood, Birdie watched as blue jays swooped like aerial acrobats in the cool air. In and out of the bleeding rays of light they flew, moving with total grace and freedom as they collected their morning bugs.
Perfectly free.
Birdie watched them in envy.
The whispers beside her suddenly rose in tone and fervor as several elves stepped forward. Pulling her eyes from the birds above to the wooded trail below, she ducked to see through the group in front of her. Vaguely, if she squinted really hard and did her best to ignore the existing morning light, She could see tiny dots of lantern light bobbing closer and closer from between the crowded trunks at the top of the wooded hill.
Goosebumps prickled on her arms at the sight.
He's almost here!
"Are you excited dear?" A lady beside her whispered, stepping away from her chittering group of friends to engage with Birdie.
"You're next!"
"Er, Yes…" Birdie said in cautious surprise, not used to being addressed directly and waiting for the woman to give her a nasty look.
"I bet you didn't sleep a wink last night! Are you nervous?"
Birdie shrugged, "Well… sort of. But the two of us have been preparing for this for years. The Champions are great teachers, so I feel pretty prepared. Gabriel said he did too."
"Aaah," the lady gave her a good natured wink, "See, I was wondering why the boy insisted on going first! My neighbor said he must be trying to seem brave- acting as a gentleman. But I said absolutely not! I said, 'of the two outsiders, the boy seems more breakable, and the girl's got more cheek! She'd be the one who's not afraid!' so there has to be another reason, right?"
"Oh," Birdie wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. She was used to hearing gossip through the vine, not directly from the source, and something about the way the woman said it with such idiotic sincerity made her skin crawl.
"We actually flipped a coin over it. Tops he won, so he got to go first," Birdie lied.
"Ooh! Well that's… quaint!"
The lady’s smile curdled with a fake scrunch of her nose as she turned back to her friends, leaving Birdie to herself once more.
She rolled her eyes. At this point it was funny, watching the locals flounder every time they came within ten feet of her. These people wouldn’t know how to adapt to change if their lives depended on it. They were nothing like her, Gabriel, Ammi, or even the city people back home…
The thought filled her heart with a pang of longing, but she stamped it out almost as soon as it arose. Today really wasn’t the day for sadness, as it was the very last day she and Gabriel had to endure this hopelessness.
Freedom. Power. Justice for my people.
All of that awaited her on the day's horizon. Hers for the taking. All she had to do was finish what she started.
The energy of the gathered crowd spiked as the procession leader came into view through the trees. She didn’t need to duck through the crowd to see them in the distance, drawing closer and closer as they held their ceremonial lanterns high.
Her heart soared; Hiking just behind the leader she saw him. A glimpse of his auburn hair flashed like wildfire as it caught a ray of morning light that filtered through the thinning foliage.
She couldn't help it any longer
She pushed forward through the line of people, causing a rumble of discontent as she shoved eagerly forward until she stood on the very edge of the path, searching for a better view of her triumphant friend.
Someone else lost to the rising excitement and began clapping. With no resistance, the crowd followed suit until a loud chorus of cheers and laughter rose in the meadow as they welcomed the procession home, and with it their newest Champion.
The leader emerged from the shadow of the trees first, passing the line of warning torches and back into the meadow. Shields, clad in his ceremonial silver and white uniform, came forward with his trademark reluctant confidence that Birdie could spot a mile away. He walked stiffly with his head slightly bowed, looking up through tired eyes that betrayed him of the sleepless night behind him. Birdie saw right through it though. Shields was a man who would most likely shrug through the happiest day of his life and end it looking neutral.
"Gabriel!" She shouted, unable to conceal her excitement any longer as she peered around the pressing crowd as they rushed forward to greet their tired Lead Champion.
Excited children threw blossoms in the air like temperate snow as Shields was engulfed by people. He lowered his lantern and used his magic to extinguish the lazy glow, doing his best to quietly quell the excited elves around him. The waiting townspeople would not relent though, and they welcomed him into their arms, smiling and cheering as he went. Waving silver and green ribbons like falling leaves in their rejoicing.
"Our Champions!" They shouted, "welcome back!"
Birdie pushed forward through the shouts and applause until she reached him, feeling as if she needed to tread water to keep from sinking in the crowd.
"Shields! How did it go?" She buzzed in excitement.
Through the flurry of praise and embraces he so obviously detested, he gave her a look. Birdie paused… taking a moment to read his human features which seemed to hold about ten times the amount of expression of an elf. The way the crease in his brow deepened and the squint in his tired eyes made it absolutely clear. His mood was not of triumph but of trouble.
Something was wrong…
Birdie faltered as she waited for him to announce Gabriel, like the procession leader always did after a new Champion joined their ranks. He would raise his hands, using his authority to quiet everyone and say:
"All shout and bow for the newest mortal champion of our people! Gabriel has made the great sacrifice!"
Birdie waited, but Shields never called the people to silence so he could speak. He just pushed through the throng down the path towards home, slowly shepherding the herd of adoring elves along.
Something was definitely wrong.
Her feeling of unease grew like wild vines as she detangled herself from the crowd and walked towards the tree line. She wanted to march in there herself; get some answers. But she knew better to walk in uninvited, so she stopped just short of the barrier and waited.
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The sun was high enough now that half of it’s radiant body hovered above the looming forest. A line of blinding golden light beamed from where it hid and hit her squarely in the eyes, making it difficult to see through the trees up the trail.
From what she could tell, the remaining procession members stood just inside the woods. Two of them, shrouded in silver and shadows, spoke in animation with the third who stood behind a tree just out of sight.
She could hear yelling.
Finally someone broke away from the group and stormed out. He made it past the line of towering lodgepoles that bore the law, and looked up, scowling at Birdie. The profound bags under his eyes made his dark look appear even deeper.
"You better go talk some sense into your boyfriend before I hit him," Cedar growled, pushing past her and towards the people.
"What happened?" She called, not bothering to correct him.
He didn't answer, but waved her off as he disappeared through the crowd.
Birdie wrung her hands, looking back to the woods as that all too familiar worry began to rise, with its same bitter taste as always.
What has he done now?
One of the two remaining procession members removed a hand of reassurance from the other- who Birdie assumed was Gabriel- and then turned to go, leaving him behind in the trees.
"What's going on?" Birdie asked, accepting Brooke's hug as the girl sighed and left the woods.
"Did the divinity send him away? Or is he human now?"
Brooke held her at arm's length, her large tired eyes tinted by sympathy and exhaustion as she gave Birdie a weary smile that matched her disheveled hair.
"It didn't work?"
"I think your friend could use a gentle ear," Brooke confided, patting her hand and stepping aside so Birdie could see the winding path into shadow.
"Shields is explaining the situation to the people, so don’t worry about us. You go see him. He needs you."
Birdie nodded towards the woods in uncertainty.
"Am I- you know, okay to go in or…"
Brooke shrugged helplessly, "Honestly, it's not going to hurt anything after tonight, and he's still got his talisman. Go ahead, but be quick."
He still has his talisman? If the Ceremony worked then he shouldn't need it…
"Thank you Brooke," Birdie said, watching the young woman go into the waiting arms of the people.
Birdie stood a moment, unsure what she was about to walk into. She could imagine a million different things that could have gone wrong, but everything was pointing towards failure… and that meant she was about to have to comfort a very angry Gabriel…
She straightened her shoulders in determination, deciding then and there that no matter what, she would not leave his side. If he failed and had to wait, then she would wait too. They did this together or not at all.
She stomped through the tall grass, passed the line of lodge-poles, ignoring the signs posted on the outermost trees. They were warnings she knew well, but what mattered most to her right now was not the law, but the boy waiting in the woods.
"Gabriel?" She called in trepidation, slowly stepping onto the game trail and leaving the sunny meadow behind.
"Oh Birdie…" his voice sounded hoarse and choked.
She hadn't even passed to where he stood before his arms reached out and pulled her into a hug.
"I'm sorry I couldn't beat it!" He whispered, his whole body trembling as he held her.
She didn't want to pull away. Under any other circumstance she might be content standing there for a thousand years. But the way he shook and the pain in his voice…
This was not how she imagined welcoming him today…
Finally she leaned back, looking at his downcast eyes. She reached up and smoothed his long auburn hair, tucking it behind his ear. He flinched at the touch. It remained pointed. He wasn't a human, but still an elf.
He had failed to make the sacrifice.
Birdie swallowed hard, fighting to accept that her speculation was correct. All of the positive facts that were supposed to make today brilliant were crashing down around her. He was not a Champion. He was still just himself. And now their plans would have to wait a whole other year.
Gabriel reached up and took her hand, holding it in his as he refused to meet her eyes.
"I couldn't do it, Birdie."
"It's okay!" She reassured quickly, abandoning her hopelessness and stepping closer.
"It's alright! You can try again in a year! I'm okay waiting, and maybe this time they will let us go together-"
"No Birdie, I didn't fail… I," he sighed in exasperation, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Can we leave?" He asked abruptly, casting his eyes in paranoia around the woods, as if the trees themselves were going to lean down and grab him.
"Let's go to our spot by the wall."
"Sure! Let's go!"
She turned and looked down into the meadow. From what she could see through the budding branches, the procession of champions was already leading the reception crowd away.
What did Shields tell them?
She took his hand and led him down the path and out of the woods. The crowd of dejected celebrators was a long way off now with their backs to the trees, but even so Gabriel hesitated.
"It's okay."
They walked together, hand in hand through the tall grass parallel to the path, headed towards where the distant creek met the city wall.
It was strange, a little over a week ago if he'd held her hand like this she wouldn't be so grim. Their fingers laced together would be cause for celebration, not concern. But now…She tried not to think about her future; only his present, and what they were going to do now that their step one was already a bust.
Once again, it's just us against the world, she thought, trying desperately to hold on to the comfort that they were at least not in unfamiliar waters.
She furrowed her brow and began to list the facts, building up to formulating a course to take moving forward.
Gabriel was rejected by the divinity, and he is probably really upset. I don't know how long it's going to take before he is ready to plan our next move.
He is not a Champion, and therefore, unable to safely traverse the wilds. So it's another two years at least until we can make our pilgrimage.
Lastly, everyone in town is going to hate us even more. Which is going to make the next few months hell for us.
Great.
Then again, the townspeople usually treated her well enough through general apathy. It was Gabriel who took the brunt of their disdain… an unfortunate reality she hoped his status as Champion would have changed...
Guess that plan is out the window.
But everything was going to be okay. Birdie knew her strengths and weaknesses very well, that was a part of being a cadet for the champions. And if she had to list her assets from greatest to worst, damage control would be near the top.
Whatever is happening, we will take it and move on. I can fix this.
They reached their special hideaway beneath the reaching arms of a tree on the bank of the river. Being a champion cadet came with many perks, the greatest of which, in Birdie’s opinion, was the ability to occasionally slip outside the confines of the wall. They never ventured far, only ever around the corner to their own personal oasis, nestled between the river that flowed to and from the wilds, and the wall that pinned them in.
Ammi, though a sworn champion and bound by the law, knew about their deviant trips into the meadow- in fact, she’d helped them get through the gate several times and never told another soul. Shields knew as well, he was too sharp for his own good. Birdie overheard the two of them talking about it years ago after they’d been caught coming in late.
Ammi had argued that it was good for the two of them to have a safe space away from it all, a spot where they didn’t have to worry about the scrutinizing eyes of the city who distrusted them.
Ever since Ammi’s intervention, their trips outside the wall were never questioned so long as they remained covert and followed the letter of the law in every other instance.
They picked their way to the recess in the rocky bank, surrounded by wild aster blooms and patches of water grass. A heavy metal grate set in the foot of the nearby stone wall gave way to a large creek that flowed into the city and out again on the other side. It filled the air with a cool moist richness that coupled with the wildflowers and warm pine to create a lovely bouquet of freshness that contrasted violently with the foul mood that clung to them as they took their places atop a large boulder that sat in the shade of the trees.
Gabriel still wouldn't look at her, but held her hand softly in his, using his thumb to trace her veins and bone with tender fingers. She didn’t want to be the first to speak. Gabriel was much taller than her, and he wore the outward signs of their years of toil in the obvious lean musculature in his arms and shoulders, but even so beneath the hardened exterior lived something tender. She hated to use the word fragile, as it suggested she agreed with the woman from earlier. Still, she knew Gabriel better than anyone or anything else in the world, and she knew how he processed information.
But Birdie was still herself. She had her own ways and wishes. She wanted more than anything to lay all of their cards on the table and begin hashing out a plan. That is what would bring het comfort right now. But this wasn't about her…
A week ago today he kissed me here, she thought bitterly, trying not to be annoyed by their sudden misfortune.
He kissed me and told me we would become human together… now look at us…
Birdie waited almost five years for that kiss. Waited patiently, and impatiently, all while never giving up hope for him. Now the base of their promises, and ten years worth of dreaming and work was crumbling at her feet… The uncertainty of it all was almost too much to bear.
But I must bear it! For the both of us. For Ammi, who’s given so much in support of our dream. For the other Champions, so patient and allowing while we got our footing in this stupid city.
No, they would recover. They had faced much worse and come out alive, this wouldnt’ be any different. She just needed to go at his pace. After all, before he was the boy who kissed her, he was the boy who cared for her. The boy who survived with her. That mattered more than a silly kiss and a hasty promise.
"Your hair's a mess," she teased, pulling her hand from his and scooting behind him.
"Hold still. I'll braid it for you."
He sat straight in obedience, sighing and closing his eyes as she combed her fingers through his main and began to twist the strands together. She worked quietly. Birdie knew better than to pry right away. Gabriel was a lot of things, but a good liar wasn't one of them. She remembered how he had a habit of telling on himself any time he did something wrong or stupid as a kid. She was always the first to know, and the one who made a plan to set things right.
"I'm sorry about that," he murmured, cutting her off from her thoughts.
"I shouldn't have been so- I dunno, emotional?"
"Since when have you tried not to be emotional?" she countered, pulling a loose strand from his temple and weaving it into the braid.
"It's that idiot Cedar!" He growled.
Here he goes again.
"He always has something stupid to say about me- he couldn't just shut up and let me think! So of course he had a hay day after the ceremony..."
He grumbled as she pulled a knot from a tangle.
"Cedar will always be a punk for that. But even so, you're allowed to be a bit upset. They prepared us for months for this, but everyone always says that it's the hardest thing they've ever done. If it were easy, more elves would do it."
He stiffened for a moment, "Are you… Still?..."
She knew what he was trying to ask, and answered without hesitation.
"Of course! But I'll wait until they let you go again next year. There's no way I'm leaving you."
"I don't know if I can try again Birdie…"
She reached the end of his long hair and held it between her fingers, plucking a purple wild flower from a nearby tuft of grass.
"Of course you can try again! It took Ammi two tries didn't it? Technically three because she had to be accepted by the divine here."
"Ammi failed because she got scared and that divinity sensed weakness… I failed because…"
Birdie sat forward, her curiosity betraying her choice of patience as she waited for an explanation. But he didn’t give one, instead he gripped the loose legs of his woven trousers tightly at the knees, his knuckles going white from the pressure.
"It doesn't matter," Birdie said hastily, backpedaling as best she could.
She tied his hair with the flower and placed the braid over his shoulder, scooting closer to hug him from behind.
"You have a whole year to think about it. And I bet if we talk to Shields he will let you go again! Maybe he will let us go together!"
"No, we can’t go together it doesn’t work like that… And It's not Shields who I offended… Birdie,” He scooted away, turning to face her.
For the first time that morning she saw his eyes. Where she expected to see shame and regret, she saw something else…
Darkness. Anger.
Her determination began to crack as she recognized the look. It was the same burning she saw ten years ago..
"If… if you don't want to, we don't both have to become Champions. I can be our guide and get us across the territories. You can be like the hunters! We can get you an amulet of protection and then-"
"I will NOT be like a Hunter," he cut her off in bitter disgust.
"What happened up there?" She finally asked, exasperated and giving into her curiosity.
He was quiet for a moment, fighting a battle within himself she couldn't tell if he was winning.
"I'm not going back Birdie." He turned and faced away, glowering at the rising sun.
"That thing in the woods? Whatever he is, it's not divine. It's not a god! I'm not going to let it butcher my life in exchange for his scraps. I won't make the same mistake Levi made."
The mention of his brother stung like salt water in her eyes. Like a slap in the face. He never spoke about Levi, and when he did it was always in kindness, never bitter slander like this.
Birdie moved beside him, going to take his hand but he moved it away.
"Did you do something to offend the divinity?" She whispered.
"He's a demon Birdie. They all are- please don't go tonight!"
She leaned back in surprise. She was used to his wild moods and fits of anger, but this… something in his voice felt different.
Doesn't he know what this means to me? To us?
"Won't you tell me what happened?" She pleaded, "everyone else in the Championship says our divinity is a good one despite his quirks! Are you sure-"
"Just- trust me Birdie! Don't go through with this!"
He turned and took her arms in his hands, shaking her gently.
"We don't need his tainted power to leave! We can just go on our own!"
"We can't Gabriel, it's too dangerous! Even with Ammi, we almost died ten years ago, we can’t go as we are! We have to master magic if we are going to make it, and to master magic we need the divine’s power. We can't go home without it!"
A shadow crept across his face as the breeze blew a branch over the sun.
"Lies." He growled, tears of hate falling down his long lashes and shining like hot honey in the sun.
"This whole time. It's all lies Birdie. Don't go tonight!"
"You're hurting me Gabriel," she recoiled, trying to move from his grasp but it grew tighter and he shook her.
"LISTEN TO ME! DO YOU WANT TO DIE?"
His shout silenced the chorus of crickets and frogs, sending the amphibians scattering into the creek and bushes.
"Is this all because you're afraid to die?" She asked in fear, trying to understand.
"We talked about this; giving up our long life for mortality is worth it if it means we have a chance to go back. If you are afraid then let me make the sacrifice, I can be the one who holds the power."
"I- I wish I could say… but I can't- t-tell you," he stuttered, choking on his words and spitting in disgust as he gasped.
"I am bound to secrecy! But it's not worth it Birdie! Becoming human, dying young, being a slave to one of those tricksters. it's pointless! There are other ways!"
"No Gabriel. This is the only way! This is how we are going to take back our home! We need to have the divine's help!"
"Says who Birdie? A demon who terrorizes us and calls it protection? HE'S A SHAM! HE AND ALL THE DIVINITIES- THE CHAMPIONS TOO- THEY ARE ALL A LIE!"
"Even the champions who saved us? Is Ammi a lie? Was Levi a lie?" She challenged, getting mad herself and using the one thing she knew would quell his anger. "Why would Levi go through with it if it was all a lie? He never stopped us when we were kids, and his biggest goal was to keep us safe. So why didn't he tell us to drop it? He never once regretted his decision!"
He released her at last, shoving her slightly as he got to his feet and jumped down from their boulder in anger.
"Maybe he should have regretted it. Maybe then he wouldn’t be dead."
She touched her arms where he'd held her, sore to the touch. But worse was the growing feeling of sickness in her gut. What had gotten into him? Was it fear? Shame? Of course she didn't totally trust the divine. Not after what happened to their home after their previous divine went silent. But Birdie also trusted Ammi, Shields, and the other Champions who all held this divine in high regard. And for the past ten years they had build a castle of plans and dreams that all hinged upon having access to the power of the divine by becoming his Champions... There was no turning back.
She slid down from the rock and stood behind him, desperately trying to patch their tattered future together.
"Gabriel, there's nothing to be ashamed of… it's okay to be afraid… you said it yourself… 'I would rather live the short life of a human with you than spend centuries stuck here alone.' That's what you told me a week ago. Don't you still want that?"
"Yeah… No… that was before… Never mind."
He kicked a rock, sending it splashing into the creek as he turned his back on her.
"I'm going for a walk. We'll talk more later tonight"
"Wait!"
But he was already gone, walking in anger around the protective enchanted perimeter of their city wall. Birdie watched, her arms sore and eyes stinging as the distant bell in the top of the Hunter’s chapel tolled six times to mark the beginning of the day.