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After the ceremony, Wingclaw and the harpy queen gathered together on the edge of the mountain nest, their eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. They knew that the humans were a formidable enemy, with weapons and technology that the harpies could not match.
As they discussed the recent battle with the humans, they realized that the casualties of the harpies had skyrocketed in just one day. They knew that something had changed, that the humans had acquired a new weapon that was causing devastating damage.
"The humans have four new claws," Wingclaw said, her voice filled with concern. "These claws, it's unlike anything we've seen before. It's causing massive damage to our wings."
The harpy queen nodded, her eyes narrowing with anger. "We cannot let this continue," she said, her voice firm and resolute. "We must find a way to fight these new claws, to protect our kind and our lives."
"Yes, my queen," Wingclaw agreed, her heart pounding with a sense of urgency. "The Alula sisters already made evasive maneuvers to decrease the casualties and apparently we had to retreat by now."
She knew that the harpies were facing a new level of threat and that they had to act quickly if they were to survive.
But as they discussed their options, they realized that they were facing an uphill battle. The humans had the advantage of technology and resources, and the harpies were struggling to keep up.
"We need to find a way to level the playing field," Wingclaw said, her voice filled with determination. "We cannot let the humans continue to dominate the sky with their claws and talons."
The harpy queen nodded, "We must not let our people fall prey to the humans anymore."
her eyes gleamed with fierce determination. more and more young harpies were captured by humans on this mountain in an alarming state.
The humans of the mountain had changed since her youth when harpy and human relationships were largely peaceful. While there were isolated incidents throughout the years, overall tensions between them remained low. But in recent years, things have become very different. The playful banter between harpies and humans that used to define their interactions had been replaced by hostility and aggression, forming an undeniable rift between them. That rift got wider these past years.
These past years were the last straw that broke the camel's back.
These past years the humans would set up a trap specifically designed to ensnare harpies in forests or mountains. When they captured juvenile or pre-adult harpies, they would transport them away by a vessel to an unidentifiable location, preventing the harpies from retracing their steps. In the case of adult captures humans would subject them to terrible torture and vile abuse before finally ending their lives tragically.
So far the humans already captured eleven young harpies and killed twenty-four adult harpies before she decided to sack the human huge nest near the sea where they'd taken the harpies.
In order for her harpiries to be safe, they must expel the human from this mountain. This nest and mountain range are perfect places for the harpies to strive, the Queen Harpy couldn't afford to leave it behind.
The Queen Harpy glanced at Wingclaw. Wingclaw's scars reminded her of another problem.
Their previous problem was the stormwing wyverns. Wingclaw's huge scars on her torso were a testament to the past brutal war between harpies and the wyverns. A war that has cost almost a hundred harpies in this sky.
Years ago, there was a war between them and the harpies, but over the last ten years, they had found a fragile balance. Ironically, it was more peaceful than their relationship with humans had ever been.
The Queen Harpy gazed up at the star-studded night sky, yearning for the days when mankind was as it used to be. Despite her fierce demeanor, she had a soft spot for humans - all of her harpy subordinates knew it - which drove her to take drastic action.
Unfortunately, this mountain must be purged of any human occupation to ensure it was safe for all harpy who wanted to stay or pass by. Every harpy was awaiting her decision; she had to act fast or risk losing the support of her followers and other— younger, ruthless, and more beautiful— harpy would snatch her tiara.
Wingclaw's feathers ruffled in the buffeting gusts as she turned to face her Queen, her wizened features set in a grim line. She had been among the harpies haunting these treacherous heights long before the current ruler had claimed the ceremonial tiara - she is a loyal sister through two decades of bloodshed, hardship, and endless skirmishes against bats, wyverns, and the inevitable human incursions.
For two decades, never had Wingclaw contested the queen for the tiara.
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"What do you know about their new claws?" The Queen's voice sliced through the mountain breeze, firm and resolute despite the feral surroundings.
Wingclaw's blackened talon clicked the stone beneath contemplatively. "Their new claws can hurl dozens of talons at once, blotting out the very sky itself," she rasped, her words edged with grudging respect for the human weaponry. "Our sisters had no chance to evade - nowhere was safe. We were mere flapping ducks against their might, exposed to them rather than they to us. The mother sky herself became our greatest foe."
The Queen's emerald eyes piercing gaze bored into Wingclaw. "Anything else? Any detail that could prove pivotal?"
A tremor passed through the elder harpy's wings. "These new claws are fixed atop their nests," she offered slowly, straining to recall every fragmentary observation from the disastrous battle two days prior. "They must stretch them taut before unleashing another swarm of talons."
"And while they ready their claws anew?" the Queen pressed.
"Human defenders lose single stick-talons and iron quarrels to protect the stretching claws," Wingclaw admitted grudgingly.
The Queen's raptor eyes narrowed to slits. "Do these new claws bear any weakness we might exploit?"
A measured pause, and then Wingclaw replied, "From our observations, the talons cannot be aimed lower than the tops of their nests."
A razor-sharp smile split the Queen's full lips as she seized upon this potential vulnerability. "Have you tried low-flying maneuvers?"
Regret seeped into Wingclaw's tone. "The Alulas attempted ground attacks, braving the lowest reaches of the sky, but were met with human groundlings wielding long sticks and deafening noises." Her head swiveled to indicate the tangled forest and smattering of human dwellings encircling the central stone structure. "We cannot gain enough speed amidst the obstructions to effectively strafe."
The Queen's shoulders sagged infinitesimally. "Yes...a troublesome development indeed." Her black gaze drifted over the human habitation below, mind already whirring with a potential stratagem to counter this new threat.
A martin flew by the Queen's shoulder just an inch away.
They would need to adapt. Outmaneuver. For in these crags and wind-swept peaks, only the most cunning and merciless predators could hope to survive - and reign.
And so, they set out on a plan to find a way to counter the humans' new weapon. They scoured the surrounding area for any clues or resources that could help them in their fight.
The Queen Harpy asked her battle-tested adult harpies, the Alulas, for any intelligence and weak points about the new human weapon.
It was a long and difficult journey, with many obstacles and challenges along the way. But they were determined to protect their people and their way of life, and they refused to back down.
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As the harpy sisters wept for their dearly departed, they collected the lifeless forms together and laid them tenderly into the crevices of the mountain. This ritual was one of both simplicity and solemnity, a way to revere their beloved fallen and provide them with a peaceful abode in which to rest for eternity.
It was an ancient custom, time-honored by generations of these mythical creatures; even in death, a sense of respect and compassion could be found amongst them.
The harpy queen perched on the edge of the mountain peak, she gazed out at the horizon, her eyes scanning the vast expanse of ocean. She knew that the clash against the humans in the village and seaport was necessary, that they had to protect their people and their way of life.
But she also knew that the humans were a formidable enemy, with weapons and technology that the harpies could not match. And the fact that they were capturing harpies and taking them away from their community was a threat that the queen could not ignore.
"If we do not act, they will continue to capture our young and take them away from us," she said, her voice filled with determination. "We cannot let this slide. We must fight back, no matter the cost."
The other harpies nodded in agreement, their eyes gleaming with fierce determination. Just below where Wingclaw perched, she saw a martin bird dropped a pebble on top of a lizard to drive it away from it's nest.
They knew that the road ahead would be long and difficult, but they were ready to face it head-on, knowing that their survival depended on their success.
And so, they set out on a mission to protect their people and their way of life, fighting against the humans and their relentless pursuit of power and control.
It was a battle that would test their strength and resilience, but they were ready to face it with courage and determination, knowing that the fate of their community hung in the balance.
⁕⁕⁕
In the realm of Holocene, the harpies as the sirens of the sky, possess a mesmerizing ability to resonate together in their ethereal lullaby. As twilight paints the sky in hues of purple and gold, the graceful harpies gather in the ancient treetops to begin their haunting melody.
Their voices, like delicate chimes in the wind, blend in perfect harmony as they weave a song that transcends mortal comprehension. It is as if the very essence of nature's tranquility is channeled through their angelic voices. The harpies' lullaby is not just a simple song but a living symphony that echoes the beauty and mysteries of their ancient world.
As their voices rise and fall, the mystical connection among the harpies becomes apparent. Their souls seem to intertwine, creating a bond that unites them as one. It is a profound sight, like witnessing the shimmering dance of stars in the night sky, only to realize that the stars themselves are connected in a celestial dance.
For those fortunate enough to hear the harpies' lullaby, a sense of serenity envelops them, soothing even the most troubled hearts. It is as if time itself slows to a gentle crawl, allowing one to drift into a dreamlike state of peace and wonder.
The harpies' lullaby is more than just a melody; it is a profound expression of the harmony that exists within nature and the unity of all living beings. It is a gift from the mystical realm of Holocene, where the enchanting song of the harpies resonates with the very heartbeat of the universe.
The Queen Harpy must've settled this human problem before they set out for their annual migration to the Siren Sanctuary. a group of islands in the southern hemisphere where all the sirens were gathered, the siren of the sea known as the mermaid and the siren of the sky known as the harpy.
Another harpy from every corner of the realm would contest the queen's tiara, the symbol of leadership for the harpy. It wasn't an object like a human's crown or throne. The tiara was earned, as it cannot be taken or stolen.
There were nine harpy queens and four mermaid queens at the moment in this realm. The contested queen and the challenger must perform in several siren traits such as singing, sky or underwater dancing, hunting, and combat prowess. But in the end, the sirens would bend the knee for the harpy or mermaid they deemed worthy to be their queen.
The harpy deemed worthy would drink from the spring and grow hair on her crown in the shape of a tiara.
The same went for the mermaids, the mermaid deemed worthy to be a queen would grow scales in the shape of a tiara on her crown.
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