Falkner stood overlooking the height he just climbed. It was slow going and there didn’t seem to be anything living on this side of the mountain besides some yellow grass and a goat or two Nyssa made him lead their packmoa saying it was what a gentleman would do. She will take her turn soon. The path was a little more narrow then he'd like but at least they could walk up on it and not have to climb straight up. walking once more they still haven't decide on who gets the power I will cross that bridge when I have to and not before he walked up and it seemed to never end

“Can you feel the air getting colder lovely isn't” Nyssa teased

“the higher you go the colder it gets just when spring arrived too,” Falkner grumbled. in the late afternoon Falkner had to stop for a short break. he sat against the mountain overlooking the forest when lightning could be heard somewhere to the right of him, alarmed he jumped to his feet and grabbed the bridle to the pack moa and tried to find shelter there wasn't any nearby

“what’s happening?” Nyssa asked

“it can be only one thing a thunderbird” Falkner said

“the sacred animal of Tempestas“ Nyssa said while jogging with Falkner in front of course the power of the goddess has drawn the gods sacred animals

“watch out for any rocs that may be nesting nearby” if only there was some cover or anything. Soon avians were flying and surrounding them in the air when one of them landed in front of them and behind. He reached for his sword which wasn't there anymore. control your emotions so they don't know about my fire the avians were a cross between a eagle and a man they stood upright with large feathery wings on their back talons instead of toes and feathers all over wearing brown breeches and shirt

“what brings two travelers to this close to our sacred mountain” he said he didn’t sound angry just curious

“our business is our own” Falkner replied they can’t know why we're here they will fly straight to it and claim it for themselves. There were about two hundred of them. I can't tell what they're thinking with those beaked faces of there's. A female avian came to the male one

“we are interested in hearing why you are so far away from home” she said “come with us”

“how?” Falkner asked “we can’t fly”

“we will carry you up” she said with that two avians went over and pulled grabbed him by the shoulders as they did Nyssa but he let them we need diplomacy today he thought frantically as they pulled him off the cliff all he could think was they are going to kill me they jumped off pulling him with them and Falkner screamed as they took to the air a short distance towards a large platform that only they could get to they struggled to lift him into the air he heard a screech and saw their packmoa was left there. but he couldn't see anything else but down oh I’m very high up once his feet touched the ground he fell on his face and his helmet fell off and kite shield slipped as he got back up and was surrounded by a tribe of avians they had only light tents for shelter made out of some kind of animal hide picking up and putting his helmet back on

“you didn’t have to do that” Falkner said trying to keep his emotions under control “we apologize we sometimes forget that humans are afraid of heights” she said he could not tell if it was the same one or not they all looked similar to each other except the women and men but not much else

“so what do you want to know” Falkner asked as Nyssa joined his side

“I’m curious about these circumstances you are a human lord by your armor and rings yet there isn’t a human settlement for miles and yet you left it either you are a murder or thief on the run or you were banished so witch is it” she said thinking about it I can’t tell them the truth and they won’t believe it I willingly left my lands behind without something

“we were banished” Nyssa said that's perfect!

“Yes from the kingdom so we heard about the dryads and so we made our way here but they kicked us out after only a few days so now we are heading…” if my memory is right it’s been forever since I’ve seen a map

“to a town at the border just over this mountain they looked at each other they didn’t seem to buy it

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“I see well I know of the town which you seek but its further south” she said pointing the the small row of mountains to south

“it’s by some woods just over it the next mountain range but it will take a week or more to reach it by foot” she said

“Thank you but we need to reach the top to get a better look” Falkner said

“can you take us back where we were?” Nyssa added

“very well we shall” she said “besides we need to hunt again” he said standing right next to her. so nomads Falkner thought it made sense they can fly. They took them and they flew them back to roughly where their moa was. They gave him one last look before flying away probably to get their tents.

“I don’t want to travel by avian ever again” Nyssa remarked

“That was a little odd,” Falkner admitted after getting their moa. They walked up until nightfall, breathing heavily. They stopped on a large plateau, ate dinner of dried fruit and dried venison, built a small fire to keep the cold at bay, then they got their blankets and went to bed.

In the afternoon Falkner and Nyssa walked up some very steep stairs. Which was odd. Who built them? no one was there to give him any answers. Trying to pull the moa up took far longer than he’d liked. They climbed in silence as his legs burned as well as Nyssa’s and they only took breaks for lunch before continuing with Nyssa pulling the pack moa along when the sun began to set they stopped. Painting it hurts to breathe. Falkner thought in frustration.

So they stopped early for the night after finding a large platform were the trees stood up straight and the ground was level and not as steep avians were camped there picking berries some had rabbits all their tents were set up they were too tired to move so they unrolled their blankets near them because they took most of the flat land.

“hello there travelers” one female avian said walking over to them with two males in tow each had a flint spear and ax were as the female had a ax and a sling at her hip Falkner and Nyssa looked at each other

“they don’t recognize us” Falkner whispered

“Must be another tribe” Nyssa whispered back as they approached them and stopped within five feet of them.

“Me and my brothers welcome you to share this place for tonight humans and may I ask why you are wearing armor?”

“we ran into goblins and an troll so we will take no chances” Falkner said “probably wise better safe than sorry when you can’t fly” the brother on the left said

“We just wanted to welcome you for tonight since we’re leaving first thing in the morning” she said after a few moments of silence they strode away

“handsome man,” she muttered, which shocked him. She's attracted to me. This is how halfbreeds get made. Falkner thought with disgust only a few stares from the other avians but a few men looked Nyssa up and down checking her out. of all the tribes in the world. We had to find the two most crazy. building a smaller fire than he's used to if monsters attack the avians will come to our aid or they will fly away and leave us to our fate. they seemed more primitive than I read about. I guess you can’t believe everything that you read. as night fell they mostly kept to themselves giving them a little room. they ate another cold dinner in silence, soon it could not find any more loose branches. Falkner stared at the fire as it died out.

“Do you think others are here besides farm boy?” Nyssa asked looking at the avians seeing if they reacted

“it’s a possibility but I don’t see how”

“how did you hear about it?” Nyssa asked in a small voice

“Do you remember the battle at Little Ivywood?”

“the one were I got stabbed in the stomach before I blacked out ya” Falkner blinked oh ya it would be fuzzy for her

“I almost died but Farmboy saved me but I yelled at him so I went over to apologize and then I overheard them talking about what were after and where” looking to see if anyone could over hear them there was a avian about seven feet away but he doubt he could have heard them

“So that's where you heard I've always wondered” Nyssa said slowly face blank of emotion

“if the gods gave him the knowledge then shouldn't he have it” shocked at the implications

“and what? just turn back now? no we need that power and besides why should we care if the gods wanted Farmboy to have or not they weren't perfect. their deaths is a sign of that not to mention he’s dead”

“I guess so we should get some sleep” and with that Nyssa got up and went to bed not even bothering to use her blanket. It was colder than it should be, spring is here too late of course Farmboy had to go right when winter started. but it will be worth it soon. The fires died down as the avians went inside their tents, some sleeping under the stars with a sentry or two so they didn’t have to keep watch that night. Falkner stayed awake watching his fire become hot charcoal with only a few flames left. Nyssa should become a goddess Falkner decided besides, the others are still out there with her help. I will take my fathers place with his mind made up. Falkner went to bed.

In the morning Falkner awoke before Nyssa to an empty plateau the only thing left behind was flat snow and a few piles of ash when Nyssa woke up they ate quickly then continued up the mountain all the morning long with nothing but the same scenery to look at they encountered no new avian tribes on the way up and finally reaching the top in the afternoon the cold wind in his face he found out why.