Maronn and Kestrel

  Maronn's Headquarters, Hapalku Island, South Pacific Ocean

Maronn seated himself opposite the girl he had sent Jared Mason to abduct. His best assassin had been apprehensive, recalling what had happened the last time he had attempted to kidnap one of the Anamors. Falken had knocked him unconscious with his school bag.

Maronn studied the girl. She was about sixteen, and looked very much like her younger brother. She had the same wiry black hair, the same delicate features and bronze skin. Maronn noted that she did not share her brother's amber-gold eyes, though. Instead she had the intense blue irises of her father.

He leaned forward, sighing. Hopefully he hadn't misjudged Falken's abilities.

"Your name is Kestrel, isn't it? You are probably wondering why you are here. Do you remember your father?"

Kestrel rolled her eyes, as if to say hello, your idiot muscle man gagged me. I can't answer you.

"Right." Maronn said, untying her gag. 


Kestrel inhaled deeply. "Is this what this is all about? My dad was killed when I was nine."

"Oh, I know. Jake was a very special person. Your mother was too."

"And?"

Maronn ignored her. "Tell me, Kestrel, is Falken very fond of you? Enough to come and get you?"

Kestrel's eyes widened. "What do you want with Falken?"

Maronn grinned. "Falken has a few large friends I want to have a chat with."

"That I doubt very much. Faolani is going to tear you into little bits."

Maronn waited patiently. "Faolani is taken care of. And once I have Falken the rest of them will be taken care of too." He told her, enjoying her discomfort.

"You stupid, stupid man. Falken has the strength of the Creator behind him." Kestrel snarled.

Jared moved forward and slapped her. "Never call Mr. Racaida stupid, girl."

Kestrel spat on him.

Maronn leaned back, waving his hand. "Take her back to her cell."

Jared nodded and dragged Kestrel out of the room. Maronn smiled and accepted a glass of wine from one of his staff. Now all he had to do was wait.

Inaya Clark

Prologue: Fight and Flight

Prologue

Fight and Flight

Hapalku Island, South Pacific Ocean

Jake Anamor stared at the rocks below, fighting panic. The hungry ocean washed up against the cliff, slowly wearing it down, an elemental force that would never die.

Unlike him.

Jake glared at the approaching figure, willing it to turn around and just leave him alone. He was tired of Maronn's constant attempts at ending his life. The man had spent five years trying to steal his son.

Falken was nearly eight now and it was time to strike back.

Jake glanced down at his son. Falken's amber-gold eyes were wide, watching the skies. His small hand clutched his father's tightly, looking for reassurance.

"Daddy, there is a big bird up there." He announced, lifting his arm and pointing at a white shape gliding on the thermals, dark against the stars.

Jake crouched beside him. "Her name is Faolani."

"What is she?" Falken asked.

"Faolani is an aretal, a servant of the Creator.There aren't many left now." Jake said sorrowfully. He straightened and waited, building up energy for one explosive moment.

Maronn drew closer, slowing to a walk. "Ah. I see you've come to your senses. Give the boy to me." He snapped, outstretching his hand. Falken shrank away, frightened. He did not like this man with his cruel expression or cold gray eyes.

Jake took in a deep breath. "No."

Maronn blinked in surprised. Somewhere in his heart he felt admiration for the man he had hunted for five, long years. He had lost his wife, his home and soon his life and still he would not give up.

Maronn shook these feelings off. He would finish this quickly and take the boy. He pulled out his gun and leveled it at Jake's forehead.

His blue eyes didn't even blink.

"Last chance." Maronn warned. It was best Jake gave the boy to him, then the seven-year-old would go willingly.

Jake lifted his dark-haired head. "Family doesn't abandon family." He said.

Now, Faolani! He thought furiously, and chaos reigned.

A monstrous nightmare dropped from the sky, 50 meters of snarling, raging aretal. Maronn stumbled back, almost decapitated by the razor-edged feathers on Faolani's tail. He frantically scrambled away from her, attempting to avoid her snapping jaws and snaring paws.

Faolani lifted her feathered wings and with one powerful down-stroke, shot into the sky.
Goodbye Faolani. I will see you again one day. Jake whispered as Maronn screamed in rage and pulled the trigger. An explosion of white light and heat emanated from Jake's hands and billowed towards Maronn, who threw up his arms in defense seconds after the bullet had left the handgun.

Goodbye, Jake. The grief-stricken aretal murmured, although it was too late. Jake had been silenced by the impersonal steel of a bullet. She glanced down at the boy in her forepaws. He was quiet, lost to the knowledge that his father was gone.

As she flew south the great white aretal keened, mourning the passing of her kind's last hope. The planet was dying, and as interconnected as the aretals were with Earth, they were dying too. Now Jake was gone, and they would soon follow.

Falken gazed at the dark ocean far below him, and then up at the cratered surface of Earth's natural satellite. Even so far away the moon changed the tides of the planet's vast waters, and Falken knew  that even a single action, no matter how small, could affect many things.

Like the outcome of a war raged by humans against everything else, including themselves.




Copyright 2012 Inaya Clark