Wings of Thunder
Imported from SF2 with no description.
Wings of Thunder
Notes:
This story is part of Lampwick's Mythic Universe.
You can read it as one-shot, so you don't need the other stories.
But I recommend the stories otherwise because they are really good.
You can find them here: http://www.furaffinity.net/gallery/lampwick/ and https://lampwick.sofurry.com/stories (partly adult rated)
And sorry for my bad English. English isn't my first language, but I hope it is good enough to read it.
Fresh spring air with the heavy scent of flowers blew around him, but he disregarded it. All he could think about were the news that resonated from a little radio in his hands.
“The high increase of the golden eagle population into the Alps is still a mystery for all experts. No one knows why this happens, but you can observe it since two years, accompanied by a strange climate changing. Now temperatures are nearly like there was never a global warming up, worldwide as there is also a stabilization in wild animal population, last documented into the Alps. It almost seems that both are connected. So maybe it is just a natural phenomena, at least that seems the most logical conclusion."
“Natural phenomena! These idiots!" Ben hissed angrily as he threw the radio against the nearest wall of rock what destroyed it. “Can't they understand who really causes all of this! It's all THEIR fault!"
His fury was guided toward the so called Mythics, alien beings who emerged out of nowhere ten years ago. Was he the only one who connected the stabilization of animal populations and the restricted areas of the Mythics with each other? Were they all so blind that they couldn't see how the world changed, emanating from areas of settlement which the Mythics called their home?
And now they changed Europe too, starting with the Alps. This new gold eagles – they implied the presence of an unknown Mythic, the first one outside of America.
If his discovery was right he would be one of the most famous people of the 21st century, the one who discovered that the Mythics spread out to live in Europe too and that they caused all of this, the climate changing and this strange peak into worldwide animal populations.
All humans were idiots if they couldn't see this, but not even his colleagues at the university – so-called scientists – believed him. During the presentation of his discovery they had laughed and kicked him out. Fifteen years of work, all in vain! Ben balled his hand into fists as tears formed into his eyes. No friends anymore, no money for further researches anymore, only because they thought that the Mythics only were an American phenomena, never seen outside of North America. So why should they now leave their “home"?
But it wasn't their home, Ben thought bitterly. That was Europe. So why should beings of European myths avoid their former heartland? Ludicrously!
But he would everything pay back to these idiots when he would prove them wrong! Then he would laugh and these old geezers, his so-called former friends and pseudo-scientists would bow before his glory!
But before this could happen he needed the necessary money and equipment. He found both of it in the form of his old friend from school who was also the only person who accompanied him to this expedition.
Ben snorted scornfully about this dull-headed dreamer, his so-called friend, only useful in situations like this, but not as a really friend. At least Ben thought so. Of course Mark was the only one of his friends who believed and supported him, but that didn't mean that Ben cherished him, neither as a person nor as a friend. In truth he really hated this moron because he always babbled about how wonderfully it would be if he could fly. As if that would ever happen!
Ben only despised Mark and his type of people. Always this laymen and dreamers! But he couldn't say him what he really thought about him because he needed this moron's high-tech-camera and equipment.
Once again Ben snorted as he thought how Mark used this top-notch stuff. No kidding, as a twitcher and bird nerd he only watched and filmed birds with it! What a waste of time, money and equipment!
Yet again he wrinkled with his nose and shook with his head. Unbelievable how this Mark guy monkeyed around without a real goal for his life!
This reminded him of this oaf. He couldn't see him any longer! “Where the hell is Mark?", Ben growled and added: “As if I didn't know. Certainly this eagle creature again."
It was a female golden eagle, at least Mark had said this, but all that Ben could see was a normal golden eagle, because he thought that all of those stupid birds looked identically. Mark was obsessed by this creature and watched it every free second instead to focus on their mission. “Useless, indeed.", murmured Ben and went to the other side of their camp where Mark was. If Ben didn't knew better, he would have said that this crazy bird chased Mark, but this was impossible. Of course it was. No animal did such things and it was time to show this idiot Mark the truth. He wasn't special, nor was this bird more than a common bird and this prattling about dreams with this eagle enraged him even more, so when Ben discovered that Mark wasted their whole time by watching this eagle instead of the cameras his fury raised even more. Said eagle sat on a near tree and watched Mark too. It was creepy how deep this beast's eyes seemed to watch into Mark's soul and to end this Ben spoke reproachfully: “Watching this stupid eagle again?" He was delighted with Mark's reaction, because he winced and hit his head against a near branch. Serves him right! More of this as punishment! Hopefully it would be enough to stop this moron. But Mark's next words were a proof that he didn't learn anything!
“I just can't help it.", he said to Ben's displeasure. “She follows me since the last four days. Wouldn't it be nice to fly like an eagle?"
This remark nearly was the final straw and Ben restrained himself only because he still needed this moron. Such a dreamer. Why he just couldn't be normal like him? Or at least he finally could grow up. After all Mark was nearly thirty years old, old enough to know that such childish dream only would bring his ruin.
He couldn't harm Mark, that was true, but warily he looked at the eagle and an evil grin formed on his face. Yes, the animal would suffice as punishment for Mark and so Ben picked up for a near stone to throw it against the eagle.
“That's not why we're here!", Ben said with a reproving look before he threw the stone into the direction of the female eagle. “Shoo! Away with you!" Mark wasn't sure if the stone hit his goal, but soon the eagle was gone and out of sight. “Maybe this will teach this beast not to come near this camp."
As soon as Ben looked back he could see that Mark was crying. “Why this tears?" Ben asked.
“What if she is hurt!?", Mark sobbed and Ben rubbed his eyes in disbelief. “You can't be serious!", he said. “It was only a goddamn animal. So you have no reason to cry!"
“Yes, I am.", Mark replied and rubbed his tears away. “If you hit her wing she could die!"
“Give it a bone!", countered Ben angrily. “I don't care at all what happens to that stupid thing. Only the Mythic is important for me. Did you see or film it?"
As Mark looked down embarrassed Ben just boiled over and hit Mark at the back of his head. “That went far enough!"
Mark cried again, this time because of pain, but Ben's fury was far away from calming. “You won't get any sympathy from me.", Ben said highly reserved. “You've earned it! Now make yourself useful and examine camera 7!" After this order Ben turned away from his so-called friend, enraged and Mark was left alone.
Quickly he left the camp to the backside of the mountain. This brute! What if the eagle really was badly hurt? Why didn't Ben care about other beings than himself? He was such an egoistic person, quite the contrary to Mark himself who were kind, gentle and liked everything and everyone. So why he was still be friends with Ben? He hated him and took advantage of him, but Mark did the same thing, in a manner of speaking. “He needs me and I need him.", murmured Mark and thought with bitterness about his social life. No real friend, no girlfriend in sight, only his parents and this brute Ben as social contacts. How miserable was his life if he couldn't drop this Ben without ruining his whole social life?
For God's sake! He was nearly 30 years old with no goal for his life, no friends and only his foolish dreams. Ben was right. It was impossible for a human to fly like an eagle, but without dreams he would be more miserable as it already was. So he dreamt of impossibilities, why not in a world where he had no perspectives?
A sudden and desperate scream pulled him back into reality. It was no human scream, but Mark recognised it immediately as an eagle cry.
As fast as possible Mark followed the cries to their source, a female golden eagle entangled into the branches of a little tree. She beat fiercely with their wings, but couldn't free herself without help. Soon Mark discovered the reason for her unpleasant situation. Her left wing. She lacked a few remiges on it and this loss of feathers led to their crash into this tree! But what had caused this loss of feathers? Then he recognised the bird. It was HER! Her white heart-shaped coloration of feathers on her breast was very unique and now it was Mark who got mad. This stupid idiot Ben and the stone thrown by him! If he wouldn't have used this path the eagle would have died because of Ben and his disrespect for all but himself!
“Calm down!", Mark said to himself as he took a deep breath. “Ben will pay later for this. Now she needs you or she'll die."
So he approached the female eagle with soothing words to free her and as he stood directly in front of her, she stopped her movements and was oddly quiet, almost as if she knew that he only wanted to help her. As soon as she was free she beat with her wings and raised herself into the air. Apparently she had been hurt, but to his relief not so badly as he had thought. “Goodbye.", Mark murmured to himself as he gazed yearningly into the sky and wished again he could just follow her to leave his old life behind him.
He was still deep in thought as a very deep voice came from behind him. “That was very kind of you. Not many humans would do such a thing for a mere animal."
Slowly Mark turned around and had to gasp when he saw the speaker of those words. This fucking idiot Ben had been indeed right! In the Alps settled down one of those aliens which appeared 10 years ago, again, once again, you had to say as they looked like ancient beings from Earth's myths, such as Centaurs, Satyrs, Coyotes, and apparently even Eagles. No official reports from their landing into Gobi Desert said something about giant anthropomorphic eagles, but now Mark was face to face with one of them, a giant one, taller by a head. The Eagle's eyes focused Mark and the human could feel this burning gaze deep into his soul. He couldn't hold the gaze and looked down at the chest of the Mythic.
The Mythic had a very muscular body, almost completely covered by dark-brown feather, as well as its wings. These were wrapped around his body, almost as if he would wear a coat. Only on head, neck, tail, and the under – and upper-tail were white feathers, but this white shone so brightly into the sun, that Mark couldn't see at it directly. So he tried again to look into the golden eyes of the Mythic, this time with more success than previously and now he could see that the Mythic sharply targeted him. The eyes of the eagle radiated so much wisdom and age Mark only shivered because of the thought that he was unworthy in presence of such a godlike being. This Mythic was old, very old, probably as old as this world.
Reverently the human bowed before the Mythic and said: "It's an honor to meet you, oh great Wakinyan and I'm sure everyone would have acted like me."
The Mythic shook his head. “No, not everyone, just people with a kind and gentle soul like you.", Wakinyan replied. As he spoke his yellow beak moved as well as his yellow claws, his pair of human-like arms were crossed before his chest. “So you know me. Not many would have recognised me as one of the Amerindian Thunderbirds."
“I like birds, mythical bird too and so I know every legend out there.", Mark said enthusiastically. “Especially I adore the myths about you when humans can change their shape. My favorite myth is The Origin of the Thunderbird, a Native American lore from the Passamaquoddy Tribe. This is a legend of long, long ago times. Two Indians desired to find the origin of thunder. They travelled north and came to a high mountain. These mountains performed magically. They drew apart, back and forth, then closed together very quickly. One Indian said, "I will leap through the cleft before it closes. If I am caught, you continue to find the origin of thunder." The first one succeeded in going through the cleft before it closed, but the second one was caught and squashed. On the other side, the first Indian saw a large plain with a group of wigwams, and a number of Indians playing a ball game. After a little while, these players said to each other, "It is time to go." They disappeared into their wigwams to put on wings, and came out with their bows and arrows and flew away over the mountains to the south. This was how the Passamaquoddy Indian discovered the homes of the thunderbirds. The remaining old men of that tribe asked the Passamaquoddy Indian, "What do you want? Who are you?" He replied with the story of his mission. The old men deliberated how they could help him. They decided to put the lone Indian into a large mortar, and they pounded him until all of his bones were broken. They moulded him into a new body with wings like thunderbird, and gave him a bow and some arrows and sent him away in flight. They warned him not to fly close to trees, as he would fly so fast he could not stop in time to avoid them, and he would be killed. The lone Indian could not reach his home because the huge enemy bird, Wochowsen, at that time made such a damaging wind. Thunderbird is an Indian and he or his lightning would never harm another Indian. But Wochowsen, great bird from the south, tried hard to rival Thunderbird. So Passamaquoddies feared Wochowsen, whose wings Glooscap once had broken, because he used too much power. A result was that for a long time air became stagnant, the sea was full of slime, and all of the fish died. But Glooscap saw what was happening to his people and repaired the wings of Wochowsen to the extent of controlling and alternating strong winds with calm. Legend tells us this is how the new Passamaquoddy thunderbird, the lone Indian who passed through the cleft, in time became the great and powerful Thunderbird, who always has kept a watchful eye upon the good Indians.“
When Wakinyan remained silent, Mark tried to switch the topic, because he feared the mighty Thunderbird might be upset because of the story he had told. Maybe it had reminded him of something unpleasant? So he asked: „Why are you here and not in North America?“
„Because they need me here.“, Wakinyan replied. „My eagles are in danger, so I had to come to safe them. You humans may try to protect them, but this isn't enough. If you continue to live your lifes unchanged all will be in vain, so we are here. I am also here to see if we Mythics can establish ourselves here in Europe too." Then he examined Mark thoughtfully as if to feel certain about something before he continued. “I didn't knew you humans still know my origin and this myth."
“There are indeed many other myths we remember about you.", Mark highlighted.
Wakinyan sighed. “I wasn't on this planet for a very long time so forgive me my lack of knowledge. But I have to insist that nearly all of these legends are the truth."
"Really, including the one I've just described?", the man inquired.
Wakinyan nodded and replied: "That's exactly how I was created. Many of us were once humans or other mortal beings until an alien influence changed a few of us."
Now the human seemed to be more awestruck than before because he fell to his knees and Wakinyan could also hear “Wows" and repeatedly "I am unworthy."
“Raise!" Wakinyan ordered finally and cocked his head slightly, a thoughtful gesture, as Mark knew from his bird-watching. “There is no need to bow before me. We were once equals and nothing changed although I'm a Mythic now. But now you have an advantage over me. You know my name."
Mark understood the hint immediately. "Oh, excuse my rudeness, I'm Mark, Mark Neimeier." he replied and reached out a hand to greet the Thunderbird. The Mythic apparently knew this human gesture and overtook it while he seemed to smile.
“There is no fear in you, almost as if you would know that you would meet me here." It was a statement not a question and Mark replied without thinking, just as if his mouth spoke by itself: "Ben! It was him who has found out that a Mythic lives here."
"Ben?" Again Wakinyan inclined his head and again Mark had to explain it because it seemed so right to him to be honest to such an exalted being. “Ben, Ben Volker, I'm here because of him. He is my friend and as he asked for help I accompanied him."
Wakinyan heard his grief and he got angry. Mark was such a kind person and this Ben was definitively not a friend. That told him the sad tone of this human's voice. So why called this bird-loving human such a brute a friend? The Mythic decided to intervene. Mark deserved his gift, so he said "You sound miserable." and came closer without Mark's realisation.
“I AM miserable." Mark replied as he hugged himself. “My life sucks and the there is Ben. He is always so mean to me, but I can't let him go, because he is my only friend."
“Awww, poor human, so lonely.", the Thunderbird whispered and already knew how to comfort the human.
Without resistance from Mark he took the man into his arms and hugged him firmly. Mark didn't struggle and buried his face into the warm breast feathers of Wakinyan and it smelled almost hypnotically, like exotic spices and flowers. It was so warm, all his negative feelings drained away nearly instantly.
"May I ask you how this Ben found out that I live here?" inquired Wakinyan while he gently stroked Mark's head. He came back because of people like him. He wanted to reward them and give them a new life.
"The golden eagle population.", Mark said as he scratched on his left arm, at first it only was a little spot, but the scratching did not go away and went very fast from bad to worse because it soon covered his complete lower arm. Nevertheless Mark explained as he tried to ignore the itching feeling: "He discovered that the animal populations in areas with known Mythic settlements have recovered in recent years, even reached new heights and concluded that an unknown Mythic has to live here."
Now the TLC of the Mythic got more intense as if the Eagle had heard something that troubled him so much that he had to pass his negative feelings on the human. “And does anyone else know about me?" the Thunderbird asked scarcely audible.
“He told it his colleagues at the university, although they didn't believe him.", Mark assured although it didn't seem enough to soothe the Eagle Mythic.
Wakinyan sighed deeply. "That is not important.", he replied. “If Ben found me everyone else can do it and then it is probably time that I do express my presence to the local authorities. But first to more urgent matters."
He let Mark go and just flipped with his fingers. After that Marks clothes disappeared and stark-naked he turned away from the Mythic, ashamed.
"No reason for shame.", Wakinyan roared and laughed out loud. "Nothing that I have not seen during all the other transformations."
"Transformations?" Mark asked with a hoarse voice.
"You'll understand it soon enough.", Wakinyan replied and grinned shortly thereafter. "Look who's coming, your female eagle that you freed."
Mark looked to the sky and really, it was her. Determined she flied to the outstretched hand of the Mythic and landed there as delicately as ever.
“Luckily I could heal her.", the Thunderbird replied and petted his creation gently. “Your friend has hurt her, a little bit more and she would have lost her wing."
Mark winced. “So you care for her.", Wakinyan concluded. “Excellent. You'll like her."
“Like her?" Mark was confused, his mind fogged and he couldn't fully connect all informations given by the Mythic.
“She looked for a mate since she changed, but still had no luck, until now.", Wakinyan explained while Mark writhed on the ground. It didn't hurt, but this itch over his whole body was extremely unpleasant. “Mate? Changed?" It became harder and harder to think and to speak. Mark shook his head. Why was it suddenly so difficult to speak or to think clear? There was no answer until Wakinyan nodded. “She was so lonely just like you.", the Mythic said mercifully. “She wanted someone to love and appreciate, so I gave her a new life like I did it many times before. Unfortunately she couldn't find the right partner. Change after change and no one was suitable for her. But as soon as she saw you she knew that you are perfect for her. So she followed you the whole time and as I saw how you looked at her I knew that there was a connection between the two of you, that you are destined for each other."
“What if I didn't want to be an eagle?" Mark protested weakly as he now understood what the Mythic's plan was. "My family is going to miss me and what is about Ben?"
Now Wakinyan got mad. "Don't you understand? That this human only wants to take advantage of you? That he will not share the fame of his discovery? That you aren't his friend? He hurt an eagle, hurt you with it and now you can get a gift only a few humans ever got."
These words hurt, but Mark had recognised long ago that Ben was not his friend. If he would have another option he wouldn't have held him so long, but now Wakinyan offered him a new life. Yet Mark hesitated. His parents would miss him. Would they look for him? Would they find Wakinyan? Would he change them too? The Mythic realized this hesitation and knelt down to take Mark's head into his hands.
“You wanted to fly like an eagle." Wakinyan said with his deep, pleasant voice. “Wanted to know how it is to chase her through the skies. This is your chance! So don't fight it. You have an eagle soul in you and I can free it for you!"
He wanted to fight his transformation, to hold on as much of his old self as possible, but then the female eagle that had raised to the skies and now circled above them, seemed to call him.
Her cry sparked an irrepressible longing in him. She needed him and he needed her and as his inner walls of resistance broke the transformation sped up. Everywhere on his body brown feathers sprouted, his feet changed to claws, his arms became wings, and a beak formed in his face. Also his body shrank to the size of a normal eagle and soon he got off a response cry towards the female.
Instinctively and without problems Mark rose into the air rose and when he felt the wind under its wings, suddenly all concerns were gone and he acquiesced in his new life. He had always wanted exactly this and it was even better than in his wildest dreams!
Soon he forgot his human self, merged with his eagle soul to begin a new life. It was a rebirth, not a loss and he liked every moment of it! After a quick pursuit both eagles landed delicately on one arm of Wakinyan who giggled.
"See?", the mythical eagle said, pleased by this transformation nearly without complications. "It is better for you and her and don't worry. I take good care of my creations. This also means that we have to take care to your “friend" Ben too."
When the former man heard the name of his so-called friend, he had to shake involuntarily. Of course the eagle no longer knew why this name excited him so much and that it was a name, but deep inside the soul of the new animal he hated the word Ben and so Wakinyan hated Ben too, for causing so much discomfort to one of his children. Time to change that. Wakinyan thought. This Ben would pay for the injuries he had caused for two of Wakinyan's children, whether it was physically as in the female's case or mentally such as in Mark's soul.
Ben slowly began to worry. Mark was still not back and possibly killed in an accident! Of course he didn't care about this idiot as a person, but there were still his parents who would never forgive him if Mark never came back, perhaps even suspected that he murdered this moron.
After all they knew that Ben just took advantage of their treasure and abused his good nature. They had tried everything to make this clear to Mark, but their son was too kind-hearted to break his friendship with Ben, so he still was a thorn into their flesh which they really wanted to remove, with all possible measures, even a murder charge for a murder he didn't committed. If now Mark disappeared they would take action against him, for sure.
Ben wanted to rise up with a great sigh to look for this moron Mark as he felt a cramp in his left leg. He had to sit down and as he moved his pants, he got the biggest shock of his life.
Strange green scales were there. Maybe it is just an eczema, he thought and scratched on them. It felt strange, almost like leather. That's no normal eczema! He panicked and tried to remove one of them, but when he separated one scale from his skin, by force, he had to cry out loudly. These things were no eczema, but normal part of his skin and they spread visually! Now they covered nearly his whole right leg!
But how was that possible? Could it be that the Mythic had something to do with it?
Quite possible, he thought. After all there were cases of humans healed by Mythics. Rumors of 'special favors' existed. Supposedly the heart trouble of the president of the USA of the time when the Mythics arrived ten years ago just disappeared as well as the inoperable and terminal brain cancer of the British Prime Minister's wife. So why not other changes like transformations too? But why?
“Because of your disrespect for your so-called friend.", a deep voice said and as he turned around Ben could see his first Mythic ever, a giant human-like eagle. This would be his break-through in the scientific world! But then he saw the Mythic's frown and asked: “Why are you looking at me like that?"
“I can't believe it." The Mythic shook his head. “Your heart is dark and selfish, not like Mark's heart. How can two humans be so different and yet call each other friends."
“Mark?", Ben weakly asked as he went down to the floor. “Where is he?"
"And still you care only for your life and not for Mark," the Mythic hissed and approached closer to the squirming human. "What happens to me when I come back without him? This is the only thing that bothers you. Mark got what he deserved and because of your violation of one of my eagle you'll get your 'gift' too."
“How do you do it?" Ben whispered while he could hardly move his arms and legs because they were already connected with his body to form the typical snake body.
"You ever saw Mexico's coat of arms, where an eagle is eating a snake on a cactus? Now I tell you something. I'm not only the patron of eagles but of the snakes too and as such I can create snakes AND eagles."
“That's why the animals come back, you Mythic changes humans!", it was a quiet, yet accusing statement and during it Ben's mouth became slowly a snout. Accompanied by a hissing, caused by his now forked tongue, he added: "Ssso you are alssso resssponssible for the climate chchchchaninging!"
“Correct!" the Eagle Mythic replied and looked down scornfully at these scum of a man. Mark had been a prime example of his species, but this Ben was spoiled and rotten through and through. Unlike Mark he would never be one part of the nature. Not even a transformation in an animal would change Ben's foul soul. There was no adoration for nature or any living being in this human and so Wakinyan's decision was cemented. He hated any waste of life, but in this changing world was no room for such beings, not if it should change for the better.
Disgusted he shook his head and whistled. As if by command two eagles landed on each of his shoulders. "You wanted to know where Mark is, well, here he is."
Nodding to his left shoulder, Ben understood immediately. "You chchchhanged him into an eagle?" He didn't know the lifespan of an eagle, but it was definitely not as long as a human. And wasn't the brain of an eagle much smaller as a human one which meant: “You killed what represssented hisss human life!"
"Killed?" Wakinyan shook his head disapprovingly. This person couldn't understand what he had to offer. "This is not death, but a new beginning. Also, there was always the soul of an eagle into Mark Mark. I just freed it."
“Thissss moron...", Ben replied. “No man with a ssssane judgement would give up hissss life for a mere animal's..."
"Shut up!", Wakinyan angrily called and the following thunder silenced Ben. "I am tired of ignorant humans like you. You think the world belongs to you, you take advantage of gentle souls like Mark, but not anymore! You don't deserve to receive this gift. You will now end like the snake on the Mexican coat of arms, killed by eagles. Go, get him!"
Wakinyan whistled briefly and his two latest proteges lunged for Ben and ripped him apart. The Mythic had to laugh, not because of this waste of life, but the gain of Mark's gentle soul. If things continued like this the world soon would be a better place with more influence for the Mythics as side-effect.
After the snake has been consumed, Wakinyan smelled another person he could change, hopefully with a better soul than this Ben. After this one's soul, he vowed, he would reveal himself to the local authorizes, but of course he said this every time and with Ben's death the urge to reveal himself diminished. There were enough Mythics to put on Ben's shape and to replace this moron and Mark. So maybe later, Wakinyan thought as he approached the woman with a smile. Immediately he could touch her soul and his smile got a grin.
A girl in quest for a quiet place? With a gentle soul like Mark?
Perfect!