Erewhon Chronicles

[rocklobster]

First an apology to those reading Higher Calling. I am experiencing a bad case of Writer's Block and will be unable to continue.:hits_self In the meantime, why not enjoy this new story about the childhoods of Indigo and Greywing!
Princess Ashley waited by her door. Her godparents, the Falconers, Indigo and Greywing, had come to visit.
When Indigo knocked, Ashley happily opened the door. The blue-winged Falconer was obviously pregnant.
"Welcome, godmother and godfather." Ashley greeted them, performing the traditional Falconer greeting (which is done by placing your hands at the chest and hooking them at the thumbs so that they form wings). Then she offered a chair to Indigo.
"Thank you, Princess." Indigo slowly sat down.
"How's the baby?" Ashley asked as she took another chair.
"He or she's doing fine. He or she should be arriving in two months." Indigo answered.
Ashley pressed a hand against Indigo's belly. The fetus kicked.
"So does this mean you won't visit me anymore?" Ashley asked.
"Of course not." said Greywing. "You're too precious to us. Besides, to us, you are our daughter as well."
"What's it like for a Falconer?" Ashley asked. "Is it true that the Great Shepherdess actually trains you?"
"Yes, but we have a special name for her. It's Lo-Grota, which means Great Mother." Indigo answered. "Why don't I tell you our story? It's not that different from other Falconers."
----------------------
CHapter 1: Indigo is called
(Note the rest of the story is told Flashback style)
Indigo's family was very pleasant. Her mother was Heron, who was in the Fourth choir. Her father, Crimson, was in the Third Choir. Because of this, they lived on a farm. Both parents gave her all the love and attention any child could ask for. She was the youngest of the five children, but rarely saw any of them because they were often away on missions.
The day she turned seven was filled with celebration. But then night came.
She was sleeping blissfully when suddenly, she felt excruciating pain in her back, as though something was piercing it. She screamed for her parents. Her mother came rushing in.
"What's wrong, dearest child?" Heron asked.
"My back!" Indigo screamed. "Something's ripping it!"
Crimson came in and Heron told him "Get me some gauze, quickly!" Crimson nodded and obeyed.
"Turn on your stomach." Heron said to Indigo. Indigo obeyed, and Heron could see what looked like feathers coming out. Indigo's wings were arriving.
Crimson brought the bandages. Heron wrapped them around her thumb and put it near Indigo's mouth.
"Bite on this!" Heron exclaimed. "So you won't bite your tongue!"
As Indigo bit her mother's thumb, Heron softly hummed, lulling Indigo back to sleep. She had Crimson bring a small bucket filled with soapy water and a brush. After the wings finished breaking through Indigo's back, Heron began cleaning them.
When the sun rose, Indigo awoke from her mother's sleep spell. She saw Heron stroking the new wings. Indigo careened her neck to see them. They were blue, exactly like her mother's. She tried to move them. At first, it was difficult, but she was able to get them to beat.
"Don't strain them too much. They still need to heal, so that they will feel as though they are a part of your body." Heron cautioned.
It was at that moment that Indigo noticed her mother was sobbing.
"What's wrong, grota? she asked. ("grota" means mother)
"You are not going to live here anymore. The wings you've been given mean that Lo-grota has called you to serve her." Heron explained sadly.
"But I want to stay here with you." Indigo pleaded.
"You can't decide that." Heron said sharply. "She will not be a harsh instructor. In time, you will enjoy serving her as much as I do."
Indigo had known her mother long enough to know when not to argue. She slowly stood up. "Then I'll do what I can to make you proud of me."
"That's my girl." Heron congratulated. She helped her to get dressed by putting a robe on her that had slits in the back for her wings. "Come, it's time for us to go to the Dotheg. (Dotheg means temple)

[USSRGirl]

I'm sorry to see the Lucia side story scrapped, but I must say this one seems to have a better premise.

I'll be interested to see how Indigo takes to her new charge and life apart from her parents - the last paragraph left me wanting more insight into her feelings and misgivings about going out into the world at such a young age.

[rocklobster]

Although most of the Seraph Mountains was terraced, the path to the dotheg was straight. The dotheg spanned 100 acres. It hard marble ionic columns which supported a triangular roof.
When Indigo and Heron entered, two acolytes approached them and placed tiny bells on their wings. Falconers wore these in the dotheg because they were not to speak unless either the acolytes or Iawia permitted it. Instead, the Falconers used the bells. They wiggled the right wing's bell to say "Yes" and wiggled the left wing's bell to say "no.". The acolytes rarely asked any other kind of question.
A woman approached them. She had white wings that trailed down to the floor and carried a staff topped with a rod. This was Iawia, in her role as the Falconer's lo-grota, or Great Mother. Everyone paid homage to her.
"Ah, Indigo." she said warmly. Her voice was like a gentle breeze on a hot day. "I see you received my gift for your seventh birthday. Do you like them?"
Indigo tried to move only her right wing, but instead, both her wings moved. She blushed with embarrassment.
"Still as shy as ever, I see." Iawia laughed. "That's fine. Some of my best servants don't talk much anyway. I find it easier to speak through them."
She placed a hand on Heron's shoulder. "You may go now. You have done as I have instructed." Heron lifted her right wing and obeyed.
After Heron left, Iawia took Indigo by the hand and led her to a room filled with water. She bent down to undress Indigo and then undressed herself as well. Because Iawia was so tall, the water only came up to Her ankles. For Indigo, it came all the way up to her waist. It was the sam temperature as a mother's womb. As Indigo looked around the room, she saw Falconers of various ages bathing in the water. Iawia produced a seashell and collected some water with it, which She used to renew Indigo's baptism. Indigo placed her hands at her chest in prayer and closed her eyes. She felt all her anxiety melt away. When Indigo finished, she took Indigo's hand. An acolyte handed them towels to dry off. After She dried Indigo and Herself, Iawia placed a new green robe on Indigo, which was to be her new attire.
They entered another room, which had placards all over the walls. A female acolyte sitting at a table and greeted them.
"This is my new student, Indigo." Iawia told her. The acolyte wrote Indigo's name on some parchment and handed it to Indigo. Then she handed Indigo a quill and a blank placard. "Copy those letters onto the blank placard." she said.
Indigo raised her right wing and obeyed. When she finished, the acolyte placed the placard on the wall.
Iawia led Indigo to a brightly-colored door. She pointed to a sign that read, "You are permitted to speak in this room." As Iawia opened the door, Indigo saw children of various ages playing. When the children saw them, they immediately stopped and greeted Iawia.
"Everyone, this is our latest grebo, Indigo. (Grebo is like a rookie)." said Iawia. Then She turned and left.
Two children approached Indigo. One was male and had gray wings. "My name is Greywing." he said.
The other was a girl with green hair, green eyes, and green wings. "And I'm Jade." she said.
"I can see how you got your name, Jade." Indigo said. Then she turned to Greywing and asked. "How did your parents know what color your wings would be, Greywing?"
"Iawia told my parents in a dream what to name me." Greywing answered, beaming.
Jade rolled her eyes. Why must he always tell that story?
Another Falconer, who appeared to be in her late teens, approached Indigo from behind. Her hair was black as night. Her wings were black with white stars. Her eyes shone with the joy of life. She had cute freckles. "What pretty blue wings." she said. "My name's Starchild."
"What an odd name." Indigo said.
"My mother gave me my name because she saw the stars in my eyes." Starchild explained. "Those wings must've hurt a great deal."
"Of course they did." Jade said, as if she'd heard the most idiotic thing in the world. "Our wings always hurt when they sprout."
"Why is that?" Indigo asked.
"I once asked Iawia that myself. She told me it was because our land is protected from the suffering that Pandora has wrought upon the rest of Erewhon. She makes our wings hurt when they sprout so that we can also experience that suffering." Indigo explained.

[rocklobster]

The next day was bright and sunny, with only a few clouds. Iawia telepathically awakened all the children. After they got ready for the day, they were assembled outside for flight lessons. Iawia broke the children into groups of seven, each one led by an acolyte. Indigo, Jade, Greywing, and four other children were assigned to an acolyte named Daedalus. He had long blonde hair and red wings and wore a yellow robe, the traditional color of the Second Choir.
"All right everyone, gather in a circle." he said. The children quietly obeyed.
"The first thing you must do is get a good running start." he instructed. "Then, flap your wings to gain altitude." The children ran off the cliff and did as instructed. As they flew, Daedalus instructed them in basic flying techniques.
This is wonderful! Indigo thought. She'd flown in her mother's arms, but this was more exhilarating.
Jade spied another group. This group was being taught more advanced techniques. Starchild was in this group.
Starchild broke off from her group and spiraled into the air. Then she spread her arms and performed a barrel roll. She stopped the barrel roll and executed a loop before returning to her group.
Jade shook her head. "What a show-off." she thought. She flew off from her group as well. She landed on a field far from the dotheg. A group of wingless children spied her. They immediately encircled her and picked up stones.
"She's the qolit! Stone her!" exclaimed one. Qolit means demon's child. Jade curled up in the fetal position to protect herself.
The attack was not unnoticed. Daedalas had seen Jade fly off and had sent Indigo to retrieve her. When Indigo saw the children, she swooped down in front of Jade. The children immediately stopped.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked.
"She's a qolit" said one of the children.
"But her wings are feathery just like ours." Indigo disagreed. "Qolits and qoloz (adult demons) have bat-like, leathery wings."
The children were indignant. One of them exclaimed, "She's a friend of the qolit! Get her too!" They resumed throwing stones.
Suddenly, an angry, feminine voice ordered. "Stop this disobedience at once!" It was Iawia. The children immediately stopped and knelt.
"These two have done nothing wrong!" Iawia ordered. "Go home, all of you, and tell your parents what you have done so that they will punish you!" The children knew there was no point in arguing so they all went home as ordered.
Iawia turned to Jade. She attempted to heal her, but Jade refused her touch.
"Just leave me alone!" she said angrily and flew off to cry alone.
Indigo approached Iawia and paid her homage quietly.
"That was brave of you my child. You are permitted to speak." Iawia praised.
"Those children were wrong, weren't they?" Indigo asked.
"Yes, Jade is a special child. I don't normally tell someone another's story, but I realize this one time, I must, for Jade's sake. But I want you to do me a favor." Iawia answered.
"What is the favor?" Indigo asked.
"Let me tell the story first." Iawia said. "Jade's parents were in the 9th choir, my demon-slayers. They were among the best. But one day, they were sent to kill some qoloz that had attacked a human village. One of them poisoned both of Jade's parents, turning them evil. I was forced to exile them, leaving Jade orphanned. I took her in, but she still refuses to trust me or accept my love. I must say I am quite surprised that she still obeys me. And now comes your favor. You are to become Jade's friend. Your bravery and quiet heart are just what she needs."
Indigo wiggled her right wing obediently. "I shall do ask you ask."
"One more thing," said Iawia. "You must not tell Jade what you know about her parents. If you do, she will realize that I asked you and will not accept your friendship as genuine."
Indigo again wiggled her right wing. She flew off after Jade and eventually caught up with her.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
Jade was silent for a few moments and then said, "Thank you for helping me. That's the first time someone's done that. Why do people believe that about my parents?"
And thus began their friendship."

[rocklobster]

Three months passed, and Indigo also made another friend: Starchild.
One day, Indigo was in high spirits because she did very well on a test. She only got one question wrong and decided to tell her friends the news. The first person she decided to tell was Starchild. She went to Starchild's bedroom, because the children were allowed to speak in their bedrooms.
She knocked on the door.
"Jod." said Starchild from inside. (jod means come in)
As Indigo opened the door, she saw Starchild looking at a cocoon on her windowsill.
"She should be ready to come out any second." said Starchild.
Indigo studied the cocoon. She saw tiny legs trying to get out. She reached for the cocoon but Starchild stopped her.
"No, it's better if you don't help her." said Starchild. "I found that out in the worst way with my first pet caterpillar. When I saw him struggle to get out, I was so concerned that I opened the cocoon. When he emerged, he crawled out as if he had a limp and wouldn't fly. I brought him to Lo-grota and asked her what happened. She said 'You made a mistake when you opened the cocoon. The butterfly must be allowed to struggle in order to fly.' Then she cupper her hands around the butterfly and healed his wings. So I never help my caterpillars."
"How many have you had so far?" Indigo asked.
"Six, counting her." Starchild answered.
At that moment, the butterfly finished crawling out and landed on Starchild's nose. It had prism-like wings that made rainbows on the walls. This was an Iris butterfly.
"Indigo, could you please open the window?" Starchild asked.
Indigo opened the window and the butterfly flew out.
"You see, Indigo, you are just like that butterfly." said Starchild. "You, too, must struggle in order to fly."

[rocklobster]

It was a special, once-only event in Starchild's life. Every falconer lives for the moment Iawia appoints him or her to a choir. There are nine choirs in the Seraph Mountains. The nine choirs each wear a robe with a specific color. The nine choirs are:
1. Sentries (white)
2. Temple Maintenance and Education (yellow)
3. Hunting and Gathering (forest green)
4. Healing (blue)
5. Construction (red)
6. Human Relations (peach and brown)
7. Covert Operations (black)
8. Research and Development (purple)
9. Demon-slaying (crimson)
Once a falconer is apporinted to a choir, it is permanent. It is interesting to note that of the nine choirs, only four of them actually fight the Enemy: the First, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth. Yet Iawia values all the falconers, regardless of purpose, for they are all working together.
All the students were assembled in the Baptismal Room. Then Iawia entered. Starchild wasn't the only one graduating. Twenty-five others had made it to this day.
Iawia called her name and Starchild obeyed. Then one of the acolytes approached Starchild, carrying a yellow robe.
"Starchild, Daughter of Avia, it is with great pleasure that I announce your appointment to my Second Choir. Ever since the day you came to the dotheg, you have leaned on me and attentively listened to my wisdom. Now, it will be your responsibility to impart my wisdom onto others. Do you accept?"
Starchild was surprised. Iawia knew the question that she wanted answered.
"The reason I chose the Second Choir is that you have the correct personality. You are far too meek for the others."
Starchild responded by wiggling her right wing. The acolyte disrobed her and Starchild waded into the water, which had been mixed with Iawia's blood. Iawia produced a seashell and renewed Starchild's baptism. Then Starchild was given her new yellow robe. When she finished dressing herself, she gave her old one to the acolyte. The old one was always burned at the end of the ceremony.
Indigo noticed a scowl on Jade's face. "What's with you, Jade?" she whispered sharply.
"She's too happy all the time." She always accepts Iawia at face value. I don't understand people like her." Jade whispered.
"Why can't you just be happy for her?"
"Oh I will be. When something bad happens."
Jade did not know then how much she would regret those words.

[rocklobster]

Winter came to the Seraph Mountains. Iawia decided it was time for the grebos to visit the human world.
Starchild wasn't happy to hear the news. It wasn't because she didn't like humans, far from it. It was because she wasn't even going.
"I do wish I could come with you." she said to Indigo. "I'm actually quite fond of humans. But there's some cleaning to be done in the foyer. And after that, it'll be time for om anyway (om means meditation;))So, unfortunately, I'm going to be too busy." She sighed wistfully.
Iawia assembled all the children. The acolytes had given them all snews, or wing covers. These kept their wings warm and still allowed them to fly, for they were made of cloth.
They lined up and jumped off a cliff. After they had gained sufficient altitude, Iawia led them to a forest that been thoroughly embraced by winter. Snow had covered all the trees and very little wildlife was seen. Most were either hibernating or had migrated to warmer areas.
The air was still. Indigo wasn't sure which was chillier: the air itself or the snow. Perhaps it was both.
A rabbit rushed past them. Then a white wolf came. He took little notice of the falconers. Moments later, the wolf returned with the now dead rabbit in its mouth.
Jade saw that Iawia was crestfallen. "What's wrong Lo-grota?" she asked.
"There are times I don't like this world I've created. It wasn't supposed to be like this." A tear streamed down her cheek. "Pandora's influence is too irresistible for some of my creatures and plants. It is her fault that this world must be fixed."
"Then why don't you fix it?" Jade asked.
"Child, if I were to do that, there wouldn't be a world. At least, not as you would know it. The whole world would have to be started anew. I do plan to fix it, but I will do it on my time." Iawia answered. "For now, I am making do with what I have. But mark me well: I will be renewing the world soon."
"And what do you call 'soon'?" Indigo asked. She could see that Iawia saw time differently from her creations.
"I call all times soon." Iawia said.

[Shilohan ninja]

Keep going! Don't stop! I'm really eating this up. (WOOT!) lol

[rocklobster]

The forest bordered a small human village called Frost Steppe. In this village was much activity, for the annual celebration to mark the end of the year, the Lud-Tiyee, was underway. Bell-adorned wreaths were hanging on doors and windows. Even though the falconers were in their snews, they still stood out. Iaswia effortlessly changed form to resemble a 60-year-old human woman. Her staff now looked like a well-worn cane made of wood from an apple tree rather than oak. Its amber globe was replaced by a hook.
"Why did you change your shape?" Indigo asked.
"I prefer to see if my creatures will treat me correctly if I appear as one of them. I've even appeared as a human child once. That was my favorite time." Iawia answered. "Even my form that I use among you is not my true one. No finite being could ever comprehend my true form."
The townspeople seemed used to seeing falconers, for no one treated them any differently. (IN fact, Iawia often used this town for visits)
The class spied a group of children playing on a frozen lake. Iawia seemed concerned.
"What is it Lo-grota?" asked Graywing.
"That lake is not sufficiently frozen. Those children are endangering themselves.
"Indigo, Jade, we need to get to that lake quickly!" Graywing called. "We must stop those children before it's too late!"
Jade and Indigo followed Graywing. Iawia followed invisibly. When they arrived at the lake, two children had fallen through. The other children were too scared to even react.
"We'll form a chain." Graywing explained. "I'll be at the head, since I'm the strongest. Jade, you'll be at the end."
Graywing immediately dove for the children. Indigo grabbed Graywing by the legs and Jade grabbed Indigo's legs. With their combined efforts, they managed to pull the children to safety.
Indigo asked the children. "Can you move?"
The children shook their heads and grimaced. Their legs had been broken by the fall.
Indigo instinctively placed her hands on one of the children's legs. Her hand glowed. Within seconds, the legs were healed. She then moved to the other child and did the same thing.
The two children thanked the Falconers and introduced themselves as Douglas and Joanne.
***
At that moment, Ashley interrupted Indigo's story.
"My father once told me that he and my mother were ocne saved by falconers when they fell through an ice lake." she said. "Do you mean to tell me you, Graywing, and Jade are those falconers?"
"Yes Porce-las." said Indigo, using a term of endearment that falconers often used with their female children. "We are the ones who saved your parents." Then she continued her story.

[rocklobster]

The day Iawia feared came.
It started pleasantly. Indigo, Jade, Graywing, and Starchild were on leave in a village called Allegro.
"Did you have to bring her along?" Jade asked and thumbed at Starchild.
"She was insistent. As if something important was going to happen that she had to be present for." Indigo shrugged.
Graywing shushed them and unsheathed his mace. "Do you not feel it? Something evil is here."
Indigo unsheathed her tuning fork and Jade unsheathed her dagger. Starchild unsheathed a small rod. "Goz-lon!" she commanded. Instantly, the rod extended to its full length and was as tall as its owner.
They were surrounded by twenty qoloz.
"What is your purpose, dark ones?" Graywing asked through clenched teeth.
"That one is our purpose." said the qoloz's leader as he pointed at Jade.
Indigo shuddered. Was this the one that had poisoned Jade's parents?
A battle began. Jade found herself cornered by two qoloz. Starchild dug her rod into the ground and leapt into the air and landed right in front of them.
"You shall not have her!" she exclaimed.
"Very well." said one of them. "We shall claim you instead." And before she could even counter, he sliced her with his sword. His deed done, he signaled to the others, and they left as instantly as they arrived.
Iawia appeared with a solemn expression. She caught Starchild as she fell to the ground. Jade rushed over to them.
She took Starchild's hand and began sobbing. Indigo tried to seal the wound with her healing powers, but it wouldn't work. They both looked up at Iawia.
"Starchild, please stay with us!" Jade pleaded.
"You're not happy?" Iawia asked Jade.
"What do you mean?" Jade asked angrily.
"'I will be when something bad happens.'" Iawia quoted Jade, using Jade's voice rather than her usual one.
"Can't you stop this?" Jade pleaded.
"I cannot. This was meant to occur." Iawia started stroking Starchild's hair and hummed sadly.
"What are you doing?" Jade asked.
"Alleviating her suffering." Iawia said.
"No! You shall not do this!" Jade grabbed her by the arm.
"Silence! Why do you suddenly care what happens to her? You never loved her."
Jade realized She was right. Jade was always jealous of Starchild. But now she realized how much she actually loved her.
"I see." Iawia sighed. "You did love her, but your jealousy blinded you. Did you truly think I play favorites? Child, I never do that. And if I do not alleviate her suffering, the poison from the wound will turn her into a qolot, just like your parents."
"Can you at least stop the poison long enough for me to say farewell?" Jade pleaded with sobs.
"I suppose." Iawia nodded. She touched Starchild's eyes. They opened, but now they no longer shone, for her soul was fading.
Jade sobbed. "Starchild, can you forgive me?"
"Yes." Starchild said weakly and they embraced one last time. Jade turned to Iawia and nodded. Iawia closed Starchild's eyes forever. Both Jade and Indigo tearfully embraced her lifeless body as her soul faded from her body and floated unseen into the sky.
Graywing whispered, "Lo-grota, do you mean that if Starchild hadn't intervened, Jade would have become a qolot?"
"Child, no one is ever told what would have happened." Iawia said and cried. She was both sad and angry.

[rocklobster]

The next day was Starchild's funeral. All the Falconers, including Jade, wore black armbands and sashes. Iawia entered her house.
"I see you've properly dressed." she said.
"It's the least I could do." Jade shrugged. "All these years..."
"Then I think I have the perfect closure." Iawia said. "I think you should say a eulogy."
Jade raised her left wing. "I must refuse. It would be inappropriate."
"I disagree. Even though you only showed jealousy toward her, you still loved Starchild. Your last actions toward her are proof of your true emotions. And she loved you. Not out of pity because you were a kopdol (orphan in Falconer). But because that was her way. She prayed daily that one day the jealousy inside you would disappear. I believe this would give her peace."
----------
It was time for the funeral to begin. Iawia was the first to speak.
"When I created the universe, the first thing I created was time, so that everything wouldn't happen at once. But I established a rule: time can only flow one way. Now can only be now. And this moment is so precious."
Jade's turn soon came. She cleared her throat and wiped away a tear. Then she said, "I should not be speaking here. Ever since I met Starchild, I gave her nothing but disdain and jealousy. But she still loved me. I only recently discovered that. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be here now. I owe Starchild my life. And I shall spend the rest of it making her sacrifice count."

[rocklobster]

One day, JAde was dispatched to a village. When she entered through the gate, she was met by a qolot.
"We meet again, Jade." he said.
"I believe you are mistaken, qolot." Jade unsheathed her dagger. "Know this, the moment the dagger leaves my hand, it will reappear--in your heart! Your life is forfeit."
"Then I shall explain." The qolot then changed into a wingless falconer. "She's the qolot! Stone her!" he said. Then he changed back into his true shape.
"Yes, Jade, I was under orders to coerce you into joining us. If your vomit-inducing, blue-winged friend hadn't intervened, you might've joined our ranks by now. This is our third attempt." He unsheathed a sword called a zabimaru (meaning snake sword). It looked like an ordinary sword, but it was really more like a whip. He cracked it back. It wrapped around Jade like a python. Spines came out and tore at her body, filling her with poison. As her consciousness faded, she felt her grip slip on her dagger. She smiled coldly. The next moment, her foe found a dagger impaled in his chest. Then all was nothing.
-------------
After several hours, Jade slowly regained consciousness. She was lying in a bed. As she became more aware of her surroundings, she saw Iawia. Iawia communicated with her telepathically.
"Hello, daughter of Avia." Iawia said. "I have come to save you."
The poison began to work. "You are a terrible Lo-grota." Jade responded.
Whether Iawia was moved by that was unclear. "Did you know that Starchild knew she was going to die? The night before she died, Starchild had a nightmare. She dreamed that she looked into a mirror and saw a qolot instead of her face. I told her it was because Pandora was planning to turn her or you into one. She immediately dropped to her knees and pleaded. 'Please, Lo-grota, do not let this happen! I would rather die than be forever separated from your love.' So I granted her request."
"That's precisely what I mean. You're as bad as Pandora!"
"Stop right there! I am not as sadistic as she! Pandora was once a Falconer just like you. But she was so filled with pride that she foolishly tried to usurp me by opening a box I forbid her to open. The box consumed her with evil and ever since she has corrupted Erewhon. But I am different from her. I only allow a bad event to occur if something good can result. I believe that hyou have always doubted my love. Here is something that will convince you." She produced what looked like a clay falconer. It was exactly the same size as a baby. She handed it to Jade delicately, as if it were actually alive.
"It looks just like I did when I was a baby!" Jade gasped.
"That is because it is you. This is the doll I used to create you. I molded the clay and shaped it until I was satisfied with what I created. The result was you."
Jade was captivated by the doll's exquisite detail Iawia took the doll back and produced another one, which she showed to Jade. "This is the qolot who poisoned your parents."
"It looks like a falconer."
"He was born a falconer, then Pandora corrupted him. That poison is slowly going to do the same to you. I've allowed this to happen so you could experience what your parents went through. Now I shall heal you. Turn over on your side."
Jade grimaced as she struggled to obey. She turned over, exposing a wound. Iawia porduced a vial and a cork. She placed the vial near the wound and said strange words. the poison came oozing out of the wound. She corked the vial. Then, she embraced Jade warmly and healed her. When she finished, she handed the vial to Jade. "In a few minutes, someone from the 8th choir will come in here with Indigo. Give this to her." She left the room and saw Indigo on her knees praying.
"Peace, my child." she said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Jade is well. You may see her now."
At that moment, a Falconer from the 8th choir entered the hospital. She had black wings and a blonde ponytail. Her name was Mynah. When she saw Iawia, she knelt and greeted her.
"I came as you requested, Lo-grota." she said.
Iawia pointed to Jade's room. "There is a patient you must vist in there. She has something for you."
When Mynah entered the room, she saw Indigo crying happily at Jade's bedside.
"[i]Yakatta! Indigo cried. (this means "I'm so glad!")
Mynah touched Jade gently. "Lo-grota said you have something for me."
Jade handed her the vial. "Here, I hope this helps in your research."
Mynah took the vial and said. "How ironic that something so evilly designed would be something we can actually use." She left the room.
Indigo noticed the two clay dolls on Jade's table. "What are these?" she asked. She examined the one that used to form Jade. "It looks exactly like you!"
"That's because it is me." Jade said. "Iawia gave them to me to show me just how much she does love me. I've been so stupid. I'm surprised she forgave me."
-----------Epilogue---------
After Indigo finished her story, Ashley smiled. "That was a nice story." she said.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Indigo said.
"Are humans allowed in the Seraph mountains?"
"It's rare for them to visit." Graywing said.
"Then I want to come to the Seraph mountains to see your new child when he or she is born."
"Any friend of Iawia is always welcome." Indigo said. "I'm sure you'll be able to visit."