--------///----Espiral's POV----\--------

Warm. That was all i could feel. I felt tired and didn't want to get up but then i felt something nudging me. I didn't know what it was but i didn't feel threathened by it.

(???) " It's morning my precious child. You cannot lay there all day. "

A soft voice that i definetly knew was talking to me and as soon as i recognized it i opened my eyes and i realized that i was in a familiar nest up by the mountains and right in front of me i saw someone i was never expecting to see anymore. Infront of me was a over three meter tall Lightning Falcon with shimmering red and yellow feathers that looked like they could start a fire all on their own. Wings that despite being tucked in still managed to look incredible. Sharp eyes that had nothing but affection. I knew who this was. I knew because it was...

(Espiral) " ...Mom... "

(Espiral's mother) " Yes dear? "

(Espiral) " Mom... Mom... MOM! "

The memories of what happened just flooded in and i couldn't help it. I couldn't keep myself from just attaching myself to moms side and just feeling her warmth. I couldn't help myself, i just wanted to enjoy this moment forever. She didn't know what was going on but she still wrapped her wings around me to comfort me.

(Espiral's mother) " What's wrong dear? Did you have a bad dream? "

(Espiral) " A dream... Was it all just a dream? "

I didn't know. Everything had felt so real but what if it was just a really bad dream? What if this was real... I could stay with mom...

(Espiral) " Mom, where's dad? "

(Espiral's mother) " Hmm? What an odd question. Your father is out gathering food. "

(Espiral) " But he'll be back right? He'll come back? "

(Espiral's mother) " Of course he will. You know how strong your father is. He's not idiotic either, if he must escape then he will. "

(Espiral) " Yea... He would... But... Can we go to him right now? "

I couldn't get the image of dad lying on the cold mountain ground surrounded by more then a dozen lynxes out of my head. Mom lost it when she saw that and tried to burn them all and even managed to get a lot of them, but the survivors played with her, they waited until their poison overwhelmed her and got her when she was weak... I didn't want that to happen again... I wanted to see dad now.

(Espiral's mother) " Hmm? What's with this sense of urgency? Your father will return soon just as he always does. "

(???) " Why am i being talked about? Have i done something? "

(Espiral) " Dad! "

At the perch to our nest, dad was hovering and looking over at us with a strange look on his face. He was probably wondering why we were talking about him but that didn't matter because my dad was right there in front of me. I didn't care what he was carrying in his talons, my dad was here. He flew up a bit higher and dropped a few bodies of beasts he killed but i just kept looking at him. After he was done with dropping the bodies, he flew over to us and landed right next to mom.

(Espiral's mother) " You haven't done anything. Our child was just concerned over your well being. It seems as if he had a nightmare. "

(Espiral's father) " Hoh? You're far too young to worry about me child. Perhaps when you've aged a few years then you would be able to worry about me. And if it was a bad dream then all that needs to happen is a good day to offset it... Hmm... How about we fly together. It's been sometime since we all flew as a family. "

(Espiral's mother) " I think that's a wonderful idea. What do you think dear? "

(Espiral) " Yes! Together... That'd be perfect. "

I couldn't remember the last time we all just flew together... I wanted it... I wanted to spend time with my family again. Mom and dad took to the sky and after just looking at them for a second, i followed. The sky felt different, there weren't any other birds, no one was here, just us. I knew how strange it was, i knew that the sky was never this empty before... But with my mom and dad... It felt like everything was just fine. But then somthing happened... A black thing flashed by and then just started running next to me.

I was going to say something or just be surprised but then i started looking at it... It looked familiar. It was small, had four paws and the face of a fox... But it only had one tail. It's whole body was black, including its eyes... But it looked so familar... The thing looked at me and then just gave me a soft smile and ran ahead. It went passed mom and dad but they didn't react at all. I knew i recognized it, i knew that it was something important, i knew that but i didn't want to acknowledge it... Because if i did then i'd have to face something that i didn't want to face ever again. So i kept flying. I kept ignoring it.

After we flew for a while we just returned to our nest and just went on our day. Mom wanted to go hunt so she was out for today and it was just me and dad in the nest. What happened yesterday still weighed on my mind but i didn't want to acknowledge it. I couldn't. Dad was just ruffling his feathers and seeing if any would come out but i was just laying down not sure what to do. Dad noticed that and just walked over to me and sat next to me.

(Espiral's father) " What's wrong child? "

(Espiral) " ... I don't know what to do dad... I... There's something that i have to decide on... But if i do then i'll never see you or mom again... "

(Espiral's father) " Hmm? And why is that stopping you? "

(Espiral) " Huh? "

(Espiral's dad) " So what if you may never see us again? We will die eventually and you'd neve see us again then. Yet we would still live on child. "

(Espiral) " But... How? "

(Espiral's father) " Through you child... Lightning Falcons are capable of having two innate elements. However they are not always determined to have them both at birth. Your mother has a stronger connection to her fire then i do. And i have a higher connection to my lightning then she does. Due to that you were able to have them both. Your mother is your fire, your drive to live, the warmth in your heart. I am your lightning, your speed, your strength. We not only live on in your memories we also live through your elements. In a way we are always there to protect you.

So even if you may never see us again you are never without us. We will always be with you. So don't let us never being able to meet again impact you're decisions my child. "

(Espiral) " I... I... "

(Espiral's mom) " I would've liked to be included in this type of conversation but i agree with your father. "

(Espiral) " Mom... Dad... But... I'm going to miss you. "

(Espiral's mother) " And we will surely miss you. However as your father said, we will always be with you. "

(Espiral) " I... I... I... I love the both of you... "

(Espiral's parents) " And we love you, Espiral. "

They just gave me the soft smiles that i always wanted to see again and just waved me off. Then moms feathers glowed red and dads feathers glowed yellow as one from each flew towards me. I felt them and just looked back to them... It hurt... I missed them even though they were right in front of me... But they weren't. They were gone and this was all a dream... But they'd always be with me... But i couldn't stop myself from crying as i took off from the home and family i missed with all my heart. But there was someone else in my heart now. Someone that i'd do anything for. Even though i wanted to stay here with them, i couldn't leave Big Sis, she was my family too. And i'd do anything to protect her like she protected me.

I kept flying and flying and then the black figure of big sis started running next to me. But it wasn't alone. On the other side of me was a silver version of big sis just like the black one. Then a metallic looking one appeared out of the corner of my eyes. Finally, another one appeared in front of me appeared and it looked like big sis with all her tails who was facing me with a nice smile on her face. The copies of sis got closer to me and eventually melded into me. Then i felt everything around me started to go away but the smiles that i saw wouldn't leave me for a long time.

I woke up with tears still in my eyes and saw big sis with a worried look on her face. But as soon as i started to open my eyes the look on her face changed and she smiled at me. She came up to me and warpped me up in her tails and paws.

--------///----Eclina's POV----\--------

(Eclina) " You're awake! "

Ever since Espiral started to manifest he was in a deep slumber. That was normal but when he didn't wake up for a whole day i started to get worried. Mr.Garris said he would be fine, it was early but he would still be fine. But i was still worried about him waking up. But a little bit ago i started to feel something changing in him. I started to feel a part of me show up in him. But then he started to cry and i didn't know why. But then when he started opening his eyes i couldn't help but hug him. He didn't seem to know what to do since he just stayed how he was but then a few moments later he returned the hug.

(Garris) " How do you feel, Espiral? "

(Espiral) " I feel... Better. "

Mr.Garris walked over to us and put a claw on Espiral's head. He closed his eyes and i could feel him checking what Espiral had.

(Garris) " Hmm. Air which is natural. But metal and darkness? Interesting. Very interesting. "

Now that Mr.Garris said it, i noticed that some of Espiral's feathers looked a little darker. But i saw something else. There seemed to be some black feathers that started to slowly grow from the top of his head. For now they were just budding but later on they might've turned into a crown. Espiral didn't notice but me and Mr.Garris did. We looked at each other and pointed it out to him. Espiral started to feel around his head and felt them.

(Espiral) " What..? Umm, Big Sis? "

(Garris) " For now try not to worry about it. We'll see what becomes of it as you grow. "

(Espiral) " Oh. Ok. But now what? "

(Garris) " For now, let's get you accustomed to your new elements. "

Espiral smiled at that and started to flap his wings. He didn't seem to be in any pain and actually noticed that. He looked at both of his wings and started to flap them harder. He was smiling at that and started to just fly around without using his elements.

(Garris) " It seems you've healed. Sooner then expected however it's still a good thing nonetheless. However you'll have time to enjoy them later. First let's see your understanding of your elements. Since you've always had fire and lightning let's start with something else. Try to focus on your metal and see what you can do with that. "

(Espiral) " Ok! "

Espiral stopped flying around and started hovering. I could feel something gathering and that was Espiral using his metal. But i couldn't figure out much else from it. After a few more moments a lump of what looked like copper, formed infront of Espiral.

(Garris) " Hmm. Copper. Although it is a small amount, your control over your element will develop. As of now, copper will be useful if you can control and use it with your lightning. And don't worry, just because copper was manifested does not mean you are limited to it. "

(Espiral) " Really? So i can use other metals later? "

(Garris) " Of course. If i remember correctly, bipeds that manifest metal all focus around steel as it is a reliable method of attack and defense. However there are also those that use all sorts of metals for other purposes outside of attacking and defending. So even if they do not manifest a specific metal at the start they all learn how to manifest those metals with time and knowledge. You can do the same and most likely you'll be able to do that sooner considering how beasts grow and your considerable head start. "

(Espiral) " Oh... That sounds good... But now what? "

(Garris) " For now, de-materialize the copper. Let's see how your air is. "

Espiral nodded and the copper started to disappear. Then he closed his eyes and i could feel the air around us start to kick up. Then there was an updraft that lifted Espiral a bit higher and i could see his feathers shine in a silver light. Then he opened his eyes and started to dart around.

(Garris) " I see. You're speed has increased a fair amount and you can create updrafts and tailwinds to further increase it. We can work on offense and defense later for now keep focusing on what feels natural. "

Espiral nodded and then kept flying. Eventually he stopped and turned off his air. Then he started to use darkness. And i could feel closer to it just like we were connected. I could feel and see it coat his feathers and wings, i could feel how it was covering him, like it wanted to protect him. Then it reached his talons and infused them with darkness turning them pitch black like mine. Then the feather crown that was budding on his head started to shine black.

(Garris) " What..! "

The feathers started to grow and eventually a sphere of darkness enveloped him. I could feel that he was changing, that it didn't mean anything dangerous. But i couldn't help but be anxious. The sphere slowly started to fall but it was also slowly getting bigger. When it got the our level, it was atleast four feet tall and eight feet wide. Mr.Garris was just looking at it wide eyed and had a weird look on his face. But i knew. I knew he was just fine. And when the sphere started to open up, i knew i was right.

When the sphere started to open, i saw that Espiral's feather crown was bigger and was more then just black. The edges of them had a vibrant red color while the center and branching stem parts of his feathers were a bright yellow while the rest of it was black. His eyes seemed a little bit sharper but the look in them didn't change. His feathers on the rest of his body were the same vibrant red and yellow as the ones in his crown but the further down they went the more black was incorperated into his feathers. His talons were now the same pitch black as mines. Though his beak didn't look any different. Though his face seemed to resemble mine a little bit.

He seemed to be a good head taller then me now and his wingspan seemed to double by half. He was looking at his new body with interest. Then he just looked over to us and saw the look on Mr.Garris' face. Mr.Garris hadn't said anything but Espiral could guess what Mr.Garris wanted to do. He walked up to him and let Mr.Garris put a claw on his head.

(Garris) " This... This makes no sense... It's as if you were born with darkness. And that tranformation... No, evolution, was just like... But you're not... I don't understand. "

(Espiral) " Umm... I don't know what i should say... I just felt like i was closer to Big Sis. "

(Eclina) " Yep. I can feel it too. "

(Garris) " Hmm? What does that mean? "

(Eclina) " I feel it whenever he uses darkness. It's like mine. But it's him using it. "

(Garris) " hmm... Interesting. Very interesting... Let's talk about this the next time we hold council with Fenrir. "

After we talked and planned some more, we decided that we should let Espiral get used to his new body and powers before we let him go hunt or do anything like that. So to kill the time, we went to clear the rifts for today and looked for any that wouldn't close. Luckily all of them closed there weren't any that we would have to worry about. Other then that, we ate and let Espiral practice his elements as long as we were there. It was during one of those times that we found out something interesting. It was when Espiral had made a darkness lance and accidently lost control of it.

The lance flew out but he shot it out quicker then he expected. It seemed like it was about to hit a tree but i took control of it and turned it into one of mine. We all stopped and looked at that then to Mr.Garris.

(Garris) " Hmm... It seems that your connection with Eclina allows her to use your darkness as if it was hers... But does it go both ways? "

When Mr.Garri asked that, i made a ball of darkness and let Espiral try to use it. Which he did. He was able to move it around for a bit before it came back into my control. We played around with it for a bit but then we eventually moved on. Espiral seemed to understand his new body and elements quickly so it was decided that he could try to hunt something tomorrow aslong i was in the area and could watch out in case anything went wrong. After everything was done with for the day, we went to sleep and got ready for the next day.

When we woke up, Mr.Garris had led us to an area by the mountains and told Espiral to hunt for some Venom Panthers. Like lynxes Venom Panthers hunted in packs, but instead of big numbers, they stayed in groups of four and could climb up the mountain or other rock faces to hunt for prey. Apparently, lynxes could evolve into Venom Panthers so that was interesting and sort of explained their similarities.Though the Venom Panthers could also just decide to hunt in other parts of the forest unlike the lynxes that just stayed around the mountain parts.

When Espiral heard what he had to hunt, he nodded his head and took off. He seemed to have a general idea on where to find a pack of them and didn't use energy on just searching around all over the place. He seemed to having an easy time with flying which was stil nice to see even though he was fine yesterday. Mr.Garris went off to the dryads so i was the only one following Espiral but Mr.Garris said we would be fine. Espiral flew around for atleast a half hour before he found his targets.