Chapter 26: Natural Order

Phoenix perched on a branch just beside the Pyramid, Shadow and Selene roosted just beside her. They watched the pyramid as it started to slowly crumble under the strength of the earthquake that had formed below it minutes ago.

Inside the pyramid, the bodies of the fallen accepted the collapsing bits of stone and rock – a proper burial for what they fought for. The entire structure itself started to fall apart in chunks and fell under the earth as the quake ruptured through the underground.

Shadow sighed raggedly. "Mom." Phoenix looked at this son tenderly.

"Hm?"

"We failed the ritual." Shadow said. Selene rustled her wings uncomfortably. Phoenix looked back at the crumbling structure.

"We did, but there was nothing we could do. They gained an advantage and took us by surprise." Phoenix wrapped her children in her powerful wings. "But what matters now is that we survived.

"No one else did though." Selene said sadly. "What will happen to the Vampyrum race now? Is this our punishment?"

"I wouldn't say that, queen." All three of the Vampyrum turned around to see several followers, a couple males and females, roosted just behind them. A large silhouetted demon creature was seated on another tree in the distance, its eyes glaring at them, glowing red.

Marina moaned as she found herself awake. She slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was soft green grass brushing against her cheeks. Her vision was blurry at first, but it started to clear up eventually. Her hearing was the same, and she started to hear excited whispers from all around her.

"Are you sure you saw them by the river?"

"Yes! Yes!"

"Wow – oh, wait! They're waking up!" Marina looked to her right and saw Griffin moving in his sleep and then slowly opening his eyes. They faced each other for a while and then they both slowly smiled happily. Griffin extended his arm and put his hand on his mother's arm with a tired grin. Marina laughed weakly and they both got on their knees and hugged each other tenderly, Griffin brushing his face on Marina's bright fur. They suddenly heard "Aw's" and cooing noises all around them and they opened their eyes immediately. They looked around, still in embrace, and found themselves surrounded by hundreds of Silverwing newborns and mothers. Ariel was in front of them, Stellar, Artemis, and Rigel just behind her, looking down at Marina and Griffin with smiles on their faces.

"Marina." Ariel said with a humble bow. Marina and Griffin simultaneously stood up and unwrapped each other. Marina gasped and grabbed her chest, nearly toppling over. Ariel reacted instantly and wrapped the dizzy Brightwing in her wings and started to pat her back heartily. Marina started to sob softly and buried her face in the elder's shoulder.

"Sh, sh, it's all over." Ariel whispered to her ear softly. They separated, Marina wiping her tear-matted face.

"Yes, but-" Marina stopped for a moment. "Shade." Ariel frowned and hugged Marina once again.

"I'm sorry, we could not find him." Ariel said as soothingly as she could. Marina bowed her head.

"He…he died helping Nocturna." She said, trying to hold back her tears. "He succeeded, so why am I so sad?"

"Because he is not here with us, but he would not like to see you so unhappy." Marina nodded in response and smiled weakly. Ariel pointed behind Marina.

"We have some guests, Marina." Marina turned around and gasped when she saw the wolf king, Luger seated casually just a few wingbeats away, as well as several wolf soldiers. She looked up and noticed Orestes and a few owl soldiers perched on the nearby trees. Marina looked back forward and saw Tree Haven, towering up in its entire splendor.

"I'm so confused. I was flying away, and then I blacked out, and now I'm here, and it's all over." Marina said. Ariel heartily put her hand on her shoulder.

"All that matters is that it is over. The order of worlds has been cleansed." Marina nodded again. She looked at her son, whose head was bowed in thoughtfulness. She bent down and lifted up his chin with a comforting smile on her face.

"At least, he is always watching us, and waiting, of course." Marina said. Griffin nodded. She knew that he had already understood. Luger coughed from behind, apparently seeking everyone's attention. Everyone fixed their eyes on the wolf king as he slowly stood on all his paws and stretched out with a big yawn. Orestes flew down beside Luger and landed, ruffling his feathers and making himself comfortable.

"As you well know, this war is over." Luger simply said. The crowd of Silverwings started to softly speak to each other excitedly. "I have no intention of fighting against the owls any longer. I realized that this war was fought in vain and that it is possible to fight alongside the ones you fought. Because of this, I have decided to agree upon the treaty that the owls have created." The excited chatter grew louder. "The bats are now free to fly under the sun – all authority against this is stripped away." Luger stamped his paw and the entire crowd of Silverwings clapped their wings together and cheered jovially. Marina and Griffin hugged each other again with happiness, knowing that now, they would have no predators looking over them any longer. Peace was restored completely to bats, but would it last forever?

Griffin flew inside Tree Haven, now packed with the occasionally chatting newborns and the ebullient Silverwing mothers having conversation with other mothers. He saw his mother talking with Ariel and the other elders happily. The entire colony was a pack of activity and joy, and Griffin was so happy to be surrounded by his homely neighbors. But now he was wondering where Luna was – he regretted not asking before. He saw her mother, Roma, but was too hesitant to ask.

For almost half an hour Griffin searched around Tree Haven, but it was so crowded that Luna was nowhere to be seen. He landed on one of the ledges sticking out of the hard walls and sat down for a minute to think.

"If no one has mentioned Luna at all, I guess she must be okay." Griffin said aloud to himself.

"Jeez, Griff, can't find me?" Griffin jumped on his feet in fright and looked behind him to see Luna sitting against the wall, her hands on her stomach. Griffin smiled timidly and let out a little laugh.

"There you are. Sorry, it was crowded…"

"Yeah, that's you, making excuses all the time." Griffin just sat down next to Luna and breathed in deeply.

"I never saw you and Stellar for a while. What happened?" Luna seemed hesitant to speak. For a moment they didn't say anything.

"Nothing much. We saw Goth and all. We tried following him, but they were gone and we had no idea where he was. Suddenly, after finding a way out, the pyramid started to crumble and there was this massive earthquake. It was horrible." Griffin breathed regretfully.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He said shyly. Luna smiled at him mockingly and then turned her head back away from him. Another moment of silence.

"Come on, let's go to the sugar maple." Luna said. "I want to eat with you." Griffin realized that he hadn't eaten in a very long time and hunger gnawed at his belly painfully after his realization.

"Oh, yeah, of course!"

Luna and Griffin snapped up the multitude of caterpillars residing on the beloved sugar maple in silence. The sun was starting to rise over the horizon and the sky started to brighten up against its brilliant rays. Griffin was almost too thankful for the sun as it peeked over at him. He suddenly remembered his father and the fact that he was nowhere to be found and he did not notice the branch that he was about to crash into.

"Griff!!" Luna yelled out. Griffin looked up and saw the branch sticking out right in front of his face, pointing at him mockingly. He huffed in relief.

"Thanks, Luna." Griffin said softly. Luna tilted her head from behind and roosted on the branch.

"I've got a full belly. You?"

"Yeah." Griffin simply said, roosting right next to her. They both huddled up and brushed up next to each other warmly.

"It's going to be fine, Griffin." Luna whispered in his ear.

"But I'll miss him. I'm afraid my life will be ruined because he's gone again."

"I know he's looking over us now."

"Is he really dead?" Griffin said hotly. He did not want to believe it. Not after all they went through.

"No one who was still in the pyramid could have survived its collapse." Luna stated, wishing she could comfort him. "Besides, it's been a week and he hasn't returned."

"A week!?" Griffin cried out. Luna nodded and smiled nervously.

"You and your mom were out cold beside the river. We found you two just yesterday." Griffin looked away for a moment. Luna nudged him.

"Griff, please, cheer up. I hate to see you like this. We saved the world together!"

"My Dad saved the world. I didn't do anything." Griffin said.

"You helped him, Griff."

"How?"

"By being there!" Luna shouted. Griffin was taken back and kept his mouth shut for a while. Luna sighed and rubbed her chin and then her forehead. "I'm sorry."

"I like it when you're angry, don't worry about it." Griffin laughed and nudged Luna playfully. Luna smiled back.

"You know what time of the year it is?"

"I think so." Griffin replied timidly.

"I love you, Griff." Luna said. It was so sudden that Griffin's face felt hot and his mouth hung open. He looked at Luna for a while and her solid expression showed that she was serious. A grin slowly formed on his face. "I'm always here for you! I always will be!" Luna said cheerfully. Griffin wrapped his wings around Luna as did she, and they held in embrace as the sun lifted itself over the horizon to start another beautiful day.

Marina and Stellar decided to hunt together. The sun painted the forest treetops with its beams of light. The day was so different. Various insects buzzed in the air that Marina was not familiar with, and the warmth hung in the air like a comfortable sheet.

After a quick hunt, the two bats roosted in a random tree nearby Tree Haven watching the newborns playing with each other happily around the great tree and young adult bats choosing their mates. It was a joyful sight, and Marina wished it would last for the days to come. She began to think about her former colony and how they were at this time and what they thought of the treaty. Then again, she shouldn't care; she was better off without them. She then thought about Shade and what he had done to give peace to the bats.

"I realized my purpose in the prophecies." Stellar said. She knew Marina was thinking about her mate, and she had to keep her from being sad, especially at a time like this. She had to place her mind someplace else. Marina awoke from her thoughtfulness and looked at Stellar, trying her best to show an interested face.

"Really?"

"Yes. It's not much, however. I merely awakened the power inside Shade by being reckless." Stellar said. Marina became confused. "When my father was injured, I just became exceedingly angry and could not control myself. I went after the creatures alone, thinking I could kill them all, but Shade saved me. I think I helped awaken his power by putting us both in a life-or-death situation. I never expected it to happen." Marina looked back at Tree Haven, attentively. "The Avenging Spirit. I should've known it would've fit me perfectly." Stellar grunted and folded her arms. Marina put her hand on Stellar's back.

"But you did your purpose. I don't know what I did." Marina pointed out. Stellar smiled apathetically. They both looked out at the newborns once again.

"I just hope this peace will last long. This will be a turning point for all bat-kind." Stellar stated.

"I've been thinking the same. I guess we'll have to wait and see."

"I hope not." Stellar said, smiling.

"Ha! I see what you did."

Griffin and Luna, now mates, went back into Tree Haven. Griffin never felt so happy in his life. His best friend was now his mate, and for many months he thought he would never get one. He felt a pang of guilt though, since the bat he killed loved him. He thought he did not deserve it at all.

They roosted together and thought it would be fun to try and sleep at nighttime instead of day. Agreeing, both of them fell into a deep slumber, thinking about all the journeys they went through, all the hardships, and all the things they endured. Griffin felt he had went so far, but he had to give thanks to his father for keeping him alive inside. He always wanted to be just like his father when he would grow into an adult, and now that he knew what he went through, he finally felt that there was hope that he surely would carry out his father's name. It was hard to remain humble.

He dreamt. He dreamt that he was in one of the most beautiful forests he'd ever seen. Every tree was a sugar maple and a glittering river passed by in the middle. Griffin flew down and kneeled down beside the river to take a drink, but timidly looking around the forest before doing so.

"Hey, you." A very familiar voice called out from behind. Griffin felt his heart jump with joy. He turned around and saw his father, looking down over him. Griffin stood up and wrapped his wings around his waist, digging his face into his soft belly.

"I knew you wouldn't be gone for good." Griffin said. Shade smiled down on his son.

"I never will."

THE END