II
Glaux, Tytonida and N’Yoka flew around the world, and when they found the perfect stone, they would take it in their claws and return a month later. And so they created the Glauxian Order, the owl gods. These gods were Aegolius, who elected to protect the young, Phodilius, who became the seer of the Order, Ninox and his sister Ptillopsa, who were night and day, Bubota, also called He of the Fiery Eyes, who controlled fire and light, Scotopelia, who brought the cooling snow upon the land, Strix and her sister Jubula, who were Wisdom and Huntress, Micratha, who guarded souls and valour, and the twins Otus and Nesasi, who were Strength and Speed. Strix discovered an ancient hide where the souls of the two-legged creatures who had once owned the planed mourned. Micratha led them away while Strix read the collections of impossibly thin wood. And so they discovered the Humans, the beastly creatures who had killed their own kind in a struggle for power. And they took an oath together, and dyed their talons in sedge berries as the symbol of their oath. Now Strix and Nesasi took the vow together, and produced a white stone that required no touch, for the energy of its parents had imbued it with life. They waited three moons and, like the queen of the gods, their beautiful daughter hatched on the night of the eclipse. This, combined with the power of her parents, gave her brilliant powers, and they named her Athara, which means “Child of Night” Also did Glaux and Tytonida have a child, of a species they called ‘Owlet’, and he was named Gymno, meaning “Heart of Gold”. He, too, had special powers. Following, Micratha and Aegolius too mated, and their child was Scelo, which meant “True of Spirit” Thus a new kind of hero, which they decided to call N’Guvu, which in the ancient form of Krakish meant Divine Soul, was released on the world.
After eight moons, Glaux had raised enough of N’Yoka’s relatives that they populated the world. In gratitude, N’Yoka and twelve of her brethren entered into service of the Order, as helpers and servants. To signify this N’Yoka and her brethren, named Lumimosa, Tutore, Khanya, Dayax, Adlaw, Fuego, Frio, Sabio, Vai, Umoya, Oro and Isiqu, had their emerald scales changed to rosy hues. The snakes pledged their allegiance and, in honour of their leader, named themselves the N’Yokan Guard.
The world that Glaux had discovered was filled with smooth white stones and soft clay which he and the Order used to populate the world. There was, however, one stone as black as pitch that had been born in the belly of a volcano. The volcano was the first of a circle, in a land no owl knew. The volcano, which was originally named Vondyr, spat clouds of brimstone and flame into the air, and the stone shot high, high into the air, falling where the god Ninox was resting. Ninox took pity on the cracked stone and touched it, and his golden talon brought the stone to life. Ninox left, and returned a single moon later. Watching from far above, he watched as one of the serpents that had not joined the N’Yokan Guard approached the rocking egg and coiled around it, savouring the heat. As the egg split, a form emerged, fully grown just like the Order. However, this creature was clearly not owl. It had resembled an overlarge raven with owlish claws. The creature turned its gaze on the snake. Words were exchanged. The snake dipped its head and its skin suddenly darkened to black. It spun its head to look at Ninox and let out a bloodcurdling shriek. It lifted its wings and flew at the god.
Ninox turned and fled.
The god erupted into a great stone eyrie atop the highest mountain in the world.
“Heed my words!” shouted Ninox. “A new creature has come! It is not owl, serpent, or prey, but a predator to all of us! Be on thy guard, for it is coming for us!”
A voice spoke from behind the gods.
“I know,”
The creature stepped forward. It spread its wings and instantly each of the gods passed into unconsciousness.
“Fiend!” cried N’Yoka, coiled beside her master, trying to rouse him. “What have thou done? What art thou?”
“I be Hagsmira, goddess of evil. My slave is Ononya.” The snake raised its head. And Hagsmira spread her wings once more and darkness erupted. N’Yoka cried out as her vision was obscured. Suddenly talons grabbed her and she was flung from the eyrie. The flailing serpent sailed into the night. The fiend twisted and vanished.
The owls of the Order woke with a chill feeling. N’Yoka was missing, as was their leader. The snakes were screeching piteously, and N’Yoka’s closest sister, Lumimosa, was weeping. One N’Guvu, child of Ptillopsa and Otus, lay dead upon the floor, fang marks piercing her very heart. Ptillopsa spotted her dead child and began a howl of misery, silver tears pouring over her facial disk.
Far, far below, N’Yoka hissed in miserable pain. Glaux had been taken by the foul creature.
“That hissing, beastly crowl,” which meant great evil. “has taken my master.”
N’Yoka tried to straighten and yowled in agony. She wept as she realised that nothing could help her save her master, as her spine had snapped when Hagsmira had thrown her.
A Regasha, which was a child of two N’Guvu, heard her cry. He flew to her.
“I be Xenog,” the Regasha said. “What ails you, divine serpent?”
N’Yoka told her story. Xenog took pity and placed his talon on the spot where N’Yoka’s body twisted unnaturally. There was a crack and her body straightened.
“My grandfather be Phodilus, prophet and healer. I will help you reclaim your master. Find the entrance to the godly realm, which is the centre of the land, and go straight west. I will ask my father to use his power to light up the star over where you need to go. You will find a creature that has been here since the time of the humana, a strange bird with a scaly neck. She calls herself Vultura, and is a weaver of spells. She will help you, for a price. Now, go, O divine one,”
And N’Yoka, filled with spirit, began the journey to find Vultura.
While N’Yoka journeyed, Glaux awoke moons later to find himself inside a net of woven vines. Hagsmira loomed over him.
“What do you want, fiend? I am ruler of these lands! Thou cannot hold me!”
“Ah, but I can,” the black owl-hybrid said. “I have my own children keeping guard over the whole land.” One of the children came forward. Harsh yellow eyes, black feathers and owlish faces.
“Crowls! They are but crowls!” hissed the god.
“You asked what I seek?” Hagsmira spoke. “I want your power. You gods have the power to give life. I can take life.” And the crowlish creature stretched her black claws forward and sank them into the god’s stomach. And Glaux cried out.
N’Yoka felt a feeling. She spun her head.
“Where are you?” she cried, eyes wet. She could feel the pain of her master. She was nearly at the lair of Vultura. It was in sight. She had but to cross a pool of mirror-like water to reach her, and a golden star shone bright above it. The snake slipped into the water and curled to the other side. She pulled herself out and, making sure she still had the gift, entered.
“Who enters?” boomed a voice.
“It is I,” answered N’Yoka. “I be N’Yoka, the first serpent and servant of Glaux himself. I seek your help.”
Vultura suddenly landed silently in front of her. A rank scent washed over N’Yoka, but she held strong.
“I ask that you send me to the location of my master, Glaux. I bring a gift, to repay your favour.”
N’Yoka showed the witch her own shed skin. It was not clear, like that of the normal snakes, but golden.
“Each scale will grant one who eats it magical powers. I appease you with it.” The serpent swept the skin forward and bowed.
Vultura eyed the skin.
“It is not enough.” she said in that hoarse voice.
N’Yoka felt ill.
“What else can I give you?” she cried desperately.
Vultura thought.
“I would be willing to take your eyes and your fangs. You would lose your sight, but every other sense would be stronger. My own sight is fading. You're eyes, while not those of a bird, will do. And my claws, while still long, are blunt. You're venom and your fangs will cure that.”
N’Yoka shuddered, but almost instantly agreed.
And Vultura swept down on her, and N’Yoka’s cry of pain was indistinguishable from Vultura’s screech of triumph. New skin, the same rosy red as her scales, grew over the holes, leaving a slight dent. N’Yoka felt all. And felt grateful that she did not have to watch as Vultura replaced her own eyes as easily as replacing a vole that a god had killed.
After a silence Vultura spoke.
“You have done well. I will send you to the entrance. I will make your scales seem black to the guards. They will not stop you. Once you escape, I will take the other part of my price. Find your master, Guardian of Hope.
And N’Yoka vaporised and drifted away on the breeze.
