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Description
~CHAPTER FIVE~

“Can you tell us what this means?”
Phoenix looked to where Goth was pointing to on the Stone. She crouched lower to get a better look at the engraved symbols beneath the white glow of the moon. The other six Vampyrum around her remained silent, waiting for her reply.
Goth was standing close to her. She looked up at him. “Do you mind stepping back? You’re in my light.”
Goth rolled his eyes, and took a step back. “Females.” He muttered beneath his breath. Phoenix pretended she didn’t hear him.
She looked back down and ran her claw over the engravings before her. She examined them, searching her mind for the lessons her father taught her so long ago. Those strange shapes…she knew what they were. Phoenix shut her eyes and thought hard.
After some time, she rose to her feet and turned to Goth. “These symbols are birds, a-”
“Ha!” Raiden shouted triumphantly. He looked at Maia, Ares, and Triton smugly. “I told you I was right.”
“Raiden!” Goth growled. “Don’t interrupt. Phoenix wasn’t finished.”
Phoenix looked at Goth surprisingly. “Thank you.” She turned back to the other Vampyrum. “These symbols are birds, and flames.”
“So we were both right?” Maia asked her.
“I presume so.” Phoenix replied.
Goth looked slightly confused. “What does it all mean?”
Phoenix turned back to the Stone. She crouched back down and motioned for Goth to come closer. “Sometimes, flames don’t always mean literal fire, like you explained to me on our flight back, Goth. They can sometimes mean war or destruction.”
“So the Stone isn’t talking about the Human’s fire in the jungle?” Goth asked her, crouching beside her.
“Not in this case.” She explained. She pointed to the next symbol. “These here, are birds. Large ones. And with them co-existing on the Stone with the fire symbols, it means that birds will bring war or destruction to our home.” She looked straight into his dark eyes. “Do you have any idea what it might mean?”
Goth didn’t answer. He was staring off, thinking hard. Phoenix thought she saw a slight look of fear cross his face. She had never seen that before.
“The snake.” She heard Goth breathe.
“What?” She asked.
Goth rose to his feet. “Yesterday, a snake told me that he heard a group of vultures mention my name…and my fathers. It had something to do with a meeting of some sort.” He looked at her. “I think this is what it means.”
“But what of the destruction, my Lord?” Eris asked. “Are the vultures willing to cause harm to our colony?”
“According to the Stone,” Phoenix frowned. “Its certain they are.”
A dead silence crossed the Vampyrum. Phoenix looked over at Goth, who was standing by himself, looking distraught. She took a step close to him. “Are you alright?”
He nodded. “I’m fine. It’s just…what do they want? I’ve never associated with those creatures before. How-”
“My Lord!” Shouted a voice.
They looked over to see a Vampyrum guard soar into the Chamber, and land a few feet away from his King. He bowed respectfully.
“What is it?” Goth commanded.
The guard looked a little worried. “Sir, there is a group of vultures who request a meeting with you.”
Goth’s eyes widened. He looked at the others, whose mouths were all agape in utter shock.
“Look’s like you’re about to find out what they want.” Phoenix told him.
Goth frowned, looking back at the guard. “Tell the vultures I will meet with them on the stone steps.”
The guard bowed. “Yes, my Lord.”
Goth turned to Phoenix. “You will come with me.”
“Why me?”
“Because, as my future-”
She raised a wing to silence him. “Okay, okay, I get it. Just please don’t complete the sentence.”
Goth rolled his eyes. “Eris and Raiden will accompany Phoenix and I to the stone steps. The rest of you stay here.”
“Yes, my Lord.” The Vampyrum said in unison.
Goth looked back at Phoenix. “Let’s find out if it’s really destruction they’re planning on bringing.”

*******************************

Out on the front stone steps of the Pyramid, three vultures waited.
Goth couldn’t believe their size. They were even larger than he was. They were white, with black and grey ruff, wing, and tail feathers. Their heads and necks were completely featherless, and there was a small, fleshy sac attached to their razor sharp beaks. Their talons were short and thick, but no less deadly, and their beady black eyes were rimmed in white, making their stare even more penetrating.
Goth landed on the steps in front of the group of birds, Phoenix, Raiden, and Eris at his side. A huge Vulture, with a muscular chest and scar across his forehead, stepped forward.
“Are you King Goth?” He asked, his voice surprisingly deep for a bird. “Son of the previous King Vulcan and Queen Hecate?”
“I am.” Goth answered. He motioned to the others. “This is Eris, my Captain of the Guard; Raiden, my High Priest; and Phoenix, my…mate.”
Phoenix was about to protest, but Goth gave her a look that shut her mouth. He only called her that to give her the authority to attend the meeting.
“I am Hexis, leader of the Vulture colony. These two are my guards: Artio, and Kottos. I have come here to discuss an important matter with you.”
“Proceed.” Goth said.
“You must know well enough by now that there was another Pyramid identical to this one on the other side of the jungle.” Hexis said. “You grew up in it, I imagine.”
“Yes, there was another Pyramid.” Goth said. “But it was destroyed.”
“How?” Hexis asked.
“An explosive disk created by Humans was dropped by my previous High Priest Voxzaco. It killed every living Vampyrum in sight.”
“How did you survive?”
“I didn’t.” Goth smiled. When Hexis didn’t say anything, he explained. “I was killed in the blast. I ended up in the Underworld, and was confronted by Cama Zotz. Because I was his loyal servant, he gave me another chance. I gained a life, and returned here. Zotz then guided me deeper into the jungle to this pyramid where I found a small colony of living Vampyrum.” He frowned. “What does any of this have to do with you?”
Hexis frowned deeply. “This is our Pyramid.”
“Excuse me?” Goth asked. “How in the name of Zotz is it yours?”
“Your father, King Vulcan, was at territory war with us many years ago. He didn’t like the fact that we Vultures were eating most of the prey, and he ordered us away from his territory around his Pyramid so that his colony could prosper, and you, Goth, could grow to be a strong leader.” He said. “We obliged, knowing that there was an equal share of prey deeper into the jungle. Both colonies were happy…until now.” He stepped closer to Goth, his eyes boring into his. “You’re colony has trespassed into our territory.”
“I am sorry for this misunderstanding, Hexis, but this is a Vampyrum Pyramid. And therefore, the surrounding jungle is our territory.” Goth said. “You are more than welcome to return to your original home that my father banished you from.”
Hexis laughed. “We will not be so easily persuaded by you, King Goth. This territory has been very generous to us Vultures, and we even had our very own Pyramid to shelter us from the rain storms. But now, you and your colony have taken over and stolen our Pyramid from us.”
“There were no vultures in this Pyramid when I first came here.” Goth argued.
“Was it raining?”
“No. But-”
“Then there was no need for us to be in the Pyramid at the time.” Hexis said. “It is still ours nonetheless. We want it back.”
“Then where is the colony supposed to go?” Phoenix blurted.
“Phoenix!” Goth hissed. “Silence, please.”
“No, Goth.” She argued. She stepped towards Hexis. “You clearly don’t understand that we Vampyrum need the Pyramid as our roost. A place to raise our young, and worship Zotz with the Stone. You Vultures don’t need it as much as we do. You don’t need it at all!”
Hexis glared at her venomously. Goth stuck his wing out in front of Phoenix and pushed her back away from the bird.
“Tell your Queen to watch her tongue, Goth.” Hexis spat.
“She has a point.” Goth told him. “You really don’t need it as much as my colony does.”
“I don’t care.” Hexis growled. “This is our territory and we want you out immediately.”
“You have no authority over me, bird!” Goth shouted. “My colony and I aren’t going anywhere. And that’s final!”
Hexis leaned in close to Goth, and he could smell the bird’s rank breath. “You will regret this decision, Goth.”
“You don’t threaten me.” Goth hissed. “Or my colony.”
“Oh no?” Hexis forced a laugh. “We’ll just see about that. You’ll learn to listen to reason, Goth. Even if we have to force it upon you.”
“I’m a very stubborn bat.” Goth smirked darkly. “I’m not pushed easily, especially if it has to do with the fate of my colony.”
Hexis stepped back. “We will get our Pyramid back. Just you wait.”
Goth snorted, and watched as the three massive birds spread their wings and lifted into the air. When they disappeared, Goth relaxed his shoulders, slumping forward a bit. He felt a claw on his shoulder, and he looked up into Raiden’s eyes.
“You did well, my Lord.” He smiled.
“Raiden is right.” Eris added. “You defended the colony with strength and honour.”
Goth straightened and sighed. “Yes, but how well?”
“Sir?” Raiden asked.
“My colony is being threatened by one of the fiercest birds on the planet.” He frowned. “Defending with words is not going to protect them.”
Phoenix stepped close. “We’re Vampyrum Spectrum, Goth. We are the chosen creatures of Cama Zotz, and the strongest species of bat ever heard of. We won’t lose our home to those birds. Not without a fight.”
Goth frowned deeply, looking up at the sky. Dawn was just breaking.
“But how many will I lose because of it?”

Description
~CHAPTER FIVE~

“Can you tell us what this means?”
Phoenix looked to where Goth was pointing to on the Stone. She crouched lower to get a better look at the engraved symbols beneath the white glow of the moon. The other six Vampyrum around her remained silent, waiting for her reply.
Goth was standing close to her. She looked up at him. “Do you mind stepping back? You’re in my light.”
Goth rolled his eyes, and took a step back. “Females.” He muttered beneath his breath. Phoenix pretended she didn’t hear him.
She looked back down and ran her claw over the engravings before her. She examined them, searching her mind for the lessons her father taught her so long ago. Those strange shapes…she knew what they were. Phoenix shut her eyes and thought hard.
After some time, she rose to her feet and turned to Goth. “These symbols are birds, a-”
“Ha!” Raiden shouted triumphantly. He looked at Maia, Ares, and Triton smugly. “I told you I was right.”
“Raiden!” Goth growled. “Don’t interrupt. Phoenix wasn’t finished.”
Phoenix looked at Goth surprisingly. “Thank you.” She turned back to the other Vampyrum. “These symbols are birds, and flames.”
“So we were both right?” Maia asked her.
“I presume so.” Phoenix replied.
Goth looked slightly confused. “What does it all mean?”
Phoenix turned back to the Stone. She crouched back down and motioned for Goth to come closer. “Sometimes, flames don’t always mean literal fire, like you explained to me on our flight back, Goth. They can sometimes mean war or destruction.”
“So the Stone isn’t talking about the Human’s fire in the jungle?” Goth asked her, crouching beside her.
“Not in this case.” She explained. She pointed to the next symbol. “These here, are birds. Large ones. And with them co-existing on the Stone with the fire symbols, it means that birds will bring war or destruction to our home.” She looked straight into his dark eyes. “Do you have any idea what it might mean?”
Goth didn’t answer. He was staring off, thinking hard. Phoenix thought she saw a slight look of fear cross his face. She had never seen that before.
“The snake.” She heard Goth breathe.
“What?” She asked.
Goth rose to his feet. “Yesterday, a snake told me that he heard a group of vultures mention my name…and my fathers. It had something to do with a meeting of some sort.” He looked at her. “I think this is what it means.”
“But what of the destruction, my Lord?” Eris asked. “Are the vultures willing to cause harm to our colony?”
“According to the Stone,” Phoenix frowned. “Its certain they are.”
A dead silence crossed the Vampyrum. Phoenix looked over at Goth, who was standing by himself, looking distraught. She took a step close to him. “Are you alright?”
He nodded. “I’m fine. It’s just…what do they want? I’ve never associated with those creatures before. How-”
“My Lord!” Shouted a voice.
They looked over to see a Vampyrum guard soar into the Chamber, and land a few feet away from his King. He bowed respectfully.
“What is it?” Goth commanded.
The guard looked a little worried. “Sir, there is a group of vultures who request a meeting with you.”
Goth’s eyes widened. He looked at the others, whose mouths were all agape in utter shock.
“Look’s like you’re about to find out what they want.” Phoenix told him.
Goth frowned, looking back at the guard. “Tell the vultures I will meet with them on the stone steps.”
The guard bowed. “Yes, my Lord.”
Goth turned to Phoenix. “You will come with me.”
“Why me?”
“Because, as my future-”
She raised a wing to silence him. “Okay, okay, I get it. Just please don’t complete the sentence.”
Goth rolled his eyes. “Eris and Raiden will accompany Phoenix and I to the stone steps. The rest of you stay here.”
“Yes, my Lord.” The Vampyrum said in unison.
Goth looked back at Phoenix. “Let’s find out if it’s really destruction they’re planning on bringing.”

*******************************

Out on the front stone steps of the Pyramid, three vultures waited.
Goth couldn’t believe their size. They were even larger than he was. They were white, with black and grey ruff, wing, and tail feathers. Their heads and necks were completely featherless, and there was a small, fleshy sac attached to their razor sharp beaks. Their talons were short and thick, but no less deadly, and their beady black eyes were rimmed in white, making their stare even more penetrating.
Goth landed on the steps in front of the group of birds, Phoenix, Raiden, and Eris at his side. A huge Vulture, with a muscular chest and scar across his forehead, stepped forward.
“Are you King Goth?” He asked, his voice surprisingly deep for a bird. “Son of the previous King Vulcan and Queen Hecate?”
“I am.” Goth answered. He motioned to the others. “This is Eris, my Captain of the Guard; Raiden, my High Priest; and Phoenix, my…mate.”
Phoenix was about to protest, but Goth gave her a look that shut her mouth. He only called her that to give her the authority to attend the meeting.
“I am Hexis, leader of the Vulture colony. These two are my guards: Artio, and Kottos. I have come here to discuss an important matter with you.”
“Proceed.” Goth said.
“You must know well enough by now that there was another Pyramid identical to this one on the other side of the jungle.” Hexis said. “You grew up in it, I imagine.”
“Yes, there was another Pyramid.” Goth said. “But it was destroyed.”
“How?” Hexis asked.
“An explosive disk created by Humans was dropped by my previous High Priest Voxzaco. It killed every living Vampyrum in sight.”
“How did you survive?”
“I didn’t.” Goth smiled. When Hexis didn’t say anything, he explained. “I was killed in the blast. I ended up in the Underworld, and was confronted by Cama Zotz. Because I was his loyal servant, he gave me another chance. I gained a life, and returned here. Zotz then guided me deeper into the jungle to this pyramid where I found a small colony of living Vampyrum.” He frowned. “What does any of this have to do with you?”
Hexis frowned deeply. “This is our Pyramid.”
“Excuse me?” Goth asked. “How in the name of Zotz is it yours?”
“Your father, King Vulcan, was at territory war with us many years ago. He didn’t like the fact that we Vultures were eating most of the prey, and he ordered us away from his territory around his Pyramid so that his colony could prosper, and you, Goth, could grow to be a strong leader.” He said. “We obliged, knowing that there was an equal share of prey deeper into the jungle. Both colonies were happy…until now.” He stepped closer to Goth, his eyes boring into his. “You’re colony has trespassed into our territory.”
“I am sorry for this misunderstanding, Hexis, but this is a Vampyrum Pyramid. And therefore, the surrounding jungle is our territory.” Goth said. “You are more than welcome to return to your original home that my father banished you from.”
Hexis laughed. “We will not be so easily persuaded by you, King Goth. This territory has been very generous to us Vultures, and we even had our very own Pyramid to shelter us from the rain storms. But now, you and your colony have taken over and stolen our Pyramid from us.”
“There were no vultures in this Pyramid when I first came here.” Goth argued.
“Was it raining?”
“No. But-”
“Then there was no need for us to be in the Pyramid at the time.” Hexis said. “It is still ours nonetheless. We want it back.”
“Then where is the colony supposed to go?” Phoenix blurted.
“Phoenix!” Goth hissed. “Silence, please.”
“No, Goth.” She argued. She stepped towards Hexis. “You clearly don’t understand that we Vampyrum need the Pyramid as our roost. A place to raise our young, and worship Zotz with the Stone. You Vultures don’t need it as much as we do. You don’t need it at all!”
Hexis glared at her venomously. Goth stuck his wing out in front of Phoenix and pushed her back away from the bird.
“Tell your Queen to watch her tongue, Goth.” Hexis spat.
“She has a point.” Goth told him. “You really don’t need it as much as my colony does.”
“I don’t care.” Hexis growled. “This is our territory and we want you out immediately.”
“You have no authority over me, bird!” Goth shouted. “My colony and I aren’t going anywhere. And that’s final!”
Hexis leaned in close to Goth, and he could smell the bird’s rank breath. “You will regret this decision, Goth.”
“You don’t threaten me.” Goth hissed. “Or my colony.”
“Oh no?” Hexis forced a laugh. “We’ll just see about that. You’ll learn to listen to reason, Goth. Even if we have to force it upon you.”
“I’m a very stubborn bat.” Goth smirked darkly. “I’m not pushed easily, especially if it has to do with the fate of my colony.”
Hexis stepped back. “We will get our Pyramid back. Just you wait.”
Goth snorted, and watched as the three massive birds spread their wings and lifted into the air. When they disappeared, Goth relaxed his shoulders, slumping forward a bit. He felt a claw on his shoulder, and he looked up into Raiden’s eyes.
“You did well, my Lord.” He smiled.
“Raiden is right.” Eris added. “You defended the colony with strength and honour.”
Goth straightened and sighed. “Yes, but how well?”
“Sir?” Raiden asked.
“My colony is being threatened by one of the fiercest birds on the planet.” He frowned. “Defending with words is not going to protect them.”
Phoenix stepped close. “We’re Vampyrum Spectrum, Goth. We are the chosen creatures of Cama Zotz, and the strongest species of bat ever heard of. We won’t lose our home to those birds. Not without a fight.”
Goth frowned deeply, looking up at the sky. Dawn was just breaking.
“But how many will I lose because of it?”