Bird of a Flock (Bow 2) - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

It took them another two days to get to Navat. Not much happened over those two days. Eyeri was still scared of the branding. Dyn'ad and Tai'ray both treated him like they would a k'nairi youngling, trying to soothe the boy's fears by hugging him a lot. A thing which did occasionally annoy the teenager but the dominant k'nairi were reluctant to stop. Despite Eyeri's protests at being 'babied', the hugs did make him stop smelling of fear for a short time. Leaving Eyeri buried in strong arms pouting unhappily and looking very much like the child he was claiming not to be.
Ryraso found it amusing. The Royal triad learning that when Eyeri first moved on to the warship, he had endured a lot of a similar nature. Only then, he was still a child and a broken one at that. The warriors had gotten very protective over Eyeri which was why few people off the ship knew his name. Plenty of D'mar had seen him in the med-bay but they didn't know who he was. The main difference was that Eyeri hadn't been carried thousands of feet in the air by the warriors on the ship.
Aw'endo and Nel'os seemed to have decided just to distract him from it. The two of them taking every chance to tease and play with the human. Aw'endo having reluctantly forgiven Eyeri for drugging him and now was fixated on making Eyeri laugh. Or yell, basically anything but cry. Herymi and his own suitor watching in amusement as Eyeri occasionally forgot he was flying and tried to attack Aw'endo in the air. Tai'ray keeping a tight grip on him.
As for Ryraso, he was having problems of his own. Despite the progress which had been in Tayagwe, Ryraso was still very much against being forced into the nest and was still very sharp with Tai'ray. Not that it was stopping Tai'ray or Dyn'ad or making them any less blunt with making moves on him. Nel'os was able to without much retribution. Ryraso even flirted back with Nel'os. It was just the dominants he was blue balling. Dyn'ad with a lot more success with flirting than Tai'ray. At the very least, Ryraso let certain things pass. Any move on Tai'ray's part was enough to get Ryraso glaring coldly or smirking knowingly depending on his mood. Tai'ray was getting frustrated. Everyone could tell.
Herymi, too, was having issues with his suitor. How O'chetur acted with him most of the time was clearly trying to repair their broken friendship and doing his best to make Herymi happy. Then Nel'os would make a joke or Dyn'ad would pat him on the shoulder and O'chetur flipped to being possessive and annoying the crap out of him. The three had made it clear they were only interested in Ryraso but O'chetur seemed to get jealous at the slightest interaction.
'No offence intended by the lack of interest,' Tai'ray murmured over the link, sensing Herymi mentally grumbling about the situation.
'None taken,' Herymi replied.
'He is young. He will get better,' Tai'ray offered.
Herymi smiled slightly. O'chetur was young for the k'nairi, even if he was a year older than Herymi. Maturity with the k'nairi was strange but still barely a decade past Navdia, O'chetur was only just an adult. Young and impulsive, Herymi was technically the older one in maturity at the moment. If he had lived a normal life with the k'nairi without joining the link, he always would be but with the increase of lifespan, Herymi suspected they would eventually catch up but for the moment it was annoying. 'I understand that. I also understand that O'chetur is terrified of losing me again but if he doesn't stop being a possessive jerk, I am going to reject the claim!' he said darkly, more thinking into the link than actually thinking.
'Herymi!' Tai'ray scolded through the link.
Herymi blushed, as he realised he had been projecting the thought instead of shielding it. Normally, being surrounded by humans and sealed, it didn't matter. If he was going to be up to being bonded to his friends, he would need to get used to blocking his thoughts.,
'You get used to it,' Tai'ray promised lightly. 'A lot of humans struggle at first. And if you bond with them, they will be your mates, your lovers as well. Not just your friends.'
'Thanks for the reassurance and clarification,' Herymi said sarcastically, sighing as he felt O'chetur's grip on him tighten. No doubt he was able to tell Herymi was talking to Tai'ray from how he was shifting. 'Please tell me he is not going to be like this all the time?' Herymi pleaded.
'Until you are bonded, and likely for a good while after that as well,' Tai'ray admitted sympathetically. That didn't really change with maturity. A dominant was protective and possessive of his mates, no matter how skilled, powerful or dominant the mate was. Dyn'ad had been very possessive of him. It had caused lots of problems because of the fact Tai'ray was supposed to be the more dominant one. Nel'os had luckily distracted Dyn'ad from the most of it. The submissive was very clever when it came down to getting important things done with two dominant mates.
Herymi groaned, dropping his head on a bemused O'chetur's shoulder.
'It's not that bad,' reassured Tai'ray clearly amused.
'Yes, it is,' hissed Herymi, 'I am not about to let him treat me like a damsel in distress who might be stolen off at any moment by someone. If he dares pull any of this crap with me in Navat, I will kick him up the ass and leave!'
'Kicking up the ass, good for you,' Tai'ray chuckled, 'Leaving, not so good. Just remember part of the clinginess is worry you are going to disappear again.'
'At this point, it is more likely he is going to run me off,' Herymi snarled, hitting O'chetur's hand as the man tried to grope him while distracted. "No," Hermyi warned aloud, glaring at the man darkly.
"But!" O'chetur pouted.
"No buts," Herymi hissed, before pausing as he felt something shift inside of him. He looked up into the distance and grinned. O'chetur too, looked ahead, a smile on his face. "Navat!" he exclaimed gleefully, trying to ignore how his stomach turned sore after the immediate sighting. Soon he would be punished.
Tai'ray smiled softly as he saw the first glimpses of his home on the horizon. The mountain with a palace built into the side. "Eyeri," he called, waking the boy who had begun to drift off. Eyeri grumbled, but yawned and opened his eyes. "We're here."
Navat was a stunning sight to behold. The city surrounding the palace was built in trees which were taller than any tree Eyeri had ever seen. Trees which had grown there for thousands of years. The trees were well kept and cared for with k'nairi magic helping the trees grow into the shape of treehouses. Brightly coloured flags blew in the wind, proudly declaring the clan of the nest who resided in the tree. Between the houses were rope bridges, with the occasional staircase or ladder to the ground below or the next level. Eyeri could see a few humans using them. Navat was where the most humans who remained in k'nairi lands lived.
What really stood out though was the citadel. The palace carved from the mountain itself, plated in white marble, with the tallest spire towering above with a glowing crystal shining brightly in it like a lighthouse home. The star of Navat and if the myths were true, the birthplace of the first k'nairi. Born from clay and air, and given life from the tears of a goddess weeping the loss of her child.
Plants grew everywhere in the city and there were decorations too. Ribbons of every colour imaginable covered the rope-ways and streets. Some seemed to weave into patterns but it was hard to tell from the air. As they flew in, the city guard joined them in formation. Children waving from the streets. Excited k'nairi men and women, joining them in the flight, flying behind them in procession.
The Winglord was home.
Tai'ray smiled broadly as people cheered at seeing him, a warm feeling filling him. He was also paying careful attention to Eyeri, unsure of how the boy would react to seeing the city where he would be spending the rest of his foreseeable future. Nel'os sent him a gentle reassurance, with an image of Eyeri's face. The human boy looked almost entranced. His face was lit up in excitement, looking at everything in a giddy glee.
"What's that?" Eyeri asked pointing to a large building built from stone on the ground, an arm around Tai'ray's neck.
"A clinic, I believe," Tai'ray noted. "Most clinics are built on the ground. Makes it easier to get to if you have injured your wings. There are also some shrines on the ground too," he explained. Eyeri made a sound of interest, but was quickly distracted by another sight. The grand park. A large empty space where there was only glass and flowers. An area where people could relax. In the centre of it was a statue of the first known Winglord. A strict and firm man. Every Winglord aspired to be like him. He had united the nation of aggressive brutes and turned them into a proud race of people bringing the k'nairi race into riches and power.
Ryraso felt oddly at home as they flew over the city. He was able to see the childish delight on Aw'endo's face at being home, as well as Eyeri's look of wonder as he saw the city for the first time. The Winglord was clearly answering the boy's questions as best he could, Eyeri visibly pointing at different things. Dyn'ad seemed to relax more too. His grip relaxing though still firm.
"We're home," Ryraso murmured into Dyn'ad ear.
"We are," Dyn'ad said with a smile in his voice.
There was a nagging feeling in the back of Ryraso's mind though. A nagging feeling that this was now also his prison. Tai'ray would never allow him to leave again. Not without him or one of the triad. He was no longer a free man.
"Ry?" Dyn'ad asked gently, able to feel his unease.
"It's nothing," Ryraso commented, tilting his head to kiss the back of Dyn'ad neck where he was resting. "And don't call me that!" he added a more firm voice.
"You sure?" Dyn'ad questioned sounding worried, Nel'os and Tai'ray pressing against Ryraso gently in the link. "You don't sound fine."
"Not really sure how you are expecting me to answer that one Dyn'ad," Ryraso chuckled darkly before exhaling. "I was just thinking I need to visit my mentors grave at some point," Ryraso half admitted. It had been too long since he had last paid his respects to Umin and something inside of him felt like he needed to do so. "It had been a long time," he breathed, suddenly feeling choked up.
"I'll take you in a few days," Dyn'ad promised.
Ryraso smiled and nodded. Silently thanking him over the link. "Mind you, I might just be nervous about the welcome committee. It has been a very long time since I had to play these games," he commented.
"It's like swimming, Ryraso," Dyn'ad chuckled. "You're either good at it or you're not but you never forget how to do it."
"Easy for you to say. You get Nel'os coaching you in your ear," Ryraso said dryly. He shivered as a cold wind went down his back as they began to descend to the palace welcoming grounds. Ryraso could already see the people gathered awaiting the Winglord. "You had better keep Eyeri safe, Dyn'ad," he warned softly. "I'll accept the courtship in public, but if anything happens to Eyeri..."
"It won't. We won't let it," Dyn'ad promised deadly serious and Ryraso believed him.