Gaiganny turned, noticing a growing shadow fall upon her. She gasped, then saw the massive form of Trajan standing over her, watching. His voice boomed as he spoke.
"Your wings have not fully healed."
"Oh," she mumbled, "It's you."
He looked her over, noticing some small bruises and torn areas on her wings that were still mending.
"Do not push yourself beyond your limits," he warned, "It is too soon."
"I want to fly." she countered, "It's what I live for, I miss it."
Trajan saw how passionate she had been about relearning her abilities. He could not deny the dedication. "You are improving." he said, then turned his gaze up towards the sky.
"No thanks to you." she retorted.
"I cannot fly for you." Trajan's gaze remained on the sky as Gaiganny pulled herself back up onto the rock she had just leapt from.
"Hah," she laughed, "You can't fly well anyway chubby!"
Trajan still watched the sky, noticing the edge in her voice. "Have caution, you are still healing."
Gaiganny growled a bit at his words, she really wasn't in the mood for another of his lectures, but he continued anyway.
"You cannot do the things you once did in flight. You are not ready."
Gaiganny ruffled her wings, annoyed. "I still have propulsion, so there!"
Trajan continued despite the interruption. "Your skills are lacking. Your maneuvering is wanting. And you cannot pull up from nose-dives."
"Maneuvering?!" Gaiganny sputtered, "Well why don't you- You can't fly all that great anyway!"
Trajan tilted his head at the verbal assault, almost amused by it since the hen had never even seen him fly. She continued.
"You never fly, you walk all over the place! You're probably too heavy-"
Trajan swung his hand down and snagged Gaiganny by the back of her neck, silencing her before she could get the last word of her sentence out.
"GACK!" she squealed as he lifted her a couple of feet off the ground. Though he held her firmly, she felt no pain. His grip on her did not hurt, but it was steel tight, much like an animal parent lifting their young by the scruff. He walked with her in hand to the edge of the cliff, they could both see the thick forest canopy from their position, the stream as well a ways off. Gaiganny kicked and squirmed, her efforts futile in Trajan's grasp.
"Let me go you big stupid!"
Trajan ignored her and looked over the cliff's edge.
"I fly when I need to." he began, "So will you."
Gaiganny struggled more, uncertain as to where Trajan was going with this. "Stop it!" she yelled, "Stop it!"
Trajan took a step closer to the edge, the tip of his foot hung slightly over the edge. Gaiganny felt her heart racing as she screamed "Big lug! Put me down!"
Trajan's voice was calm, almost solemn.
"You think you can fly?" he asked. With a swift motion he lifted Gaiganny up to his eye level, then hurled her off the cliff. "Fly."
Gaiganny shrieked as she fell, Trajan stood where he was a moment, watching her fall. He whispered to himself, "Fly Gaiganny."
Gaiganny opened her wings but could not find the support she needed. The membranes had not healed enough and could no longer support her weight during a fall at such a velocity. She attempted her propulsion, hoping to at least hover and land, but even that proved futile. The sudden gust of wind only slammed her into the cliff side wall
"NO!" she screamed as she bounced off the rocks on her way down. She could feel them digging into her wings, threatening to tear them again.
Trajan watched her falling, he tilted his head once more before moving. He turned sharply away from the sight and began to head towards the bottom of the canyon. There were several smaller cliff sides that led where he wanted to be. With a series of small leaps, he was neared the bottom of the cliff side in moments.
Gaiganny could barely think. "Ah ahh help..." she breathed as she spun out of control, smashing into a thick outcrop of rocks. She continued to fall, soon falling through the forest canopy. For a moment she had hope, surely the thick brush of the tree branches would at least slow her fall! But she'd forgotten about the razor lining of her wings, they easily cut through the trees without slowing at all.
Gaiganny's screams rang in Trajan's ears as he leapt a final time, smashing through another section of trees, slamming into the ground feet first. The ground quaked beneath his mass a moment, then he stepped away in a set direction. A second of walking, then a sudden stop. Trajan looked up at the twined branches of the forest, he could hear the sound of screaming from above. A few errant branches fell and hit the ground in front of him. A moment passed, more fell. With a loud crash Gaiganny, entwined in a number of sliced branches and thick leaves, hit the ground in front of him. She lay there on her stomach, not moving. He could see her breathing. It was shallow, but steady.
"Ooooh," she groaned, barely able to move her head. Trajan allowed her a minute to gather enough strength to lift her head.
"Are you hurt?" He looked down at her, awaiting a response. The words took a little time to register. Gaiganny heard the words but did not respond at first. Then she snapped to life.
"You!" she yelled, feeling the soreness of her throat. "What do you think? You threw me off the cliff, YES I'm hurt!" Her limbs were cut and bleeding, she looked the marks over, wondering how long it would take for them to heal.
Trajan watched her as she tried to stand.
"You did not fly." he stated. "Why?"
Gaiganny glared at him, not believing the question she was being asked. "I didn't feel like it!" she retorted, rubbing one of her wounds. "Ow..."
Trajan looked up at the hole she had made in the forest trees, the cliff was just barely visible. "Would you like to try again?"
"Ah," Gaiganny backed away from him, her arms and legs ached as she tried to crawl away, but that was nothing compared to the thought of going through that again. "Don't touch me!" she yelled, looking about cautiously. Trajan watched her and tilted his head.
"Perhaps next time you will feel like flying."
Gaiganny stared at him, still angry by what he had just done. "Why do you keep following me?
Trajan did not hesitate with his answer. "I follow because you are a part of me now, and I you. Gaiganny growled at his remark, Trajan continued.
"You have not healed, it takes time. Do not force it." He looked at her cuts and bruises, watched her as she tried to stand. "This is a result of you pushing yourself too hard. Your powers will come back, in ways you never thought."
"No," Gaiganny growled, "This is a result of you grabbing me and throwing me!"
Trajan leaned a bit towards her. "You said you could fly." he turned abruptly from her, facing a small patch of forest. Gaiganny growled again, angered by how cold he was being about this whole ordeal.
"So what if I said that-" she complained, but Trajan cut her off, still facing the forest "Learn to fly. Until you do, nothing else within you will grow." With that Trajan walked away, disappearing into the forest. A moment later, Gaiganny could no longer see his silhouette amongst the trees. She allowed herself to fall to the ground and lay on the grass, thinking to herself "Why is he like this with me? Why is he so hard and mean?" She sighed, still thinking to herself "Learn to fly. I'd like nothing better!" She opened one of her wings and looked at it, there were more holes in it now, she could see straight through some areas. The rips were really bad this time... When would it heal? She sighed again, not realizing that she was being watched by afar.
A thin growl escaped the all too thin gigan. The hen had appeared suddenly, without warning. She didn't belong here. The big one with her left, but she hadn't followed. Perhaps they weren't a mated pair like he had suspected. Still, he didn't want her on his land. He'd worked hard for this place, and when he said no trespassers he MEANT it! He started to shake with anger, feeling his blood pressure rise, the hen becoming the only thing in his sights. He growled to himself "Frickin hen, I just WON this territory..."
Gaiganny remained where she was, still mumbling to herself. "I've never known anyone that can grow back wings..." She looked around, spotting a stream close
by. Slowly she pulled herself up and walked over to it, dipping one of her wings into it when she arrived. "Oh that's nice..." she cooed as the cool water washed over some of the rips in her wing.
He slunk closer, eye watching the hen with deep seeded animosity. She was at the stream now, HIS stream, dipping her wing in it like it belonged to her... He sneered and growled again, inching closer. He found himself impressed with his own stealth, it wasn't easy in this kind of terrain. He neared the stupid hen, inching closer until he was right behind her, looking over her shoulder.
Gaiganny enjoyed the feel of the water, closing her eye and relaxing. She opened it and looked down at the water, and in the reflection saw the face of another gigan staring over her. The face was dark green, two uneven horns jutting out of the right side of his head, two more on the left. His beak was dull silver, and his eye was a dirty red.
"Who are you?!" the gigan shouted. Gaiganny yelped in surprise, turning to face the stranger. He was even dingier than his water reflection, thin and covered with scars. It looked like he lost a lot of fights. Two uneven buzz saws sat on his left shoulder, they twitched and spun lazily, obviously not in use at the moment. The gigan had one hand and one scythe, his eye began to glow as she looked him over. She still hadn't answered his question. He was pissed.
Theromin was officially... pissed.
He snarled. "Who ARE you?!"
Gaiganny hissed at him in response. "It's rude not to say your name first."
Theromin readied his scythe, drawing it back. "Shut up hen, who are you?!"
Gaiganny eeped and leapt back, trying to put some distance between herself and the stranger. Theromin growled again, "I ASKED you a question! What are you, stupid?!"
Gaiganny thrust her hand claw in front of him and yelled "You're ugly!"
Theromin laughed at her, looking her over. "Yer no prize yourself, tattered wings, bruised and bloody. Yer offspring'll be hideous." His eye was glowing deeply, he growled, "Get out of my territory hen, OUT!!!"
Gaiganny reeled from his barbed comments about her appearance. "NO!" she screamed, starting to shake with anger, "I wasn't always like this!" she leapt into a tree trying to calm herself and get her bearings. This gigan meant business, and she was in no condition for a full battle.
Theromin stalked forward. "Sure you weren't."
Gaiganny felt her heart quicken. She was scared. Normally she would have just flown away, but now, after that fall... what could she do?
Theromin looked up at her. "You can't stay up there forever. Take yer ugly self and get out of my TERRITORY!" One of his shoulder saws began to whir, he growled at her.
Gaiganny heard the gigan screaming, but couldn't gather her thoughts. "Trajan!" she thought to herself, "Did he tell him to attack me?"
Theromin had had it, he reared back and bellowed "I... SAID... GET... OUUUUUUTTTT!!!" With that he slashed his scythe through the trunk of the tree, it rocked and began to fall with Gaiganny still in the branches. She leapt from the tree before it hit the ground, barely escaping in time. With a splash she landed in the stream, the water no longer a comfort to her. Theromin moved towards her, shoulder saws buzzing unevenly.
"You must wanta' die hen."
Gaiganny didn't waste any time attacking, she lunged at the gigan and slashed at him with her hook. "Get away from me!" she howled, hoping her shot would catch Theromin squarely in his eye, that would at least give her time to escape. Theromin reared back, blocking her hook with his scythe, and decked her with his free hand. Gaiganny was sent to the ground with a large bruise threatening to erupt on her temple. Theromin advanced on her, raising his fingers.
"Next time," he sneered, "I'll use these." he flicked his fingers, three sharp curves of metal were unsheathed. They glinted in the few rays of sunlight that penetrated the thick patchwork of trees. Gaiganny lashed her tail out, tripping Theromin. She leapt on his back as soon as he hit the ground and bit his neck. She screamed in his ear "I don't think so!"
Theromin grabbed Gaiganny by the throat, digging his finger claws deep into her. "Stupid hen," he snarled, "You think you can beat me?" He bit her neck, digging his fangs deep into her flesh. Gaiganny yelped and kicked Theromin with her foot claws, the shot sliced Theromin's chest open. He fell backwards and landed atop Gaiganny. Though he himself was thin for a male, he still weighed more than she did, and his mass was now starting to crush Gaiganny as they lay of the ground. His shoulder saws picked up speed, trying to tear into her. Beneath him Gaiganny started her own buzz saw, slashing Theromin's back open.
"Get off!" she screamed, trying to push the gigan from her. Theromin rolled from her, got to his feet, then kicked her in the temple. The already developing bruise on her head screamed with pain. Gaiganny pulled herself up and leapt at Theromin in a fury, only to be struck again. She staggered back, holding her head as Theromin whipped his spiked tail at her, stabbing Gaiganny in the shoulder. Still on the ground Gaiganny rolled backwards and looked up at him, a distance placed between them. Theromin was already headed towards her again.
"All you had to do was leave you stupid girl. Now yer gonna die."
Gaiganny lifted herself up and rushed Theromin. Her eye pulsed, and though she couldn't fly, her wings still worked in another way. Theromin paused, taken aback by the sudden burst of anger. Gaiganny leapt over the gigan and curved her wings, both edges ran over his front and back. She sliced his back with one wing, the other slashed his chest. Completing the leap she flipped and landed behind him. The maneuver hurt but felt good. At least she wasn't helpless... Theromin swung around as Gaiganny landed and punched her, swinging back the other way with his finger claws and slicing her neck again. Gaiganny battled back as best she could, slashing at him with her claws. One sliced straight across his face drawing a thin line of blood. He growled "You stupid hen!" He kicked her viciously, swinging his scythe at her. Gaiganny dodged and growled "How would you look without a beak?" Theromin snarled back "I wonder th' same thing about you!" He grabbed her beak in his hands, clamping it shut. He squeezed and anticipated the inevitable crack if he could make it shatter. Theromin stayed focused on the task at hand, not noticing that Gaiganny's gems had begun to glow. From two of the larger spheres shot energy blasts that struck Theromin in the face right as he extended his finger claws again. The metal curls missed Gaiganny's eye but cut the connecting tissue between. Theromin let her go, clasping his smoldering face as Gaiganny took a step back. He swung wildly with his scythe, then stood straight, whipping himself around to growl at her. Gaiganny leapt out of the way of his scythe then jumped on him again, igniting her saw and tearing Theromin's back again.
"Haha," she laughed as she leapt off, "Now you'll look like me!"
Theromin stumbled and recovered, he sneered, "Wrong." Theromin hunched over, extending a pair of yellow-green wings. Before Gaiganny could think, he swung, smacking her with them. A second later he took flight. Gaiganny watched him ascend into the air and thought "This isn't fair!" She was furious. Theromin hovered a moment and dove, slashing her. He screamed at her as he headed for another pass "This is MY land, no wretched hen's gonna take it from me!"
Gaiganny laughed at the gigan, "This land is nothing! There's no prey and hardly any water! No one would want this!"
Theromin swung around her, lashing his tail around her neck. "Yeah, but it's MY land!" Gaiganny was slung from her feet and drug mercilessly along the ground. The earth scrapped against her, threatening to pull her skin from her body. Gaiganny swung her feet up, digging them into Theromin's tail, she slowly began to climb up his tail in mid flight, trying to weigh him down. She reached and slashed at one of his wings with her hook. Theromin took the flight higher, glaring down at the hen. She was tenacious, that was for damned sure. But not good enough. He reached down and grabbed her arm, extending his finger claws. He felt the blazing pain as she cut one of his wings.
"Don't touch my friggin wings you stupid girl!"
Theromin twisted in midair, soaring into the canyon wall. He smashed into the side, ramming Gaiganny into the wall itself. Bits of rock flying over her, her back on fire, Gaiganny found herself starting to freak out. If Theromin didn't stop, her wings would be torn off! Panicked, she fired another energy blast from her forehead crystal. The beam arched, shooting through his wing and searing his back. Theromin screamed and pulled away from the canyon wall, but slammed her into it again in a renewed fit of rage. He swung his tail around, stabbing her in the back.
"Get offa me!" he screamed as he pressed harder against the wall. He was enraged now, hoping to reduce Gaiganny to nothing more than a blood smear along the canyon wall. Gaiganny fired again at his other wing, her resolve absolute. She'd tear both his wings off before this was over!
"DAMN you hen!" Theromin pressed harder, Gaiganny could feel her fin getting torn against the rocks. The pain was almost too much. Theromin pulled himself up slightly, then folded his wings. The two dropped instantly. Theromin twisted in midair, kicking Gaiganny off him and into the canyon wall. She tumbled on a downward spiral before managing to grab hold of Theromin once more, the gigan had been slow to pull away. She stabbed him repeatedly in the chest, noticing his horrible growling. She bit his neck, her pincers clamping down on him. Theromin bit her back, his tusks stabbing into her own throat and holding her in place. An orange light lit Theromin's forehead a second before he fired a beam of energy at her. The blast struck Gaiganny in the neck and shoulders, they burned horribly. She soon realized what Theromin was trying to do, he was systematically trying to take her head off! She yelled in pain but still held him. They were closer now, and Gaiganny started her saw once more. Theromin's own shoulder saws spun as Gaiganny ripped him open. He ignited his stomach saw as well, tearing into her. Gaiganny slashed his eye, leaving a deep scar across the lens. Theromin snarled and swung his scythe, Gaiganny barely able to block it.
"Get OFF ME!" Theromin screamed, firing his forehead laser as Gaiganny fired her gems. The beams crossed each other in a brilliant explosion.

Flying through the forest was a bit of a challenge for Gogar, but one he readily welcomed. It forced him to improve his aerial skills, the branches and leaves were the perfect obstacle course. He flew along, carefree as always, wondering what the heck had happened to Theromin. The two were supposed to meet up to go searching for new land but Skinny boy never showed. It was then he heard he explosion. His ears perked up, and he came to a halt, hovering. What was that?
"What's all that noise?" he wondered aloud. "Sheesh, no peace." He landed, deciding to search for the source of the noise and perhaps some food.
Pain filled Gaiganny's body, she screamed as Theromin pulled her against the rocky side of the cliff again with deadly intentions.
"DAMN you! DAMN you hen!" Theromin screamed, thoroughly frustrated by the female. "Die!"
Gaiganny fired her forehead beams as well in a desperate effort to free herself. "You first." she growled, firing the beams into Theromin's open wounds. He screamed "Wretch!" slamming his fist against her temple again.
Gogar had walked a distance trying to pinpoint the source of the disturbance. He neared a small patch of land, not that great, but near a cliff, so that had to be a good thing. Suddenly he heard the commotion overhead. Gogar looked skyward and saw them, Theromin and some hen engaged in a very bloody aerial fight.
"Skinny boy?" he wondered, "And... a hen?"

Theromin swung wildly, the last swing punctured Gaiganny's arm, sticking cruelly out the other side. Gaiganny slashed him across the eye again, but was still blinded by the pain that arced through her arm. Theromin barely noticed the attack, his rage now a full fledged frenzy as he slashed her neck again with his finger claws.
"DIE!!!"

Gogar watched the horrible acts by his friend, feeling himself becoming more and more enraged by Skinny boy's actions. "She's beautiful, what has he done to her?" He watched as Theromin kicked her. Gogar whispered to himself, "Her wings are all torn... some friend he is." Theromin slammed her against the cliff side again, all the while screaming for her to die. Gogar sighed, "He's never been able to see beauty."

Gaiganny had almost grown numb to the amount of pain racing through her body. Theromin simply would NOT stop until she was dead. She felt her strength leaving her. Falling through the air she could barely manage "...hellp... Trajan...ahhh..." Theromin slammed into her repeatedly, grabbing her head and holding it firmly against the rocks as they fell. He knew she was his, he knew by the time they reached the bottom, she'd be dead. "DIIIIEEEEE!!" he roared, the act filling him with a dark pleasure he would never be able to explain.
Gogar had seen enough, he readied himself, then took to the air with phenomenal speed.
Theromin saw Gaiganny through a haze of rage. Nothing mattered right now, the only important thing was that she die, and die right now. A sudden unexpected force slammed into him from below spinning him in midair. A sizable bruise erupted along his back as he swiveled his head around with a scream drenched in madness. Gaiganny was unable to keep her waning grip on Theromin during the collision, she dropped into a free fall. Theromin snarled wildly. Surely the hen hadn't done that to him, she was too weak now, just another victim. He spun once more, and then spotted him. Gogar. The pompous jerk had blind sided him at the most crucial point of his fight! Gogar hovered before him, his wings spread. Gogar stared at Theromin and saw he was in another of his fits. Gogar tilted his head and asked "What are you doing?" Little did he know that he was the last person Theromin wanted to see right now.
"Gogar?! What are you DOING?!" Theromin screamed at his so called friend, "IDIOT!"
"Hey dork, I asked first." Gogar retorted, "Is this how you welcome a friend?"
Theromin thrust his scythe towards the falling hen, "She was in my territory!"
Gogar looks down at her. "She's so beautiful like me! How could you?"
Theromin darted around Gogar, completely unconcerned with the gigan's sorry attraction to the hen. "She'll die!" Theromin sneered, "Now move it!"
"Don't touch her!" Gogar blocked his path, trying to figure out what it was that had made Theromin so enraged, so intent on killing. Theromin neared Gogar until the two were beak to beak. "I'll do what I damn well please." he growled.
Gogar responded by grabbing Theromin's sides in his claws, eliciting a hard shove from Theromin to free himself. Gogar make a quick slash at Theromin's head that missed by inches. Theromin managed to dodge the strike and pushed Gogar away from him once more.
"I'll kill you too Gogar, don't SCREW with me!"
Gogar gladly accepted his friend's challenge, knowing Theromin often got this way when things didn't work out for him. He laughed, "You're so ugly," then dodged one of Theromin's slashes easily, "Why am I your friend?"
Theromin snarled at Gogar's jests. It was then, listening to Gogar's laughter as he dodged every one of his strikes, that Theromin realized something. He'd had it with Gogar. He'd been living under Gogar for years now, he could barely remember how long it had been. He couldn't remember now if he tried, too many recollections of Gogar's incessant taunting and insults plagued his thoughts. Memories of Gogar constantly calling him Skinny boy, always putting down his dreary coloring, forever patronizing him about his lack of fighting or flying skills... And now... Now he had come along and taken it upon himself to stop Theromin from killing an intruder in his own territory. No more. If Gogar didn't get out of his way, he'd end up like the hen. Dead. Theromin looked at Gogar through new eyes, he snarled a final time and lunged at Gogar, aiming for his throat.
Gogar laughed at Theromin's efforts, which seemed to have doubled since he arrived and refused to let him kill the beautiful hen. He easily avoided another strike from Theromin, but noticed there was no resistance behind the swing. If it had landed, Theromin would probably had taken his head off. Gogar flew around the scrawny gigan, then plowed into him from behind and watched as Theromin backed away a moment, looking down at the still falling hen.
"I don't have time fer you Gogar, I got a hen to kill!" Theromin screamed the words, Gogar had never heard him like this before.
"Kill?" Gogar saw the murderous intent in Theromin's eye. He wasn't serious, was he? "Since when are you a killer?"
Theromin's eye blazed, "Since now!" He decked Gogar straight in his mouth, then made another beeline towards Gaiganny. Gogar recovered from the unexpected blow, but was more concerned with what Theromin said. A small stab of fright ran through him at Theromin's words. For all his faults, Theromin never killed unless he had to, and in this case he really didn't HAVE to kill the hen, did he? Gogar saw Theromin already catching up to the hen in free fall, he darted after him.
Theromin could see her, it wouldn't be long now. "Die hen..." he whispered as he neared, scythe ready to deliver the final blow.
Gogar caught up to Theromin in seconds, flying slightly above him. He extended his black claws and swung them upward, shredding Theromin's already damaged wings. In a beat Gogar had swung himself upright, laughing as he watched Theromin careen towards the ground.
"Haha," he chuckled to himself, "Too slow and ugly... You never did learn anything from me."
Theromin flapped repeatedly, trying to catch any drift, any pocket of air in his wings, but could not. The membranes were too badly damaged from not only Gaiganny, but Gogar as well. Now they were useless. He tried to glide and found that his efforts were for naught, the air passed through as if his wings didn't even exist. He was dead weight.
Gogar watched Theromin's flailing and laughed some more, "That's really bad." he crossed his arms and waited for his friend to pull himself out of the spiraling nose-dive. "C'mon," he laughed, "pull up." Theromin continued to plummet, Gogar watched him, his amusement giving way to concern.
"C'mon, anyone could pull up from that-"
Theromin slammed into the ground head first on a sharp angle. The velocity propelled him forward, his body weight forced upon his neck as his body curled backwards in a sharp 'c'. Punctuating the severity of the imperfect landing Theromin's head jammed into the ground as the rest of his body slung above and over, a sickening "crunk" signaled his neck bones shattering under the sudden and immense pressure. Theromin's body finally tumbled over itself a final time, and lay there, limp.
Theromin could feel the jagged fragments of his shattered neck and spine, he felt numb, he'd probably severed his spinal cord as well. He managed to exhale, the last time he would ever do so, then died. His eye faded to black, and a small rivulet of blood leaked from his mouth. Whether its source was the massive internal bleeding, punctured lungs, or severed muscles in his neck one will never know.
Gaiganny had hit the ground shortly before Theromin, barely able to shield herself with her wings before colliding with the earth. Slowly she pulled herself up in time to see Theromin fall, but the trees kept her from seeing his fatal landing. She gasped as he disappeared behind the tremendous growths, grateful that it appeared as though he would not be coming after her.
Gogar looked at the crumpled body of Theromin, not fully comprehending what had just happened.
"I really think she needed help, poor thing..." he whispered to himself. He looked around but didn't see her.
"Where did she go? I didn't see where she fell." As he began his search, Gaiganny found herself unable to stand, crawling desperately along the ground. She quivered, trying to calm herself.
"Oh," she sighed, her words as rattled as she was, "I don't know where I am... we must have fallen together." She looked around but saw no one, only barren forestry greeted her, cold, silent.
"Help..." she managed, "Someone..." She was ready to collapse, and probably would have if she hadn't looked up to see a familiar figure towering above her.
Trajan looked down at Gaiganny. She was in bad shape, her wings torn even worse than they had been before. She was covered in cuts and bruises, gashes marred her arms and legs. He stared down at her, silent.
Gogar neared the area he heard the cries coming from, knowing for certain he would soon find the beautiful hen Theromin tried to kill. He stopped short when he saw Trajan. Gogar hovered a ways off, careful to stay as inconspicuous as he possibly could. Trajan's gaze shifted slightly, he saw Gogar out of the corner of his eye and heard himself utter a low growl. A warning. He slowly fixed his gaze back on Gaiganny.
Knowing this was not his place, Gogar flapped his wings and pulled away from the two. "I'm outta here." he said to himself, then took flight. He dared a look back, "I hope she'll be okay..." In moments, he was gone.
Trajan stared at Gaiganny as she lay on the ground. She hadn't moved for some time, nor did she show any signs of doing so. He tilted his head and watched her. Had he been an enemy he could have killed her easily, she didn't appear as though she would have put up an ounce of resistance. Laying there as she was, she was fair game for even the lowliest of scavengers. That was unacceptable. If you could stand, no matter how badly you were beaten, no matter how much pain you were in, you were never truly defeated.
"Get up." he said plainly
She looked up at him, both physical and emotional pain etched on her face. "I can't..." she breathed, "...hurts..."
Trajan was not moved by her words. He repeated himself, "Get... up."
"Not again." Gaiganny thought sourly to herself. No sooner had the thought finished Trajan reached down and clasped Gaiganny, yanking her to her feet.
"Aahh!" she yelped, "Why are you so cruel?" she ruffled her wings weakly so Trajan could see the damage they had taken, "Look at me!"
Trajan glanced at her torn membranes but quickly turned his focus back to her. "Can you fly?" he asked. His voice was flat. Gaiganny growled a bit, this wasn't funny! The worst part was not knowing whether or not Trajan was indeed mocking her or if he was serious. At times like this it became difficult to tell. Gaiganny squirmed as best she could in his grasp, a bit on edge since Trajan held her above the ground. "I've been stabbed and you expect me to stand?!" she whined.
"Yes, I do." Trajan opened his hand and let her drop back to the ground. Her legs gave out and she fell with a thump. For a moment she was wide eyed and still, incredulous at what Trajan had just done.
"How can you... you heartless beast!" she sputtered. Trajan stared down at her as he had before, waiting for her.
"Now get up. On your own."
Gaiganny knew he would not lift her again, and knowing him he'd let her lay there until she was able to do what he demanded. With a grunt she managed to pull herself into a sitting position. She breathed heavily, exhausted by the effort. The movement caused one of her cuts to reopen, she held her side as it began to bleed again. Trajan watched Gaiganny and saw the exhaustion, saw how much today's events had taken out of her. He regarded her a moment then slowly stooped down and gently lifted her, cradling the battered hen with his right arm. Without a word he turned and made his way back into the forest with her. Gaiganny barely had the strength to lift her head to see where they were going. At this point she wasn't sure if she even cared anymore. She soon closed her eye, too tired to even keep focus on any one thing for long. Trajan neared a small stream and stopped. He lowered Gaiganny into the cool water and she could immediately feel the soothing effects of the water as it flowed over her wounds. She sat waist deep in the stream with her eye still closed, she could feel Trajan take one of her hands in his own.
"Recover your strength," he whispered, his voice shaking the water's surface as he spoke. "and heal your wounds."
Gaiganny held Trajan's hand a little tighter, Trajan felt her grip increase and lowered his head. His eye slowly faded to black, then began to pulse steadily from dark to bright red. The water surrounding Gaiganny began to glow itself, then filled with a brilliant sparkle as if the stream itself had swallowed the stars in the sky. Gaiganny moved her free hand to the wound on her side, unaware that her own eye had begun to pulse in time with Trajan's. Trajan kept his head bowed deep in concentration.
"Heal." he breathed.
A strange feeling swept over Gaiganny, her body felt light and suddenly filled with a strange sensation she had never felt before. It buzzed through her veins and raced over her skin. She felt something beneath the hand that held her side wound, she cautiously removed it and dared to look. The wound was gone. Gaiganny gasped, running her fingers over the area that she had held just moments ago to keep blood from escaping. The ugly gash was nowhere to be seen, not even leaving a scar of any kind. She opened her eye, amazed to see that not only was that particular gash was gone, but so were all the bruises and cuts that marred her body. It was as if they never existed, there were no traces of them ever being on her.
"What happened?" she stammered, "How did I... " she looked towards Trajan, "How?"
As her gaze fell upon Trajan he stood abruptly and stumbled back, barely catching himself before he fell. His color had paled slightly, his breathing was visibly labored.
"Trajan?" she called, "What's wrong?"
"I am part of you," Trajan managed, still breathing heavily, an occasional shake racking his body. "and you me."
Gaiganny looked at him, puzzled. She glanced down at herself and saw the wounds gone, there was no hint of the damage Theromin had inflicted upon her.
"But how?" she asked, then saw that Trajan was still not breathing properly. Ragged gasps of breath ripped in and out of him even as he struggled to force it under control.
"What is wrong?" she asked again, "Are you alright?"
In an instant Trajan regained his regular breathing, his complexion returned to normal, and he stood his full height. He looked down at her, then turned and headed in a new direction.
"Come with me." he said, then walked deeper into the forest towards a clearing. Gaiganny stood and made her way from the steam onto land, following Trajan cautiously. The two walked in silence, soon nearing the same cliff Trajan had tossed her from. Trajan stopped near the edge and waited for her to catch up. Gaiganny soon neared and joined his side, a moment later Trajan eased his hand behind her and began pushing her forward, gently, but firm.
"Woe!" she yelped, trying to stop herself, "What?"
Trajan continued to push her forward, little by little, speaking as he did so. "Today you almost died because of overconfidence."
Gaiganny lowered her head a bit, shamed by the truth behind his words. Trajan continued.
"But now you will live because you know what you can and cannot do."
He paused a moment, "Now you can fly."
Gaiganny's eye widened, "What?!"
Trajan slowly pushed her the final inch, forcing her over the edge.
"No wait," she protested, "But my wings are still-"
"Fly." he said as she fell
"Eeeeeee!" she screamed, instinctively opening her wings. She felt strange again, the same feeling that filled her when she was in the stream. She felt her wings open, and suddenly they caught wind, propelling her skyward. She couldn't believe it! She hadn't even bothered to look at her wings, she thought only her recent wounds had been healed. She was flying!
Trajan watched her from the cliff, observing Gaiganny's revelation. She was content to glide at first, then took a few flaps to gain speed.
Gaiganny kept things slow at first, this was the first time she had flown with her wings complete in a long time, she hadn't expected to be able to fully use them for at least a few months. She wondered if she was still capable of pulling off her old stuff. She hoped she had not forgotten them in the time she spent trying to remaster basic flight. She circled slowly at first, the sped up, throwing herself into a barrel roll. The horizon twirled wildly as she did so, bringing back memories of her past flights. How she enjoyed it! She righted herself and yelled "Haha, this is wonderful!" She closed her wings and dropped, gathering speed as she raced towards the ground. Her streamlined shape helped as she sliced through the air at a speed many gigans were unable to reach. She sped forward, pulling up an inch before hitting the canopy of trees beneath her. The blades along her wings sliced through the leaves and she left a dazzling green trail behind her as she pulled up, a single green crescent in the sky.
"Haha!" she yelled, watching the leaves fall like a twirling ribbon, "Yes!!"
She turned to see Trajan watching her from the cliff, she decided to try something else, a very difficult form of flight. She hovered a moment, then took off, gaining momentum as she curved herself in midair. She curved her direction again, shaping her flight into a perfect figure 8 in the sky. She felt her adrenaline rush as the wind whipped against her, and loved every moment of it.
Trajan continued to watch Gaiganny from the cliff side, following her as she rediscovered her love of flight. He whispered to himself "Can you fly Gaiganny?" He watched her as she performed one of the most difficult forms of flight and answered himself. "Yes, you can."
"YES!" She laughed as she continued the figure 8, "Yes, look at me! I'm flying!!!"
"Indeed." Trajan whispered. A thin trickle of blood dripped from his beak, he wiped it away before Gaiganny could notice it.
Gaiganny enjoyed a few more turns and pulled out of the form, allowing herself to drop and hover before Trajan.
"You have learned." he said, "Now you can grow."
Gaiganny landed in front of him, then looked up and asked "But how did they just suddenly heal? I didn't even feel it like I did the rest of me." She sensed something had happened to Trajan as well. She couldn't place her finger on it, but he seemed... different.
"You heal because I heal." Trajan explained. He raised his right arm, then lifted his scythe and made a deep incision along his forearm. Gaiganny looked on, surprised by what Trajan had done. Blood beaded and then leaked from the wound, but stopped suddenly. The slit sealed itself, as if playing the incision Trajan had made in reverse. Gaiganny watched him, amazed.
"They made me unable to die." Trajan said, his voice deep and thoughtful, "They made me incapable of death. My own death." he paused, then "And now you are a part of me, and I, a part of you."
Gaiganny tried to understand the cryptic words coming from Trajan. "I... I" she started, "They?"
"They..." Trajan trailed off, looking up at the sky a moment. Gaiganny continued, "Then... then you felt my pain?"
Trajan kept his gaze on the stars. Night was coming upon them, washing away the last traces of the day. "I always have, since you died.
Your pain is mine.
It is all that I am.
Pain is what I am.."
He searched the stars as if drawing his words from their wisdom. "Death, and not death is what I am."
He looked away from the sky and directly at Gaiganny, his stare intense. Gaiganny stared back, uncertain. "Is that what I'll become as well?"
"You must NEVER become what I am."
Gaiganny could only stare at him. The words hit her hard, but their hidden meanings escaped her. She tried to make sense of everything being thrown at her but found that when she tried to answer her own questions, harder ones followed. Trajan saw the confusion on her face and was not surprised.
"Too few fully understand." he said. "But when all is said and done, when it is all over... then..." he paused a moment, as if he wasn't going to complete the sentence. Gaiganny tilted her head.
"Then?"
"Then you will understand." Trajan turned away from her after the words, then began to walk away. Gaiganny called after him.
"If I am part of you..."
Trajan kept walking, slowly nearing the thick path or forest, Gaiganny continued,
"And you feel what I feel... I hope that you may learn from me, joy, pleasure to some extent."
Another trickle of blood rolled down Trajan's beak from his mouth. He raised his hand, wiping it away, then disappeared into the forest. Gaiganny watched Trajan go, standing where she was, more than a little confused. She thought to herself "I love to fly. I love life. It's not difficult to make me happy."
She stared at the expanding woodland before her, stared at the spot Trajan had entered the forest. "I hope... I hope then... that he will feel that, since I do."
She opened her wings again and in an instant took off into the sky. Her wings extended and she took flight.
Afar off a figure watched her from the bottom of the cliff. The starlight reflected off his golden yellow skin, and he saw her fly overhead. Gogar smiled as he whispered "Beautiful." In that moment, watching this beauty in such graceful flight, he decided that one day he would meet her.
Gaiganny flew, happy to be alive. She was in her element, doing what she loved. She could fly again, and as things looked now, life could not get any better than it was now.
Trajan stopped in the middle of the forest. A tiny twinge of something unfamiliar tugged at him inside. He raised his head, scanning the skyline until locating Gaiganny, still enjoying herself in flight. He watched her go as the feeling, possibly joy, pulled at him. But it soon died, and Trajan thought to himself
"She will understand... she will understand..."