User:Nicktang10/Winter Falcons Story

Prolouge
The command room had a giant screen in the middle, with an overlay of the islands of New Zealand on it. The meeting was orderly, but you could sense the tension in the air.

“Humans are encroaching on our lands - we must fight back!”

“General Erasmus, with all due respect, we already have a set natural boundary - our negotiators have returned from their capital, and they have agreed not to settle or invade our lands. We will control what they call the Fiordland National Park and set up a new colony in Rakiura Island.” The general’s tone was collected, but you can clearly hear his growing agitation and impatience

“THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! We have been here for millenia, and they’ve only been here less than that amount of time, and they still dare to push us all the way to this puny tip of a nation?!”

“No, but peace-”

“Peace my ***. You and I know they’ll eventually come. We must strike while they are still weak.”

“They are numerically superior. We cannot fight them on our own.”

The two generals faced each other across the meeting table, glaring, daring the other party to speak. It looked like this might lead to a brawl, and not the friendly kind.

“What about colonization?” A third general suddenly piped up, breaking the silence. Everyone’s eyes turned to him, interested in this new idea. That sounded a much better idea than a war that they would inevitably lose.

“Look at Antarctica, at Tierra del Fuego - there’s plenty of space and resources there, and the humans have a treaty among themselves preventing colonization amongst themselves”

“I agree with General Kaecilius,” the second general said.

“For once, I have to agree with General Sebastian. This new proposal sounds promising. I propose that we hand this issue over to Kaecilius, and let him handle it,” Erasmus’ was now more calm and collected, although he was still glaring at Sebastian.

“All those in favour, raise your right wing.”

The vote was unanimous, and afterward everyone was dismissed.

“Hurry up! We need to get to the temple early!”

It was Konstantinos’ (he prefers to be called Ken really, so let’s go with that) 16th birthday, and tradition stipulates that one should fly to the temple to be ordained upon turning 16.

Ken tossed and turned, trying to hide under the covers.

“It’s 3am or something....why must we go so early…” Ken moaned as the lights were switched on.

“Get up!”

“Fine…” Ken slowly got up and went to wash up.

Ken and his parents set off for the temple at 4, and by the time they reached the temple, it was daybreak. Red and golden rays streaked across the sky, but Ken had no time to admire the scenery and he was led into the dark temple.

He had heard stories about the ordination and it's rituals. Some said you had to drink boiling oil, or you had to eat gross things like bugs, or brawl until near death. Ken didn't know -- he didn't want to know. But today he would face reality, and there was no escape. Anyone who deviated from tradition was banished and ended up in circuses of exotic creatures for the humans' enjoyment, with no potential or room for escape.

The doors slammed shut behind him. He was the last one to enter - there were already seven others in the room.

“Stand in a circle, all of you.”

Ken hesitantly took a step forward. Looking around were falcons he didn't recognize - they were probably from another city. A few looked slightly scared, although the tallest, strongest one seemed to be unfazed by the creepy atmosphere.

“On this day, all of you become of age. Today, you are officially bound to your country, and to your brothers and sisters around you. Today, you take on the burdens as well as the pride of your ancestors, and you will carry it until you die, whether in combat or in sacrifice.”

The priest then turned around and grabbed a dagger before presenting it to him. “Draw blood from your non master wing and drip it onto the floor.”

As Ken's blood dripped onto the floor, it made a sizzling sound, even though the ground wasn't warm. The same process happened again seven times with the others, and once the last drop was spilled, the stone that we had dripped our blood onto glowed bright red.

"Tied together by blood, the spirits of this land affirm you!" the priest chanted, "Carry forth!"

Ken wasn't really focusing on what the priest was saying by this point; I had cut my wing too deep and blood was continually dripping out

At that moment, the torches in the already dim lot room went out, before reigniting in bright colour or red, blue and green. I stared, awestruck by the luminosity and beauty of the flames. A door at the other end of the room opened, and the priest beckoned for us to take our leave. "You will not tell anyone, or the spirits of this land will tear you from your bond and cast you OUT!"

"General Kaecilius, please provide us with a progress update on your colonization plans."

"I am pleased to inform all of you that our scouts have located sight of land off the coast of Antarctica. We have ruled out the continent itself and it's surrounding islands because they are too barren, but curiously...this island archipelago is tropical...albeit with cooler temperatures. Mountain ranges and snow covered peaks cover the interior, which will be a good place for the building of temples, and food supplies look abundant." Everyone in the room was now staring at him, focusing intently on what he had to say. His recce sounded promising, and all were looking for a solution for more land and territory.

Kaecilius looked smug, evidently pleased that everyone was approving of his progress. Tapping a few buttons, the overlay of New Zeland and the Falcons' territory changed into a overlay of the islands.

"The islands are split into three distinct sections - the West sector comprises of three main islands, and look to be the most promising. The middle one looks to be the most sheltered from weather and most abundant in resources, so I say start from there - I believe a force of 200 soldiers and 1000 civilians should be settled on it's eastern coast."

"What resources and equipment do you intend to bring with you?"

"I intend to ship a portion of our best military equipment there - storing them there will make it easier for us if we intend to move our homeland to this new island, and I have reason to believe we will succeed as the humans have a treaty amongst themselves preventing settlement - not like they can survive there anyway."

The meeting continued and plans on who should go and what should be brought were discussed for another few hours.