Ascent: Day 5

Word Count: 30,008

Summary of Events:

Ilyé tried, once again, to journey all of the way to the easternmost island of Qikatalukiq, Rivisiviq, but this time was chased away by three arrows when he was close enough to see the island. He managed to get all the way back to the Lemyazhmok's cave and decided he wasn't trying again until success was guaranteed. The Lemyazhmok told him success would be best guaranteed if he magically disguised his wings, which left him to decide if either he wanted to learn magic, or if he'd be willing to travel to and from the Lemyazhmok's cave every six months to get disguised. He woke in the middle of the night, disturbed by the pool in the Lemyazhmok's cave, and decided to go look at it . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

"In the image that appeared was his parents. They looked younger, and Nargya and Baranyana looked like they were younglings. He watched as Nargya and Baranyana were left behind and his parents set off.

They went on foot, following the river, which he recognised as the river Nirkob, following it until they reached the foot of the cave. If it wouldn't have been daylight in the image he may've actually gone to the door to check if they were really there.

His parents followed a trail up to the doorway and stepped inside. He watched as they rummaged around and even each looked into the pool, but then quickly turned away, without the pool showing him what it'd showed them. Suddenly a shadow came over the door and they turned.

Ilyé watched as the Lemyazhmok — who also looked younger — strode inside, his entire carriage and countenance wrathful. Ilyé had yet to hear a sound from the pool, so he couldn't hear what was being said.

He watched as lightning suddenly flashed forth from the Lemyazhmok's hand and struck both of his parents; and then suddenly they vanished from the cave and the scene abruptly changed back to the house Ilyé had known so well as a den of torture.

His father emerged from the door and waved farewell, his mother, Nargya, and Baranyana all waved in return. The four of them looked a little older now. The image followed his mother and siblings into the house where his mother was writing in the agony of birthing.

Two strange women stood by, he guessed they were midwives making sure the delivery went safely. One moved in close to his mother as if to confirm his guess.

He could tell the birthing process was leaving his mother in pure agony and finally the second midwife went in with her hands while the other pulled. A blonde-haired youngling with a red-brown coat was nearly out.

Finally it slid free. It was winged with black wings; skin wings. His wings.

He'd been born blonde and copper? He was reviled by the thought. It was impossible.

But the images kept moving without letting him process the idea and he watched as his baby coat shed out the blonde and copper to become straight black. As it was now.

Shortly thereafter his father returned to the images a screaming fury. He winced as his mother was beaten, and when the pool started to show images of him being beaten he struck the water to make it go away.

A vicious pain ripped through his hand and he screamed, going to clutch his hand to his chest, but suddenly the burning started to spread where his hand had touched his chest, so he held it away, but it still crawled along. He'd never felt a pain like it."

Rivisiviq: rihvihsihvihck

Baranyana: bahrannyahnah

Nirkob: nearcob