SkyfightersCh2--The Discussion

The assembly of Crestfall eagles shuffled indignantly through the small hole. Inside the fir’s hollow, a meeting came to order.

“Time for attendance,” Gaffyn, an old Golden eagle said, his voice gruff with age.

“Chinook?” he called.

“Here!” an answering cry said.

“Wingo?”

“Yes…” a young bird sighed, embarrassment getting the better of him. Wingo hated his name.

“Wingo! Again I must call you, as your answer was not acceptable for the parliamentary hollow!”

The young Golden eagle with the funny name replied more firmly than the last time he spoke.

" Here, sir!"

Gaffyn must have been satisfied with the response, as he continued roll call.

" Cedar?"

"Here!"

"Shimmer-Song?" he called for a beautiful she-eagle with a shining coat of feathers.

"Present!" she sang.

"Wonderful, Shimmer!" Gaffyn said, using Shimmer-Song's nickname.

:"Now, there is only one member missing....ah, your'e here, Redchest!" the old eagle exclaimed when a strong, middle-aged general strolled with great dignity into the hollow. Redchest was the leader of the Crestfalls, and even though he presented himself as powerful and resentful, his inner personality was much lighter than his appearance called for. The great eagle was caring and kind, especially around Shimmer-Song, who was his mate.

" We are all present; this meeting has officially begun!" Redchest said throatilly.

"We suceeded in ambushing and then killing the Stripefeathers, sir!" Chinook informed his leader, leaving out the part that some Tawny eagles were still alive.

" WHAT?!" Redchest suddenly boomed. The assembly hollow shuddered. What had the army done wrong?

"Chinook! Step forward!" the leader instructed. Chinook immediatly obeyed.

" Fa-father, I fufilled your order to attack the Stripefeathers! Surely I didn't do any--" Chinook was cut off by his father.

"My son, you are a strong skyfighter and general, and I am very proud of you, but to kill all the Stripefeathers.....it's not what the SkySprits", Redchest said, while adding or I, " would wish of you!"

His son answered with " But, father, not all the Tawnys were slayed...! And... and, isn't that what you wanted? To wipe out the Stripefeathers?" Chinook told the leader, pressing him to answer the question all the others wanted to know-- what had gone wrong?

" SLAYED? This is not what Crestfalls do! We do not kill in cold blood!"theleader cried.



" Was..was Gashface killed?"  Chinook anwered no, and the larger Redchest smiled to himself. Gashface and him had always been secret friends. The old Tawny had expanses of knowledge, and was eager to sheare it with Redchest.



"You are dismissed, son! Go!"

Chinook obeyed.



" Wingo, and Cedar!" Redchest summoned.

The two warriors perched nearer to the leader. What did he want?

" What-- is this?!" Redchest asked, while pulling a bonedagger from his mouseleather satchel attached to his belt of silver.

Wingo and Cedar stared. The weapon of choice of the Crestfall troops had not yet been discussed with Redchest.

Both eagles swallowed hard. They exchanged glances, until finally one spoke.

"Sir, Redchest, sir, that is a bonedagger, sir!" Cedar said, a hint of fear in his voice.

Suprisingly, Chinook's father replied in a cool tone.

" Cedar....Wingo.... who crafted this weapon?" the leader said slowly.

A nervous gulp came from Wingo before the young bird choked out a reply.

"Forge....." he said in a shaky voice that was barely audible.

"SPEAK UP, youngster! Was putting you on the parliment a good idea?" Redchest screeched.

"Sir, yes, sir! I said Forge made the boneblades! He has crafted blades, daggers, and beak-tips out of bones, sir!" Wingo yelled. Forge was a skilled Sooty Owl who worked as a blacksmith to the Crestfalls. The bones of slain ememys and prey he had collected he had turned into fatal weapons.

Redchest was infuriated imediatly with this news. He suddenly swooped out of the room and towards Forge's.

The meeting was ajourned.




That night, a hoot of suprise and pain racked the dark. Forge was no more, slaughtered by his own creation.