Chapter 39: Luna Lacus (2)
[AN: Music Recommendation: Warrior Rhythm by Primal Shaman]
Golden light splintered through the darkness as the rock rolled away. Nova squinted and shielded her eyes with her hand against the blinding sun. Yoa stepped outside, eyes scanning their surroundings, the silence was suffocating, deadly as he carried Nova forward. His steps were cautious, quiet, especially for a man of his stature, and also incredibly lethal to those he hunts.
The wind picked up, howling through the Sacred Lands, the grounds alive and aware of their presence. A dense mist clung to the totems and foliage, the humid air thick with the scent of damp earth, wild orchids, and salt from the nearby ocean. They passed the statues, and gradually, the noise of the forest hummed back to life. Birds chirped sporadically, their songs weaving through the stillness as sunlight filtered through the towering palm fronds and dense canopy.
Yoa’s eyes flicked constantly over their surroundings, alert and tense. His hold on Nova was tight, and any little movement, from that of a tiny insect to the wind rustling through leaves, stilled him to the spot, his grip almost bruising. Any time he tensed, Nova mirrored the movement even though she felt safest in his arms.
The birds’ songs fell away, the parrots chirping silenced as Yoa and Nova drew closer to them, passing under their trees, alerted to the predator amongst them. He may be the predator, but his instincts told him the birds watchful eyes weren’t focused on him. Their eyes were on his little mouse.
Yoa’s growl rumbled along the forest floor and reverberated through the canopy, setting the trees trembling, swaying and disrupting the birds perched on them. Their wings fluttered and ruffled, their squawks and shrill protests echoing through the trees at the disturbance. Yoa’s warning was clear, yet their allegiance was to the Sky Matron and, so too, her son.
"They do not like you," Nova whispered after hearing their dramatic complaints about the ’troublesome cat.’ The racket continued, and Nova tilted her head slightly to listen in more to their words.
Much like with the dolphins, Yoa’s gaze bore into her like he was trying to figure something out. "You can understand them..." Yoa murmured, his voice a low rumble, then he moved them into a shaded area, hidden by all, staring at Nova. "They are spies, Nova." His golden-red eyes glowered in the direction of the multitude of tropical birds.
Nova watched as many of the green parrots cocked their heads to the side, eyes and beaks seeming to grin cheekily at them. Yoa used the coverage of the trees for the remainder of their short journey before the trees spread far and wide, becoming sparse, clearing for Moon Lake. The water shimmered ahead, calm, dark and impossibly still. It was Mother Nature’s mirror, perfectly reflecting the sky’s pale blue.