Phoenix Phire

/Inferno: Nix: I'm on the balcony of the western corner bedroom. I didn't want to scare you.

/Inferno: Bev: Can't use the front door like everyone else? On my way.

Bev smiled when she spotted Nix leaning against the railing of the balcony, he smiled more nowadays than he used to. She slid the door open and wrapped him up in a hug. "About time you visit Nicky."

Nix squeezed her tight before releasing her. "This is Bev, the territorial Governor of Loki, and my older sister. Bev, this is Zinu and Guyanar, they are part of the Krayven Clan in Everspire."

Bev greeted them both warmly. "Welcome to Loki."

Guyanar's returned her smile, his eyes scanning the horizon. "This isn't Everspire?"

Nix shook his head. "This is Loki. The home of the 12 Pillar Alliance."

"Going to stay the night, Nicky?"

"I need the Falcon, but I'll hang out the rest of the evening." Nix spotted the huge bird sitting in the middle of the spacious bedroom. "Get the doors for me Froglegs." He dragged the Titan Falcon through the double doors and onto the balcony.

"Magnificent." Guyanar touched the dark golden-brown feathers. "Can I see it fly?"

Nix smirked. "It's like you know my thoughts before I say them. Have a seat." Nix spent a few seconds telling him what he wanted to do. The old man looked skeptical.

"Let Zinu do it. I'm an old man Nix, I can barely walk anymore." Guyanar sat back in his chair and despite his reservations, did what he was asked.

Bev whistled softly when the falcon stood. "Fifteen feet tall?"

Nix nodded. "A bit more probably, it's the wingspan that's impressive."

"Papa?" Zinu jumped back when the Falcon stood up, her eyes showed a mixture of fear and interest. "You're doing that?"

"I am." The titan moved to the railing. "Now what?"

Nix dragged two chairs out of the falcon's path. "It seems hard but it isn't. It's windy so hop over the rail and extend your wings, that will start you gliding. One or two light flaps should be enough to start gaining altitude."

Zinu shook her head slightly. "He's never done something like this." She stopped speaking a moment later when the Falcon hopped over the rail and extended its wings.

Nix watched it glide away, it hadn't flapped its wings yet but it was already gaining altitude. "I wonder if the Air Element takes away the need for lift."

When the titan finally flapped its wings, it shot into the clouds. The screeching scream of the Titan Falcon echoed over Loki.

*****************

"He's been up a long time." Zinu clapped and shouted whenever the Falcon flew overhead. Her smile seemed to grow larger as the hours passed by.

"He's really improving fast." Nix watched as Guyanar improved from a conservative start to banks, dives, and hovers. "Seems to have a knack for it."

[Whisper: Nix to Guyanar] Do you see that wide open space beneath us? Put it down there when you are done.

[Whisper: Guyanar to Nix] Thank you, Nix. I never thought I would do something like this.

[Whisper: Nix to Guyanar] It gets better.

A few minutes later, the old man sat up in his chair, his eyes sparkling. "I didn't think I could do that. I saw the clouds, and distant cities."

Nix nodded. "The Titan Falcon has unrivaled vision and flying ability. It was called the SkyKing back when the totem clans used to be Titans."

"What do you mean?" Zinu wanted to fly the giant bird also, but her grandfather spent too much time.

"The totem Clans are the descendants of Titans. After the dragon war, the clans separated from each other and slowly began to lose its history. With the passing years, the ability to change faded, until only a few could still do it."

"We were Titans?" Guyanar stared at Nix. "How do you have a Titan Falcon if they are extinct?"

"I built it at the Khalam'Zhur, a graveyard of legendary beasts." Nix let it sink in. "We are tasked with restoring three Titan Clans, the Lion, Scorpion, and the Falcon."

Guyanar's eyes drifted to the Falcon down below. "All three of those are extinct?"

Nix shook his head. "Only the Falcon is completely gone, the other two have one left."

"You wouldn't have brought this old man here and let him fly that magnificent creature unless you have a plan." Guyanar glanced at his granddaughter. "You want Zinu to become the Titan Falcon?"

"No. I want you to become the Titan Falcon." Nix enjoyed the shocked look on both of their faces.

"I enjoyed flying Nix, more than anything I've done in many years." Guyanar shook his head sadly. "I'm too old for this. Even now I feel tired from just sitting here."

"I'm not asking you to use this as a puppet. I want you to become the Titan." Nix patted Guyanar's shoulder and began to explain his idea.

*******************

[Direct Contact: Tai'Qui]

A life-sized holo of the Earth Dragon appeared in front of Nix. "Nix? Fajii and I were just talking about you."

"Got a non-viable dragon egg that I can have?"

Tai'Qui immediately nodded without hesitation "I do. Do you want it now?"

Nix nodded. "Remember that balcony where we stashed the Titan Falcon?"

"Sure. On your sister's estate in Loki."

"Yes. On the grass beneath it. Soon as you can, please."

"On my way." Tai'Qui closed com, leaving Nix staring off into space.

/Inferno: Bev: They look a little scared.

/Inferno: Nix: I don't blame them.

"You've done this before?" Zinu looked more nervous than the old man. "I don't want to lose my papa yet."

"You can think about it for a few days. Sooner or later, I'm going to need someone." Nix wasn't about to force anyone. If they couldn't find a volunteer, then the Krayven would remain a Totem Clan.

"I'll do it." Guyanar gave his grandaughter an apologetic smile. "My days have become short. With this, I could continue to guide and influence our people. I can lead them into a new era where we regain what was lost."

A breach opened a few meters away and a large egg came through it, immediately followed by Tai'Qui and Fajii.

Fajii grabbed Nix's face with both hands and kissed him. "You stay away too much!"

Nix nodded in agreement. "I've placed people in dragon eggs in the past. I've also placed essences in puppets. This is an extension of those processes, I can do it."

/Inferno: Bev: Can I make a suggestion? Do this in front of his Clan, with everyone watching.

/Inferno: Fajii: That's a good idea. Let the Krayven Clan watch him become a Titan. Instead of Zinu showing up with a Titan Falcon and a story.

/Inferno: Nix: I don't hate the idea.

Nix nodded to himself and turned to face Guyanar. "I will do it tomorrow night, in front of the entire clan. Speak to them, convince them of their history. They were meant to be more than just a Totem Clan."

**********************

Nix and Fajii spent the evening at Bev's home in Loki. Tai'Qui brought the egg back to her nursery with the promise that she would help Fajii deliver the titan puppet and the egg to the Krayven Clan at sunset the following evening.

Fajii left the next morning to resume her training with the earth dragon, while Nix spent the afternoon with his sister. He stayed there until an hour before sunset, at which time he opened a breach to his mountain campsite.

/Inferno: Fajii: The egg has been placed within the circle of the totem.

/Inferno: Nix: Understood. I won't be long.

Fajii sat patiently with Zinu. The old man was sitting cross-legged on the ground, wearing only a loincloth. The wrinkled skin of his body was coated in the red Phoenix clay that surrounded the totem. The herds had been brought in and all were called to witness the turning. During the day, Zinu and Guyanar told the story of Krayven's history as one of the Titan Clans. There were many doubters, some clansmen thought that their totem might be offended by such stories. Half of them came to see if it was true while the other half came to see them fail.

"There!" Zinu pointed to the flaming phoenix as it descended from the clouds, it circled the camp twice before landing on the totem.

Nix flapped his wings once and then reverted to his human form while jumping down. He approached Guyanar and placed a hand on his shoulder while opening up the Animator menu. "The great Titan King Tautius has tasked me with the restoration of the Titan Falcon Clan. As the Totem to the great Krayven Clan, you have been judged worthy of this honor."

The Titan Falcon had been placed next to the dragon egg. Guyanar turned toward his clansmen. "The cycle of life flows in reverse. At the end of my life, I return to the egg and the egg returns to its mother. From this our Clan is reborn."

[Guyanar][Dragon Egg]

Animate the Dragon Egg with Guyanar?

"Yes."

The entire clan gasped at the same time. The old man disappeared leaving only the dragon egg. Nix kept the animator menu up and restarted the new queue.

[Dragon Egg Containing Guyanar][Titan Falcon]

Animate the Titan Falcon using the Dragon Egg containing Guyanar?

"Yes."

The egg disappeared, for a moment no one spoke or even breathed. The Titan stirred slightly and then got to its feet. Guyanar's voice carried to every person in the clan. "I have been reborn. From this day forward we are the Falcon Clan."

/Inferno: Fajii: He's going to claim the totem?

/Inferno: Nix: Yes. That will strengthen him and perhaps help us.

/Inferno: Fajii: Then what?

/Inferno: Nix: I'm not sure. First, we will worry about the Scorpion Clan. We'll keep an eye on things here. I'm interested in seeing what develops when a Titan claims the Totem.

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