Astra’s flight was quick. The wind blew hard against Peppi’s face. He looked over to see how Ragel was fairing and saw that the chow chow was enjoying the ride by allowing his tongue to flap in the air. Above, Peppi could hear the joyful cries of Samson and Gideon.
The flight to the city was longer than expected, but none were concerned over the matter; for flying on a bird was a rare experience and they wanted to savor every moment. Astra herself never gave rides and hearing that she was bringing pleasure to all of them, nearly helped her to forget the deceitfulness of her deed. Finally, Astra stopped at a grand lake.
In the middle of it was a huge metropolis that sat upon seven tall arches. Merry music was faint in the background, but still could be heard. From the building came lights that reflected on the water, giving the pattern of polka-dots.
"This is a close as I go," replied Astra, " Well, that’s Ishmalhal up ahead. There is a party throughout the night- every night. It seems that it never ends."
The idea of a never ending party was not an inviting factor for Samson or Gideon, but Ragel tried to reassured the two that a little fun was what was needed after such a arduous journey.
"How are we to get over there?" asked Peppi.
"I have seen others take a ferry across to the city," said Astra, " There is usually a horn call before it comes to shore. I’m off to get your friend. Have a good time."
The bird left and flew out of sight. After some searching, Peppi found a horn tied to a post with a sign on it. This is how it ran:
Call the hippo to enter the city of festivity.
For those who are bores what a great pity.
A party that never ends keeps us from any serious matter.
Music, dancing, and where the food makes you fatter.
So, blow the horn my dear friend.
Enjoy the great party that has no end.
"Will it work?" said Gideon.
"Only one way to find out?" said Peppi.
The others were eager to get started, but Samson was not so easily persuaded.
"Something’s strange about that sign," said Samson " This seems like a trap."
“Trap, snap!” said Peppi preparing to blow the horn, “ It’s just a party, stop worrying.”
Peppi blew the horn. A mighty sound resonated from it; sending small ripples along the water. In the distance, a ferry was coming forward. As it got closer, they saw that something was pulling it. At first, they thought that it was a rock, but once the head popped up they saw that it was a hippopotamus. The hippo took some time to look over the creatures of color. He opened his mouth, revealing the girth of it. The hippo spoke in a slow and deep voice as the others looked on.
"Who has blown the horn?"
"It was I,” Peppi said, pointing to himself.
"I see others will they be joining you?
"Yes, we will," said Ragel " I can’t wait till we get there. It sounds like they’re having a ball over there."
"It’s a ball like no other," said the hippo, "Come my friends, upon the ferry."
The hippo presently turned around and everyone boarded the vessel. The seven arches were much larger up close and the city was high in the air. The hippopotamus glided between one of the great archways and finally stopped under the city. The laughter, music, and dancing that had been nearly silent from ashore was now a thunderous sound.
They all covered their ears
"Don’t fret friends," replied the hippo, "You will get use to the sound in due time."
"How will we get all the way up there?" asked Peppi.
The hippopotamus bellowed. He did this two times. Strangely under the barrage of noise, his call was heard, and a circular platform was lowered to the water by a massive chain.
Everyone got on.
"Enjoy my friends. Enjoy the party that never ends. It’s a party you will never want to leave."
♦
However, his voice was only muffled by the loud sounds of cheering. Two polar bears, turning a stone capstan, hoisted up the platform. As the platform came up, the five were introduced to the pure debauchery. Ishmalhal was a city of buildings upon buildings. The maze-like streets created a mysterious urge to travel deeper into the alleyways. Confetti fell like rain. Dancers and musicians paraded the streets drumming their drums and trumpeting their trumpets. All kinds of creatures crowded the streets clapping and stomping their feet. The music’s hypnotic tune put the six into a dreamlike state. Before the five travelers had a chance to take it all in, they were suited with party hats. Some bystander plopped a big floppy sombrero on Gideon’s head that was frankly too big for him, but once he managed the hat with his ears, the hat stayed squarely on top.
They watched as some creatures enjoyed fresh fruits, others drank what looked like water, but it could have been something else, and the song they sung was of a wicked rhyme and rhythm. Most of it made no sense, but under the guidance of wine it didn’t matter to them. The streets were lit with hundreds of candles, some hung as chandlers tied to tall poles. However, a deep examination would have revealed the true nature of this revelry: all the inhabitants had some form of drunkenness, the streets were lined with food, most rotten from the weeks before sending a redolence to make any landfill a sweet aroma.
The two dogs, Peppi and Ragel, were already taken hostage by the music. Both ran off to the nearest eating spot, gobbling down the sweets there. A creature came up to Samson with a bottle of wine. Samson walked away.
Further away, Astra returned to Gabriel.
"What took you so long?"
"I was going as fast as I could," Astra said, "It takes some time to get to the city. Now climb aboard."
Once Gabriel was upon the back of the falcon, they were off to the city. On the way,
Gabriel wanted to ask her a few questions.
"I’ve had a long time to think over some things. I heard you say that you birds were forced to flee the sky because of the bats.
Astra turned here head as if the rabbit had said something curious.
"I was wondering," said Gabriel, "why you were flying about in the night if its so dangerous?
“I’m careful that’s all,” she said nervously.
"Really? As you said before, its pretty dangerous to be alone out here. And you just happened to spot us flying around?
"You know curiosity killed the cat," said Astra.
"I’m not a cat. You’re up to something. What’s your trick?"
Astra tried to ignore Gabriel. The hare’s words were piercing her conscious.
"Hey! Did you hear me?" shouted Gabriel, " What’s your trick?"
Gabriel’s hand went to his sword.
"Just be quiet.”
"You seem agitated," Gabriel stated, " You know there’s a saying: one who asks questions tends to find the truth about things.”
"I told you to be quiet!”
"You are playing a trick! What have you done to my friends?"
The black hare swatted Astra over the head with the flat end of his sword. Instantly, the falcon did a barrel roll, sending Gabriel towards the earth with blistering speed. The falcon heard the screaming; it grew fainter and fainter with every second. Gabriel’s pleas for mercy changed Astra’s heart and she dove with all her speed for the falling hare. Just before he hit the ground, Astra caught him in her talons. She dropped him safely on the ground. Gabriel got up in a rage and ran forward with sword raised. However, Astra flew high in the air to evade Gabriel’s attack.
"Come down and fight!"
"Its not wise to pick fights with those who are bigger than you," said Astra.
"When I have the chance to put my blade through you I won’t hesitate. Traitors like you don’t deserve to live."
In the blink of an eye, the large falcon came upon Gabriel with talons fully extended. She caught him with her right foot. Gabriel was promptly pinned to the ground. The rabbit’s sword was a few inches away; he tried to grab it, but Astra pulled him away. Her grip was tight enough to keep Gabriel still, yet no so aggressively as to crush him. She threw her beak near Gabriel face with such speed, that he thought she would tear him to pieces.
Astra, however, had no intention of doing so. All she wanted was for him to calm down, albeit that a large bird pinning you to the ground isn’t such a calming thought.
"Now that you are quiet, I want to say something," replied Astra.
"My friends-"
"Yes, your friends are in danger and if we don't act quickly– they will die. I want to help.
I’m not as cold hearted as you think I am."
"And I suppose throwing me off was an act of kindness?" said Gabriel.
"Dranus wanted all of you at the city of Ishmalhal. I don’t have time to explain much more. We must hurry or we'll be too late. Now I’m going to let you up. You have to trust
“Dranus?” said Gabriel, “Whose that?”
“No time to explain, what do you say?”
Gabriel thought briefly over the proposal, and coming to the conclusion that if he didn't comply all was lost, he agreed to trust her.
"All right, I’ll trust you. But mark my words if you-"
"Enough talking!" Astra said cutting him short, "Get up, get your sword and come on!"
Astra stepped back off of Gabriel. The hare jumped up, picked up his sword, and stood as if he wanted to fight again. The falcon only looked at him with a blank expression.
Gabriel returned his blade back to its sheath, climbed on board the falcon, and both left the river posthaste. Along the way, Astra told Gabriel of her story, however, another group was headed to Ishmalhal as well and they were far ahead of Gabriel and Astra.
♦
The ground quaked as Dranus ran apace along the darkened world. He was getting closer to his destination as he led the bats. Finally, he made it to the shore where the city stood.
The bats went over to the city and circled it to ensure that there was no escape . No one in the city noticed, and the reveling went on as usual. On, shore Dranus kicked back on his hind legs, stretched his wings, and whisked across the lake as a great black fog. The fog crept slowly over the supporting arches of the city. It took the city, from below, like a clawed hand and suddenly there was a quake.
Inside the city, the music came to an abrupt halt. It was an eerie silence, especially after what seemed like an eternity of music. It had been some time since the city had understood what silence was, and since it was the first time experiencing such a virtue, it placed a discomfort in their hearts. Some of the musicians tried to start a merry tune again, but even a greater quake emerged from under their feet. The fog pushed and twisted the city until it broke away from the arches. At first, the sudden weight seemed to heavy for the clawed hand, but it slowly pushed the city high into the sky.
A sudden scream gave way to a sudden stampede. Peppi and Ragel quickly found
Samson and Gideon.
“What happening?” asked Peppi.
“I don’t know,” said Gideon, “ I don’t know.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel and Astra finally made it to Ishmalhal. Both were surprised at what they saw.
"Oh no," replied Astra.
"Is that what the city looks like?" said Gabriel, "It doesn’t look safe to me."
The bird flew closer to the city, but Vamp spotted her from afar. He rallied his force behind him. They came against the falcon with mouths open and fangs ready to tear the victim before them. Astra pressed forward, not changing her direction for a moment.
“I’m not the smartest hare in the world, but shouldn’t we be fly away from them–
especially the big bat there!
"Draw your sword and hang on," Astra said, " We’re going through."
As the two sides got closer, Gabriel lifted his sword, held his breath, and closed his eyes as Astra penetrated the legion of bats. Vamp went to take a bite out of the falcon, but the bird averted the attack. The hare swung erratically, unsure if he was hitting anything.
When they both emerged uninjured, Gabriel saw a trickle of gray blood on his sword.
Astra flew up to the city and landed on top of one of the buildings. The crowds were still amok with fear. Gabriel looked around to see if he could spot Gideon and others.
"I don’t see them. Try that street over there!"
The search went on, but as it did, the fog began to gradually turn the city sideways.
Gideon and the others did their best to keep their footing. Wagons, crates, and creatures rolled one upon another into the water below. A balancing act from building to building was Astra's path, and avoiding the frequent falling debris was the most challenging of all.
The bats were not far off; and knowing that this would cause the search to be impossible, Astra made one last attempt to spot the five. With a hard look, she spotted the four creatures.
“Over there, I’ve found them.”
The four were stranded on the facade of a building: for the streets were now walls and the buildings were great stepping stones.
Astra hopped from each building until she made it to the four.
“Gabriel!” said Gideon, “Its good to see you.”
“Same here,” Gabriel said smiling, extending his hand.
“Hurry there’s not much time, everyone crowd aboard.”
Immediately the black claw released the city. The metropolis fell quickly and violently.
Astra jumped clear and flew off. The city hit the water with a great splash, crumbling from the impact. Dranus spotted Astra heroic deed and sought to kill her, in his current form he gave chase behind the bats, who were already in pursuit.
"Everyone get a good grip," replied Astra, "Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of feathers to spare."
The falcon took a tremendous dive that was so fast and steep that the five thought they could not hold on.
A forest up ahead, gave Astra a chance to out-fly the bats. Peppi ,who had a full view, saw the bats gaining ground, and the black fog was right behind them. They entered the forest; the bats as well; and the fog when it touched the wood, began to destroy each tree, leaving it as salt. Astra pushed her flight to its limits. Trees came at her as if they were appearing out of thin air. The five hung on for dear life with the bats closer still. A few of them were nipping at Astra's tail feathers, hoping to slow her down, but Samson’s arrows kept them at bay. One, however, managed to take hold of her leg; and taking its teeth, sunk them deep. A high shriek came from the bird, prompting Gabriel to action: he took his sword to drive the beast away, but in the process he was bitten and fell back in pain.
Gideon finally finished off the foe with the swift action of his sword.
♦
The forest was coming to an end, but Astra knew she couldn’t keep up her speed. Yet God didn’t miss them, and He knew that the bird was losing ground. From the moon the Holy One caused a very faint beam of light to rest, like a wall, at the end of the wood. The falcon flew through it without even noticing it, and the bats came through as well. But the fog stopped short of the light, for it could pass through nor go around it. The menacing cloud withdrew away over the nearest hill out of sight, knowing; that when resisted, he must flee when God draws near.
The Lord, not forgetting the bats, dealt with them quickly; and this is how He did it. As Astra’s flight became slower, the bats thought that her death, along with five would be imminent. The five could not defend themselves against such a large army and all hope, as they perceived it, was lost. The Lord was working in the minds of all the bats. He wiped clear the memory of the bats so that they all landed and sat around wondering why they were pursuing the falcon in the first place. The Holy One held their minds captive for an hour and then returned their reasoning, but by that time the falcon and the five were long gone.