[Chapter 1]   [Chapter 2]    [Chapter 3]    [Chapter 4]    [Chapter 5]    [Chapter 6]    [Chapter 7]    [Chapter 8]    [Chapter 9]    [Chapter 10]    [Chapter 11]    [Chapter 12]    [Chapter 13]    [Chapter 14]    [Chapter 15]    [Chapter 16]    [Chapter 17]    [Chapter 18]    [Chapter 19]    [Chapter 20]    [Chapter 21]    [Chapter 22]    [Chapter 23]    [Chapter 24]    [Chapter 25]    [Chapter 26]    [Chapter 27]    [Chapter 28]    [Chapter 29]    [Chapter 30]    [Epilogue]
   

Prologue

As Zana stood on the flat roof of the King's palace, he wondered what made him get up so early. He was fully dressed and looked at the silver-looking city of Sherran, but the night  sky made the silver into blue pearls.
    Dawn had now just broken, the blinding pink light made the city shine. The silver ribbon pinned into Zana's blue head-feather caught the light.
    Zana was now really excited; he wanted to fly around the whole planet! Well, he could do it, the only Tyron in history who could do it.
    His wings then straightened. With blue feathers around the edges and the rest white, he gave them a flap and shot into the air. He flew in between the clouds, but came out of them with a few raindrops on him.
    He was now leaving his country called Tyrony and started to fly over the ocean. He felt the wind through his short white hair and a few strong flaps of his wings made him go faster.
Zana was now flying over the Catlan Desert, the home of the Catlans. It may be early morning, but any wanderer from another country is captured by the Catlans and tortured.
He was now reaching Telleria. He felt safer but  wanted to fly past this country  as quickly as possible. He never liked the fact that the Tellens can read minds.
    Zana had quickened his speed and as soon as he reached the Zamaki Ocean, he slowed into a glide. This is the biggest ocean on Takla, it's actually home to Zamaki fish. They're people who are fish and actually have buildings to live in. Zana lowered himself so that his nose was now touching the water. The ends of his hair were also getting  wet. He saw the sparkly Zamakis swimming around. He then had to rise back into the air because he spotted a Razor Shark, the most dangerous  sea creature.
Something shiny then caught  his eye. There was an island. No one's ever mapped this. Zana flew in and stood on a hill. The sight  was so beautiful! All the rocks shone bronze. Wasn't everyone on Takla so fortunate to have this island? Too bad no one knew it.
Zana decided to change that. He bent down and picked a yellow rose to prove he was there. It'll be evidence enough because roses  are usually  blue.
    He flew off again, flying in the same direction. He was now reaching the other side of Takla, for he could see a lively jungle  in the evening. It was the Bannory Jungle, home to the Bannons. His eyes caught  a Bannon reaching for a bunch of bananas with his tongue  that can go up to 2 meters. That was what the Bannons were best known for. Zana then picked up a stench. It stank so badly it'll  last 'till Takla's end! It was very strong now that he was flying over a swamp, nicknamed 'the Healing Swamp'. It had hospitals surrounding it. The swamp was given its name because the best  medicines have a pinch of it in their ingredients.
    Zana cleared out of the jungle  and flew over the Bannon Ocean. This one had volcanoes under the water. After this ocean he'll reach the last  country. Waya: the biggest  country on Takla. The Wayans didn't really have much, but they're excellent  at fighting. Zana adored them. He sped up so that he could reach the capital city. It was completely coloured  red.
    He had it in sight and glided again. All the buildings  were pointed. Zana was more used to the flat roofs that most build-ings on Takla were built like.
    He continued his journey, heading back to Tyrony. He then stopped in the air and hovered over the sea. He was seeing menacing ships in the sky and only one country  did ships in that design...the Catlans.    
    Zana saw that the ships were moving slowly, he glanced at Tyrony. It's almost breakfast and some people will start  working now. He started flying and was adding speed. He kept on adding speed and went so fast he was going to reach Sherran in about 10 minutes! The number started to go  down because he's still adding speed.
    He was now over Sherran, travelling at speeds of about 125 miles per hour. Zana spotted the open hatch of the palace bay, waiting for deliveries. He was coming to it fast.
    "SHUT THE HATCH!" he shouted. The hatch started closing and Zana put himself in a straight position. He just  flew through as the hatch closed.
    At the same speed, he turned sharply down a ramped tunnel and when he came out, sharp-turned left. He went straight forward until he flew through an open door with a family in the room. He quickly put his feet on the ground and almost fell because he didn't try to slow down. The family had gold ribbons in their head-feathers (except the baby). Zana was panting and a servant had just walked in.
    "Vanus! A Catlan fleet is headed this way, they look like they want to attack!" Zana quickly said.
    "But they can't attack, I'm 5 tomorrow," the little boy said. Everyone else in the room then smiled.
    "They might not Rida," said his Mum. A crash was heard.
    Vanus (the Dad and King) was already at a computer and pushed a button. A face appeared. "Gather the forces."
    The face nodded and the screen went black. Sirens went off and there was a rush of battleship movement outside. Vanus flicked his head at Zana to show he wanted to talk to him. He got up and walked towards him.
    "You have an emergency plan, I can tell," Zana said quietly.
    "If we fail in defending Tyrony, I want you to take Jaron to Kane's palace in Telleria-I know you can do it Zana." Zana stood for a few seconds and then checked his 'forever dagger' was sheathed in his belt.
    He walked over to where Salra was cradling baby Jaron. She sighed and gave Jaron to him. A massive BANG was heard and a building was seen going down through the window. Jaron started to cry and Zana did his best to calm him down while Vanus was shouting orders through corridors. Noises were heard and the walls and floors were rumbling. Salra was holding Rida.
    Screaming was heard through windows, a stray laser smashed one. Sounds of vehicles, weapons and shouting were heard from outside. More buildings rumbled and crashed. Laughing could also be heard.
    Zana had a feeling that the Catlans were going to win. He quickly found Jaron's Birth Certificate and wrapped it in the clothes the baby was wearing. Salra had run over to him with a dummy and Rida was following her. He looked up at Jaron.
    "I want to hold him," said Rida.
    "You're too small," said Salra. She had just  put  in the dummy.
Zana knew little boys never liked losing, so he kneeled down to let Rida cuddle round Jaron. A red light then flashed and Salra answered the call.
    "We are too late! The Catlans have breached our ...ence...!"
    Vanus turned round and a servant started flicking switches. Vanus was going to try something.
    "No, it's no use and you know it." When Zana started saying that, everyone knew he was right. "We've lost. I guess I'd better go now."
    "Go where Zana?" Rida started to get  worried.
    "Don't worry, I'll be back." He gave Rida a smile and then rushed out of the room.
    There were 7 servants in the room at that time and they started to quickly eat the fruit in the middle of the table. They were halfway through when a crash was heard and a few screams were heard after. Laser fire could still be heard outside.
    There were a few more of these sounds, then a troop of Catlans walked into the room. A Catlan with spiky hair walked forward. He had a weapon in his hand and daggers in his belt. He then stopped walking and made an evil stare.
    Some of the Tyrons ran forward and tried to fight the troops but got  punched, kicked and shoved against the walls.
    "In the name of their majesties Queen Kayla & King Ingree, all will obey the Catlan rule. This pitiful attempt at resistance will be stopped or you will all suffer!"
    Vanus saw Zana flying off with Jaron and sadly nodded.

Zana headed for the roof of the palace and landed. He carefully placed Jaron, forced the dummy out of his mouth and then flew back to Tyrony. He could hear the baby crying. He needed to get back, just to save a few lives. As soon as he gets back, he knew he'd need to find a way to escape. If he could...

©Ruth Amy Louise Hüneke 2008