The wind howled outside the cave, but Kol didn't flinch. He sat near the entrance, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded, as if he were simply waiting for a breeze to pass.
Beside him, Kira crouched low, eyes wide, trembling, and peeking past the edge of the cave.
There it was—the monstrous bird soaring above the mountain trail. Its wings were massive, nearly spanning the width of a canyon, with a shimmer of red and blue feathers that caught the light like stained glass. Its body was primarily cobalt blue, its head burning red like fire, and its wings a perfect mix of both colors, flowing with every beat like a storm of flame and ice.
Kira gripped Kol's sleeve with both hands. "That's her!" she whispered, voice panicked. "That's her! That's the bird I told you about!"
Kol didn't even turn his head.
"…Okay."
"She's hunting me, I swear! I only tried to take one tiny egg!"
Kol let out a small sigh.
Kira tugged on his sleeve harder.
Kol blinked slowly.
she cried, her voice echoing slightly in the cave.
Outside, the bird shrieked, wings crashing down like thunder. Dust and rock tumbled from the ceiling.
Kira dove behind Kol. "See?! She heard me! She knows! She's gonna eat me! You have to kill her!"
Kol's eyes flicked to the shadow moving across the cave wall. "She's not after me."
Kira's jaw dropped. "What about me?!" she wailed. "Would you just stand there and watch a little girl die?!"
Kol looked down at her like she was a half-rotten fruit. "Give the bird her egg back."
Kira's expression twisted with guilt and fear. "I can't…"
Kol narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
"…I ate it."
"…You what?"
" I WAS HUNGRY!" she wailed again, hugging her stomach dramatically.I saved it from a life of being… an egg! And it was delicious! So fluffy!"
As if to join the conversation, Kol's stomach rumbled loudly.
He blinked, placing a hand on his gut. "Well…"
Another rumble from outside—louder, closer.
Kol stood, rolling his shoulders. "I guess I have no choice."
Kira clung to his leg. "Wait! Are you really gonna fight her?! She's like… like… a legendary beast! A spirit of vengeance! A goddess of claws and death and—!"
Kol walked out of the cave.
The bird screeched and dove.
One second passed.
A flash of Black lightning and the sound of thunder ripped through the air.
BOOM.
Kol returned a moment later, dragging the now-lifeless bird by its wing. Its massive body left a trench behind him.
Kira's jaw was on the floor.
"You killed her," she whispered. "You actually killed her. And now I'm your accomplice!"
Kol dropped the bird and knelt beside it. "You ate her kid. This is just karma."
Kira puffed her cheeks. "I told you, I was hungry. Besides, the egg was really good."
Kol raised an eyebrow. "Hmm."
They spent the next hour roasting the giant bird over a makeshift fire using broken branches and heated stones. The scent of roasted meat filled the cave like a feast hall.
Kira tore off a piece of leg meat and bit into it. "Mmm! I can't believe she tastes this good. You ever think we're the bad guys?"
Kol, chewing, answered bluntly. "No."
Kira leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "So… why are you even here, huh? On this mountain?"
Kol took another bite. "I could ask you the same."
"But I asked first."
Kol exhaled and stood. "Let's keep moving. We'll reach the peak by morning."
Kira groaned, crawling after him. "Fine… okay, bird killer
The next morning came cold and silent. The sun rose behind the mountain, casting long shadows through the clouds.
Kol and Kira stood side-by-side at the summit. The wind whipped through their hair and clothes, carrying with it the scent of untouched sky.
Before them stood a massive white door, towering over the peak like a gateway to heaven itself. It radiated light, not blinding, but warm—like sunlight on snow.
Its surface shimmered like crystal, etched with ancient runes and symbols neither of them could read.
Kira stepped back slightly. "…Woah."
Kol stepped forward.
The door responded.
With a deep hum, it began to open, light spilling outward like the birth of a star.
Kol narrowed his eyes, staring into the unknown.