Chapter 166 Birth of a Pegasus
In the mountains.
The Pegasus struggled to get to her feet. Everyone could see that her legs were exhausted and weak. She grunted in pain as she moved. The males wanted to help, but there was nothing to be done. The humans felt the same way; each of them received her thoughts through the magic of her daughter.
Pegasus: The moment has arrived. Humans, mount your brothers. Lupe, I need you...if you have the courage.
She unfurled her great wing, and the sixteen-year-old girl began to climb. The males lowered their shoulders and offered their manes so that their riders could mount. When everyone was ready, the Pegasus, over a hundred years old, walked a short distance to the edge of the level ground and launched herself into the air with her wings fully extended. The animal, with her white and dark body, descended just above the mountain slope, her wings curved to catch the air. Lupita clung with all her might to the long strands of her mane and pressed her small body against the powerful back.
The three males ran together and launched themselves into the air, beating their wings in unison. All three flew effortlessly through the light air, watching the mother as she flew with difficulty. Beautiful Boy beat his wings vigorously to accelerate and positioned himself in front of the Pegasus. The other two followed him instinctively. Flying in a linear formation ahead of the mother, they created a zone of favorable airflow to help lift her wings and her heavy body. The four began to spiral upward, circling the mountain until they rose above it.
The group of Pegasi flew toward the smoking mountain, and when they found themselves above the volcano, they saw a deep abyss filled with boiling lava, which throbbed in rhythm of the surrounding earth. The Pegasus flew higher and higher, with the golden Pegasus following her. The other two males circled the mountain in the fetid air, watching them with fear and hope.
Ice began to form on the wings of the Pegasus and Golden Arrow, for the air was extremely cold; however, the heat rising from below created conditions of extreme humidity. Lupita and Chara felt as though they were going to freeze to death. The Pegasus screamed in pain and exertion as her daughter began to be born.
Baby Pegasi were similar in size to a small pony, but an All-Mother was born with the body size of an adult Pegasus, similar to Little Feather. Only an elderly mother, with large, strong wings and a gigantic body, could carry a new All-Mother.
Chara felt a connection stronger than when she had bonded with her Pegasus. Her head ached more than her body did from the cold air at that altitude. She held the mind of Golden Arrow, the All-Mother, of the past and a now fused mind: that of the daughter being born and that of her mother. It was as if she were hearing many voices, all speaking at once. There were four voices, but one of them sounded like hundreds of voices resonating inside her head. She felt as though her mind were on the verge of exploding under the strain, a strain that no human brain could ever contain.
With immense pain and incredibly powerful muscles, the mother gave birth to her daughter while soaring over a mountain of fire. The new All-Mother left the body of her mother with her legs and wings folded against her frame. She was covered in birth fluids and blood, and she plummeted straight toward the abyss, a void that filled with more lava with every passing minute.
Chara thought, or one of the other voices thought; the rider could not be sure at that moment: Follow her! The transition must take place before she draws her first breath.
Golden Arrow folded his wings and pointed his snout toward the mountain. The woman tried to press her body as tightly as possible against his back, all while clinging to his yellow mane with both hands. She cried out in exertion and pain.
The Pegasus flew as close to the young Pegasus as he could, and they fell together for a few seconds. The mother, too, folded her wings and followed them at a certain distance. Lupita had the long, dark hair of the mother wrapped around her forearms, and she pressed her legs inward to stay in contact with her. Her thoughts penetrated every mind solely through their sheer force.
Pegasus: Live, my daughter! Embrace the power of your destiny! You are the First All-Mother; you are all Mothers!
Chara began to feel something strange. With every breath, she felt less physicality, less mental presence, and fewer emotions. She believed that her life was flowing from her body toward the new All-Mother.
Chara trembled as her life, her emotions and her mind, returned like a blow to the chest.
The eyes of the new Pegasus opened, and she took a deep breath. She spread her wings. The column of warm air rising from the mountain dried the fluids of her wings and broke the ice that had formed. She beat her wings with astonishing force and flew in circles over the mountain, absorbing the magic and the new creative power of the world.
In the minds of all, thoughts from the All-Mother appeared: I am the All-Mother, guardian of the memories of those who lived before, and of the magic created by the First Mother to protect our family. I will live solely for my family, and my daughter will be just like the hundreds who came before me. I will always remember the sacrifices that surrounded my birth.
Golden Arrow began to plummet sideways, for his lungs had filled with poisonous fumes and his body could no longer function. He slowly lost consciousness and was unable to spread his wings to slow his fall. The rider, too, began to lose control of her body and mind. She separated from her Pegasus and fell further and further away from him. The last thought of the woman was of Volker and the sadness of losing him.