Chapter 168 The Choice of a Mother
In the air, over the volcano.
Lupita felt the pain and exhaustion of her Pegasus. She also felt the joy of a mother for her daughter. But the connection was weaker now. Yet, in her mind, she received a thought, strong and pleading.
Pegasus: Lupe, let go of me and jump!
Throughout her life, the young woman had followed the faith of the Pegasi without exception. Heedless of her own life, she planted her feet firmly upon the back of the great beast, released her mane, and leaped forward, away from the Pegasus. She plunged toward the volcanic fire with her eyes closed.
Another thought simultaneously pushed into four other minds. The mother Pegasus beat her wings with great force to descend faster and, immediately thereafter, veered beneath the body of the golden male. She spread her enormous wings, and he landed on her back, between them. She flew awkwardly toward the edge of the volcano, struggling to control her altitude and speed.
Volker gripped the mane of his Pegasus with his left hand, finding a newfound strength. White Mask folded his wings and plummeted toward the space beneath Chara. The young man extended his right arm and caught the unconscious body of the falling rider. Her head struck his nose; blood began to flow, and tears welled up in his eyes. But he held her firmly.
Beautiful Boy lunged in another direction to position himself beneath the falling woman. Kerstin quickly bound a section of his mane around her arm. She appeared more serene than one might expect in a situation of such grave peril; yet her mind had witnessed so much fear and malice that she was able to find a sense of calm.
Lupita fell with her arms outstretched, imagining that she was flying like a Pegasus. In that instant, she thought of the voice of her mother speaking about the traits of the messengers of the Goddess of Air. She could hear the voice in her ears: Lupe...
Kerstin: Lupe!
She opened her eyes and saw a flash of cream and the blonde girl extending her hand. She reached out with both hands; one of them found the slender wrist of the young girl. The mounted girl cried out in pain as the weight of the other woman nearly dislocated her shoulder. The Pegasus tilted hs wings to settle the women more securely upon his back. Lupita grasped the mane with her other hand, and both held on with all their might.
The three animals flew with difficulty toward the spot on the other mountain where they had been before. Beautiful Boy landed first and ran for some distance, propelled by the inertia of the excessive weight he was carrying on his back. With luck and determination, they clung to him until he came to a stop. They let go of his mane and carefully dismounted to the ground. At that moment, Kerstin began to cry out of fear. The elder of the two hugged her and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Lupita: You saved me! We are well now!
The mother Pegasus landed nearby, striking the earth with her fragile legs. Three of them gave way, and she collapsed, with two of her legs twisted in unnatural directions. Nevertheless, she kept her wings level until she lay motionless. She tilted her wings, and the male rolled until he fell to the ground, where he lay motionless.
Finally, White Mask landed with great difficulty, with the man holding the body of the woman. As they attempted to come to a halt, both tumbled from his back and landed hard on the hip of Volker. He grunted in pain, but Chara neither moved nor uttered a sound.
The young All-Mother landed with ease on the mountain. Her body and wings were pure white. Her legs were brown from hoof to knee, and her eyes were brilliant green. She walked quickly toward her mother and the young male. Carefully, she pressed a hoof against the side of his chest and pushed, gently at first, and then with more force. Golden Arrow exhaled a puff of gray, sooty air. She pushed again, and he exhaled even more. The male stirred slightly and took in a soft breath. The next one was deeper. He opened his eyes, coughed heavily, and began to stand. The thought of the All-Mother penetrated every mind on the mountain.
All-Mother: Remain lying down, my son. Rest while you can.
The blond rider sat down beside his girlfriend. He looked at her face, pressed his ear against her mouth, and detected neither sound nor breath. The young man grabbed her shoulders and shook them violently. He began to cry, seized by panic.
Volker: Chara! Wake up, please!
Lupita had just calmed Kerstin down when the young maid heard the shouting. She looked at them, stood up, and ran toward them. She was searching for something in the pouch tied to her dress. After a few frantic seconds, she pulled out a small cloth bag and opened it. She placed the bag under the nose of the rider and pushed it very close.
Volker: What are you doing?
Kerstin: Shut up! Gently push your hands against her chest. Here!
She pointed her finger at the lower part of her chest. The man did the strange thing and waited.
The girl: Once again: in and up.
He made the movement she had demanded, and they saw her chest rise and fall gently, as if she were breathing. A second later, Chara inhaled sharply, then rolled onto her side and coughed for a few seconds. The mucus was full of soot and ash.
Volker: Chara!
While the others watched, Kerstin sat up and said: If she can cough, she is alive.
After a few minutes, everyone was better, except for the mother Pegasus. She was in great pain.
Pegasus: Flee! The mountain will not wait much longer.
All-Mother: Why did you do that? They were sacrificing their lives willing for the magic. You could have lived.
Pegasus: Sacrifice is for the Mother. It is the root of our magic. It was the sacrifice of the first All-Mother that allows you to possess these memories.
All-Mother: You shall become part of us. Only a true All-Mother would sacrifice her life for the good of her family. Your mind and your memories shall travel with us.
Pegasus: Lost son, guide them to a safe place.
Beautiful Boy extended his wing and lowered his shoulder for Kerstin. The others did the same. The riders mounted their Pegasi, and Lupita climbed onto the new All-Mother. They took off quickly, leaving behind the pegasus mother, who could not fly. The male guided them until they landed on the western side of a large mountain, on a small plateau. The Pegasi shielded their bodies and those of the humans with their wings close to the mountainside. The volcano erupted with a sound more thunderous than any other ever heard by humans or Pegasi.