The Colonies of Myth: The Egg Mystery (Book One)

"Avora, another egg has been stolen!" Avora, a Copper Gryphon, rose from her slumber. "Another egg?" she asked, her eyes widening. "Only two left," Avora's mother, Farea, said sadly. "Farea," Avora's father, Nimdron, called, "it's probably one of the other Colonies, don't you think?"
"But they're having the same problem!" Avora said before her mother could respond. "Avora's right," Farea said. "Cyndria told me her eggs have gone missing. Did Solia say anything to you, Avora?" Cyndria was a friend of Avora's parents, and a member of the Dragon Colony. Solia was her first hatchling, and Avora's best friend.
Avora nodded. "Solia told me that if the eggs keep disappearing, she would be the last Volcanic Dragon!" Farea and Nimdron looked at each other.
"And what did Cyndria say about her suspicions?" Nimdron asked Farea. "The...the same thing. She thinks another Colony, just like us!" "Maybe we can find out who is stealing the eggs," Avora said uncertainly. Then, giving herself confidence, she said, "We could stay up and hide in the darkness of our cave to see who is taking our eggs!"

That night, while all of the other gryphons were sleeping, the Copper Gryphons stayed hidden in the shadows of their deep cave. It wasn't until after an hour when something came to the mouth of the cave. It was as black as the night. It didn't look familiar at all! It seemed as if black flames were spurting out of its body. Before it could do any harm, Farea let out a loud screech.
When Avora knew it was safe, she asked, "Did it take anything?" "I don't know," Avora's father replied. "Let's go to sleep now," Farea suggested. But only Avora's parents fell asleep. Avora herself stayed awake, staring into the starlit sky. "It couldn't have been from any Colony. None of us have black fire coming from the inside out. I need to warn Solia and Cyndria!"
When Avora reached the borders of the Dragon Colony, she looked around to make sure it was safe. But as soon as she stepped over the border, something from the darkness lunged at her. "What do you want? Are you here to steal -" It was the voice of a Mountain Dragon who was appointed to guard the border. But when he saw Avora, he let her pass through.
"I'm sorry, I thought -" "That's fine," Avora accepted apologies from the ones she knew so quickly. The Colonies knew each other well. It was only once in a while when true danger came to the Colonies.
The Volcanic Dragons' residence wasn't very far away, and Avora found it instantly.
When she looked inside, all of the Volcanic Dragons were asleep. Avora saw Solia sleeping against the rocky wall of the cave. Avora nudged her until she woke up. "A-Avora? What are you doing here?" Solia whispered. "I saw a bit of what was trying to steal the eggs!" Avora responded. But she said it in such a loud whisper that Solia's parents woke up.
Laeron, Solia's father, was the first to ask. "Avora, what brings you here?" "She said she knows who is stealing the eggs!" Solia chirped. Cyndria almost smiled. "And who might be stealing our eggs, Avora?" Avora opened her mouth, but didn't know what to call the creature. "Well...it isn't someone from another Colony, that's for sure!" Avora said. Cyndria blinked.
Avora stepped outside to show Laeron and Cyndria a clue about the creature stealing eggs. "That trail of smoke shows where the...the 'thing' went. It had black fire coming from it when I saw it!" All of the Volcanic Dragons were convinced, fortunately. There was silence for a while, until Laeron said, "Dawn is coming. When all of the other Colonies wake, we'll gather them, and you and your parents can tell the story."

"We saw it," Farea told the gathered Colonies, "and it looked so unfamiliar. Definitely not a member of any Colony I know of!" The crowd started mumbling. "And what was that loud screech I heard last night?" a White-Footed Gryphon asked. "That was Farea scaring off the creature," Nimdron said.
Solia inched forward, little by little, until Avora realized what she was trying to do. So Avora inched her way towards Solia, and when they were close enough, Solia whispered, "Don't forget to mention the path of smoke in the sky!" Solia returned to the crowd, and Avora returned to her parents.
The audience could see Avora whispering to her parents. Farea and Nimdron fixed their gaze on the sky, spotting the streak of smoke, just fading away. But before it could vanish, Nimdron shouted, "Look towards the sky! The smoke! It came from the robber, no doubt!" The whole crowd nodded.
A Sorrel Werewolf spoke up. "None of my pups have been stolen. This probably means that what - or, who, - you're talking about only steals eggs, not live birth. Strange, isn't it? Well, at least mammals are safe...right?" The mammals nodded in agreement.
A Silver Gryphon stepped forward and said, "You aren't being selfish, are you, werewolf? Have feelings for the ones that lay eggs!" Then the creatures that did so nodded. "I'm not being selfish," the werewolf said, "It's just peculiar for something - or, someone, - to be stealing eggs, and not living young!"
"True," Farea agreed with the werewolf, "but you didn't really have to put it that way, now, did you?" Then the Sorrel Werewolf's mate stepped up. "I know what you mean, gryphon. And because I already have feelings for the egg-layers, I suggest we all go and look for the one stealing eggs!" All of them yowled in agreement.
"Then, we leave tonight," Nimdron announced, "but for now, go back to your homes. Prepare to leave!" The Colonies left the meeting area to return to their homes...at least for the day.

That night, the Colonies returned to their previous meeting place. "Ready?" Nimdron asked them all. Everybody showed their agreement with noise. Werewolves howled, gryphons screeched, dragons roared. But there were many more sounds created in the group.
The Colonies began to simultaneously march toward the direction of the trail of smoke that was now gone. All of the egg-layers were yearning to get revenge on the dark creature. What could it possibly be doing with all of the eggs?
When a mountain range came into sight, all of the Colonies stopped marching. "Where could it have gone?" asked a Three-Headed Hydra standing tall on his crocodilian legs. Nobody answered. But then a deafening roar broke the quiet of the night.
"There it is!" Avora shouted, looking towards a dark figure flying through the air. Everybody looked up and saw the smoky shadow...gliding towards them! "Retreat!" yelled Nimdron. Everybody began racing back, but the creature was even faster. He came in front of the group. Everyone turned their heads to find that the thief was not alone.
The black figures started closing in on them. "Well, there's no other choice...but to fight. Ready?" asked Farea. The Colonies began growling. But this didn't scare the black shadows circling them. Farea was confused. Were the creatures not afraid in a group?
Laeron shot out a ball of fire from his mouth. The target melted...but came back to life. "What weakness is there?" Laeron asked, frightened now.
Avora looked around. Werewolves were standing on their hind legs, slashing their claws at the air, trying to intimidate the shadows. Hydras were raising their amazingly long necks to make themselves look taller. Dragons were breathing full streaks of fire. But nothing worked.
"Avora!" somebody whispered from behind. Avora turned around. It was Solia. "While everybody is fighting, let's go to the mountains to see if we can find any of the eggs!" Avora's mouth dropped open. "How will we escape without anybody looking?" The dark figures had started attacking the Colonies. "We can do so now!" Solia replied. She was right. Nobody was looking.
Avora and Solia began gliding silently through the darkness of the night. The battle was still in sight, but was starting to hide behind several hills.
"Over there!" Avora said, pointing with a talon towards the tallest mountain. Something glowed very faintly. "Let's go!"
"Oh my gosh! It reeks!" Solia exclaimed in disgust. The pair could see where the glow was coming from. It was a silver mask, shaped somewhat like an eagle's head. There was silence for a moment.
"What...is that?" Avora wondered. "No clue," Solia responded. "Should one of us put it on?" Avora asked. "We don't know what danger it could put on us!" Solia warned. "What if it has some sort of power? A power strong enough to defeat the...shadow creatures?" Avora questioned.
Both of them knew they couldn't argue all night long. Finally, Avora said, "I'll put it on!" Solia's expression told Avora she was worried. "There's no other choice!" Avora pointed out.
She walked over to the silver mask, tried to touch it with her beak, but couldn't. "There's...a barrier of some sort," Avora said, "in front of the glowing part. What now?" Solia shrugged.
"Go to the Sky Colony!" a voice said from nowhere. "Who...said that?" Solia asked, teeth chattering. "Go to the Sky Colony!" the voice repeated itself. "Sky Colony?" Solia wondered. But the voice didn't speak anymore.
"What...is the Sky Colony?" asked Solia. "I don't know," answered Avora, "but...maybe that's where the eggs are!" Solia didn't say anything for a bit, then responded, "I expected to find the eggs here. The dark figure flew here, remember?" Avora nodded. "But the eggs are not here, so they must be somewhere else!"
The duo walked outside the cave. "Where can the Sky Colony be?" asked Solia. Avora shook her head. "I don't know. I hope that...voice returns, and tells us exactly where to go!"
Faded screams from the battle could be heard. "Maybe...we should go...back?" Solia asked uncertainly. "No, Solia. We have to go find the Sky Colony, and then -" Avora paused. She thought she heard a faint twinkling. She slowly looked up towards the starry sky. Several stars seemed to be moving!
"Solia, look up!" Avora said while keeping her gaze on the moving stars. Solia tilted her head up. "What? There's...there's nothing!"
Avora took her stare off of the sky, and looked at Solia. "The stars are moving, Solia! I think they were forming...a...some sort of -" Avora looked up. The stars had stopped moving, and they formed an arrow in the direction away from the war.
"An arrow," Avora finished, "that probably points in the direction of the Sky Colony. Don't you see it now, Solia?" Solia looked up, and shook her head. "Avora...why can't I see it?" Avora didn't know how to answer.
"I...I don't know. But trust me! It's still there, pointing -" "I do trust you, Avora. You're my best friend!" Solia interrupted. "I'll follow you," she added.

It seemed to be only minutes before Solia and Avora started to tire. "Are you sure this is the direction the 'arrow' was pointing at?" Solia asked sleepily. "Yes, I'm sure," Avora responded. "I just don't understand why it's taking so...wait...look, Solia!"
Solia did look, and saw exactly what Avora was seeing. A mountain range, with mountains much taller than the mountains where the voice came from, came into sight. And from those mountains, came a distant screech.
"Do you think...it could be..." Solia asked without finishing. Avora shrugged. "Let's go find out," Avora said, "and if it is, we'll know our journey's over!"

"Hello?" Avora called in a cave when they reached the mountains. Nobody responded. "I know somebody's near," Solia said, "because...well, because I heard the screech!"
Something began crawling from the depths of the cave. It was a phoenix with bright red feathers. He had a featherless spot on his wing where a bit of blood colored it. "Who are you?" he asked.
Avora and Solia looked at each other, until Solia said, "I'm Solia, and this is Avora. We're looking for...the...Sky Colony. Do you...know where it is?"
The phoenix bent his head low, and said in a whisper, "The Sky Colony is just a few miles away from here. But they are a bit...well...I don't know, but let's just say they don't talk with young creatures often...am I of any use?"
Avora blinked several times. "Well, you see, there are these dark...'things', that have been stealing eggs from the Colonies we know. Now...the Colonies are fighting the dark figures, and Solia suggested we go look for the eggs. But we couldn't find them in the first mountain range!"
The phoenix made a weak gasp. "Those dark figures you're talking about...were black flames coming out of them?" Avora nodded. "I realized that the first time I saw them!"
"Those are called Dark Flyers. They'll fly through the night, stealing anything unprotected!" Avora turned towards Solia, and whispered to her, "Now I get it! The mothers that give birth to live young always have their offspring near them. But egg-layers, like our parents, lay the eggs and hide them with twigs. And -"
"And that isn't much protection against these Dark Flyers," Solia finished for her friend. The phoenix started talking again. "It was a Dark Flyer who gave me this injury...hours ago!" He showed them his slightly injured wing. "I was lucky to be able to drive him away. Gosh! Evil, dark, little -"
"Wait," Avora interrupted the phoenix, "did you just say you drove the Dark Flyer off?" The phoenix nodded. "How did you do it?" Solia asked. "Oh and...what's your name anyway?" Solia could've asked that a long time ago.
"Firstly, my name is Ranedura. Secondly, and this should be obvious, I flew under the moonlight. Of course, in this case, the light would overcome the dark, and-" Ranedura looked at Avora, who was deep in thought.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Avora wondered out loud. "Light overcoming darkness...that's it!" Solia said. "Avora, maybe we don't have to find Sky Colony after all!"
Avora nodded slowly. "Avora," Ranedura began, "the Sky Colony is the most powerful Colony ever. They can beat the Dark Flyers permanently, I'll tell you that!"
"But...we'll never make it back in time if we go to the Sky Colony," Avora said, "but...then again, Sky Colony can defeat the Dark Flyers...for sure!" Ranedura came up with an idea. "I'll fly you two over to Sky Colony!"
"What about your injured wing?" Solia asked worriedly. "Oh, that's nothing! It's been hours, and I can't even feel the pain anymore. So...get on my back now, young ones!"

Wind blew past Avora, Solia, and Ranedura, who was flying even faster than the Dark Flyers could ever go. "This is amazing!" Avora howled at the night. Solia nodded in agreement.
"There it is," Ranedura said, "Sky Colony!" Avora and Solia could see an extremely tall, pointed mountain that stood alone, not in a range like the two mountain ranges Avora and Solia ran into before.
The lone mountain definitely was taller than any other mountain Avora and Solia had ever seen. "The battle will be over soon," Avora vowed.

Ranedura found a place to land. "Now, Avora and Solia, this is where I must leave you. Good luck!" And with that, Ranedura flew away, leaving Avora and Solia on the Sky Colony's mountain.
The two started walking into an enormous cave. "Everything here...makes me look small!" Avora whispered to Solia. "Hey, look!" Solia said, pointing outside the cave. There were streaks of light coming in front of the cave. "Day will be coming soon!"
"Don't forget, Solia," Avora reminded the dragon, "that light will only scare them off for the day. The Dark Flyers will return at night!" Solia's smile disappeared at those words. "You're right. But we're here, aren't we? Now all we have to do is look for the Sky Colony!"
The cave always seemed light. "Is there anywhere to rest? Because I'm not going to sleep on this rocky ground!" Solia said. "Over there, Solia! On top of that fallen...pillar?"
Avora and Solia walked over to what looked like a gigantic tree, lying on the ground. Their bodies sprawled onto the thick pillar-like object. "I'm just glad I can rest here!" Solia said.
"Solia...did you hear that?" She shook her head. "Avora, you have to be sure about this one, too. I -" Solia couldn't finish. The fallen object began to move! Avora and Solia fell off, and when they looked up, they were in front of a huge dragon.
"That...is large!" Avora said. "Who are you? And what is your reason for coming?" the voice was loud, yet gentle. "I'm Avora," she started, "and this is Solia, my best friend. We were told to come here...well, we heard a voice!"
The huge dragon stared at them, and then said calmly, "You heard Xiphro's voice. He is the leader of Sky Colony. He is the one who rules every Colony!" Avora's mouth dropped open, while Solia's eyes widened. "What is your name?" Avora asked. "I am Athryn, Xiphro's mate, Queen of Sky Colony. Anyway, follow me now, and I will lead you to Xiphro to have a talk. Is that fine with you?"
Avora and Solia nodded. Athryn turned around, her enormous body looming above Avora and Solia. "We slept on her tail," Avora whispered. "I was wondering why it looked like mine!" Solia responded quietly.
The cave was almost empty. "Why isn't there anybody else here, Athryn?" Solia asked curiously. "Sky Colony is expecting you," Athryn replied, "because Xiphro told them he called for you!"

When the trio reached a humongous room filled with almost every creature Avora and Solia knew of, Athryn gently picked the two younger ones up and placed them in front of Xiphro.
"Welcome," Xiphro told Avora and Solia, "to Sky Colony. I see your Colonies are having a bit of an...egg problem, are they not?" Avora and Solia nodded together. "Dark Flyers," Avora started, "are responsible. Will you help us?"
"We'll...we will do something to repay you!" Solia tried to say. "We don't charge anybody. We help, because that's what we do!" Xiphro said. "What you have to do, however, is show us exactly where we're supposed to go," Athryn said.

"We will now leave and help these two!" Xiphro said when he had led Sky Colony to the cave's entrance. "Avora and Solia, lead us now, and we will follow!"
Avora and Solia took to the sky. They could hear the loud wings flapping softly behind them. The Hydras swam in a nearby river almost thrice as wide as the rivers Avora and Solia were used to.
"The river will get thinner," Xiphro explained, "so the Hydras will eventually start walking on land, where there is more room. But those legs get tired easily. I do pity them. So...how much further?"
Xiphro changed the subject so suddenly, Avora almost lost her consciousness trying to make out what Xiphro had just said. "Oh, we're pretty far, but...we'll make it before tonight!"

"My wings are hurting," Solia told Avora. "Mine are, too," the gryphon replied. Xiphro overheard this, and went underneath Avora and Solia. "Ride on me, and you'll be fine," Xiphro said.
When Avora and Solia got on Xiphro's back, they realized exactly how enormous he was. "Why are you...so...big?" Avora asked Xiphro. "I am a Universal Dragon. Well, everybody has 'Universal' in their title when they are from Sky Colony," he replied in a surprisingly soft voice.
Xiphro suddenly swooped down, with the rest of the Sky Colony following. "Midday. I'm going to send our best hunter out," he explained to Solia and Avora.
With his tail, Xiphro pointed to a giant bird of some sort. "Snowfeather, the last of her kind. Every subspecies of roc were wiped out by a disease brought by Aerico. Snowfeather thinks all hope is lost!" Avora and Solia looked at the white bird. Despite her size, she seemed to be able to fly faster than any of the other members of the Sky Colony.

When Snowfeather returned with several animals in her beak, she gave Avora and Solia the first meal. "This...is delicious," Avora said after taking in her first mouthful. Solia agreed.
After lunch was finished, the group continued their flight. Avora and Solia could fly again. "Look! The mountain where Ranedura lives!" Avora exclaimed. "We're getting close, Xiphro!" Solia told the leader of Sky Colony.
As they flew past Ranedura's cave, his head poked out. He grinned at the sight of Avora and Solia returning home with hope of getting rid of the Dark Flyers.
"We'll see that other mountain range in a few minutes. That would mean -" Solia began, but a thought struck her. Because it was daytime, the Dark Flyers would have gone back to the mountain!
"Xiphro, we might have to stop," Avora said, as if she had read Solia's mind. "And why is that?" Xiphro asked. "Well...the Dark Flyers live in the next mountain range," Solia said.
Avora remembered something. "Solia! Remember that mask we saw?" Solia nodded, eyes widened. "Well, we never got to...see what it does," Avora said.
"Avora," Xiphro started. "What is it?" Avora asked. "The mask...it belonged to the rocs. It has the power to withstand illness, as well as other negative situations. But when the Dark Flyers took it away, Aerico was able to put the disease on the rocs," Xiphro explained.
Snowfeather flew towards the front. "I vowed that I would avenge my family. That's the only reason I came!" Solia and Avora looked at Xiphro. "She usually stays in our cave," he whispered.

The mountains came into sight. "Are we...going to stop?" Avora asked hesitatingly. Xiphro nodded, but Snowfeather's face clearly said she was brave enough to go fight the Dark Flyers and retrieve the mask.
"We have to wait until night comes," Xiphro told Snowfeather. She thought for a bit, then nodded slowly. "Fine. But when night comes, I'm going in," the huge roc said.

The evening of that day came. Snowfeather looked at Xiphro expectedly. The dragon nodded. The roc plunged for the mountains, with Avora and Solia coming in next, and the rest of the Sky Colony on their tails.
Everyone landed. None of the Dark Flyers were inside the cave. "They must have already left," Solia said. "But the mask is still there!" Avora pointed out.
The gryphon reached out for it, and this time...she was able to touch it! "But...why not then?" Avora asked out loud. "Snowfeather didn't know you were there," Xiphro explained, "so she made sure nobody could touch it. But now, she has permitted you and Solia."
"Put it on," Snowfeather told Avora as she picked it up. The dwarfed gryphon looked up at the enormous white bird. "It's...it's too big for me," Avora replied.
"It'll resize itself when you put it on," the roc said. So Avora put the mask on, and to her surprise, it gave her a powerful feeling as it resized itself to fit the gryphon's head.
"I'm ready," Avora said boldly. She and Solia led the Sky Colony out of the cave.

That night's battle had already begun. The other Colonies had supposedly expected the Dark Flyers to return. "Let's go!" Avora shouted, plunging into the confusing war.
The battling creatures looked up to see the sky was covered by the silhouettes of the Sky Colony members. The Colonies retreated, but stayed near to find out if the Sky Colony was on there side.
With vigorous wingbeats, Snowfeather created what seemed to be a hurricane that only affected the area where the Dark Flyers were standing. The shadows could do nothing against the rough wind.
The hydras clamped their jaws around several Dark Flyers. The shadows squirmed in the Universal Hydras' mouths, but the toxicity was too much for the Dark Flyers to handle.
The Universal Werewolves howled louder than the werewolves Avora and Solia lived with, and this deafened the Dark Flyers. "We're winning!" Avora said proudly.
Xiphro and Athryn had the final blow. From their mouths came out streaks of fire. The blasts of fire were larger than what Solia could do with her fiery breath. The hot flames blasted the Dark Flyers to bits.
The small pieces glowed faintly, and began to grow into rounder shapes. They were the eggs that were stolen! The eggs came in so many colors.
There were grayish eggs, and silver eggs with more luster.
Some eggs were dark blue with lighter stripes.
Others were a shiny black, and still there were more eggs.
"Those are mine!" A Ruby Dragon said, pointing to several red eggs with darker splotches.
"And those six were stolen from us!" A Forest Gryphon looked at half a dozen pure green eggs, which were obviously hers and her mate's.
"Avora! Look!" Solia exclaimed joyfully. "Those five black eggs with red spots are supposed to be ours!"
Avora looked around for the eggs stolen from her. "Avora," a voice called from behind. Avora turned around. It was her mother, with Nimdron standing next to her. At their feet were three copper-colored eggs with golden and brown streaks.
"We have our eggs back!" The young gryphon said, happiness filling up inside her.
The mammals helped everyone else find their eggs. It took several minutes for everyone to find which eggs belonged to them.
After everyone had their eggs back, they all thanked the Sky Colony for fighting alongside them. Xiphro nodded, and flew away. The rest of the Sky Colony followed him.

The next morning was beyond bliss. The eggs that were stolen hatched that day! Everyone was happy. The parents and firstborns were just too happy to even notice the scattered eggshells.
"Let us all have a celebration!" Laeron shouted loud enough for everyone to hear. Of course, everybody agreed.