When Top arrived to the Soulaxar galaxy, Lorv departed the planet-sized ship in a single passenger vessel after emploring her daughter and companion to be safe on their mission. Wielar and Leilar Realfen departed Top shortly after, headed to the planet Wiis.
“I’m excited to show you my homeworld,” Wielar said proudly to his daughter. “Wiis is a very nice place, much nicer than Endla.”
“How could anything be nicer than the heaven that is Endla?” Leilar asked sarcastically.
“The natural world is much more beautiful than anything that the aerphim could hope to create. Their vistas are so artificial. They’re too nice to feel lived in.”
“You never really talk about Wiis. Do you have family that still lives there?” Leilar asked. “Will we be greeted by other Realfens?”
Wielar shook his head gravely.
“The history of the Realfen is tragic. Despite that, I am still very eager to see my home.”
“What happened to the Realfen?” Leilar insisted even though it was clear that her father didn’t want to dwell on it.
Wielar took a deep breath. “I guess you will find out soon enough,” he sighed. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that my wings are unique among the jeris. The same is true on Wiis, red wings were an anomaly when I was born and our famiy was persecuted for their difference.”
“The jeris killed our family for having red wings?” Leilar asked with wide-eyed astonishment.
“Not killed, but our lives were hard. We were not accepted into mainstream jeris society, but we thrived in the wilds of the rainforest. Until deforestation started and when we pushed back against cutting down the rainforests, we were targeted. I lost my mother, my brother. When I got the chance to leave Wiis, I jumped at the chance, even if the aerphim aren’t much better. If I had not left, I never would have met your mother.”
“Thank Mawu-Lisa for unnecessary persecution and the sprawl of the Venerated Aerphim Empire.”
Father and daughter laughed as they began to approach Wiis, but their levity was interrupted by an explosion that rocked their ship and sent them into free fall.
Wielar managed to land the ship under the cover of the canopy of the rainforest, but the landing was rough and Wielar was injured as a result.
“The ship is still intact,” he said to Leilar as he winced in pain. Blood ran down his forearm and wetted his feathers. His left leg was noticeably mangled. “Rusa should not be too far from here. Go and bring him back to the ship with the cocoon of Pultine. If you hurry, we can probably avoid conflict with who or whatever shot us down.”
“You’re sure we were shot down? It wasnt just a freak accident?” Leilar had never been under attack before.
“It was a missile aimed at us. We are being targeted. Go, Leilar, hurry. The faster you bring Rusa and Pultine, the faster we can leave for the rendezvous with your mother.”
Leilar nodded and took the digital mapping device that would lead her to the hide out of Rusa where he was protecting the cocoon of Pultine.
“Be careful, Leilar,” Wielar said. “If something goes wrong, contact me here immediately. Now go, make me proud.”
“You’re sure you’ll be ok?” Leilar asked.
“I’ll be fine, we have a medical kit on board. I will be waiting here for you. Go.”
Leilar started her journey into the unfamiliar rainforest. She had completed hours of stealth training while on Top, and she was eager to test her abilities. But the nerves in her stomach raged. It was her first real solo mission.
Leilar will return in the Agent Orange Limited Series!
PRL Serials 