21 Harpies

Tyr lifted an eyebrow, disappointed that Taylen broached this subject. In a disinterested voice, he replied, "Is that it? I've known of your feelings for hundreds of years. You also know I don't feel that way about you. Why bring it up?" He glanced at her. She looked nervous, but he did not hold a shred of pity for her. Taylen should have predicted what his response would be.

Taylen looked down at her lap and fixed her dark blue skirt. "I... thought you could give us a chance since we've known each other for so long. Fenrir recently ended her relationship with you, so maybe I can make you happy." She perceived that no one loved him as much as she did. If Tyr would give her a chance, she was confident she would make him happier than anyone else.

"Did you ever give Krystof a chance?" Tyr countered. In their youth, his friend had liked Taylen and had tried to woo her for a few years.

"No, he's different. I don't see him like that," Taylen said with distaste. She did not understand why Tyr mentioned Krystof. She could not care less about being with Krystof when it was Tyr that she loved.

"I think you gave yourself an answer," Tyr replied flatly and looked at the sea again. He wanted to end this miserable conversation.

Taylen looked at his profile and wished he would reciprocate her feelings. She treasured his high-bridged nose and his clear direct eyes. In her mind, Macha cheated her. She believed that woman came after her, so she had no right to Tyr's heart.

Without looking at Taylen, Tyr said, "Don't think such ugly thoughts. Your face reveals everything you're thinking. Whatever it is, just stop. It's no one's fault that I don't like you. You just aren't my type." He believed she made a fine friend, but he had never seen her as anything more than that. Her personality was boring, and he did not feel any attraction to her. Tyr had never been sure if Taylen actually enjoyed the things she claimed to like, or if they were because he liked them.

"Well, what is your type? I will become anything you want me to be! I want you to want me..." Taylen's voice cracked. She now fought back tears. Taylen continually changed herself over the years to be the ideal woman for Tyr.

"I want you to move on. Don't you think I would have made a move on you hundreds of years ago if I had a shred of interest for you? I'm trying to be nice here, but my patience is wearing thin." Tyr grew tired of this conversation. He struggled to be nice since Taylen was an old friend, but she was not being reasonable.

"No! Why don't you want me? You're everything to me! I'll kill myself," Taylen was now sobbing. Her upper lip raised causing her normally decent looks to become distorted. She grabbed Tyrs sleeve in desperation.

Tyr's head whipped around to stare at Taylen. His brows came together and his lips formed a line of disapproval. He had known Taylen for a long time and for her to try an underhanded tactic to guilt him into a relationship appalled him.

Instead of yelling at her, he stood up and walked away. Talking to her would be a waste of his time. He refused her feelings kinder than anyone else who expressed their sentiments to him, but she did not listen.

****

Everyone in the party sensed something happened between Taylen and Tyr. Taylen continually looked at Tyr with longing and he did not talk to her unless he gave an order.

Today was the group's last day on the island. They already gathered the number of feathers required for this year's stock, but Luna and Mathis wanted to gather the moly flowers which were unique to this island.

Moly could be used to counteract magical attacks or afflictions. The plant was sought after for traveling in the outer-reaches. It had a white flower with black roots. In order to pick the flower, Luna had to perform a long ritual for each plant. Without the ritual, the plant would kill whoever picked it.

While Luna and Mathis gathered the plants by a cliff, Tyr gave the rest of the crew free time to relax. He stayed and watched over the two. Tyr sat on a rock and his wyvern, Aži, few in the air, swooping down every now and then to catch a bug.

Luna picked a moly and turned to her brother. "Tyr, I hope you were kind to Taylen. You know you're rejections are renowned for being harsh." She guessed that Taylen probably told him how she felt and had been rejected. Most of the crew speculated that that scenario made the most sense.

Tyr glanced over at his sister and sighed. He assumed his sister would bring it up at some point, so this conversation did not surprise him. "Yeah. I was especially kind to her," he replied in a bored tone.

"Her actions were probably my fault," Luna confessed. "I warned her you were already..." A loud screeching sound cut off her sentence.

Tyr, Luna, and Mathis looked over towards Aži. He flew quickly to them followed by four harpies. The harpies tried to seize him with their talons, but he flew slightly faster than their attacks. His wings flapped frantically as he made his way towards them.

Upon seeing this, Mathis moved quickly behind Tyr and Luna and drew his staff. He specialized in healing, therefore he wasn't an excellent fighter, but wanted to defend himself if necessary.

Tyr drew his lance and charged at the harpies. Aži circled back around to face them with Tyr and blew a hot stream of fire. The harpies dodged and split into two groups. Two of them flanked Tyr and the other two flew towards Luna and Mathis.

Tyr used the end of his lance to swat a set of talons away from his neck. The sharp claws made a loud ringing sound as they hit his weapon. The other harpy sounded a high-pitched screech behind Tyr. The creature's claws wrapped around his shoulders and a deep piercing pain coursed through him as the claws sunk in.

To stop the attack, Tyr whipped his lance around and stabbed the harpy behind him through its heart. Its short shrieks echoed off the cliff rocks as it fell to the ground.

Tyr staggered back from the force of the harpy falling. Its talons ripped out of his shoulders, but his blood flowed from the wounds. The other harpy's wings flapped and gusts of wind blew in his face. It attempted to claw at his face, but he rolled on the ground to dodge. Putting some distance between himself and the harpy.

Tyr crouched to the ground and jumped into the air. His onyx wyvern flew behind him. A soft light emitted from Aži and enveloped Tyr's lance. He came crashing down upon the harpy, his weapon splitting its skull into two. Warm blood oozed down his arms from his wounds.

He had dealt with the two harpies that were on him, but a look of horror appeared on his face when he glanced at his sister and Mathis. One creature was ripping off Mathis's left arm, and the other picked Luna up by her waist.

Tyr threw one of his lances through the harpy that hovered above Mathis. The force of his attack caused feathers to fly about, sticking to Mathis's bloody body. The harpy's shrill voice cried out in alarm when it realized it was pinned to the ground by the lance.

He then drew his other weapon and dashed towards the monster that carried his sister. Luna was reciting a spell that slowed the harpies movements. Her green eyes peered at Tyr telling him to hurry because she drew closer to the cliff.

He made it to Luna just as the harpy reached the edge of the cliff. He whipped his lance around to knock the harpy back. As it was knocked away, its claws released her. When it realized that its companions had fallen, the creature flew away.

Luna dropped off the side, but her hands snaked out and seized a rock that jutted out from the edge. Her body dangled in the air. The strong winds swung her body back and forth. Holding on tightly, she called Tyr's name.

Tyr threw his lance to the ground and grabbed Luna's arms, his hands were slippery with his warm flowing blood. "I got you. I got you," he croaked. his body dangled halfway off the cliff and his arms were outstretched trying to grab hold of his sister. He desperately tried to pull her up, but his blood kept making his grip slip.

Luna had a look of fear in her eyes and she could feel herself slipping. She began chanting another spell.

Tyr grabbed her sleeve, but as he did, Luna's hands slipped. Her sleeve ripped in his hands and he saw her body tumble down towards the rocks.