It took five days to reach the outskirts between Cathopia and Anamothra, rightly named as the land always swirled with wind, up drafts caused by the mountain range of high and low peeks.

In the distance I could see the heart, the main city of the Avem Empire, floating high above the mountain range. The mountains were filled with crystals which when activated would float, the best example was the Avem Empire.

The city was built on a giant floating chunk of the stuff, which once rested in the crater it floated above, almost like it was torn out.

As we approached the location provided, I split the unit in to two. Ibiki led Rex, Finn and Kiba, while Lin and Edge were with me.

The location indicated was as expected clear of all signs, even the scent was gone, I sighed, just as I expected a pain.

“Where’d you think they went?” wondered Kiba, as they were all checking the area.

“If they are heading for the Avem Empire, then that way.” I pointed.

I headed in the direction I had indicated, brushing my hand against a tree, my mind flashed as I saw those King Skyrus held concern for. They were Cathartes a species of Avis closely related to vultures. Wilds not often welcome in the city for their aggressive nature, why would they walk when they could fly.

I forced myself to focus more on what I was seeing. The dark Avis from the summit appeared, his darkened aura quickly engulfing them, setting them upon a destructive path.

“Fang!” Ibiki’s hand touched my shoulder as the images faded.

“They are being manipulated by that dark Avis,” I mentioned. “Set on a path for blood.”

“Great,” he sighed. “Did you see where they went.”

I glanced at the tree sensing the mark of darkness. “I think I can track them from the trail of dark energy; however, it is quite weak, we must hurry.”

“Pick up your feet and let’s move!” Ibiki certainly took being my second in command seriously.

I followed the essence of darkness through the small forest, then into the open canyons, where is seemed to grow stronger with each step I took forward. Was there more out here then the manipulated Cathartes? Only exploring where the Cathartes were headed would give me the answers to my questions.

I stopped for a moment my mind becoming fuzzy, I shook if off, and forced another step forward, being sensitive to the darkness drove me more than a little crazy, always seeing and feeling something, they couldn’t.

A steep ridge was ahead, climbing I suddenly pressed myself flat against the earth as something flew in with such speed, a thick haze of dark energy came to settle around us. Was it the dark Avis who lined themselves with Dumah?

I glanced back to see my unit had followed my lead, staying low, their bodies pressed into the rocks. I waved my hand pointing upwards, signalling them all to move to the top of the ledge.

I reached the top first, seeing what awaited us. The dark Avis stood at the centre surrounded by Cathartes, each one was surrounded by a dark aura, which seemed to feed off each other making it quite concentrated here. This was a far bigger problem than even King Skyrus could have foreseen.

The dark Avis had created an army of Cathartes, this all screamed an invasion of Cathopia or the Avem Empire, both were in close enough range to this arial army. If they went to the Avem Empire, they could handle them, but in Cathopia there was no arial warriors.

I was unsure of why the dark energy had so easily corrupted each one to such a degree, until I spotted deep purple crystals about the place. I’d never seen crystals like these, glowing faintly, some stronger than others as they seemed to be absorbing and releasing the dark energy, if this stuff got within any city there would be some serious problems.

As I focused more on the crystals, I realised that they were very similar to the ones I had seen in my dreams. Were these the crystals dad had been sent on that mission to destroy, if they were no wonder, he had been gone for so long, how would anyone deal with them without being consumed by this dark energy.

I glanced back at my unit worried for their safety, there exposure to the darkness as they fought beside me, but thus far they seemed unaffected by it, perhaps being in mine and Kiba’s presence was helping with that.

My attention returned to the dark Avis as his arrival had riled them up, enhancing their own dark energy. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but we needed to do something about it, before they could make a move, as not even the cities knew what was going on here or what was to come if they did attack.