[azazel.]

My attempt at drawing Shionnix # 60 ^^

Finished story will be posted below:

I'm sorry it's so freaking long.

December 3

The wind hasn't stopped blowing since I'd arrived in the area. It's cold, snowy, and hard to bear. But I'll get through. I've been traveling less than a mile a day due to the fact that I can't fly very far without being blown off course. Thankfully I haven't been spotted, but that is probably due to this horrible weather as well. How these other creatures can bear it I will never understand. Food is scarce. I ration it well. 

Name: Finx
Destination: Unknown
Current Objective: Find tribe hidden in tallest human mountains. They hold the cure for the disease crippling your home. 
Distance: Unknown. Fly with caution.

Grumbling, Finx shook off the snowy blanket that had covered him, keeping him somewhat warmer than he would have been without it, and narrowed his eyes as he tried to see through the thick blizzard around him. His internal compass told him he was going in the right direction, but not being able to see inches beyond his nose threw him off. Flicking the snow from his wings, he walked forward, not even going to attempt to fly as the wind wasn't blowing in his favor. Maybe if he got above the clouds, he'd be able to see, but that would mean that he wouldn't be able to see the mountain should he ever reach it.  There was always something working against him, but nothing he could do about it. The wind whipped harshly against his ears and nearly deafened him as he went, his cold feet crunching in the thick snow. He needed to find shelter until this storm let up. For all he knew, though, there was no shelter for miles all around, and he was surrounded by flat land. He huffed a bit at the thought. Ruffling his wings and holding them tighter to his body, he trudged on through the thick snow. 

What seemed like ages later, Finx came upon something that looked to be a shelter of some sorts, empty and abandoned, with its windows covered in snow. His lips broke into a grin and he scampered up to it, searching for any way of entry from here. It smelled abandoned, thankfully, but he couldn't find a way to get in, aside from a hole in the top. Would he even fit? Fluttering his wings, he sprang up and onto the roof, wobbling a bit until he got his footing. He went to the chimney, stood up tall and peeked down it. Maybe a tight fit. He wouldn't risk it. He jumped down again and went to a window, using one of his legs to attempt to lift it. Ice crackled loudly, then gave, and he soared inside, shaking off snow as he stumbled to a halt. The room was cold, but not as cold as the outside for sure. All around there was a faint stench he couldn't place. It was old and stale, so he figured he didn't have to worry much. Sighing, Finx went to a long and plush looking object and sat upon it, curling his wings around his body. He slowly relaxed, eyes closing. Maybe he'd stay until the storm let up. Hopefully it would be soon. Listening to the wind rustling the windows and the roof, he eventually dozed off, as content as one could be in his situation. 

Eyes slowly opened to silence. Dead silence and darkness as Finx looked around. The sun had set and the storm was no more, stars twinkling brightly in the sky out the window. He stretched contentedly and shook his head, hopping to his feet. Maybe now he'd be able to make some progress. He wiggled his way out the window and onto the crunchy snow, looking around the area. Nothing in sight. But the mountains couldn't be far. He fluttered his wings and eagerly took flight, snow kicking up where he used to be. The sky was endless and the wind brushing through the fur on his face felt absolutely lovely. He almost forgot his mission, his home, his hunger starting to rumble in his belly, everything. Almost. 
Eventually a white capped something came into his view. It was tall and towering. The mountain perhaps? There were other smaller ones around it, but this one towered them all by far. Finally. Picking up speed, he soared toward it, gaining altitude as to see everything around the sides for any signs of life. He didn't even know who or what he was looking for yet. What if he missed them? What if he could never find them? What if they didn't even exist? He slowly circled the mountain, searching, searching, until a small white speck caught his attention. Well, everything was white, but this speck seemed to move, to shift among the darkness and snow. Pulling in his wings, Finx dove in for a closer look, putting out his feet to hit the fluffy snow as he landed. In front of him sat something...that didn't quite match with the white of the area. It was white, too...but.. Suddenly, it turned to look at him, its eyes narrowed with suspicion. It came up to him and studied him a long while, circling him, and Finx was able to get a better look at the creature. It looked to be some sort of rabbit, but had no ears and a very long fluffy tail. The way it moved was cautious, almost like a statue had come to life but could freeze again at any moment. 
"You." It finally spoke, rising up on its back feet and pressing one chilled paw to his forehead. "You are welcomed here. We have been awaiting your arrival. Come. Our leader will see you." Suddenly it turned and vanished into a cavern that he missed while circling the mountain. Squeezing himself inside, he followed the rabbit-like creature. 

The structure and organization of the inside of the cave was fantastic to him. It looked ancient and beautiful. The rock walls sparkled from the faint light coming from the entrance, a small waterfall pulled fresh water in from outside, a small garden grew small plants that were able to survive cold temperatures. Finx looked around in awe as he followed the creature, earning a few stares from the other creatures that saw him enter. 
"Our leader is through here." it finally said when it stopped, pointing to a crack in the walls. "He has the information you seek. You have permission to explore as much as you like, as long as you are no threat to our kind." Finx dipped his head respectfully and went through the crack to a small den where a dark creature much bigger than the others rested. Hearing him enter, the leader raised his head, gazing at him. "You are here for our herbs, are you not?" His voice rang with authority and Finx lowered his head. "I am. A disease is wreaking havoc on my kind and our elders sent me here to get the cure from you." The creature smiled, getting up and hopping to the floor below. "Very well. In the depths of a cave much like this one, you will find the cure you seek." He went to a nearby wall and sniffed here and there, before holding up what looked like dried moss. "This is what it looks like." He told Finx, holding it to his nose so he could smell it. The aroma was slightly minty and herby. "It grows on the walls of the cave in moist areas. Only get herbs that grow on the walls. The moss carpeting is highly toxic if ingested." Finx nodded as he listened very carefully, taking in every word. The leader hopped out of the den area, motioning for him to follow, and lead him out of the cavern into the white snow above. They both slowly went down the mountain until they arrived at an avalanche sight, where snow covered nearly everything. Finx watched as the leader went to a pile of snow, leaned down, and dug a burrow of sorts. As soon as it was made he kicked the wall of snow and raced away as it came crashing down, revealing the mouth of a cave. "I must leave you here." He told Finx, rushing back up the mountain. "Good luck."

Finx slowly entered the cave and gazed around, long ears pricked to sense for danger. Aside from the light wind blowing outside, there was nothing but silence. His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness as he went farther down the cave, looking around for any sign of the herbs growing on the walls. Nothing yet. He picked himself up into the air and soared farther down as to quicken the pace, looking for any signs of it. Eventually he noticed a soft light glowing and curiously went towards it, finding a small entrance that glowed a soft earthy green color. Pushing himself inside, he found that the glowing color came from the herbs growing on the walls and upon smelling it he found it the same as what the leader showed him. He grinned, taking the claws of his paw and scraping as much as he was able to carry off. He tucked bits tightly against his feathers so they wouldn't fall as he was flying, getting in as much as he could, then gripping some in his claws. He wiggled his way out of the small space and back into the cave, soaring out into the snow again and into the sky, back towards his home. He flew higher and higher, as fast as he was able to go, a grin pulling at his lips the entire way. 

Epilogue:

I was able to make it back home with as much of that moss stuff as I could carry, and luckily it was just enough. The elders were able to mix it into a paste and give it to all of those that had fallen ill, though they said the taste was terrible. After a few doses, there was less coughing, less vomiting, less groaning and cries of pain into the night. Everyone had gotten better after a week or so, and I was thanked by nearly everyone, though I told them I was glad to do it. And I was. It was an honor to meet that species, and to go to new places, see new things that I'd never seen. I'd love to go and visit again, but our species has never been seen by human eyes and that's how it should be.