A crash sounded, reverberating throughout the mountains. Chia ran to her gaggle, hands over her ears, eyes squinted against the rain. She shouted. “It’s time!” 

Nothing. Not one of the others reacted to her announcement. She banged her fists against her knees and screamed with the thunder. Shinn faced her, eyebrow raised, but the others ignored her.

Twisting to check the field behind her, she decided this group wasn’t worth it. Pulling on the power of the Mother, she squatted, bringing her arms close to her sides, fists near her temples, and let the pain in.

Moments, hours, eons of pain flowed through her until its purpose was accomplished. She shook it off and took to the skies, flying in the wind and rain. It wasn’t easy, but it was time to go, and if that gaggle of idiots wouldn’t listen to her, then she’d go alone. A moment later, a honk told her someone had followed. A quick check showed Shinn behind her. With a start, she noticed the rest of the gaggle of geese in attendance.

They flew over the ocean and approached Tzakan, the ocean city that appeared once every five years. It was said anyone who could breach the walls found unbounded wealth and happiness. The challenge was getting through.

Leading her gaggle, Chia glided high. The wind pushed them back. The rain pelted her body and face like bullets from the clouds. The harder she flapped her wings, the stronger the wind resisted. One behind her faltered and fell. She honked loudly, feeling the stab in her gut as her gaggle became one less.

They agreed before leaving that they would all move forward as a group, but dipping her head, Chia saw Donia turn and leave, heading away from the fight. One was lost to their dream.

Lightning struck. Chia felt two more of her gaggle fall. She honked out in anger and fear. What have I done? Will we make it? Was this decision worth it? 

The dark walls of the city come into view. Chia always imagined it as a castle, not separate buildings reaching skyward and touching the heavens while the rain beat down on them. 

As they came even with the walls, tension from an electrical storm crackled in the air. Suddenly, she reconsidered flying to the terrifying city ahead of her; all she wanted to do was turn around and return home. There was nothing for them up ahead except death. 

Warmth flowed to her through the gaggle bond, and together she and the remaining three pushed through, wings vibrating with pulses of static. 

Once through the barrier, the cerulean of the sky blue peeped through white clouds. A rainbow crossed the sky, and the four landed on a dry, grassy knoll. Digging deep, Chia pushed out her human self, only to be tackled by Shinn, who cried out, laughing, “Oh my gods! You did it! You led us here!”