Chapter Text
Mingyu was falling.
The freezing cold air whipped at his face, sharp as a blade, but he felt strangely calm. He had a good life. A short one, but good. From a distance away, someone was calling his name.
“Mingyu!”
He fell. The earth below him was harsh and rocky, the sky above blue-black and absent of stars.
“Mingyu!”
Just before he hit the ground, he heard a voice calling out to him.
“Mingyu wake up, for gods and goddesses’ sake, or I’ll suffocate you with this pillow.”
Harsh sunlight fell on Mingyu’s eyelids. He groaned and snuggled deeper into his lumpy mattress.
“Five more minutes…”
“Three… two… one!”
Mingyu jolted awake as a soft object came crashing into his face. Someone was holding it down on top of his face, quite possibly attempting murder. Mingyu brushed them aside and sat upright, his wings nearly knocking both himself and his attacker to the ground.
“Okay, okay, I’m up! Seriously, Seungkwan.”
Mingyu’s younger flockmate sat on top of him, threateningly holding a straw-stuffed pillow. His face was frowning but his soft, apricot-colored wings were fluffed and fidgety, unable to contain his excitement.
“Get dressed. I am not letting you make me miss the elder’s speech,” he said.
Mingyu felt his empty stomach turn. It was the day of his ring ceremony; the day when he would become an official adult member of their flock. He smiled at Seungkwan despite his nerves, amused by the other boy’s enthusiasm.
“You're excited for your turn in a couple years, huh?”
“ One year, excuse you.”
“Same difference.”
“I’ve gotta make sure you actually wake up in time so I can outdo you on every event next year. Can’t have a competition if someone sleeps through the whole thing.”
Mingyu grunted and attempted to untangle his body from his bedding. Seungkwan’s face wrinkled as the edge of Mingyu’s wing brushed against him accidentally.
“And take a fucking bath. You look like a rat,” he said as he hopped off of Mingyu’s bunk.
“Language!” Mingyu called, but Seungkwan had already passed through their doorway, flipping the flax fiber rug they used as a door for dramatic effect.
Mingyu checked his wings and sighed. Seungkwan was right. It seemed no matter how much he preened, bathed, and brushed his feathers to perfection, they always ended up a tattered, oily mess by morning. Even his molting was irregular, shedding feathers here and there throughout seasons, unlike the other Doves who would only molt through summer. Of course he’d have to wake up to the most important day of his life looking like he’d been hit by lightning.
Mingyu dropped from his bunk a little too harshly, as his room was slightly too small for him to spread his wings comfortably and glide. He shared the narrow space with a few other village boys his age, but all of their beds were empty. Clearly they had all gotten up early to prepare, and Mingyu had missed it. Typical.
Attempting to straighten up his wings with his fingers, Mingyu pulled aside the rug-door to exit. Like most roosts, his had an open roof for easy takeoff, but people rarely used it. Back when Mingyu’s wingspan had grown too big to fit through, Elder Yoon had a ground door installed, ordering all who entered to use it. Mingyu appreciated the gesture, but it mostly just made him feel sorry for everyone else for making them walk like elders before their time.
As Mingyu approached town center he was greeted by the sound of laughter and music. The sun was already shining high in the sky, and everyone was in good spirits. A group of children swarmed by, playing some sort of tagging game. Something colliding into Mingyu’s knee made him look down.
“Sorry!” A little girl said as she took off running once again, flapping her barely fledged wings to propel her even faster forward.
“Hey, Mingyu!” A familiar voice called.
Mingyu looked to see Joshua smiling up at him, holding a baby in one arm and the hand of a little kid in the other. His sandy-colored wings were neat and tucked up behind him in a way that Mingyu could never figure out how to do with his lanky, dark brown monstrosities.
“Babysitting this morning?”
“You know it. Good luck on those Trials!”
“Thanks.” Mingyu started to turn away, but Joshua caught his attention with a conspiratorial look.
“You’ve got some admirers.” Joshua said, nodding to a group of girls who were trying to be discreet but very clearly staring. “First comes your flock ring, then your engagement ring, as they say…”
Mingyu just laughed. “They’re definitely looking at you, Shua.”
It was probably true. Even Mingyu could admit that Joshua was a handsome guy, with his large, gentle eyes and strong arms, yet he hadn’t gotten together with anyone even though his ring ceremony had been years ago. Mingyu couldn’t tell why. He was kind, well-mannered, and good with kids, practically the perfect partner. Mingyu, on the other hand…
The toddler at Joshua’s feet started to whine.
“Sorry, Mingyu, duty calls. Show them what you’ve got out there.” Joshua attempted to nudge Mingyu forward, an awkward motion with two children latched onto him, and turned back to the kid.
Mingyu entered the softly murmuring crowd of Doves, many of whom were already humming in anticipation for the day’s ceremony. A few played instruments made of hollowed-out gourds and string, and a small group danced in tandem to their melodies, kicking up the layer of dust that perpetually covered the earth. The sun was bright and the sky wide, and Mingyu could tell that it would be getting hot soon. He searched the sea of soft feathers for the group he knew would be waiting in anticipation. Spotting a hand waving him over, Mingyu waded through to meet them.
Seokmin greeted him with an energized hug, his mottled gray and orange wings practically buzzing in excitement.
“Mingyuuu! It’s finally today! Can you believe it? Are you excited? I’m so excited. This is gonna be awesome!”
Mingyu forced a smile. “So excited.”
Seokmin’s wings fluttered. “Don’t be nervous. You’re gonna do great. We’re BOTH gonna do great. There’s no reason why EITHER of us should be nervous.”
“Thanks, Minnie. Are you nervous?” Mingyu replied.
“Me? Never!” Seokmin puffed out his feathers. “Well, okay, maybe a little.”
Mingyu’s attention was caught by a flash of creamy white feathers. Elder Yoon.
“Rising flock members,” Their flock leader said as she slowly made her way to where the young Doves were gathered. Although her skin sagged and her back hunched, she moved with a practiced grace that alluded to her previous years. As she approached, Mingyu felt himself unconsciously straightening his posture and sleeking down his feathers.
“Finally decided to join the land of the living, Mingyu?” She said with a wry smile.
“Elder Yoon–” he started.
The old woman waved her gnarled hand. “No need for formalities. I just wanted to have a quick chat with you all before I get up there and talk everybody’s ears off.”
Mingyu heard a low chuckle and saw the elder’s grandson, Jeonghan, following behind his grandmother and carrying a small wooden box, which must have held their flock rings; symbols that would mark them as official members of Flock 0525. He was slim, more pretty than handsome, with high cheekbones, a mischievous smirk, and snow-white wings even more striking than his grandmother’s. Mingyu’s spirits rose at the sight of him, comforted by his familiar presence.
“As if that’s any different from what you’re doing now, Mama,” he said, flashing an impish look in Mingyu’s direction.
The group of young Doves broke out into nervous laughter as Elder Yoon playfully chastised her grandson with a waggling finger.
“As I was saying,” the flock leader continued, “Today is a very important time for you all. Please know that I have full confidence in your abilities to shine in every event, and succeed at every last Trial.”
The old woman made knowing eye contact with Mingyu. He looked down, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. Of course Elder Yoon could tell he was nervous. She had raised him alongside her own grandson, treating him as her own since childhood. She was among the people who knew Mingyu best, able to sense every minor shift in his mood.
“You are a very capable group of proud young Doves. Show us what it truly means to be a part of our flock today.”
The flock leader gave a gracious smile and shuffled away. The group started to chatter quietly to each other, wings fluffed with nerves. Mingyu felt a bump at his arm as Jeonghan nudged him.
“Seriously, Gyu. It’s okay,” he said, brushing his wing tip against Mingyu’s.
Mingyu exhaled. “I just feel kinda underprepared–”
“What are they going to do, not let you get your ring?” The older boy snorted at the thought. “That’s ridiculous.”
Mingyu smiled a bit at Jeonghan’s point. No matter how much he might sing off-key or dance ahead of the rhythm, no one had ever been refused their ring. It would be silly to think that Elder Yoon wouldn’t let Mingyu officially join the flock after his years living in it.
Applause interrupted Mingyu’s thoughts. Wings were being brought together, creating the clapping sound characteristic of Doves to herald Elder Yoon’s approach to the town center.
“That’s my cue.” Jeonghan winked at Mingyu, then slipped through the beating wings to his place at the elder’s side. The flock leader waved her hand at the crowd to quiet them down.
“Family, friends, and esteemed flock members, welcome to this year's official Flock 0525 ring ceremony!
The town erupted in applause once more. Elder Yoon laughed and waved her hand again.
“I know you all are excited to see your little brothers and sisters become fully incorporated members of our community. So am I! This is a truly outstanding group of Doves, and we have been honored to see them grow from tiny fledgelings to strong, capable young men and women. Today, they will be presented with our official flock ring.”
Jeonghan held the small box out for the crowd to see. Elder Yoon laid a gentle hand on top.
“These symbols of our pride and recognition will recognize them as important contributors to our community and grown members of our flock. Before we can do that, though, we’ve gotta make them prove their worth, huh?”
A quiet laugh rippled through the crowd. Mingyu’s stomach growled, making him realize he hadn’t eaten breakfast.
“Without further ado, I’d like to bring our rising flock members to the center for our first event: our official flock song.”
Elder Yoon beckoned the group of Doves and they filed into the center. Mingyu grabbed Seokmin’s hand to steady himself, and his friend squeezed in shared nerves. This was the biggest event the Doves got all year. Every single person he had ever known was watching him right at that moment. Children sat on awnings and rooftops while their older relatives stood on the ground with warm, excited smiles on their face. Mingyu felt a thrill run down his spine at the idea of them all watching him, a combination of anticipation and fear. At the same time that he couldn’t wait to perform for his flock, he also had an underlying insecurity. What if he wasn’t good enough? What if he disappointed them all? Seungkwan, perched on a window ledge, pulled a funny face as Mingyu made eye contact, dispelling a few of his jitters.
Elder Yoon shuffled off to the side and raised her hand to count them in. The young Doves shared a glance, and breathed in sync to start the familiar, comforting tune of their flock anthem. It was an old song, so old that Mingyu didn’t know what most of the words actually meant, but he had been taught the meaning since childhood;
There was a young Dove with an adventurous heart. The dark night sky lured her with whispers and empty promises, and she left her flock to chase the moon. Once she got halfway across the world, she met the sun again, who told her to return. It showed her the way home through the stars.
Mingyu sang under his breath. The beginning of the song was easy, but about halfway through the melody reached a higher octave, which was the part Mingyu was the most anxious about. He wasn’t tone-deaf by any means, but compared to the other Doves, he may as well have been a howling coyote. Thankfully, he stood next to Seokmin. Mingyu hoped his friend’s powerful, full, voice would drown out his own quieter, breathy notes. The high notes came, and Mingyu switched into a light falsetto. He could barely hear himself, thankfully. Seokmin sounded better than ever, effortlessly belting out note after note with an ease that rivaled that of their town choir leaders.
Finally, the song ended. Mingyu already knew what was coming next, and started shaking out his limbs in preparation. The group of musicians waiting on the outskirts of the square started a slow beat.
Elder Yoon stepped back into the center, her sandaled feet hitting the ground with each thump of the drum.
“Now, I would like to lead our rising flock members in our second event; our official flock dance.”
The flock leader slightly opened her cream-colored wings in preparation and started to dance, slowly, but with an elegance that intimated a lifetime of learning to control her body. She led the young Doves in controlled, up and down bowing movements. Mingyu followed along automatically, the moves of their flock dance familiar since childhood. The first guided section ended, and Elder Yoon retreated once more to her grandson’s side.
The musicians picked up the rhythm, speeding up the tempo. The young Doves started to move faster, their wings shaking and flapping as they shuffled their feet. They formed a circle and spun around, joining hands as they kicked up their heels and ruffled their feathers. Mingyu found himself smiling as they pushed off the ground, fluttering their wings ever so slightly to reach a height impossible if they were simply jumping. Mingyu’s heart lurched as he accidentally rose higher than the rest of the Doves on the move, yanking at Seokmin’s arm and seeing the thatched rooftops stretched out like a plateau. He landed, and tried to dispel the dizziness from being so high with a breath. The music continued, and Seokmin gave him a reassuring glance from the side. Mingyu relaxed into the quicker movements and tried to enjoy the rest of the dance. Sure, his lines weren’t as clean as some of the other Doves, and his movements tended to bounce and jolt rather than flow and glide, but he felt so happy, so free when he got to dance.
The beat had to end at some point, and Mingyu stopped dancing. He saw his peers breathing heavily next to him, but all he felt was energized. He could dance all day, if someone let him.
The crowd applauded as Elder Yoon took the center once more.
“How wonderful. I’m impressed with your abilities, rising flock members. Finally, it’s time to announce this year’s Trials, where our youth will collect ingredients from the natural landscape. I need not remind you that this is the most important step in the ring ceremony process.”
Mingyu took a deep breath to steady himself. His blood was pumping fast, whether from physical exertion or the anticipation.
“The first Trial’s target will be a sip of the coldest, purest water that can be found on the plains. This water will refresh us and clean the dust from our throats.”
Seokmin caught Mingyu’s eye and the two boys grinned at each other. Thanks to trips out to the canyon with Jeonghan, Mingyu knew exactly where they could find it.
“The next Trial will be to bring back three fruited Cristata form pads from Myrtillocactus Geometrizans. The berries will help us heal, and the juice will soothe our skin.”
Mingyu felt his nerves settle. While the crested mutation of the blue myrtle-cactus was rare, there was a small patch of them a short flight North from the canyon. These were going to be a breeze. Edler Yoon paused and looked down, a strange, tense expression on her face.
“And finally, this year’s flock candidates will participate in an unprecedented Trial. This year, our youth will search for the miracle herb: Skyveld.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Mingyu’s heart dropped. Skyveld?
“This rare plant can cure the incurable. It may sound like a difficult task, but I have to doubt that our rising flock members are strong, capable, and intelligent enough to see this Trial through. Rising flock members, you have until the dinner hour. The Trial starts now. Thank you for your attention.”
Elder Yoon exited and the crowd dispersed. Mingyu whipped around, finding Jeonghan amongst the throng of Doves. He stepped towards him, wanting an explanation, words of advice, anything, but Jeonghan was quickly being lost in the crowd.
“Hannie! Jeonghan!” Mingyu called out.
“Sorry, Gyu, Mama’s not feeling well. You did great!” Jeonghan shot Mingyu an apologetic look and started to help his grandmother toward the direction of her roost. Mingyu’s face felt hot. How in the world was he going to find Skyveld?
“Mingyu! Good job!” Mingyu felt a slight thump as Seungkwan bumped him.
“You didn’t have to show off during that jump, though, we get it, you’re–” Seungkwan cut himself off as he saw Mingyu’s horrified face.
“It was great. Don’t worry, I’m sure no one noticed. You’re such a good dancer–”
“Skyveld? Seriously?” Mingyu hated how his voice quivered.
Seungkwan brushed his wing against Mingyu’s. “It’ll be fine. No one’s ever failed a Trial before.”
“What if I’m the first?”
Mingyu felt the prickle of his eyes betraying him with tears and lowered his head, not wanting to share his dismay. Seungkwan reached up, attempting to lay a comforting hand on Mingyu’s shoulder but landing closer to the bicep area.
“Mingyu, you’re literally the last person in this flock that could reasonably fail a Trial. I mean, what even is this? Are you hiding a rabbit under there?”
Seungkwan squeezed Mingyu’s muscle teasingly, making Mingyu smile despite his wet eyes.
“It’s probably from helping with the harvest this season,” he said, bashful.
“Exactly. You’re strong, you’re a hard worker, and you love this flock. There’s no way you won’t make it.”
Mingyu wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Thanks, Kwannie. You’re the best.”
Mingyu wrapped his arms and wings around to embrace Seungkwan. The two boys stayed like that for a moment until Seungkwan's voice rose from underneath Mingyu’s feathers.
“Okay, I love you, but you’re so sweaty right now and this is really gross so please let go of me.”
Mingyu laughed. Flock 0525 was the best. There was no way anything could possibly go wrong.