After a while, the budgerigar choir lead Fluttershy into a clearing. There were large stone structures scattered all over, that were mostly covered by the moss and vines. The parrots landed on top of them and sang a wonderful choir.
“Here in the ruins. They will find you!” They sang to Fluttershy and while singing a line of melody over and over again, they took off and left.
Fluttershy was abandoned again, but her spirit has been lifted enormously by the singing parrots. Also, she finally figured out how to communicate with the birds of this world. So while she was abandoned, she felt good. She was still humming the melodies of the leaving choir.
So she began exploring the ruins, searching for whoever’s going to find her now. The clearing wasn’t large, most trees already grew back. But the ruins were still clearly visible. Buildings with many pillars, old statues barely standing under the weight of the vines covering them, a tall pillar, towering above the forest, with a path between the trees leading towards it.
She tried to follow the path, still humming the budgerigars’ song, but she wasn’t welcome. It was those eagles again, with their harpoon swords. Three sheegal warriors found Fluttershy and stood in her way. They might be the ones who attacked Orrick and his crew. What ever happened to them?
The three eagles threatened Fluttershy, flaunting their harpoons. She was a bit worried, but she also knew this might be the perfect time to advance her bird language. She sang a short melody, composed of words that came to her mind. The eagles lowered their weapons. They were intrigued. One of them stepped closer to her and squeaked a couple times. Fluttershy returned the gesture. The squeaker was impressed.
However, it took a bit more to impress the third one, who wore more elaborate accessories. It stepped forwards, ruffled up its feathers and made noises, consisting of clicks, squeaks and hisses. It sounded eerily like it was saying words. It probably was, but in its own language. And Fluttershy felt like she understood what those words meant. She smiled, opened her wings and made similar clicking, squeaking and hissing noises.
Now, from an outside perspective, this looked extremely silly. But to the sheegal, it was incredible. They’ve met someone, who isn’t a bird, but speaks their language, even if with a heavy accent. They were honoured. The eagles bowed their heads and Fluttershy returned the gesture, then the eagles flew away.
Fluttershy was now sure, she could finally communicate with the local birds. She began following the path, while singing random words. And it worked. Many birds have followed her along, singing along with her. She still didn’t fully understand them, but it was a remarkable improvement.
She reached the pillar and saw the lake, the parrots talked about, behind it. There were many splendorous ruins, sitting by the side of the river and a vine-covered pyramid in the distance. Fluttershy stopped singing as she heard a quiet murmur. Fluttershy felt like it was calling her. It got louder as she walked towards the lake. There she saw a small platform, not far from the shore, with a narrow ruined bridge leading to it. On this platform, sat five figures, covered completely with black pointed hoods. They were making the murmur, as they sang deep drones in unison. Above them, floated a large shapeless light.
Fluttershy approached the murmuring figures, their overtone singing got louder and louder as she got close. Fluttershy stepped into the middle of the platform, bewildered at the cloaked figures, but strangely drawn to them. The fifth one stopped singing and opened its arms.
“You are seeking something traveller.” He said. “You are seeking guidance.”
“Yes!” Fluttershy replied. “I’m trying to go home.”
“You are seeking a great magic that can send you back to the faraway lands, where you came from.”
“Yes!” She replied in excitement. “They said the Kenuph can provide this magic.”
The hooded figure paused for a moment. “Come, the light will show you the way.”
Fluttershy looked up and the light above them slowly descended on her. Meanwhile, the hooded figure talking to her, grabbed a large horn and blown into it with great volume. The figures around Fluttershy murmured louder and louder. The strangely calming dissonance enveloped the ruins and the light surrounded Fluttershy.
Soon vivid dreams appeared to her. The sun dropped under the horizon. She felt herself flung above the treeline, saw it as the rainforest turned into a savannah, then into a desert. Then the sun jumped above the horizon again, over a seemingly endless desert. A golden mask appeared, then a figure with the head of spoonbill looking directly at her. The visions were accompanied by the cacophonous murmur, now sounding directly inside Fluttershy’s mind.
She was quickly flung back into the real world. She looked around and the hooded figures were nowhere to be found, but their murmur was quietly echoing throughout the air as it slowly faded away. She didn’t get a clear answer, but somehow she knew which way to go. She took off and flew above the trees, into the distance.