The eagles stood on their branches, next to their nests, looking around in confusion. You see, the four eagles were guarding their nests where spherical eggs were plopped down. These four eagles were magical eagles, not just any bird, but these guys had powers that could not be tested. Eagles are strong creatures, but these eagles were gods compared to the others.
There were loud barks swarming the few trees these eagles nested on, all you could hear was "CAW-CAW CAW-CAW" The noise never ended and it seemed as if it was coming from all directions, just at disorganized times. They came relentlessly, they never stopped, it seemed as if everything that was happening was an omen.
The eagles decided to figure out what was causing all the ruckus, so they made a plan. One eagle was left behind with the eggs, just to make sure that they would be safe. This eagle's name was "Hector". Many thought that Hector from "TROY" would return as a human, but actually Hector did return, except as an eagle, as a falconiform. This eagle was intelligent, but he also made a great warrior. He had the honor of royalty, more specifically a prince. He was very capable of protecting the eggs against evil forces, except last time, he tried to protect his people, but died tragically. This time he could avenge his failure.
The first of the three others was named "Caesar". Caesar was a legend in history, he was the brains of the team. He was also reborn, he himself was decent in strength, but he was smart enough to conquer France, Italy, and Egypt in a way that only a genius could figure out. He was also reborn to show that he was going to protect his people. He was going to fight like a true leader when he needed to, that was why he was stabbed by Brutus and Casca. So now Caesar can prove himself.
Next came "William the Conqueror!" The title sounded great, but his life wasn't as good. He conquered England, this is where he got the title the Conqueror. He was also the Duke of Normandy, where he ruled Normandy for 31 years. The last 21 years he had ruled England, so that left an extra three years with France. His greatest rival was a french ruler, and William was not smart enough to see if he invaded France furthermore, war would happen. He battled, but was severely injured, he damaged his internal organs, he realized his pain very quickly and left France. For a few months he lived miserably in pain. And at last, he died from it. William came back as well, he needed to redeem himself and correct his mistakes.
The final eagle was named Achilles, this eagle was the strongest and most athletic out of the four. He also had the most to regret about his life. He was the strongest person in the world, no one could defeat him. The problem there was that he went to war, but died trying to apologize. He realized that he should not have killed any of those many, many people in his life. He realized the deepest pit in hell would be waiting for him. He was a god among the living. He was nothing afterwards. He was a decent person, but his actions in war haunted him. This is why he came back to life. He had to fix his problem, his problem was perhaps un-fixable, but he came back non the less so he could try.
So the three eagles jumped from their branch and soared into the air. Then out of no where, they were being surrounded by a swarm of blackness. The noises got louder, the air carried waves of rapid movement. The swarm attacked and flew in circles around the eagles. Streaks of black made it nearly impossible for the eagles to see. Finally Caesar came up with a brilliant idea.
Caesar announced loudly so that the crows could hear with a human voice, even though he was an eagle, "i bring no harm. I just want to make something clear."
The crows started to slow down just a tad but they kept at their routine.
Caesar continued, "i'd like to apologize for neglecting my people. They killed me because they looked up to me, but I ignored them, like a bad leader. I am so very sorry."
A godly voice came from all around them. Not from any specific crow but it seemed as if all of them said it, but none of them said it. "You have been forgiven, now go back to your eggs, your people, love them, adore them for their normality. Normality is something we all wish we had, we'd all have the choice between good or evil. If you were godly, you would be made good or evil. This is why you are now a powerful eagle. Feel your power within, but feel the curse of it all being held back."
Caesar did what he was told, and flew back to his eggs. He tried flying but he kept falling and his wings would not work. Now he knew what it felt like not to be an exceptional person, but normal. You had to will yourself through even the simplest of things.
William next said, "I apologize for my ignorance to attack my enemies when they were already in pain. As a result, I had died myself. War and violence is not the solution to resolving fights. Being king does not mean everything."
The godly voice reappeared, and the birds slowed down furthermore. "Good, William. Your lesson is very important, we must not spread war, we must not rule over others, peace will never be achieved if this is how we solved our problems. Now excuse yourself from your mistakes and take care of your people instead of worrying about your enemies."
William then did what he was told and tried to fly back, but he too felt a weakness he had never felt before. It was normality, he needed a different type of strength. He wavered and fell into the branches many times. Hector was flying at him, actually past him, he was sent by Caesar to go meet the crows. William eventually found his way back to the eggs.
Hector saw the swarm of crows, and flew straight into them, once he was close enough a gap was made so that he could enter.
Achilles began his apology, "I am sorry, sir, for all the sins I have done in my lifetime. I have slaughtered many people, I had done it for war, and war is a terrible thing. I was a god amongst the living, but I am a sinner because of it. I am sorry and I regret killing all those people, and I know that hell wants me, but it is the best that I could let this off my chest before I enter. I had a triumphant life, but there is always a consequence."
The godly voice came once more, "Achilles, you are a very strong human. You lived a life full of sins, you made death appear more often in a lifetime than we have. But your guiltiness, your willingness to go to hell for it, your regret, all these things are making me forgive you. Go back to your nest, do not kill anything without apologizing to it before it dies. Nature provided it for you, apologize and thank it before you harm it."
Achilles exited the presence of the crows just like the others. With the weakness and strength of normality. Achilles was possibly the most powerful of all of them, so it was the most painful for him to experience this difference.
Hector guessed what he had to do off of Achilles' performance. Achilles had killed Hector, so he had a special awkwardness around him. But he was also dissapointed with Achilles because after all he had accidentally killed a loved one of Achilles. Hector felt guilt, and he faced Achilles like a man and apologized. Achilles was sad killing Hector in a duel, because Hector did not have the fight in him, but Achilles knew it was wrong, but he felt as if he had to avenge one of his close relatives.
Hector could not speak out. The godly voice spoke first. "Hector, you had slain men, you were a prince. But you are different from the others. You protected your people, you cared for them, you failed, you died, but you cared for them. They loved you, they were sad to see you fall, the Greeks were sad to see Achilles' impostor fall. Achilles killed you, but that was not right. That is his flaw, forgiveness. You gave your life for your people, you wished not to invade your enemies. Your enemies sinned by invading you. You did not attack first, you got attacked, but you protected your people instead of letting your people die. Then you did not kill people in vain. You only fought those who attacked you. Hector, you are an extraordinary person, not in a bad way like the others. You were made for greatness."
Hector began to change from an eagle, back into a human. He felt so much better as a human, he was floating in the air, after all he could not fly if he were a human. The crows began to fade from black to white.
The godly voice returned, "come Hector, you are not to have the same fate as the others."
Then everything turned white and the white birds brushed him, and took him into the whiteness. It wasn't just "whiteness" though. He was going to a better place, somewhere only sinners cannot.
By Fahim Rahman
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