Noctem In Alis
(Night of the Wings)
By: Lily M. and Aiden S.
A long time ago, in the forest of Pan, there was a forest nymph in love with the nature god. She and Pan fell in love, and it was a good life, with runs in fields of flowers, swims in iridescent creeks, songs with bluebirds. One day as they sat in a field of aromatic plants, they started talking.
"Darling, I was wondering, how would you feel if I said that I wanted a child?" Said the nymph.
The trees had been blowing softly in the breeze, and the green shadows danced lively across her face. Pan couldn't resist her beauty and agreed immediately. Together they had a child named Domina Pictis, the gorgeous goddess of the butterflies. Later on, when Domina Pictis was much older, she was floating around a meadow searching for the most delicate of flowers, when Helios, the sun god, gazed upon her and instantly fell in love. Her grace captivated him, and it became his mission to make her fall in love with him. He danced around the forest in giddy motions until she finally did. During the daytime, they snuck around happily, and eventually had a baby boy, named Draco Volant.
But we are missing a key part of this story.
Helios has a Wife named Selene, the goddess of the Moon. Now, she of course has a mysterious whim to her, and shines ghost-like in the night sky, but she also has a cold side, and can be extremely cruel.
So one day, Draco Volant was hopping across stones in the forest, when Selene noticed him. She had never seen a young god like him before, but she most certainly recognized his bright, glowing features. He also had an elegant look about him, so she had quite a hunch much before she asked the question.
"You there! Boy! Who are your parents?"
Thinking he had nothing to worry about, and thinking there was no reason to be ashamed of his parentage, he told her. This threw Selene into a jealous fit of rage, and she rained it down upon the earth. She decides to capture Domina Pictis to make her pay for all she did. She keeps her in a bronze cage, and summons the hideous bird monster, Avem. However, Pan, being the god of nature, warns Draco Volant that his mother is in grave danger. He searches far and wide, and reaches her just in time. Draco Volant attacks Avem, and kills the wretched beast. He can not save his mother completely. Selene still has her in captivity, and she strips her of the colors that make her oh so beautiful. She banishes her to the nighttime, where she will be forever without Helios, and Selene can always keep an eye on her. She now spends her days as a moth, and all that once was bright about her is dismal. Whenever she sees the light she thinks that it is Helios, and she swarms it, desperate for her darling. Sometimes, she can hear his voice longing for her on the other side of the world.
Noctem in Alis-Night of the Wings
Domina Pictis-Painted lady (A type of butterfly)
Draco Volant-DragonFly
Avem-Bird