Unfurled Wings Novels & Stories

He stepped back. “Begin.” Around me wings burst into the air. White. Gold. Silver. Soft feathers rustling in the wind. I took a slow breath. Then let mine unfold. The familiar rush spread across my back as the wings extended behind me. A few students glanced over. Whispers again. But this time I ignored them. Focus. In. Out. Extend. Retract. Again. By the time the Headmaster dismissed the class, my wings folded smoothly into my back without hesitation.

Mane had just employed one of those many moves: Exploding Wings. Mane’s mumble was the trigger for the huge fiery wings that grew on his back. The wings were several dozens of meters long and several meters wide. When they appeared on Mane’s back they rose high into the sky, and flapped rapidly. Yet their beating didn’t lift Mane up or take him into the sky. With the beating of those wings, the cry of a Phoenix filled the ears of all who were here, and several large flames descended upon the retreating goblins, burning them all to a crisp. The fire was stronger, completely eliminating the goblins in less than a second.

Everything around them seemed to grind to a halt for a suspended heartbeat, the world collectively holding its metaphorical breath in anticipation. Then, with no preamble or warning whatsoever, a resounding boom akin to rolling thunder echoed across the desolate landscape. A pair of massive, glossy sable-feathered wings erupted from Enzo's back in one explosive motion the next instant, their emergence accompanied by a rush of scorching air. The raven wings unfurled with a resonant snap. Their magnificent expanse easily eclipsed twenty feet across as they stretched to their full, imposing span with a bone-rattling flare.

As she drew a deep breath, the light answered—brightening along the edges in a soft, steady flare. She drew her shoulders back deliberately this time. The weight shifted. Not dragging, not forcing. Now perfectly balanced, as if her body had always been waiting for this. Subtle muscles along her spine engaged, powerful and unfamiliar. The wings unfurled behind her in a slow, measured arc, feathers of living flame sliding into place one by one. They were larger than she had understood in the heat of anger and panic of new and unknown. Now they were arching high above her head and curving wide enough that their tips nearly brushed the chamber walls.

With one contemptuous flick of his wrist, he dismissed the whimpering mess to limp back and deliver my venomous reply personally. As the unified army surged forward with bellows of enthusiasm to renew the gory business of siege, I sprang aloft, wings churning violently to gain height. The air shimmered with heat from my kindled wrath. Updrafts from the burning city below buoyed me ever higher until I wheeled and dove, wreathed in flame.

she clarified with a nod of her head toward me, "I've heard of the return of your wings. I want to see them for myself. If you don't mind." My lips curled upward and I gestured for Sylvain to give me some room. Once he had moved to stand next to Zora, I rolled my shoulders and set my wings free. They sprang from my back, unfurled and glorious as they caught the slices of sunlight spilling into the room. The ombre of gold blending into black shimmered blindingly when I shook out my features, allowing them to settle more comfortably. "Amazing," Zora whispered, awestruck at the sight. She closed the distance between us and held an open palm up, "may I?"

She was using the weapon, not hiding behind it. Under the loud clanks and sparks of two swords, the wings behind her back started to tingle. They fluttered, begging to set free as the shackles of past kept them tied for so long. They feared if they have forgotten to fly. The feathers of hope craved to feel the caresses of heavenly air.

Lucifer caught the wind under hir wings and soared upwards into the sky. Ze felt the wind buffet all around hir feathers as ze sailed gracefully in a wide sweeping curve. Then, ze angled hir head, spotted Freya far below, then turned hir body downward. Ze flapped a few times to help gain speed, then pulled hir wings close to hir body.

It lifted its head from deep blue fire, its wings edged in ash white and gold-red. No throne. No family crest. No name pressed over its own. It rose from the flames and flew forward. Living only for itself.

“Oh, gods…” Her breath was scorching hot. Every exhale washed over me like the air from a furnace. One careless movement from me and I would get burned, even one accidental bite and I would be dead. “Please don’t sneeze,” I whispered. The beast blinked one golden eye then, with another powerful roar her enormous wings spread. “Wings?” They unfurled like giant sails, black as midnight and edged with crimson veins. One powerful flap and the beast launched itself into the air. The crowd gasped.