The powerful roar of a massive beast shook the earth and frightened Illuminura out of her sleep. Gasping for air she shot to her feet and found the world around her rumbling and shuddering. A massive herd of wild beasts stampeded just side of her cave. Huge horned creatures with thick light grey, hairy skin trampled upon all in their path in a frantic attempt to escape some terrible horror. One slammed into the cliff face shack the earth around the Celestial and rupturing the cave's structure.

Dust and rocks rained down from the fracturing ceiling as the cave started to crumble. Sensing this Illuminura prepared to jump onto one of the large beasts rushing past her. Soon she seized her chance and with a leap of faith latched onto one. not welcoming the creature that had just grabbed onto it back the massive beast began to buck by jumping up and shaking about like a wild bull.

She struggled as she pulled herself onto the top of the animal and managed to get onto her feet. All around her the earth shook as hundreds of half-ton beasts raced for safety. To the front of the desperadoes, the jungle trees collapsed before the might of the herd. Chasing after them were huge roaring, carnivorous monstrosities.

Each one was triple the size of their prey, digitigrade bipeds with bulky serpentine heads. These titans gained on them with each massive stride. These thirteen-foot tall alpha predators picked out targets with bloodthirsty eyes. Then with mighty, bone-crunching bites caught their victims and ripped them one by one out of the herd.

Illuminura saw this and start to jump from one beast to another until she found herself on a beast that ran along the bank of a river. Fearful of the predators she leapt into the water and found herself being taken away by its strong currents. Knowing that it lead straight to a waterfall she battled the torrent of water. She swam against with all her strength but was taken way by the sheer forces arrayed against her. So she tried clinging onto various rocks and logs but all gave way.

Then she found herself thrown off of the edge and falling hundreds of meters into a lake far below. She splashed through the water and hit her head hard on a rock. Exhausted, gasping for air and coughing up water from her lungs she struggled ashore. There she laid on her back and rested.

She started to loathe herself again. In that moment she considered herself a wretched pitiful being. Weak, pathetic and all too much like the helpless masses of humanity she hated the very feeling of this feeble new body. It was a heavy one that weighed her down with every breath. By the heavens did she hate her condition.

She moaned as her muscles cried out in pain. She tried to lift herself to her feet but lacking in strength she only managed to flip herself onto her belly. There she simply broke down, hot tears of rage flowed in streams down her cheeks as exhaustion took hold. The world faded to black as she passed out.

She came to in an unfamiliar place here the world grew dark as night fell upon the land. She could hear the crackle of a fire. She followed the sound with her eyes and found the illumination of the campfire a welcome sight. Past it, she found a man, huddled in the corner and using a stick to draw lines on the cave floor.

"How'd I get here? Who are you?!" She snapped as she got up.

The man looked up from his drawings to her.

"I brought you here Hauptmann Godfrey Martelis. The last thing I'd expect to find was a Celestial. let alone you." He answered plainly.

"Had things been ideal. We wouldn't be here nor would we be alone."

"Well, we're not. It's up to us now to find a way out of this hell."

Illuminura walked over to the man's side as curiosity drove her to look on. She could not tell what he was drawing. She approached him but what she could tell the indecipherable drawings were tell-tale signs of madness. However, this was not a day for assumptions.

"What are you doing?" She asked as she watched.

"Figuring a way out of here. Thought drawing a map of this place to the best of my abilities would help."

"Any progress?"

He drew a cross through a large portion of his makeshift map. Then he turned to her and pointed towards the cross.

"This is west of here. The place is swarming with dangers. It's a no go zone unless we're hunting."

She nodded and he then pointed to a set of lines on the opposite end of the map.

"This is east of us. I believe it is a way out but the cliff is too steep. We need at least two people working together to climb it.

Illuminura raised an eyebrow.

"Why would a celestial need the help of a meagre human?" She bragged.

"Why are you here then?" He answered back.

In response, she looked away as she cringed. Such a stubborn creature is bound to resist change. Her pride for centuries of loyal service was the only thing holding her up. She could not allow another blow to her pride to be dealt.

Now that same pride weighed her down; it was killing her. It had been the reason she loathed her new self this whole time. She had been the best in her generation. She had bested gods and laid waste to entire armies. To be brought down so low was unbecoming of her and unfit for one with so many reasons to be proud.

She watched Godfrey as he sat where he had been for so long. The man showed no emotion as he ran simulation after simulation in his head. You'd have to admire the man as she sat in utter silence after some time she spoke again.

"Fine, I'll help if only you lead us out of this place."

Godfrey looked at her then rolled over.

"We'll move in the morning."

As the sun rose high in the pink sky Godfrey and Illuminura set out to make their way out. Godfrey led the celestial onward as he followed a path he cut through the thick bushland days before.

Soon the two reached the cliffs Godfrey had spoken of. They were steep like he said yet they were undeterred. Thus they started to climb up the cliff. Illuminura regained enough strength to jump high enough to keep pulling Godfrey up. While Godfrey directed her along the optimal path he planned out for her.

Soon she found makeshift hooks and torn ropes made from local vines and biomass. She pondered on them as she pulled the Martian up. Godfrey looked around as he walked on.

"My past attempts. Vines here are weak. They're unable to pull my weight." He explained

"I know the feeling," Illuminura remarked.

He stopped and looked back only to see the silver back of her head as she looked back over the edge.

"Next ridge is straight ahead."

Eventually, they climbed through mist and fog. Then they reached the top and found themselves back in the snow. Illuminura could look up and see the giant quad-winged pterosaurs yet again. She longed for flight. She longed for the restoration her powers.

Yet, for what it was worth following Godfrey's directions brought relief to Illuminura's heart. She came to ponder the idea of keeping the man company. Perhaps he could impart new more human ways of living upon her. Perhaps there was real promise in him but for now not being alone is enough.

Pharos led both Minerva and Alice to the centre of town. There they met many of his kind. The young, the old and many other adults like Pharos himself. Minerva sped off to play with the children of this village. Alice happily stood by and watched as Minerva introduced herself and communicated with the locals with cheerful glee. As she did Pharos joined her.

"You care for the little one?" He asked.

"She saved me from starvation. This ought to be the least I can do. Although I do admit seeing such... such-"

"Intelligence?"

"Yes, intelligence, to in dinosaurs is unnerving."

"We are not dinosaurs. We are Angulus. Then again we are not accustomed to your kind either."

As Minerva started running with them she discovered she could keep pace with the swift creatures. This revelation brought a smile to her youthful face. Alice felt at peace amidst the company of the beasts as they carried on with their daily lives.

Objects would float and fly about the place as gentle giants stomped about and tended to their village. Carrying fresh meat about in floating lumps or tending to the various matters of the day. Few even greeted Pharos as they passed. Alice looked around at all this.

"Your kind does seem quite the industrious people." She remarked.

"Indeed! Life runs on a delicate balance. One that must be maintained no matter the cost and so we must work hard to maintain it."

"They seem to tolerate you simply standing beside me right now."

"That is because I am the watchman. The guardian of this village and with good reason too. Of all my kin I have the highest psychic sensitivity. I know what is going on for miles all around here. Right now I am at work watching over you and Minerva."

"The two of you must have gotten to know each other well."

"Indeed. We've known each other for over a week now. Nay more than a month is more like it. When we communicate psychically it is done at high speeds. It makes a week feel more like a month."

"How is she when in such contact?"

"I must say that in all my long years I have never met such a being who was as psychically gifted as her... She's a remarkable creature."

Time carried on and the sun sets as dusk comes over the land. Minerva finally returns to Alice and Pharos. Alice knelt down to greet her and run her hand down the girl's hair.

"How was it?" She asked the child.

Minerva smiled with gleeful joy as she revealed her love for her newfound friends.

"It was great! We ran and ran all day! there's no end to the creativity of these children as they tried to catch me. Once they had me with my back to a cliff and Thana climbed up to get me from above. When Thana leapt to get me I threw her into the others and escaped! We all enjoyed the hunt-"

She stopped as she looked to the south and so did Pharos. Alice looked about as one by one they all looked that way. Soon the entire town got up and walked that way ever so silent. As if something ever so important was coming. Alice looked to the south and found more Angulii coming in a great column. Alice looked to Minerva as the youth wore a gaping smile upon her face.

"Minerva, what is happening?" Alice asked.

"Do you not hear their singing? So beautiful!" Minerva answered.

"No, but I would like to."

Minerva looked to her and reached into her mask. Alice hesitated and Minerva paused.

"Please, trust me."

Alice leant her forehead against Minerva's fingers and she gasped as beautiful melodies played within her mind. A wonderful concert of feminine and masculine voices flooded her mind. they seemed to all unite in beautiful harmony as the females returned home.

Larger than their male counterparts they bore crests of magnificent yellow patterns upon their feathers. As mates found each other they touched cheeks lovingly with affection and care only they could comprehend. All around their feet the young ones played with joy as they watched the return of their mothers.

Such unnatural love from great predators of the plains brought a tear to Minerva's eye.