Boom.

The ground shook. Alikus gasped, regaining her balance and looking down at the volatile baby white crow. It was still asleep- whatever that was, it didn't come from the chick.

Aggh, I hate being alone! When will they be back? What if I mess up and the baby crow lights everything on fire? I probably will. Please come back!

The other three landed in the cave and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Did you all feel that? Everything shook," Alikus asked breathlessly.

"I didn't feel anything." Ginkgo answered, blinking down at her.

"Me neither." Qulow nodded.

Evereldette stared at her, his yellow eye staring deep into hers. He looked troubled. What was wrong with him?

"Oh! Oh, I came up with a name for Little Alikus!" Ginkgo exclaimed.

"Finally, we can stop calling them Little Alikus." Qulow sighed.

Evereldette stared at Alikus helplessly, then turned to the chick.

The chick woke up, staring up and chirping through the fabric tied around its beak.

"Serendipity." Ginkgo announced. "It means to accidentally find something really special and beautiful and amazing."

"That's a good name." Alikus answered.

"I think so as well. It fits, doesn't it?" Qulow observed.

"Yeah." Evereldette replied quietly.

"Serene for short." Ginkgo chirped affectionately, leaning down. "Little Serene." She put her beak on the chick's beak.

"We should feed her. I can see that its crop is no longer full." Qulow murmured.

"Alright!" Ginkgo agreed.

Alikus smiled, staring as Ginkgo tore up a fish.

Evereldette made his way over to her.

There was another loud shake.

Alikus gasped, spreading out her wings to keep balance. The chick flailed around and Evereldette closed his eyes, flinching.

But the other two were unfazed.

Evereldette blinked, a tear rolling down from his eye.

What's going on? What's happening? Why is Ever so scared?

"There you go, small one!" Ginkgo chirped, putting the mashed up piece of fish in the chick's beak.

There was another shake. Alikus yelped, struggling to keep balance.

What's happening? I'm terrified!

"Alikus? You alright?" Qulow asked.

Evereldette stared Alikus in the eye, shaking his head but lifting his wing to his beak in a "shh"-ing motion.

"Y-yes." Alikus answered.

Qulow nodded, turning back to the chick.

Something dark gathered at the edges of Alikus's eyes. It rose up, covering her vision. She gasped, reaching out with her wings to hold on to another bird, but simply fell onto the cold stone.

Her vision drifted upwards. A wall of shadows. A face.

"Ow!" She exclaimed, hitting the floor of the cave.

Her feathers raised. What was that?

"Alikus, maybe you should relax a bit?" Ginkgo asked.

"O-ok." Alikus replied, staggering over to the wall of the cave.

Is it all just in my head?

Evereldette moved over to Alikus. He stared her in the eye.

"The earth is shaking."

To be continued

In a sequel.