In some worlds, people have no place to live, so they decide to live among the ruins of stone and metal structures. These places might have been palaces where the emperor or king resided. The new inhabitants knew nothing of what had happened before their time. The peculiar thing is the stone structures were suspended in the sky. They gradually became a domain of lost birds that had a superficial resemblance to phoenixes. Known to be menacing if bothered. The Ktoia kept a distance. These birds were used as a warning signal if intruders threatened them. A symbiosis between the Ktoia and birds was beneficial. People received protection, and the birds resided in parts of the ruins that were beneficial to raising offspring and hunting.
A number of the birds were giant wings spanning several feet long and bodies able to carry two adult size persons. Their feathers were bright green, yellow gleaming like the sun, an angry red, and serene violet. Individual birds varied in the distribution of the number of colored feathers on their bodies. The tail feathers extended several feet out, resembling fire. The crests on their heads danced in riotous profusion. Beaks with the strength to crack rocks with one blast. The birds were fitted with a saddle to keep the rider on the bird during flight. Because these birds fly fast, they would be bashed to pieces if a rider was thrown off. Riding on a bird was the fastest way to travel to distant places.
The Ktoia flew along the flying ships with solar sails traveling at high speed. It was arduous to fly around the high mountains; only the bird could safely and successfully accomplish the task. Ships were for more open areas like sailing above the oceans. Eventually, the Ktoia constructed structures where the bird could live. These aviaries could fly anywhere, meaning the birds weren’t stranded in one place.
To travel from the ground to the hovering ruins, ground dwellers shot cables upward to these ruins so they could climb to where they lived. It’s highly strenuous to climb up a line, and the wires are like elevators. Once safely attached, the cable automatically has extensions that grasp around the traveler’s body. Then it, at high velocities, ascends up. Daredevils had shot themselves at a speed higher than recommended; none had come back alive. Yet others still dared to play with the cables as a challenge. That is why the skies where the wires were located were named the bloody skies.
It was known the birds ate humans when they had nothing to eat. A faction of the Ktoia developed plans to destroy the bird none of the weapons used penetrated their bodies. A fear emerged that concerned the aviaries that the birds could use them to hunt humans by crashing into the ruins where humans lived. Not once did it happen. The birds found their own food if it wasn’t scarce. The ruins were rebuilt as barriers to the birds.
A war ensued between the humans and birds; no longer were the birds to carry people into battle or commerce. The flying ships were enclosed without an open deck and fitted with spikes so the birds couldn’t land. High voltage ran through the vessel’s skin for additional protection, and the crew within were insulated. Destructive flame throwers were installed on the bow and stern of the ships. And torrent guns on the sides for more excellent protection. Birds engulfed in flames collided with the ship, destroying them during the battles. Numerous boats and birds died. In time too many were lost to the war. The number of combatants was decimated as the conflict faded. The remnant birds moved away from the ruins, and the humans continued as they were in ruins. The world changed the Ktoia grew more dependent on the flying ships. Eventually, the ships were decorated as if they were birds.
