The Sun Guardian led Emery to the avian village on the first day.
Thistlewing and Mossgleam followed behind them, their wings trailing faint rainbow light. Below, the forest stretched toward the horizon, broken by ugly grey scars where the corruption had spread. The once-vibrant canopy was now patchy, with entire sections of trees standing bare and lifeless.
The village clung to a line of tall cliffs, its nests woven into the rock and branches. It should have been full of noise and activity, with the calls of the avian Fey echoing between the cliffs. Instead, an eerie silence hung over the settlement. Grey feathers littered the ground like ash, and many of the nests stood empty.
Emery saw the disease clearly as they walked through the village.
