Falling Ashes

Faith ran through the wood, her small claws gliding easily over the dried dirt. She turned her small, lean head. Cyrus chased her, his sharp claws leaving creases in the hardened soil. Plants whistled in the gentle breeze. His eyes were shining with determination, though his body was slowing.

“Bet you can’t catch me!” she shouted. 

He grumbled something to himself, watching in despair as shadows blended into her dark, shimmering speckled scales. Her claws skidded to a stop as she turned her body, her wings majestically flowing. He’d stopped too and was smiling at her while she snuggled in the mossy undergrowth. The sun was setting quickly, revealing sparkling stars like snow. Faith gasped.

“You look beautiful,” she breathed. The golden rays were reflecting off his blue-and-green scales, making him shimmer like an emerald. Without a second thought, she bounced out into the sunlight, watching as the last bits of golden light flickered like flames on her purple-and-indigo speckled scales.

“Like flames and falling ashes,” said Apollo in his odd accent. His warm green eyes met Faith’s bright blue ones. Daisy bounded up behind him, flinging her small white-and-yellow wings around her friends best she could. Cyrus giggled, grabbing her right wing, yanking it, and making her tumble over into the silver starlight.

“Hey!” she protested, leaping on his back. Leaning all her weight on his neck, she made Cyrus topple over. He yelped and while lying on the ground, shoved her off with his feet. Apollo leapt at Faith, knocking her over. She squeaked and they all laughed.

“We should probably head back,” Cyrus mumbled. Apollo nodded, but Faith wanted to stay out in the starlight a bit longer. With a sigh, Cyrus agreed.

Faith climbed up high into a tree, with Cyrus and Apollo talking on the lower branches. Daisy had made a makeshift hammock, and being the youngest, was asleep in moments. She glanced into the cool night air, taking deep breathes. Faith gagged as a sharp scent filled her nose and lungs.

Smoke. Somewhere there was a fire. She whipped around, nearly falling off, and stared in horror in the direction of the village as smoke poured out. Bright golden light and flames followed.

“Fire!” she screeched. Daisy woke up with a start while Cyrus and Apollo immediately scaled the thick trunk to look.

“No!” Apollo shouted. He flew off, almost snapping the branch from his heavy take-off, and bolted towards the village. Daisy followed without a second thought, but Faith dove off the edge to run through the forest.

“Where are you going?!” Cyrus shouted. She didn’t answer, Faith just kept running. Gentle sprinkling rain started pelting her face, splashing droplets of water in her snout and eyes. As she neared the village, Faith noticed hundreds of dragons pouring out into the sky, all fleeing. She flew into the air, moonlight reflecting off her purple scales. She seemed to be glowing silver.

“Follow me!” Faith screeched, Cyrus at her side. Without hesitation or even questions they followed, watching closely at her intercut way of weaving through trees, trying their hardest to replicate it.

Faith flew them into a nearby field while Cyrus went back to direct them. It was now pouring rain and cold, sharp winds cut through leaves. The fire had gone out, according to Daisy and Apollo. They’d made it back safely, but both were clearly shaken.

The group found a place in the soft mud and wet, sloppy grass to sleep, while other dragons piled on top of each other to keep warm in the pouring rain. Faith sighed, terror filling her mind as she drifted into sleep. Her last thought before losing consciousness was “Is the kingdom destroyed?”

Faith woke up to Cyrus’s sharp claws shaking her dark, speckled wings. The sun was barely rising, while most dragons were still asleep.

“I’m up,” she grumbled. Daisy giggled.

“We’re going to go see what’s left of the kingdom. Want to come?” 

The truth was, Faith really didn’t want to come. She sighed and nodded, though a twisting knot of dread in her stomach brought back all her terrified thoughts from the night before. The group set off, landing in a soft patch of moss in the forest.

“Woah!” Daisy gasped, spreading her small wings. Faith looked down and noticed herself along with the other dragonets glowing like gems. Daisy had basically turned to gold, while Faith shimmered like a sapphire. Apollo flared his shining teal wings, replicating Daisy, watching as he and Cyrus glowed like emeralds. The dragonets admired each other for a moment before continuing their journey.

“Guys, we’re almost there!” Daisy said as Apollo and Cyrus stopped. A hint of terror squeaked in her voice. They pushed on and finally came to the tangled entrance. The small flowers and vines were scorched around the edges. As Faith walked through the entrance, she gasped.

The entire village looked like it’d been inlaid with silver. The ashes had all frozen, creating extra durability and shined gorgeously.

“The rain must’ve made the ash mush, and the wind froze it in place,” Apollo said matter-of-factly. As the dragonets explored, they found thick layers of ash covering the kingdom. A thought hit Faith, and she felt a small flicker of hope in her chest. She was safe. Her friends were safe. Her kingdom was safe. Everything will be okay.

Extra Info: When Faith and Cyrus grew up, they had two dragonets named Ash, who is a boy, and Aster, who is a girl. Ashes are a sign of hope and love. Aster flowers along with daisies and represent hope. Europeans consider gems as a symbol of hope, which is why the dragonets glow like gems during the sunrise. As for Daisy, who is said to look like gold, yellow is a symbol of happiness, hope and more.