Imagine Dragons (updating so slowly that it's ridiculous)

A Bloody Fight

I'm an easy target. I'm an easy target. I'm an easy target. Those words keep circling in my mind, scaring me more than I ever think I've been scared. I'm supposed to live. That's my challenge. The tree I'm sitting on doesn't seem to think that I'll be able to make it, and I'm not so sure either. How could I possibly get by them? I need to live amongst them. With blood sucking trees. That's just great. I can't focus, and adrenaline pumps through my veins, making everything seem a lot sharper. Sounds are muted as I take off as fast as I possibly can, not worrying about the consequences. I need to get away, away, away.
The tree I've been perching on simply reaches up and snatches me out of the air.
"Not so fast, little birdie. We don't get much fresh blood around here, you know. You're not getting off that easily." The gaping hole of a mouth cracks back and forth, bark rubbing and blood dripping. It looks like it wants to lick its lips, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't have a tongue.
"Please, don't. I can be useful in other ways! I promise I can!"
"Oh good, begging! The faeries have black blood, but sometimes we're desperate. They're no fun. They're just completely silent." The tree huffs in frustration. "What color blood do you have, dearie?"
"Uh, red?"
"Oh!" The shock in Dā's voice is almost frightening. His tone drops from playful to threatened.
"Don't lie to me, girl. I'll find out what's really happening. So, tell me again, what color blood do you have?"
"It's red! See?" I drag my fingertip against my bark covered stomach, drawing a tiny drop of red blood from between the bark. I hold it out for Dā to see.
He moves back as fast as he can. "It's a Queen!"
"No, no! I'm not like the Queen! I'm trying to become one of you! I have to pass everyone's tests!"
"I know you do! But you can't just expect us to let you live! You're an enemy! The Queen cut down my brothers and sisters, my mother and father. She had a heavy blade, and she sent out mechanical devices to kill us! How could I ever trust you?"
Dā's tree friends are clumping up behind him, all of them with blood-dripping mouths. I take a step back, but Dā is still holding onto me, and I can't get anywhere.
"Second." It's one of the trees behind Dā, and the closest. What does he mean?
"Third."
"Fourth."
"Fifth."
They continue saying numbers, somehow stating their status. Why are they doing that? It doesn't make sense to me.
"They're counting off who gets second sip, dearie." Dā's face warps into a smile, and it's the scariest thing I think I've ever seen, reminiscent of the Joker.
Who's the Joker?
Forget the stupid dream, Stella!
"You can't. Please don't."
"We've never tasted red blood. I wonder how it feels, to be killing off the Queen's kin with every sip we take?"
I need to submit. Or appear to submit.
"Dā. Let me give the tall one blood first. He could hurt you. I don't want to leave behind a torn community."
Dā glances over at the tallest tree and nods. "Alright."
I rub my finger across my stomach until some bark chips off and the blood is flowing. The tall tree has moved closer to us by now, and his mouth warps into an almost-smile. It's disgusting, but I put my finger just above the rim of the gaping hole, and a single drop of my blood falls into his mouth.
A torn scream erupts from his mouth, and he falls back. No one moves to catch him; they can only watch as he falls back, dead.
Dā gives me a horrified look and cries out at me. "How?"
"Red blood is poisonous. I didn't want to kill you, and it seemed like nobody liked him, so I said him." I shrug. I'd only guessed that red blood was poisonous, but Dā talked to me, so I didn't want to accidentally kill him.
"You... you said to let him o first because you didn't want to kill me?"
"Well yeah. You were talking to me and being a little bit nice at least, when you could have just killed me on first sight. Why would I want to kill you?"
"Don't you just hate all of us? Don't you want to kill us if you can?"
"Nah. I just want to be one of you."
Dā glances back at his fellow trees, and somehow, together, they come to a conclusion.
"We'll let you stay. You can go on to the mermaids."
I gasp in shock. "Really!?"
Dā laughs, as much as a tree can. "What would we do with you if you were dead, anyway?"
The rest of the time is spent with learning customs of the other creatures, and soon I know how to properly engage in a fight with a werewolf and how to "come in peace" to a unicorn. I don't know how the unicorns didn't spear me on sight. I must have looked so threatening, and they waited when I asked. That's so kind of them; I can't wait until I'm accepted. I can't wait.
Suddenly, in the middle of an explanation on dragon etiquette, my neck starts to itch, like when my wings emerged. I scratch at it, and suddenly, my skin comes down from my neck. What's happening. What's happening. Oh my gods what's happening.
"Ah, they've given you gills." Dā doesn't sound surprised, but I'm shocked. I can breathe underwater now?
"You're off to the mermaids, Stella! Good luck!"
And I flap my wings and begin the flight to wherever the mermaids are.

A/N
Did you see what I did there? A bloody fight, because a fight over blood?
Oh, never mind.
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