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The cries of a small dragon echoed hopelessly inside of an empty lair. Far before the creature ever realized her role as a protector, her treasure had all been stolen away from underneath her feet. Clinging to a fleeting sense of purpose, the dragon sought to once again fill the void where chests, coins and chalices once lay. Thrashing around wildly, the creature unleashed her mighty roars, her vicious fire and her destructive power; crashing repeatedly against the walls of her lonely dungeon. But her voice eventually faded to silence, her flames were eventually extinguished, and her wings couldn't take flight with no sky to claim for their own. So, the dragon sat and cried, lamenting her weakness and her pain.
"Yang, it's late, where do you think you're going?"
The girl paused, only for a brief instant; her hand holding tightly onto the door handle. Then, she turned with a wide grin.
"Calm down pops. I'm just going to fetch myself and Ruby some snacks; you don't have to be so paranoid. I'll be back in a sec."
As she closed the door behind her, Yang let out a sigh of relief. She often found the mundane, comfortable environment of her own home to be suffocating. The girl slowly made her way to the old wooden shed while thinking whether her sister would prefer the 'Spicy Dust Puffs' or the 'Crazy Ranch Hunter Bites'. Finally, she stood in front of a large object covered by a hefty piece of cloth. Even though it had become a bit of a routine for her, Yang couldn't help but feel excitement rushing through her veins as she pulled the sheet away with an exaggerated motion, revealing the slick yellow motorcycle underneath.
Before she even thought of getting on the vehicle however, Yang performed a thorough and meticulous examination of its components. Ever since the girl had been gifted her bike (after much begging and pleading), she took really good care of it. Although Yang was nowhere near as tech savvy as her own sister, she at least bothered to learn the basics of motorcycle maintenance and, along the way, it turned into a bit of a hobby. The more she understood about her vehicle, the more connected she felt to its sounds and movements. As Yang sat down and revved the engine, she sensed her pulse matching that of her trusty steed.
"Don't forget to wear a helmet!"
The girl was not at all surprised to hear her father's voice through the window. Even if he could sometimes be overbearing, it was always the good kind of overbearing: the kind that would constantly remind you to pick up your socks, do your homework and brush your teeth. Although, her tendency to avoid headgear had less to do with neglecting her own safety and more with the fact that fitting her voluminous mane of yellow hair inside it often proved to be a huge hassle. Regardless, having put on the appropriate protective gear, the girl gave one last glance at her home, wondering if her little sister would have been asleep by the time she came back. Then, physically shaking all doubts off her head, she rushed forward.
xx
Two hours later, the sun had completely set over the horizon and Yang had flown right past five different convenience stores and two gas stations. Unsurprisingly, her scroll was bursting with unanswered text messages and lost calls, all from the same number. But the girl wasn't concerned with such matters. There was barely anything in her mind at all. Dashing aimlessly through the large, fenced roads of the countryside, Yang just couldn't bring herself to stop. Deep down, she hoped that if she continued to accelerate, perhaps the colors and noises racing past her would blend together just enough to allow her to slip into a different reality; a fantasy. Maybe, in a different world, she wouldn't have been left alone.
