Beasts Within

Pt.1: Entitlement

High into the clouds I spread my wings, gliding freely by the whispers of the wind. Today it was curiosity that brought me closer to the strange metal structures of mam. And as I weaved through a gentle sky, little rectangular ships glided past in a straight line. I was close. A volt of enticed energy tingled underneath my scales. At a subtle wingspan shift, I angled myself to glide into a higher place. And then, I broke free from the clusters of clouds and into the expansive blue sky. There she is. Zeon, the city of balanced light, suspended like a floating castle, tucked into the comforts of puffy clouds. As I made my rounds, I kept enough distance from a series of five hexagonal lines. They encompassed this city, and inside its width there are little homes on the outmost rings. I'd like to think that a young one would look up and see me, making obscure fantasy books a reality. Perhaps that's what drew me to the human development, but I am well aware that they protect such splendor at any cost. I began to increase the distance between myself and the fifth loop, the spirals of a uniformed culture rose from its centric loop like a series of blossoming trees.
From behind, a gray rectangular ship followed me. I interpreted its intention. Its time to leave.

Carefully to not startle whoever piloted the strange object, I swooped downward, taking cover into the passing mist. Looping around a couple more times on the lower skies, the gray ship had stopped its pursuit. Assured that my life would be kept intact. I made the final flight into the highlands, a series of two rigorous mountain ranges, the division set by our masters long gone.
Lord bless their souls, may their devotion be respected.


Winds gently swayed upon a great apple tree underneath a clear blue sky. Every now and then Aton would take to the skies, following after the machines of man. Mother would watch over me, saying that I was too young to fly, and that I must keep away from the machines. Mother had given up her lengthy talks with Aton, and since then, I swore to myself that I won't disappoint her. When my wings are ready I would fly north, maybe eastward, where the forests are.
I watched Aton descend from the skies. I ran up the great hill towards the tree, His green toned scales glimmered in the afternoon sunlight as he batted his wings for an easy landing. I kept pacing around him, jumping and yapping at him. My brothers come home!

When the winds had settled Aton trotted up at my side. I raced him down the hill, he tripped on a stone, then we tumbled down instead. And at the bottom we came to rest on top of the grass. A soft laughter of amusement came out from the both of us. Aton smiled in the end.
Today is like all others. Calm, peaceful, and fruitful.

In the expansive carven our mother came out of the fiery room as I trotted alongside Aton. Mother eyed him and took me under her wing, reluctant, I tried to get away from her grooming manners. Aton grew weary of her nature, he started to slip away to his room.

"Did you stay hidden, Neil?" Mother asked. Gloomy, I nodded. The tail of Aton swayed out of sight, partly dragging on the ground. I wish I could go on my own way like him, I thought, but instead, I stayed with my mother. She went to say the same terrible methods done to our species, and worse, under their influence she would say as I followed beside her, that our kind fought against each other. Comanned to death. I kept my head down, shut out her voice. Just be present, the best I could do ever since father disappeared.

"Out here we were safe from Them" mother brought her line of thoughts to that conclusion
"Yes mom, no one for miles." I repeated, then took retreat into a small opening in the wall.
"Is everything alright?"
I stopped in mid trail through the opening. "Yes Mother. See you for supper." I said with a drooping tail. Her dominant form studied me from meters high. I avoided mothers' orange eyes, she is still battling, I thought, then squeezed into the opening and out of sight. I've gotten bigger I noticed as I squeezed through the other side, leaving behind the heated breath she emitted.