Lost and Found

Chapter 2: When The Past Comes Calling

The following day when I woke up, Valka and Cloudjumper were gone. Atlas lets me down, and I busy myself with making a bit of breakfast. As I work, Atlas nudges me with her head and begs for scraps. With a chuckle, I toss the scraps, and she happily scarfs them down. I finish my own meal and grab my armor, ready to go for a fly.

I sheath my sword at my side and ensure my dagger is strapped to my thigh. I tighten the rest of my armor in place and roll my shoulders. "Come on, Atlas." I sat and stride toward the cliff edge. Atlas roars and leaps toward me. With a swift motion, I jump onto her back, and she takes us through the nest.

The bewilderbeast groans lowly as we pass overhead. I chuckle lightly at the sight of the babies beginning to fly around his face. He lifts his head out of the water to watch us pass. I give a nod of respect toward him before Atlas takes us toward one of the many tunnel exits.

My lungs fill with the crisp air of freedom as we soar above the waters below. Valka and Cloudjumper are on patrol, so Atlas and I can do whatever for a few hours.

Atlas dives down toward the water. I lean over and drag my hand through the waves. A bubbling laugh cuts through the wind around us as my heart soars. Atlas tips a little to drag the tip of her wing through the water as well. I shake off my hand as I lay on my stomach, and Atlas takes us up into the clouds. Pretty soon, I couldn't see the ocean below because the clouds were too thick.

I sit up and throw my arms wide, pretending I have wings as Atlas takes us higher. She slows down, and for a moment, we're floating weightless among the clouds. I could live in this moment of bliss for the rest of my life and never have to worry about anything.

The wind whips my hair around my face as we begin our freefall. Atlas spins as we fall, and I situate myself so I'm prone against her back. Eventually, she rights herself, catching a wind current that carries us along.

Lifting my head, I see large pillars of rock and tall trees. My heart races with adrenaline, and I adjust my grip on Atlas. She dives out of the current and races toward the pillars. I move with her as if I were a dragon myself as we weave through some pillars.

Atlas cuts through one of the pillars with her wing. I glance behind me and watch with a giddy smile as the rocks tumble into the water. She cuts another pillar and a few thinner trees. Atlas isn't a sharp-class dragon for nothing.

We see an approaching land bridge, and I jump to my feet. Atlas bucks me up simultaneously as I jump and land on the rock bridge. I sprint across the strange formation while Atlas flies under it. With complete faith in my friend, I reach the cliff's edge and leap through the air. For a moment, I swear I could fly.

Like always, Atlas is there to catch me. We continue flying until we come to land on the top of a large cliff. My breathing is heavy as I wait for the adrenaline to wear off. I glance around at the surrounding environment and notice some of it looks familiar. Furrowing my brows, I walk along the cliff edge until I get a clear view of the ruins.

My mind flashes with images of fire. Screams echo through my mind as they did in my nightmare last night. Exactly twenty years ago, my village was destroyed and my people slaughtered. Though I was young then, the memories are still burned into my mind through the hazy fog.

Altas appears at my side, and we stare across the way at the ruins. From our spot on the cliff, we can see the vines and other plants overtaking the houses and streets. Soon there will be nothing left, and my family, my village, will be whipped from history without even a marker on the maps to remember it by.

I've come back here almost every year since I could fly on my own, but something stops me on the cliff. I never go closer. I never walk among those houses. I never approach the ruins. We just watch from a distance, hoping that maybe by the time we return, everything will have returned to normal. It is a foolish wish.