Do You See It, Winter?

lying to you

Standing at the precipice of the cave's exit, Winter scans the land around, contemplating his next move. The evening sky continues to darken, and the newly-lit torches beside him begin to illuminate his scales, wavering in the light breeze. The road below, similarly, is now alight with the twinkling flames of torches extending beyond his vision, like stars awakening in the night sky.

It's starting to get a bit late, Winter ponders, debating now if he should wait as he observes the setting sun, the sky a warm orange pursued by purple. The serenity only partially fouled by a red streak of sky cutting across the base of the horizon.

No. He has a promise to see this through, waylaying it because of slight inconvenience is a pathetic excuse. Moon deserves better, this he knows. He breathes in the cooling, evening air and stretches out his long, glittering white wings. Beating them a few times to increase the blood flow, he kicks himself off the edge of the cliff, free falling for a few seconds before catching himself in the air and drifting back up.

I will make this right.

His direction leads him straight toward the setting sun, now nearly cloaked entirely by the encroaching dark blue, soon to be replaced with the vastness of the cosmos. Stars slowly come to life, twinkling quietly as the colors melt away, allowing for them to ignite their brilliance into the world. A beauty always present, yet not always visible. Winter smiles at the thought, fascinated by their light and mystique.

As he sets his path toward the market, a small column of ugly smoke trails upward toward the nearly-black sky, far in front of him - its origin unknown in the fading light. He tilts his head at the odd location, wondering as to the cause. Before he makes any type of assumption, he hears yelling, and crowds of dragons erupt before him, littering the ground and sky in the opposing direction. He stumbles in flight, wings awkward as he twists in confusion, watching dragons stream by as the silence gives way to shouting.

"There's been an attack! At the entrance of the Marketplace!" One yells above the chaos of the others.

A feeling of ice rips down his spine, building up along his back. The new weight on his shoulders tenses, refusing to lift. He swallows.

It'll be all right, it'll be all right. He repeats to himself mentally, continuing to glide above the torch-lit path, his destination unchanged.

The emerging noise and panic of the fleeing dragons did nothing to dampen his rising nerves, only aiding his fear. He pays them little mind and speeds up on instinct, worry coursing through him. The angry smoke climbs upward, greatly expanding in size as it blankets the world around. Stars fade away into the haze, as though fearful of the sight below.

"Somebody, help! There are several still trapped by the fires!" The cacophony of voices rattle Winter's head as he doubles his speed, wings screaming at the effort. The dark sky now lit by an unholy orange that swirls around blackening smoke, a barrier. Winter becomes frantic, his eyes hurriedly scanning every corner of the path she may have taken, but the screen of smoke bars his efforts.

I should have gone with you!

"Moon!" He cries out, "Moon, where are you?!" though he's certain his voice is drowned out by the roars and yells clashing together. Masses of moving bodies whirl around him in the chaos; those trying to find someone or those trying to help with the raging flames that threaten to overtake the vulnerable homes.

The fear and dread continue to pull him down, until at last he eyes the restless wall of smoke.

I have to find her!

Determination replacing any apprehension, he pulls his wings inward and begins diving down. Cold builds up within his chest before he expels a beam of frost, covering his body in a cloud of cold as he pierces through the ice, circling around him like rings of smoke trailing behind. He continues his assault on the approaching fumes with his ice breath, before he's brought directly to the edge of the barrier.