The Smaller Things (Sky: Children of the Light)

Chapter 8: We Do What We Must Because We Can

Author's note: Hi hello!! This is a prequel chapter that takes place a couple of years before the first chapter. Just imagine the protagonist as shorter :)

The Golden Wasteland was a place of terror. Of course, the very name of "wasteland" implied that it had been something before it became a dark and dreary collection of historically interesting ruins. It would be exciting and intriguing to analyze every detail in every eroding building, but the creatures of Dark prohibited that.

Crabs were not really a problem. They could ram into someone and knock just a bit light out of them, but one could just call loudly and they would flop over. The Nyctonicius Draconicus- better known as the Dark dragon or sometimes just "krill"- posed a much greater threat. For starters, they were huge. Barely usurping the length of a ship and the height of a pillar, the dragons blended in with the dim environment around them. Not to mention, all had a searchlight equipped to the front of their faces. If one was to be caught in it, the searchlight would glow a horrifying red. Then, one would have to either run or hide before the dragon charged with full force. It would sap all your light away, and knock the winged Light out of you, no matter how much you had.

But was the pursuit of history worth all the danger to a curious, freshly re-traumatized Child of Light, back from their second trip to Eden? Maybe it was. It couldn't be any worse than that terrible mountain. They trudged down a dune of bleak grey-green sand, walking under the giant rib cage of some long-dead creature.

Then, one of the many Dark dragons that patrolled the area turned a corner, and the child was bombarded by the threatening crimson flare of warning to run or hide.

Hiding wasn't much of an option. The nearest hide-behindable object, a small mound of rocks, was too far away to reach in time. But running couldn't do much either. The child would have to dodge. The problem was that they hadn't done that before, so they had no prior experience. Maybe they could just take it? No, they initially thought. It would hurt temendously. But it was the least stressful way out. They'd just have to hold themself and brace for impact, collected their spilled light, and return Home.

Right as the dragon let out a mighty bellow of hostility and pure instinct, some odd golden string wrapped around its neck. It was hurled out of the way as it reared its many legs in resistance. The dragon had turned just enough to reveal... was that a freaking CHILD on its back???

The other kid screamed triumphantly as she released the gold string from the dragon, letting it fly away. She floated down to the ground with her purple cape, and turned to the one she had just saved.

"What were you doing?" She yelled, stomping angrily towards them, "you could've been krilled!"

"Krilled?" The child echoed, confused

"What, are you deaf?" She said almost jokingly, knocking on her pointed helmet to make a thick bonk noise.

"I'm not deaf," they protested. The other kid squinted her eyes in response.

"What?" She said loudly.

"I said I'm not deaf." The child repeated.

"Nice to meet you, Jeff," she said brightly, extending a dark water-stained hand to be shaken, "the name's Fazaki, the Wasteland's finest Krill enthusiast."

"I'm not Jeff." The child said, facepalming. They lifted their hand down to shake Fazaki's. "My name is Vionn.

"Oh, whoops," Fazaki laughed, bonking her helmet again, shaking the decorative fabric hanging off it, "can't hear anything with this on." What an odd person, Vionn reflected. Their eyes quickly darted to another fast-approaching dragon. Vionn quickly snatched Fazaki's hand and tugged her over to a large mound of rock that acted as a large above-ground cave.

"Oh- hey! What was that for?" Fazaki questioned scoldingly, her eyes squinting behind her cracked mask. She rubbed at her wrist once Vionn had let go of it.

"Sorry," Vionn said quickly, "I-I just saw another nyctonicus draconicus approaching us."

"A what?"

"A nyctonicus draconicus," Vionn repeated, "you know... dark dragons?"

"You mean krill?" Fazaki inquired, her entire demeanor brightening, "oh, oh! Is that their scientific name?"

Vionn nodded in response.

"Cool, cool!" Fazaki giggled enthusiastically, "did you know that all krill are female, and produce asexually?"

"That's why I've never seen any other gender variants?" Vionn asked rhetorically, surprised. Thinking of something to add on, Vionn said, "since, uh, 'krill' are seemingly reptilian," Vionn paused to see Fazaki's reaction, to which she motioned for them to continue eagerly, "they must lay eggs of some sort!"

Fazaki gasped with surprised happiness, "oh, my Light! A baby krill, could you imagine, Vee?"

"...Vee?" Vionn repeated, confused once more.

"That's a nickname I made for you! It means number five!"

"Oh," Vionn replied, puzzled. "Then I assume a full version of my name would be a... Nicholas-name?" They attempted to smile under their own mask, awkwardly.

Fazaki wheezed with laughter in response.