Flying For Freedom

Chapter four (Living in Chaos)

Eventually, Claw leaves with her friends. Since I have nothing to do but stare at a paper, I decide to follow her. By the time I catch up, she's alone in the library, reading a fantasy. We both like that type of book because it lets our minds wonder. I always become absorbed in whatever I'm reading.

I guess her visit with her friends was short. Or maybe they just don't want to go to the library because of Chaos. I wish he didn't have to handle dragons who despise him. They don't do it to his face, but you can tell by the way that they avoid him. It's as if he could cause trouble for those that glance his way. Claw and I feel bad for him, but there's nothing we can do. I help him a little bit by being his friend, but he's on his own when it comes to finding a job. His future was decided a few weeks after he was born, as mine was.

Eventually, I want to write a story. One so gripping dragons won't be able to put it down. I've been trying in literature, but it's all about nonfiction. And they won't let me write anything other than essays and occasionally formal letters. I guess that's what I'll do when I'm king. Being creative can be helpful too though. Dad probably wouldn't approve.

Chaos comes over and asks if Claw and I want to play a game. We often play games, which I'm pretty good at. Shadow is better, but a few years ago he got too old for playing games, so it's only the three of us now. Viper was able to win every game every time, but ever since her father died, she's been very distant.

Viper and Shadow have both been distant since their father died. In fact, I've barely seen them since my seventh birthday, the year their father died in a fight with a Giant Centipede.

For a few hours, we play an intense game of hide and seek, which I usually win. I use my wing color to hide in the fireberry trees. They have the same coloring as I do and are everywhere. Every once in a while, I change to a different spot, and even though I'm not camouflaged, they don't find me. My sister eventually gets sick of losing every single game to me. Chaos says he has to leave anyway. His mother wants him to help her in the library.

Claw and I walk around the streets, saying hello to some dragons we know. There are a few close friends here. They are the dragons that live in the merchant section. It is interesting to see random things that will spark my interest. I don't like a store that has only one type of thing, like bracelets. I don't like to see all of the same thing at once. I like the beauty of something being unique. Each object shines with its own beauty.

We occasionally buy a snack or bracelet. Almost none of the shopkeepers know who we are because we take up our mother's pretense, not wearing all the heavy and expensive stuff. My father is the only one in the family who actually wears it. We get thank you's and a come back soon. We answer, politely saying that we might or you're welcome back to the dragons.

Then, as we get to the poorer section of our city, a section I usually avoid. There are less stores and many of them are unorganized. None of the objects look expensive. They are everyday items; daggers for carving, kitchen utensils, and some beds. Both father and mother say that this place is where the thieves are. The dragons are forced to steal their food and money. It makes me sad to see what happens to those who don't have enough. I know that my mother donates to a charity for these dragons. Especially when I see a very young dragon with a kind face. He does not hesitate to greet us. He waves at us with the most real smile I've ever seen. No one ever seems to fully believe in their smiles. They don't dedicate time and actual feeling to them. This smile is different, the dragon feels it with all of his emotion. I return the smile, hoping it generates the same kindness as his. I want to go and talk to him. He initiates the idea first, bounding up to me.

"Hello," he says cheerfully. I respond with a hello of my own.

My sister must also like him because she asks, "What is your name?"