Painted Flowers

Chapter 38 - The Battle for the Brushes

The desolate, colorless landscape resembled the destruction Muambe had left across the valley. It was devastating to see the world so bleak, perhaps similar to how the world had looked at its creation, before the Gods of Color came together to paint it. It was no surprise that without their cooperation, the land would return to be so unappealing. Their fighting had damaged the world they had once beautified, reverting it back to its primitive state. History was repeating itself, and Layali had been the cause of it.

No--this had to be done. Light and Dark needed to meet once more. Light's evil lived on in the Dreamwalkers they had conjured, and only a god of equal caliber could be rid of them for good. Why couldn't they have settled this properly, without such violence? Layali was left in a daze, rushing to find a better view from higher ground, staring up at the sky where the black and white dogs faced off, floating in midair while the colors that once decorated the land danced around them in a quivering aurora.

Layali wondered how the other animals of Africa were witnessing this. Did they have any sort of clue how the very first painted dogs had influenced their world? What were they thinking of it being in such a dreadful state? She thought of Jabari and Shani, and their babies who were hopefully nestled safe and oblivious in their little den. She thought of the other painted dogs in Africa, far-off packs. Did they, too, see the spectacular rainbows on the horizon? How much impact did this battle have on dogs or innocent species that had nothing to do with the situation? How many would suffer because Layali tried to do the right thing?

No. This had to be done, no matter how ugly it ended up. The reign of Dreamwalkers needed to end. The shadows needed to be abolished.

Dark needed to win.

"Shall I make the first move, then?" Light never stopped smiling twistedly, as if this were all some sort of game to them. With the spiritual form of their brush in their jaws, they waved their head, summoning neon red paint and morphing it into shape with their paws. What it had ultimately conjured was a huge, vicious lion, with wild white eyes. It was about three times larger than an actual lion, and was able to float in the air like other incorporeal beings--though, as intimidating as it was, it did seem made entirely of liquid. Nevertheless, the red lion let out a roar that shook the very earth.

Around Layali, the spectators that dared to remain now ran for cover. Light chuckled at this, feeding on their fear, before turning again to their sibling. "Heh heh heh...oh, come now, what are you waiting for? You weren't shy about challenging me before."

Dark hesitated for a bit before summoning their own paint, a dull teal color. They used their paws to craft an opponent for Light's monstrosity: a leopard. Slightly smaller, but just as ferocious, with a booming cry and spots that shimmered black.

Light raised a brow. "A leopard? Bold move...the moon versus the sun."

"Naturally," Dark replied simply.

Snarling, the lion sprang forward, slamming into the leopard with powerful paws. The leopard retaliated by knocking into the lion with their shoulders. The painted cats battled, swiping at each other with their claws, chasing each other up and up into the stratosphere.

All the while, Zain remained at Layali's side on the hilltop, and the two stared gawking among the chaos of their fleeing packmates. Something caught Layali's eye, and she glanced down at the valley below. Something was taking form in the dull, ash-colored savanna: colorless, weightless shapes, like tar rising from the earth. Upon closer inspection, it appeared as if pitch-black dogs were emerging from the darkness. Without warning, Dreamwalkers were surrounding the living dogs, all sneering with eerie glowing eyes and snapping their fangs. They began rushing to cut off escape routes, herding the Meadow dogs like prey.