Double Rainbow

Avery-1

Avery-1

"Once upon a time, there was nothing. Then, a bright light cut across the darkness. The first race, the Terreskians, followed the light until they found the rings of dimensions that glowed from the light they had seen."

"What happened next, Mami?" I say, jumping around my fluffy den of clouds.

"Everything."

"But that's not specific enough."

"You really want to hear more?"

I grin ear to ear, nodding my head until my ears flop over in front of my face. I brush them off, pleading with big brown eyes.

"Well, okay. I guess I have time for more."

"Yay! Thank you, Mommy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

She sighs. "Okay. So the Terreskians sat there on the edge. They were up high, so high that they could see anything. They had lived in total darkness and nothingness for untold ages. Now they could feel, see, think- everything we take for granted."

"What did they do next?"

"There on the edge of the dimensions, one Terreskian had a baby; the first baby ever to be born. The Terreskians saw all the beauty of the worlds, and they weren't just going to sit there. So, they jumped. As they fell, they named the baby Verhamera."

"Was she pretty?"

"She's still alive, even now- she's immortal. And yes, she is IMMENSELY pretty. As beautiful as the light of the stars, the sun, and the moon. The Terreskians look kind of like us, but deep purple and green in colour. Verhamera, however, looks different. She's turquoise and she looks like a Canis." I imagine the signature long ears of a Canis, ears that point down instead of sticking up like my own.

"Mommy?"

"What is it?"

"Canis is really close to Canira, right? So why do we look different?"

"They just have different genes."

"Why can't a Canira be in charge, then?"

My mom covers my mouth with a pink paw. She stares at me, fanning her wings in a huge arc. "We are Pegasus Canira. Pink, blue streaks, wings. Look at yourself."

I do, surveying myself up and down. "What does this have to do with anything?!" I protest.

"What are you good at?"

"I can fly, kinda. I'm good at... um, I'm good at loving! I love everyone!"

"Can you imagine yourself being on that throne? Listening to everyone complain and doing work all day?"

"No! Does PPS really have to do all that?" I say, thinking of the regal Canis who had ruled Dreamland for millennia.

My mom nods. "PPS is a great queen, but being queen is very, very hard work."

"But if a Canira wanted to be queen, then what would they have to do?"

"I guess they would have to take it up with Verhamera herself. That would be even harder than being queen."

"Well, then I'm gonna do it!"

"What?!"

"When I get older, I'm gonna be the QUEEN OF DREAMLAND!"

"How sweet." My mom bends down to lick me between my long, pink ears.

"I'm not kidding!" I say indignantly. "I'm gonna need you to tell me EVERY LAST STORY you know!!! EVERY LAST ONE, Mommy!"

A regal Canira with blue stripes across his face strides into the den, his tail flicking and his brows furrowed.

"Daddy!" I say, running up to hug him.

He nuzzles me and brushes me off. "Hey, sweetie. I have to talk to Mommy. Okay?" He strides to Mommy and says in a concerned tone, "They're back. Some of our scouts have been struck down."

"They are? I thought we'd be safe!" My mom says, obviously sad. "I don't want to do it again, Elloros."

"Aurora, no one will die this time. I promise." My dad flashes a slightly fake smile.

She smacks him across the face. "YOU SAID THAT LAST TIME! AND WE LOST... WE LOST..." She notices me, tears streaming down her face. "Oh dear Verhamera. We can't lose her too."

"We will if we don't fight back."

"Okay, fine. Just..." She kisses him. "Be careful."

"Have I ever let you down?"

"Yes. Over and over again." They laugh and pull away. He leaves our small den of cloud fluff and departs out into the camp. I settle back into my cozy nest of cloud. No matter what my parents are scared of, I'm safe here. I will be safe. Smiling, I watch as my parents walk out into the sunlight of the city, leaving me all alone.