Don't Fall in Love with the Night

Chapter 6

     Prism was gently swaying in her hammock. It was night; the moonlight was gentle, the crickets were chirping, and a cool breeze flowed by. But she couldn't sleep.

     Are you ready to kill? The words circled in her brain, over and over again. What if the NightWing soldiers were unwilling to fight, but had to? Every dragon, no matter what tribe, had loved ones they would fight for. But to protect her own loved ones, she'd have to kill another dragon's loved one. Could she really do that?

     Prism sighed and turned over. Why? Why does there have to be war?

     Knowing that she wouldn't be able to sleep, Prism got up. She paced around her clearing, softly growling to herself. Why couldn't she just be another dumb RainWing who didn't care? She sighed and shook her head. Hoping that a short flight would clear her head, she left her clearing.

     Prism shook out her wings and took off. The cool, night air was refreshing, and with no other dragons flying about, the sky was all hers. She swooped around for a bit, relishing the refreshing feel of wind under her wings. Soon she spotted a grassy hill she hadn't seen before. Curious, she landed on it. It was out of the rainforest, and when she looked up towards the sky, no trees blocked her view. Stars brightly shone, and Prism marveled at their beauty. She, like all other RainWings, usually slept at night, so she never really took the time to look at the stars.

     What else have I missed?  She sat, feeling an unnatural ache near her heart. No, not unnatural, she thought. Just unfamiliar. Sadness. Regret. Heartache. All combined into one new feeling.

     Funny how much I've changed in one day. If it wasn't for battle training, I'd be sleeping just like any RainWing right now. But would I want that? Living like nothing's wrong, going day after day taking everything for granted?

     A tear slid down her face. Prism had cried before, in times like when she had been bitten by a centipede or flew into a branch, but only rarely. Yet now she openly wept, stifling her sobs so that she wouldn't wake anyone. "Why?" she whispered fiercely to herself. "You never cry. You've always been strong."

     But she knew why. Her world was changing, any of her friends could die in two days' time, and she'd never been aware of it. I was such a fool, she reflected, wiping away her tears. And yet, most of her tribe still lived on in their usual way, not living life to the fullest.

     I will, though, she vowed. I don't  know how, but I will. I'll be a whole new dragon, if I live through this.

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