In Silence May We Burn

Chapter Two

I woke up to one of my brothers yelling. I looked over to where it was coming from and saw Jaruk and Kiven wrestling. Havoc sat up, still half asleep, and watched them. I smoothed my scales so they all went the same direction then hopped off my ledge, gliding down to the pool of water in the open part of the den. After washing my face me and Havoc walked outside and sat in the dew covered grass. The sky was soft and pink like the petals of a rose. Fluffy clouds dotted the sky. Havoc laid there, watching a little ladybug crawl across a stock of grass. My siblings were already outside, wading through the deep grass. The lake shimmered and a large bird dove into it to catch a fish. I loved this time of day. Everyone was heading out to their jobs. I would be getting assigned job soon. After my training that is. Training took about six moons. Or until you pass the ending assignment. The tall grass whispered names no one could hear as the clan went about it's business. The sheet of silver on the lake rippled and the stillness was disturbed by nothing but the soft breeze as it tugged at me and whispered to me. But I could not go with it. I sat on a large stone, and glanced around for someone I knew. I saw Havoc sitting in a nearby sycamore and stood. He saw me and slid off a large branch, gliding over to me drowsily. His claws scraped the stone as I laid my head down again and we stretched out in the sun as it rose. By noon it was the perfect temperature to take a nap. I dosed off, and shuddered as my dreams wrapped around me.

*****
Cold. My breath billowed out before me like smoke. I looked around, trying to figure out where I was. I was in a snow covered clearing, and all around me silver and black pines rose from the snow, reaching for the sky. Below them it was dark, darker than night. I stepped closer, it seemed to chill everything in my body, down to the bone. I leaned closer, staining my eyes to see into the blackness. I took a few steps, but stopped. I could hear a sound. Crows. They screeched and cawed and burst from the dark forest, beady yellow eyes and sharp talons they swarmed past me, blinding me momentarily. I ducked and covered my face with my right wing until they had all flown away. Folding my wing up, I looked back into the woods and shuddered. What else lurks here?

*****
Mother returned three days later and Havoc was still staying with us. She didn't mind him, he was very helpful. Mother sat all of us down in the entrance of the den one morning, right as it was getting bright.
"You are all going to start your training soon, you know." She sighed. "We know Mom. But we don't want to leave you." Jaruk answered.
"I'm sorry my hatchlings. But you have to leave for training. It is vital for your progression in this clan. If you have nothing to help provide for the clan, you will be banished by the chief."
"Alright Mother. We will go to the training grounds." I stepped forward, nodding to my siblings. "I will work to provide." I lifted my chin up and puffed out my chest.
"Me too." Said Havoc. My siblings all grumbled among themselves then all sighed and agreed. "Alright. The courier comes in three days for you all. So go and pack your things." We all split off to our rooms and pulled out our leather satchels and began packing our things. Havoc sat up on my ledge with me as I tucked my small trinkets into the bag. There was a large chunk of amethyst stashed in my nest. As well as other shiny things I found in the lake and hills surrounding. I had three days left to see the valley. Three days to wake up and see the sun rise in the distance. As we packed our things, the clan began he night song. They sat upon the stony peaks and as their throaty song began to fill the indigo sky, stars began to dot it. Their voices lulled young hatchlings to sleep. 

My siblings eyes and their ears drooped. Havoc leaned against me as he drifted into sleep. I seemed  to be the only one awake. I laid awake for some time, thoughts drifted through my mind like leaves. Sometimes it was hard for me to sleep, so I would look out over the dark valley. I hopped off my ledge and glided outside. The clan slept as I sat up on a large stone that rose up higher than some of the trees.  As I sat on that rock, I stared up into the stars. The stars seemed to reach down and surround me in the soft twinkling light. My eyes too, began to droop as exhaustion tugged at my mind. I drifted to sleep, Havoc curled up beside me. 

******                                                                                                                                                                         The sun's warm rays shone through the cave entrance as me and my siblings lounged about on the warm stone floor. Our satchels were lined up beside the entrance as we waited for Mother to return. The courier would be here to get us soon. I flicked a little pebble around with.