Down Beat - discontinued

four

Nevada

The call only got stronger with time and I shoot to the air in happiness. The evening dance-as it was called (or its proper name)- filled all the dragotens with lovely energy that none of us could resist. No one stayed put more than a day and honestly everyone didn't mind. I barrel role into a small loop before landing onto the ground huffing gently. The song effects dim and I freeze at the many kymari that had either cameras or were watching me wide eyed. My nerves got the best of me and I shoot into the trees. I weave through the trees effortlessly and shoot out of the park only to be met with more buildings. My heart hammers in my small chest as paaing kymari stare at me with awe.

Hovering in the air shuffles behind me startle the foliage. "I told I wasn't lying!" That night I had seen a whole flock of them singing but I didn't have a wristcom!"  I gaze behind and look at the kymari. He was pointing towards me with a hopeful look and I dash away into the city. Kymari gasped and children laughed as I dashed through them. My mind fogged up as my instincts only told me to run away. Swerving to the right I run into a net and squeal in horror as it tangles around my small form. Heat rises in my body and a blue flame leaves my muzzle in attempt to escape the net. The net went up in flames and I run away full throttle as the net around my wings were the least of my worries. Kymari called after me as I dashed into the nearby foliage. The leaves and twigs lapped at my legs and I huff heavily as I come to a stop.

I look around me and snort as I noticed I had gotten myself lost. Unfamiliar smells and sounds attack my senses and I whimper gently at my predicament. Kymari far away called out and I shoot into a nearby tree. The kymari run by within minutes and look around. One caught my attention at his tools which reminded me of animal catching tools but of course alien like. A female kymari sighs before look at the one with the tools. "Well we was hoping to take a small look at it and tag the creature but I guess it got away." The male snorts before looking in my general direction. He seemed to not see me but I know I was here-somewhere. "She couldn't have gotten far. The net is torn and scorched but a part still remains on her." The female shakes her head and walks away the others in hot pursuit.

My wings begin to ache and I look at them. The feathers look ruffle and the net tied around them tightly. Crimson blood oozed gently down my torso. Heat built up in my body and I try to flame the rope only for it to tighten around my wings. I whimper gently as the flame slowly died out. "I guess this rope was mor resilient than I had originally thought." I look down at the small clearing, "Wonder how I got away." The wind blew towards me and I sit my head on my paws softly dozing as i lay there.

I quickly dash into the bush and snort. The kymari walked by and sighed as I was no longer able to be seen. He walks away and I peek out. My wings sat limply on my back as I had lost all feeling in them. As much as I tried I could not get the net off. It was as if the net burned into my skin. I take a few steps out of my hiding spot before running full tilt towards a familar kymari shop. Fruit sat on the ground and I snatch it gently from the spot before running into a nearby bush for cover. "I told you sweetie. Have patience and it will come." I peek out and freeze at the elderly and the child kymari staring at me. My wings dragged behind me as I stepped out my cover for the fruit. "Grandma what happened to its wings?" Snatching the fruit the elderly kymari women chuckles. "I don't exactly know but for weeks I've seen it around like that. They found the flock a small bit ago and tried to get data without to much disturbance but they had moved the very next day." I swollow the fruit and look at her before dashing back into the bushes. "Hopefully she will learn to trust one day.."

I ran away and towards my small home. Cutting through alleys as well as suprised some kymari that saw me. My limp wings hindered me slight and I tried to push for time and the sun began to meet the horizon. The call of my evening dance began to hit me. I make it to my clearing and sit on the log I had moved here just for me. The call finally reaches it's peak and I begin to sing. My melodic whistles and chirps cut through the once quiet air and I ignore the kymari recording and gathering around me. I try to shuffle my wings only to be met with pain that dulled to a small ache from the song. The song comes to a sad end and the pain comes back. I look at my wings and whine at their state. They were halfway clean and needed plucking. Shuffling from behind me made me look back and a familar kymari walks out. I freeze in fear at the tools in one of his hands and I take off full tilt towards my home. A pop followed by slight pain to my flank had me yipping out in pain. I trip before getting up dots decorating my vision.

I take off once again and softly hiss at the kymari who were following and calling me. I find my small home as my vision began to swim. My small hut was camouflaged and I desperately climb into it. I hide behind the walls and lay onto my paws before hearing the kymari disappointed sighs infront of my hut. "We need to find it before that wing situation gets too bad to fix even though I think it's already gotten that way." The kymari continue to talk before I fall into a dreamless sleep.