• BANG! Another explosion roared in the distance following a flash of blinding light. Each member of the tribe took up the roles for which their occupations called. The women screamed, the men took hold of weapons, and the children followed their panicked mothers into the safety of their homes, their curiosity never to be fully sated. All but one meek child followed the commands of their society's rules. This special girl was filled with a wonder so unquenchable that she had to be nearer to the battle site. She saw the blood of the tribesmen who fought valiantly for their beliefs, but she was unafraid for she knew not what it was.. Paint, she wondered curiously. Though, something inside of her told her that this scarlet testament of courage was to be revered and another part of her knew that it was... morbid. So, she backed away from the fallen warriors, noting that none of those whom had spilled that paint managed to get back up.. The brutal beasts came from the skies. The youngling turned her bright eyes to see them landing with lances and spears at the ready to puncture any who attempted to keep them from touching ground.

    "Annalisa," the child's mother called to her. "There you are! Come back to us, sweetness!"

    Annalisa was in a childlike shock, not panicked but incapable of remembering how to move or realizing why she should. The girl simply stared at her mother who ran swiftly to her rescue. Such a brave heart. The woman scooped up the young girl and ran back into their humble shack. Annalisa, once inside, held her mother's leg tightly and refused to let go. She couldn't speak, for she had only just learned how, and these events had certainly taken her back a few steps. Her mother knelt to her level and held her close, clasping her hands over her ears to block out the sounds of relentless screams of agony and dispair which followed each explosion and bright, eerie light. The girl's sister shouted muffled things to their mother, such as: "We must use the hatchling!" and "You think she's ready to fly, don't you!? I sure would like to find out right about now!"
    Their mother shook her head gently, her features much more jaded than before, "She is ready, but she could not possibly take more than a newborn child into flight. Her wings are far too frail.. We must wait on God to save us now. Please, children. Patience is the key at this moment in time. Patience, and faith."

    Annalisa watched her mother and sister. Their lips were moving and she heard sounds through her mother's clasped hands, though she could not decipher even one word. The adult's hands were already feeling hot on her delicate ears. The sights and sounds of the abrupt war had only just really taken their effect on the infant's psyche, and with a few sniffles, she burst into tears. The mother moved her clasped hands to the child's cheeks, cooing, "Don't cry, angel! Don't cry!" It was then that the three girls held each other close, awaiting the frightfully uncertain end to their lives, because whether or not they survived, each of them knew all too well: Things would never be the same...


    ~~~~


    Annalisa awoke to the sound of a nightingale singing its rehearsed choruses into the sweet summer air. The ivory moon was so bright, it lit up the entire field as though it were trying to best the sun itself. With a complacent stretch, the young warrior rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. It was time for another night's journey. "I really miss the sun, but this quest should be over fairly soon," she thought aloud. The journey was quite lonely, though her faithful Eagle dragon kept her the fairest company she could ever ask for.

    "Do you think I should have stopped at that inn back there, Cillian?"

    Cillian's head moved in those familiar jerking motions, as he tilted his vision to one side and then the other in curiosity. He chirped, "No!"

    Annalisa looked at him with equal curiosity, "Oh, really? Why not?"

    Cillian seemed to be thinking about what could have happened if they had indeed stayed at the inn which they had passed naught but a few miles behind. He then shivered and squawked, "Dangerous. They find us. Bad!"

    The warrior laughed at his improper grammar, "We need to give you some more lessons on speech, eh?"

    Cillian quickly stuck his little tongue out at her.

    Annalisa smirked happily. Regardless of those horrible armies watching her every move, she absolutely loved life itself and could not possibly be discouraged even by the most dangerous of instances. With years of experience behind her, the only thing which ever made an impact was the thought of her family, and they were awaiting her safely at home...

    Or so she hopes..


    {To Be Continued...}