Atlas (One-shot)

This is a one-shot by Obscure.
Violet light shimmered from behind my eyelids, dancing, and flittering. I wanted, so badly, to open my eyes. But I didn’t know what would be on the other side. Would my sister, Star, be there? Would she have waited? I’m afraid she hasn’t. I’m afraid she’s left me to go through my metamorphosis waking alone. She’s older than me by a mile- 2 whole years. She’s already got her wings and was assigned a partner and a job. She
said she’d be here… but what if she isn’t?
I picture Star in my mind. Her glittering blue scales, all different variations of sky blue, with streaks of
aquamarine and gold.  It’s such a familiar image that I instantly relax. My heavy breathing fades and I gather my courage. My eyes burst open, sticky strands of goop slithering down my newly formed wings as I burst out of my cocoon. The sticky webs fall around me and I blink in the stunning light. Bright yellow-orange wings unfurl around me, and it takes me a second to realise they’re mine. I gasp. They’re beautiful. I can hardly breathe as I turn, hoping to hear a jubilant cry of my name.
“Atlas!” cries someone. That’s my name…As I turn to face them, I’m swept up by talons that feel familiar. 
Mother? I open my mouth to speak, but the golden and yellow dragon I know as my mother clamps a talon over my mouth. 
“Don’t speak,” she whispers, her powerful legs leading us further and further from his metamorphosis spot. That’s when I realise- there are no guards or family waiting. In fact, it’s just me and mother. Her scales are warm on mine, and I can only guess what’s going on.
My waking was supposed to be joyful! With Star, and Lemon, and everyone! My thoughts race by as we do the same. Soon, we burst into the next chamber, where I take in the sight with confusion.
Star, my sister, is standing in the middle of a pile of unconscious HiveWings. Guards, I presume. The ones who were supposed to be overseeing my metamorphosis.
“Star!” My voice breaks the anxious silence. She slaps her palm over my mouth and shakes her head, “We have to go!” she whispers, “C’mon, Atlas!”
Mother and Star help me as we race on. I don’t have a clue what’s happening- but it sure isn’t normal. From the metamorphosizes I’ve seen, they usually end with the happy family hugging and admiring the newly emerged dragons’ wings. Part of me wants to know what’s happening, but most of me just wants to curl up and cry. Star nudges my side and whispers in my ears; “This is scary, I know, but we have to keep going.”
I hope she’s right.
As the sky comes into view, Mother launches into the sky. Star follows, her magnificent blue wings unfolding to billow in the air. I hesitate.
“YOU CAN DO IT!” Star yells down at me. I hear a roar from behind and talons pound the stone. I turn to see two HiveWings diving towards us from under the cover of the metamorphosis place. I yelp and fling my wings open, swooping into the sky. I seem to instinctively know what to do- beat my wings and point my nose up. I rise higher, but the HiveWings are closer. Far too close for comfort. Star swings back to stay by my side and we soar into the blue, side by side.
A female HiveWing lets out a scream of rage. Why is she so MAD? I think frantically. What’s going on?
“WHAT’S GOING ON?!” I demand of my sister as we shoot through the sky. I don’t even have time to enjoy it- the wind racing past, the freedom of it all. 
“It doesn’t matter yet, Atlas! Just keep flying!” she responds with urgency. I can’t help but obey. Star’s voice has always been one of authority. 
I pump my wings faster and harder, trying to gain all the lift I can. All I know is that something is wrong. Very wrong. I glance back to admire my new wings, but instead see an alarming sight. The two HiveWings are so much closer! One, the female, is practically catching up to my tail! My mother shrieks suddenly and drops from my line of vision. Star yelps and swings violently towards me, wings sweeping me up and under her chest. Her talons hold me steady, her beating wings obscuring my sight.
“MOTHER!” I yell. 
We should just listen to the HiveWings! They’ve always kept us safe! Why are we running? Mother!
“Star! Where’s mother?!” I demand.
“She’s fine! Keep. Flying!” she replies anxiously.
I breathe heavily out of my nose and mouth, trying to keep calm. It’s not working. At all. I’m panicking. A lot. 
I don’t know how long or far we fly, but Star’s wings carry us beyond our home, Stinger Hive, and now we’re coasting along the bay. The HiveWings have dropped back, I think, because I can’t hear pounding wingbeats anywhere close by. 
“Star?” I ask in a trembling voice. It’s startling to hear- we haven’t been talking. She seems almost resentful.
“Yes?”
“Where are we going?”
“…I don’t know, Atlas. Far away. Maybe even the Distant Kingdoms!” she doesn’t laugh like we normally do, and her eyes don't dance with mirth. 
“They don’t exist,” I point out, a frown creasing my forehead. 
“Maybe they do.”
We fall quiet after that, lapsing into silence. Star’s steady wingbeats start to calm me, and I close my eyes against the glare of the afternoon sun on the aquamarine water below. 
I don’t know I’ve drifted off until I’m violently awoken by Star’s screech.
“ATLAS!”
I whip my head up, her talons digging into my sides. All I see now is a flat expanse of water, dark, deep blue. The evening light is starting to fade. How long was I out? It scares me to not know what I’ve missed.
“Mhm?” I mumble sleepily. Star jerks to the side, her wings fluttering frantically above me.
“Quick!” she shrieks, “Fly!”
Before I know it, I’m sailing through the air, having had Star fling me. I flail for a second before
regaining balance and flinging out my wings. I take a breath and ride an air current up to Star.
“What is it?”
“Whatever you do, don’t look behind us,” she says tightly.
I look behind us.
And scream.
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Genre (Short Story)
Category:Fanfictions (Completed)