Wings

wings

written by night

first book in the new Flight series

**preface**

The wind brushed against his wings, holding him, guiding him, supporting him. These days, it often seemed quite hostile, but not tonight. The wind had once again returned it's allegiance to him. To the dragons. Perhaps that was what seemed so... *wrong*. He quickened his wingbeats, putting more force into the powerful flaps, and the wind seemed to scream with delight. Or perhaps that was just a side effect of the speed he now moved with... but he doubted it. An awful suspicion crept into his head, and he stopped beating his wings, suddenly aware of the maniacal laughter that was pouring from his jaws.

*No. Please, no*. Sadly, his wishing changed nothing. It was here. The thing that had caused his aerie so much trouble, that had caused so much mistrust and betrayal. The Elders had assured them that it could not read thoughts... but they had also said that it couldn't exist. And they had been wrong. Horribly so. At first, they had assured the entire aerie that it was just a new illness, a bad one, yes, but simply an illness. They had point black *refused* to admit that a... *God* existed, that a deity powerful enough to change one's thoughts, to kill in a manner that made hatchmates turn on each other, to drive their Fesnying to insanity... he supposed it was rather difficult to believe it possible. But it was. It was possible, alright.

His thoughts drifted back to the thought of the thing. The Elders had agreed to call it the Implausible, but he could not help but disagree. The 'Implausible'... well, it was an impressive name, but didn't truly *fit* it. The 'Cloud' or the 'Confusion' would describe it's very nature in a far more satisfying way, as it clouded the mind and spread confusion and fear. But, somehow, his mind was clear now. He knew what must be done. If it was with him, then it was attempting to control him. If it managed to seize control of him... it would make him turn against his own kind. And that was something he refused to do. It was a depressing realization, but still. It gave his thoughts clarity. He must commit suicide, or his aerie was practically doomed. His eyes flickered closed as he steeled himself for what he was about to do, and briefly sent a prayer towards Gre'Agrd, and his smallwings that had yet to hatch. Eyes still closed, he shoved his talons into the pouch around his neck, and crammed the brimstone that it contained into his maw. Swallowing it, he inclined his head to the heavens, wishing for Gre'Argd to understand. *I'm sorry. I have failed you.* And his stomach exploded, ending his story. Ending his first life... but not his soul.

**one**

"They're hatching," was the first thing that he heard. Well... they were the first *words* that he heard. He had heard things far before then, when he had first been conceived, but still. Hearing words, having a brain that could comprehend what they meant, and acting upon them, pushing his head upwards in an attempt to crack the shell... it was quite a nice experience, one that he thought of in a favorable light. As the cracks grew bigger, as the horn on top of his head served it one purpose; cracking him out the shell that encased him. He had known it was time to break out for a while, but the time had finally come for him to do it. For a dragons are a species who are quite aware of the difference between knowing and doing, or at least he was. Perhaps other dragons, for that was what he knew in his heart of hearts that he was, were not like this. He could be sure, as he had yet to emerge from his egg.

And sunlight streamed onto his head. Although his eyes had yet to open, he could feel the sunlight. It was beautiful, it was warm... but not nearly hot enough. He attempted to open his eyes, but found it impossible. Of course it was impossible. He had yet to be exposed to extreme heat. Some primal instinct alerted him that he must fully emerge from the egg if he wished to experience the heat his body longed for. He pushed outwards with his legs, brow wrinkling in concentration. Luckily, the shell cracked, and his whole body was exposed to the sunlight. It was beautiful, warm... but still now what he needed. Suddenly, the word entered his head. He needed *fire*. And lots of it.

Somehow, the universe understood, and his body was suddenly encased in a cloak of fire. It was incredible. The sensation of the flames licking away at his scales, how they lent his feeble body strength... his eyes fluttered open, and he viewed the world for the first time. And he disliked what he saw. Immensely.

**two**

*Coming soon*