Wind

     I glided through the gold sky, wind ruffling my hair. Finally, I had to return home. Sighing, I dove into the trees, pulling my wings close to my body to avoid the forest branches.
      I spotted the hidden clearing where my adoptive parents had cared for me since my real parents� deaths. Flapping once, I gained enough altitude to reach the tree platform. Dropping down lightly, I folded the synthetic wings about me like a cape. I looked to the South, watching the sun slide slowly toward the horizon.
      �Keira? Would you come here quickly? We need to talk,� I heard my adoptive mother call.
      �Be there,� I replied, removing my wings and tail and hanging them up. I turned and jumped into the house. �I wonder what I�ve done this time,� I thought, climbing over large branches in my way.
       I halted at the day room, noticing my parents inside. �What is it?� I asked. �Have I done something wrong?�
       �No dear,� said my father, gesturing for me to sit. �We�ve got company.�
       I turned and saw a Draga, a miniature dragon, looking exactly like my parents only much smaller.
�A human girl?� he piped up. �I thought that they were calling for a new hatchling.�
       �They?� I asked, taking a seat on a curved branch.
       �Yes, the �Flyght�,� he said, handing me a letter.
       The Flyght! I didn�t want to go to war! Stunned, I opened the letter. It read,

Dear Keira Starlight,

         It has come to the attention of the Flyght that you are highly telepathic. So, in need of battlers, you have been summoned to defend your world against the threat of the Trax. Report to Skyland base as soon as possible.Sincerely,


                                                                               Manical Torr, Commander and Chief, 6th division.

      �I don�t want to go!� I cried to my parents knowing full well that they could do nothing.
       �Keira,� said my mother. �We don�t want you to go, but-�
       �You must,� said my father. �By law...�
       �Very well,� I whispered, �I will go.�
       �Come on then,� said the messenger. �They need you now.�
        I slowly gathered my few belongings thinking, �what will happen to me?�
        Giving a final hug to my adoptive parents, I strapped on my wings and followed the Draga high over the trees.
Glancing back to my home I whispered, �Farewell,� and as I turned back into the wind I felt cool tears slide down my cheeks.
                                                              ***
       �Ahead!� cried the Draga, �Skyland! The floating city!�
       I looked through the night, what I saw took my breath away. The tremendous city floated before me, lights broke through the black sky, and creatures-dragons floated above the crystal-like structure or sat on high points, the dragons� eyes seeing through the night as a human saw through the day.
       �Beautiful no?� The Draga�s words brought me back to reality.
       �Very beautiful,� I replied.
       �Visitors enter this way,� he said, falling away toward the city.
       I followed and touched down gracefully, looking at all the people, dragons, dogs, cats, etc. in wonder.
Ignoring stares, sharp words, and pointing, I was led to a door where the Draga stopped.
       �Commander Torr, Keira Starlight reports,� he said.
       �Send her in,� a voice rumbled.
       I folded my wings so that I could enter. Inside the huge room sat one large table where several important looking people sat. I bowed slightly.
       �Starlight,� said a bulky man at one end. �Please, step forward.� I did as instructed and stood tall, ignoring quiet comments. Torr approached, eyeing me strangely. �Your age?� he finally asked.
       �Twelve sir,� I replied.
       �I asked for a warrior!� he bellowed. �Not a child in rags!�
       Rags? I thought.
       �Yes child, why do you wear such a ragged cape?� asked a dark-skinned man.
       �My wings sir,� I replied.
       �Wings?� cried another, �Be you a half-breed?�
       �I thought they were all dead,� mumbled another.
       �I am no more dragon than you are turtle,� I replied.
       �Insults are not a good way to begin here,� warned Commander Torr.
       �If I am of no need here I will gladly return home,� I said, turning as if to leave.
       �Wait!� cried Torr. �You cannot leave! By law you must stay here.�
       �That, sir, is the only reason I came, the law.� I replied, facing them again.
       A black haired woman stood and walked to me, �Pray tell child, what do these wings look like?�
       �They�re fashioned like dragon wings,� I said opening them. �When my parents were killed, two dragons, Akash, (she is my mother) and Sator,(my father) created these so I would be able to fly on my own.�
       The woman smiled, �We are in need of such inventions,� she said. �I vote we make her a captain, assign her a Flyght partner, and send her out immediately.�
       �But Queen Selana, she has no experience in combat-�
       �She will do fine Torr,� interrupted the woman. �Plus,� she added so that only I could hear, �I admire her spirit.�
       �Yes Lady, be it as you wish,� mumbled Torr.
       I was assigned Nova as my Flyght partner and was also given a slip of paper containing my room and squad numbers.
       �Here,� said the Draga, stopping before a door. �This is your room, 042. Your squad shall arrive shortly.�
       �Thanks Dran,� I said, scratching his chin.
       �Any time,� he replied, purring with pleasure. I stopped my scratching and watched him leave.
       �Okay,� I said, turning to observe my quarters. �Well this has color doesn�t it?� I mumbled.
       I had one couch, two other guest seats, a window, two lamps, a small table with four chairs, and a bookshelf. I also had a hall that led to another room.
       Everything was gray.
       �Fun,� I mumbled, walking down the short hall. A bed had been built into the side of one wall and on the other sat a dresser, a tiny closet, a full length mirror, and one lamp. The next room was a bathroom.