Aileen

Aileen (Little Wisp)

Glowbug

Insect

Some den mothers say eating too many glowbugs will make your butt glow. They're lying.

75

5

Whenever night would fall and the shadows crept, my father would always tell me, "Without the dark, you wouldn't be able to see the stars." But wen I felt brave enough to go exploring under the moon, my mother would tell me, "Darkness is a fake fear hiding real dangers." So I was always caught between two worlds, fear, and adventure. I lived in a small cave, tucked away in the Mirrorlight Promenade, so it was hard to find anywhere near dark, but I somehow managed. I always liked my father better, he let me follow my dreams as long as it was safe. He taught me to fly, to hunt, and to show that size doesn't matter in a fight.


One starry night, I went out to catch glowbugs, my favorite thing about the night, because they were like my fireflies! As I chased them about, I lost footing and fell though a well covered cavern, hidden in the shadows. I tumbled wings over tail down the steep and craggy slope and after what felt like hours, I hit the bottom with a painful thud. I groaned and glanced at my wing. That is NOT, supposed to bend that way. I thought with pain.


I got up and looked around there was nothing but darkness and the small purple glow of my beautiful fireflies. I took a moment to calm down, assess the situation, and admire my fireflies in a vain attempt to rid myself of the mounting fear. I was alone, in a deep dark hole, and I twisted my wing, how was I going to get home? I made my way down on of the tunnels, jumping at every scratch and sound, crying was very appealing at this point. With every step into further darkness, my mother's words rang inside my head. "Dark, danger, and death all start with D's. You can't see your kidnapper in the dark. Souls lost in the dark never to return, haven't I told you the tale of The Forgotten One?" Eventually her imagined words overwhelmed me, and I fell to the ground, unable to carry myself any further, and sobbed.


"Hey now, please don't cry. I hate seeing dragons scared of the dark." A gravely voice spoke and rested their talon on my shoulder. Shocked, I scrambled back and looked at the dragon before me. They were completely black, so I couldn't even see them aside from the glowing stars shimmering across their hide. But based on the constilation, the dragon before me had to have been a Ridgeback, I was saved! Or, what THIS The Forgotten One?

"I'm not scared of the dark, just, being lost in it." I whined.

"Please, little dragonet, let me help you." That Ridgeback, who's name was Constellation, lead me deeper into the cavern. I thought we'd never find are way out when I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Momentarily forgetting about my savior I rushed ahead to the exit. I stopped dead when I entered the new cavern, not an exit, but a part of me didn't care. The room in question with glowing crystals the the most beautiful pale blues, purples, and reds. Green tented luminescent moss hung from the ceiling. It was an amazing sight. The light almost seemed alive, but yet it did little to drive off the dark. Each stone only gave a small bit of light, but the walls where covered in them, giving the whole room a dim glow more lovely than any sunrise. I was only pulled from my amazement by a chuckle from Constellation. "Well then, lets take a look at that wing." Now that I was focused on the actual cave, I realized this was a den. His most likely. Constellation lead me to a nest to rest. After looking my wing over he bandaged it before showing me home before returning to his land of complete darkness. Despite the traumatic experience, I longed to visit Constellation's home land, maybe, even join it. Something about it drew me closer, like a moth to a flame ironically.

Any time Aileen could get escape the ruins she would wander off to the dark woods. She had difficulty navigating the darkness in the beginning, but Constellation was always their to guide her. "Darkness," The Ridgeback often said, "is a matter of opinion. For those who live their whole life in the night the moon and stars shine as bright as any sun." The old Ridgeback always had wise words. When, Aileen's mother would go to far with her speeches it was Constellation that would set her strait. He reminded her of her father from time to time. He encored her to explore, and taught her what she needed to know to do so. He also told the best stories. The way he spoke of the Shadowbinder reminded Aileen of how her own parents referred to the Lightweaver. He recited old songs, war stories, and myths with a vigor that made the young Wildclaw feel as though she'd fallen though time. Her favorite stories though where of the different clans that called this forest home.She was fascinated of tales of lost clans that hid in the forest. What really intrigued the Wildclaw was the difference between Constellation's stories and her mother's. Aileen's mother always painted the clans of the forest as cowards that prayed on unsuspecting dragons from the shadow, and could never hold their own in a 'fair' fight. Constellation, however, had been livid when Aileen had told him of her mothers interpretation. "Little Wisp,"He sighed his pet name for the small Wildclaw, "I will not tell you that monsters don't live in the dark, but I will tell you that most dragons who lurk in these wood do so to avoid those types of accusations."

In the beginning she kept her visits to Constellation a secret. Mostly because of her mothers reaction the the Ridgeback when he brought her home. Aileen's insistent that he'd helped her find her way home did nothing to appease the older Wildclaw, and even after the aging Ridgeback left she insisted that he was lurking somewhere. As Aileen grew it became harder to visit the forest. While as a hatchling she could sneak out every few days or so, when she became old enough to hunt her mother began pushing Aileen to dedicate most of her time to learning the art of hunting. To Aileen's dismay even her father would not defend her in this regard. In the eyes of her parents it was time their baby girl grew up. She wasn't a bad hunter, but a board one. Since the ruins didn't give much cover a 'hunt' was running full speed at something, and hoping you caught it. To Aileen it was to repetitive, and worst of all it took time away from her meetings with Constellation. What had once been weekly meetings became once or twice a month. The old Ridgeback never seemed too upset by absence. He would just give her a smile and ask what was new since Aileen's last visit.

---

Aileen had always considered Constellation as her mentor. He seemed to understand her. He kept her in the world of shadows, teaching her so much.

She knew how different what Constellation taught her was from what she'd grown up to learn. The stories of the shadow domain, myths and old stories. It was fascinating, and sometimes Aileen wanted to stay there and never leave.

Now that her visits were less and less frequent, the time she had with the old Ridgeback was precious. The route to his home was so familiar to her; it was etched inside her mind.

One day her mother gave her a little time to spare, and Aileen gladly thanked her and rushed off for Constellation's home without a moment's delay. Upon reaching it, however, he did not come out and greet her like he usually did. No "Good morning, Aileen," or "How have you been?"

No sign that he was there.

In her previous visits, Constellation had never been out. He'd always been there. So it was quite odd that he didn't come out.

She waited and waited and waited, and listened intently. After a while Aileen had to conclude that Constellation, her mentor, was not there.

Where could he be?

Maybe he doesn't want to meet me anymore.

Aileen didn't want to think the worst of things, so she left, thinking and muttering to herself.

Part of her was not at all ready to go home. She explored the forest around her, searching for a sign of the Ridgeback.

Inspecting every tree and turning every big rock over. She poked around in some caves and searched the forest, but there was no sign at all of her mentor.