Briar

One dragon stands apart from the rest. How can someone so naive exist in a place so broken? She misses things even the blind could see. All of it just goes right over her head. She's nothing but a child.

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For as long as I can remember, I've been a step behind my siblings.

When I was crawling, they were walking. When I was walking, they were running. When I was running, they were flying.
I still haven't caught up to them when it comes to that. My wings are too small, my muscles too weak. They rushed ahead of me, and never spared so much as a glance backwards. Maybe if they'd just waited on me, if they'd just stood by my side, maybe I would have learned. It's all just hypothetical now.
At least Mom waited. When they rushed ahead, she stood by my side, lifting me up, taking every step next to me. They may have been faster and better, but I had her. Mom has always been by my side. At least she cared. That was all I needed.
As time went on, me and my siblings grew further and further apart. I still don't know why. They were close. Nothing could tear them apart. They waited for each other like they never had for me, they cared about each other like they never did for me. They cared about each other more and more every day, and as they did, they cared for me less and less. Through it all, Mom cared for me, and I suppose Dad did too, in his own semi-detatched sort of way. What did I need them for, anyways? I had Mom and Dad. That was all I'd ever need.
One day, I woke up and both of my siblings were gone. Mom, Dad, and I went looking for them. I don't know how long we searched, but still, they had too much of a headstart. They were gone. Really and truly gone.
Of course they'd abandon me. They've always been one step ahead. They've always thought they were so much better than I was. They were wrong, anyways. At least I wasn't selfish like that. I would have stuck by them if they'd ever given me the chance. It's all ok, though. After all, I have Mom and Dad, and that's all I really need.






...Isn't it?