Alayah

Alayah opened her eyes to a suffocating, pitch-black darkness, pressing in from all sides. Darkness pressed around her from all sides as the walls around her pressed against her black scales. Her heartbeat was drumming against her chest, sweat beading along her scales. Where was she? Wasn´t she just in the savanna moments ago? She started to breathe rapidly, slamming herself against the walls around her to no avail. “HELP!” She shrieked, slashing at the walls around her, panic rising into her throat. She started to cough, her movements getting weaker as the oxygen levels began to drop. “PLEASE, ANY-” She broke out into a violent coughing, her throat parched and rough. Was this the end? Dying from suffocation? “Please! Anyone-” She stiffened as she just heard the tiniest sound of a dragon walking towards where she was. She held her breath, straining her ears as she reached out through her antennae for any vibrations. “Is there someone here?” A faint voice called, the vibrations approaching closer. Alayah frantically slammed her body against the walls around her, shrieking out for help as loud as she could. Darkness started to creep at the edges of her vision as the world around her began to blur. She gasped for air, clawing uselessly at the walls around her.

“Knock on the wood if you're in here!” a voice shouted, talons right beside her ear. Her eyelids drooped as she weakly knocked twice on the wood, before closing her eyes. A loud cracking noise sounded right in front of her face and then- CRACK. Sunlight, warmth, and air streamed through the barrier as the silhouette of a sandsurge towered over her. Alayah gasped for air, surging out of the walls around her and into the light. She collapsed onto the savanna sand, screwing her eyes shut as she breathed rapidly. “You, you were in a coffin.” The dragon said breathlessly, their neon blue eyes staring at her. Alayah shivered, despite the warmth of the sun beating down on her scales. “Who are you?” The voice sound near her ear and Alayah instantly flinched. “I’m Alayah, my mother is Oliana and my father is Jump.” She responded, opening her eyes and leaping away from the Sandsurge. “Who are YOU?” Alayah shot back, surveying the Sandsurge. It didn’t seem like they wanted to hurt her, but she had to be sure. Her antennae informed her that this dragon was just curious, confused, and sympathetic - for her? That was new. “My name is Avirra, I’m about your age.” Avirra responded calmly, meeting Alayah’s gaze. Alayah eyed the dragon cautiously before leaping at Avirra and wrapping her arms around her. She buried her snout into their shoulder, tears blurring her vision.

Why hadn’t her mother come to check if she was alive? Or her father?

Avirra paused for a moment, as though confused at this gesture, before relaxing and wrapping her arms around Alayah. For a few more moments, Alayah let out quiet sobs into Avirra’s shoulder, before quickly wiping away her tears and composing herself. “I’m not usually this emotional.” Alayah said, smoothing out her feathers. “Thank you.” She turned around and stared into the vast savanna, ready to fly back home as she watched the lightning strike the ground. Then, she realized that she had absolutely no idea where she was. Alayah cleared her throat and casually turned back. “Do you know the dragon Susurri?” She asked, wincing as her voice cracked. Avirra’s head instantly snapped towards Alayah and her slanted eye widened. “I know who you are.” Avirra stepped closed, shaking her head. “They all said you were dead, that you were a goner.”

Alayah took a step back, wincing as she heard the crack of lightning somewhere behind her. The scent of something burnt touched her nose as Alayah opened her mouth, then closed it again. “How, why would they think I was dead?” Alayah said, trying to sound intimidating, but it seemed more like a squeak. Arriva studied her face closely, her neon blue eyes sizing her up. She shook her head and quickly straightened to stare them directly in the eyes. “You were in the lair, and then suddenly, you just collapsed. Every dragon rushed towards you, trying to wake you up but you didn’t respond. Not even the sky dancers could feel anything that would prove that you were alive.” Arriva placed her claws on Alayah’s chest and closed her eyes. Arriva opened her eyes and stumbled back, as though she was dazed.

Arriva nearly tripped over her own claws, which made Alayah reach out in a flash, catching them. It didn’t do much, since they were still both hatchlings, but it made Arriva snap back to reality. “Are you alright?” Alayah asked, eyeing them up and down. The black and white Sandsurge gently pushed her claws away, dusting herself off. “I should be asking that to you. I can’t feel your heartbeat.” Arriva gently brushed her claws against Alayah’s scales, which still emitted warmth like an alive dragon. Alayah wrinkled her snout, resting her claws on her own chest. Her heart casually beated under her scales, contradicting what Arriva had said. Alayah slowly lifted her head to look at Arriva, who met her eyes with a steady gaze. “Are you sure?” Alayah asked slowly, pressing her talons against her scales. Her heart pumped normally, as though unaware what was happening.

Arriva nodded eagerly, before seeing it in her eyes. “You feel your own heartbeat, don’t you?” Arriva said, rattling her spikes. Alayah tilted her head up to the sky as dark gray clouds began to darken the sky. “Let’s go home, shall we?” Arriva offered, tilting her wings to the sky. Alayah agreed as Arriva launched herself into the sky, beating her wings against the wind. The mystery had to be left behind for now. Right now, she needed to go home. Home, to the dragons who had buried her alive. Alayah shook her head, tilting her head and wings to the sky. “Come on!” Alayah called, doing a flip in the sky. Alayah closed her eyes, breathing in deeply and exhaling. Then, she vaulted into the sky, trailing after Arriva, soon to be home.

Lore written by DatGalaxyGamer

Individia

buried alive as a hatchling.