Geode Prompts

"When I grow up, I wanna be a dragon!" The young geode announced, looking proudly at his parent. They smiled kindly, looking at their small bundle of joy, and bent down to pick him up by his scruff. 

"Let me go!" The young one complained. "Dragon's don't need to be picked up!" He argued, wiggling around his parent's hold. Much to his disappointment, his parent's grip was firm, even as Chili flapped his small wings and shook his little padded paws. 

"Little dragons still need to obey their parents." His mother giggled, coming up to her lover and child. "Come on, darling. We need to get moving." She sighed, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She tried to keep the frown off her face - but even so, her child had taken on his parent's attentiveness. 

"Why are you sad, mama?" He chirped, looking at her in concern, his big, orange eyes wide. 

"It's nothing, dearest. Rush, now, let us be on our way." She said, as softly and gently as she could. The small geode was bound to ask more questions - and would only refrain from doing so if he was too far away from her to ask any. His mother shared an infatuated gaze with her lover, and took flight, carefully avoiding the large stalagmites that spread occasionally through the high ceiling of the cave. Her partner quickly followed, not as agile and fast as her, but steady enough to hold their baby without losing his balance whilst flying. 

They had a long way to travel - and had to do so carefully, if they wanted to reach their objective safely. Chili wailed, complaining it was too high - he wanted to get down, and demanded to know where his parents where taking him to. Even still, none of them payed any attention to his complaints, and he eventually quieted down. The air was crisp from the autumn's cold winds, and the atmosphere was slowly turning colder, as if to match the Strata's emotions. 

This is a big risk. His mother's head echoed. The biggest we've ever taken. 

A large shadow passes rapidly above the city outskirts - too large to belong to a pouflon. A smaller, dark shape follows closely behind. This calls the attention of a sleepy guard, who perks up in alert and calls the other knight in duty with a low sound. They change words in rushed whispers. Whatever's coming, is heading in direction to the palace and The Garden. 

"Shall we alert the royal guard?" The plucky inquires. "It could be a threat." 

"But if it isn't, they'll be mad at us!" The smaller, polo pouflon responds in a hushed tone. 

"You know the protocol." The plucky insists. The first guard pauses for a moment, then nods. She disappears inside a hidden passage into the city, and the other guard is left to watch over the quiet surroundings. 

"Halt!" A tall knight beckons. Behind her, four other knights form a firm line, barring the couple from going any further. Two hearts sink as they hear the captain's voice and see their expressions of cautiousness. 

"I'm just here to collect my child. Give them to me, and I'll be on my way." A proud voice responds, her brow line rigid with preocuppation. Her lover grips their child a little harder, taking care not to bite him, sleeping peacefully even as he's hold by his scruff. 

"We don't deliver children to traitors." The taller 'lon snarls, a glint of recognizement passing through her eyes. They used to be great companions, but there's no trace left of friendship in their crossed gazes. "You're announcing your own death sentence by coming here, especially with a vespire." 

"It is our right!" The polo pouflon bristles. "Have you no shame of keeping two parents away from their child?" 

"I'm ashamed of nothing. Now leave, before we do away with both of you." In response to the the threat, the vespire briefly and gently lets go of his geode, putting him on the paved ground, between their front paws. 

"We want no trouble. You can accompany us to the border, if you think it safer. Please. Let us take them." They plead, their ears lowering in submission. 

"There will be no negotiation!" The captain reinforces, snarling again, and gesturing with her head. The four guards behind her ready their weapons. Between his parent legs, the young vespire starts to stir. "Are we here yet?" A small voice inquires, and is hushed by his parent.

"I won't leave without my bloom!" The scream echoes through the otherwise silent pathways of the city. The vespire looks at their partner, disoriented and scared. 

At that exact moment, the captain makes another gesture and, in a split second, all is lost. 

"Run, Venessa!" A warning, followed by a shrill scream of agony, is the last thing the young geode hears before he's suddenly grabbed clumsily by his mother, as she dafly soars to the sky in a matter of seconds. 

"Behind her!" The order echoes like a death sentence. His mother flies desperately with three guards at her tail, adrenaline taking over - and even Chili, ever the curious, knows better than to ask questions. He can feel his mother's heart beating rapidly as she makes swift curves and turns in order to escape her persecutors. 

After what seems like an eternity, they land. His mother is panting desperately, and even her can't conceal anything from him in this situation. She wails and hiccups, the sound too loud in an immensitude of silence. The young geode puts his little hand on his mother cheek, where her runic spot rests.

"It'll be okay, mama." He whimpers. He doesn't comprehend a thing of what's just trespassed, but his heart sinks with dread for the first time. 

His heart knows. 

He won't be seeing his parent again.