Climbing the Ladder - Astra's journey.

Astra didn't remember much from leaving the city, only a bad dream where monsters grabbed at her from the dark, and a scary monster with glowing eyes laughed at her and chased her around the city.

The next thing she remembered was waking up in her big brothers arms! Eos always came to her rescue, even if he was busy or at his house, if she messaged him he would always come say hi. She loved it when he came to see her, she always felt safe, like when Vespie stops by with treats and stories!

Though, this time things felt different....why was it so hot out? and where were the streets?

Looking up, Astra noticed the massive walls of Praque in the distance, causing her to frown with confusion, squirming in her brothers grasp as she tried to lean up more to squint at the walls and all the small dots fleeing out of them. Why was everyone running away? Astra learned in school that the world outside the city was big and scary, full of monsters and something called ready ation.

She was about to ask why they were also outside, when her paw slipped on Eos' shoulder, causing her to bump her chin sorely against him and bite her tongue, causing her to wimper. When she looked down at her paw and why she slipped, she yelped at the gold liquid seeping from the side of her brothers neck.

"Leaking!" Was all she managed to say, scrambling back into his arms and away from the mess that was his fur. Big tears welled in her eyes as she began to cry, causing Eos to stop his brisk walking.

He sighed and took out one of the stinky wet wipes to clean her paws, and apologized for the mess. She felt a little better when he smiled at her and kissed her on the head, promising that things would be alright, just that they had to go on a little adventure for a while.

Astra liked adventures, especially as a family. Where was everyone, anyways?

"Where's mamma, and papa? " she asked, tilting her head up to her brother in confusion.

She didn't like the way his face froze, she wasn't stupid, even though adults often assumed she was. She knew he was lying, when he tried to smile and told her,

"ah... they had to grab a few things. I'm sure they'll catch up with us, eventually..."

It took a moment, for Astra to wonder why that was the lie...before she hung her little head, nodding softly.

"Oh..." she muttered, sniffling once and wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

She hoped he was right, but something in Astra's heart told her their parents weren't going to catch up. They weren't coming, and in time, she would learn that they were never going to come home ever again.

Astra decided then that she didn't want to look at the city anymore, and turned her back to the big walls, with the red lights that shone beyond them.