Skyward

Jesabel paced anxiously around her room. The door was locked, and with good reason- the perfectly manicured image of perfection she projected in front of Roseacre’s elite was completely unravelled. She didn’t want anyone to see her like this.

Her hair was a mess, her wings were out- she couldn’t help but feel she might have to take off at any second. She had dark circles under her eyes. She couldn’t sleep. Her loupine Tiffany stared at her from its bed on the floor, where it trembled anxiously.  She didn’t know it yet, but all over Bellacoste, people were experiencing the same agitation.

She wasn’t expected for a few more hours, but something was seriously wrong.

She looked in the mirror and exhaled, grabbing a brush to try and salvage her mangled curls, forcing her nerves down.

“What is wrong with me”, she thought. She was normally the picture of confidence, putting others down, never letting anyone one up her. She was chic, fashionable, classy- with a good family name and connections to everyone who was anyone. But for once, she was feeling completely rattled.

And so, she turned to go see the one pouflon in her life she didn’t flaunt to the world. She didn’t have plans to go until moon high, but she was too on edge to sit still and wait, too awake to try to sleep.

The air felt wrong. And it was so quiet.

Jesabel grabbed her travelling cloak, beckoned to Tiffany, and set off, praying she wouldn’t bump into anyone. She needed to make it to the woods as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately fate was not on her side. She stepped outside and immediately slammed into Avalon, who had also found herself drawn out of her family’s estate and into the streets of Roseacre. The knight was agitated and on high alert, and raised her sword in warning as Jesabel stumbled back. Her pyropine, Sprinkles, squeaked indignantly and ran onto her head, where he nestled into her hair.

Avalon squinted in the dark night and finally realised who it was.

“Oh.” She said. “Sorry, Jesabel. Didn’t see you there.” She lowered her sword.

Jesabel sighed, too nervous to be offended. “It’s okay.”

The two pouflons stared at each other awkwardly. While Avalon’s brother Sirius’ relationship with Jesabel could best be described as ‘mutual loathing’ and ‘would like to kill on sight’, Jesabel and Avalon had never really interacted. Jesabel vaguely recalled that Avalon had only recently returned home, after completing her knight training. She wondered what that would be like.

Avalon exhaled, breaking the silence. “You feel it too, don’t you.”

Jesabel considered lying, saying she had no idea what she was talking about and that she was perfectly fine, thank you very much. But for once she dropped the act of superiority.                               

“I do,” She admitted.

They stood together for a moment, united in their unease as they looked at the silent streets. They both found themselves drawn to the sky- it seemed almost unnaturally dark, but Jesabel told herself firmly that she was being paranoid, seeing things that weren’t there.

Avalon looked at her, and her travelling garb.

“Wherever you’re going, travel safe, Jesabel”, she said seriously. “I have a feeling about tonight- and I don’t think it’s good."

Jesabel nodded, in acknowledgment and farewell. She took off at a steady pace, until she reached the outskirts of the city, where, after confirming she was alone, she summoned her wings and flew into the night.

She flew higher, and higher, until she spotted what she was looking for- a dense forest on the outskirts of Goldfair.

She made her descent, landing on the shadowy moss that carpeted the woods.

“You’re here early.”

Jesabel jumped at the unexpected voice, and then turned to face the pouflon.

She looked at her, and for a second, she was able to forget her unease and anxiety.

The green and pink pouflon smiled gently at her, clover fluttering gently off her coat as she retracted her wings. Jesabel returned the smile, and nudged her forehead against the other vespouf.

“I missed you, Fleur.” She murmured. “And something doesn’t feel right.” She turned to look up at the other pouflon with worried eyes.

Fleur’s expression turned serious. “I know. The forest is… too quiet. And much, much too dark.”

Jesabel’s stomach dropped. While she knew it was inevitable, she hated the confirmation that she wasn’t just imagining things. Something was really wrong.

Fleur spoke again, softly. “Come with me?”

“Of course.” Jesabel replied numbly.

The deep green pouflon turned and started to run through the forest, her pale pink hair streaking behind her. Jesabel followed closely behind. Unlike Fleur’s mottled green coat, which blended naturally into their surroundings, her light white pelt stood out vividly against the nature, and she felt even more out of place.

Normally, at their midnight meet ups, the moon would illuminate the crystal runics of both pouflons, and cast a soft light from their faceted horns. But the moon was nowhere to be seen. Aside from Jesabel’s white coat, they were barely visible in the dark night.

They ran and ran, a twisting upward path that was interspersed with rocks and plants and fallen trees that they deftly dodged until they reached one of their favourite spots- a lookout on a cliff that allowed them to see the night sky in all it’s glory, and much of Roseacre and Goldfair- the foggy silhouette of Chrysanthos was even visible, if you looked hard enough.

Jesabel stared at the quiet below. Fleur pressed her body up against her reassuringly.

For a moment, she could almost convince herself all was well. But it was too dark. And too silent. The breathing of the two pouflons on the cliff was all that could be heard for miles.

“It sort of feels like the end of the world.” Fleur said grimly.

“Well if it is, I’m glad I’m here with you.” Jesabel replied.

The two pouflons stood like that, their bodies together, for a long time.

And then, a blinding light.

And the sky began to break.