Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of my first fanfic. Here is the next chapter; reviews are appreciated!
In a matter of split second, anger seeps into every fiber of being, trembling in pressure, or perhaps fear of danger ahead. Just another slice of time gone by, and anger welled up inside manifests into physical action. The pigs wail in utter fear, and now the only purpose of anger is to suppress my impending doom. One last squawk and everything darkens. Then comes the feeling of nothingness, so profound, perhaps not even the most eloquent writer could detail in the common language. The gears of the brain somehow lock in place, and the gate to life as we know it opens. Eyes see a rugged wasteland or sawdust, rubble, and life. Despair sinks and drowns the mind. I move in closer. Is it really you? Is this object truly of cellular material? It is you. Of what circumstance made you in this state? The cuts and scrapes of impact we share, but the cuts and scrapes of sadness we do not. You are asleep, still in the world of darkness. The gears of your brain fail to spin into place. How I wish I was you now. The teeth of my brain's gears shred my heart to pieces. How can we survive with one of us three gone? Take me now. The pain is too much to bear.
Shattered awake, Jim for a moment didn't know who he was. Sweating in the all-too-warm summer night, on his left he saw Jake and Jay, all fast asleep. He had the dream again. His body hurt, though there was no pain to be felt. Lying in the lip of a cave, the soft grasses set for bed did little to relieve him.
"I heard a scream, what happened?" Matilda stormed in the cave, exclaiming just soft enough not to wake the other two blues.
Jim was still incoherent. He subconsciously trembled, and his head bandage was dripping profusely.
"Did you have that dream again?" Matilda approached to comfort Jim. Three months since they woke from a coma, the three blues had violent, recurring dreams of the event. Though it was the same dream every night, somehow it was painful and traumatic every single time. At first the three would refuse to go to sleep, but the sleep monster proved to be menacing and powerful, so they soon gave in to the need for rest. Words of kindness from the rest of the flock were always well appreciated, and leisure activities during the day prevented their wandering thought trains from derailing.
It was already six o'clock, so Jim settled on some breakfast. Hearty fare was stewing over the fire, beckoning the flock awake and to the campfire to see the sunrise. It was now nearing autumn, with the days getting shorter and the summer drought ceasing, leading to a more familiar verdant landscape, the grass struggling to make the most of the precious few warm days left.
By seven, all of the flock, including Terrence, gathered around the fire for a meal. Red, being the most senior of the group, proceeded with the daily announcements from abroad (In actual fact, Terrence was the most senior, but he was rather a recluse and didn't like this responsibility).
"Everyone, can I have your attention please." Eyes turned to the tree stump i.e. podium where Red now stood.
"First item of today: the weather forecast calls for warm weather today, with sunny skies. It will rather breezy from the west today too, which might affect our slingshot runs today.
"Also, there have been recent reports that the pigs have recovered from the drought, and they may be set on an invasion soon, possibly the first attack since June. However, they are probably still short on food, so this is unlikely."
He turned to the next page of his brief, skimming through the content. "And the blues will begin training practice today." He turned to face the blues, half-looking at his sheet. "Though I understand you all are still injured-physically and emotionally—from the attack last June, we need to be strong and prepare for what is to come. Wallowing in the face of trauma will only hurt you more come the next attack."
It was silent for a moment. The blues had flat expressions, but inside painful fear began to stab them. All these weeks, they hadn't thought of the premise of another attack. Only now they began to question how they were going to get through more tormenting, grueling training.
"Is everything alright?" Red reluctantly added, trying to comfort the blues while keeping his authoritative stance.
"Yes." Jake mumbled.
Red probably knew how much suffering the blues would experience, but he displayed obliviousness to the fact. "Meeting is over," he said dryly. "Good day, and may our eggs be safe." The flock scattered, commencing their daily activities.
(To be continued...)