Part Two: Above The Surface
Chapter 7
The surface is so bright! Aaaaaaaaargh it hurts my eyes! This was Prancer's first thought as he and Flint flew out of the cave.
It took time for Prancer's eyes to adjust to the light that was out here. He was used to dimly lit caves, not an inferno of light that seemed like lava! Prancer looked over to Flint and could see that she was adjusting to the immense amount of light too.
How can life even live up here with all of this light? Wouldn't it blind you?
Prancer's eyes started to adjust to his surroundings and he looked around at the place around them. It was unlike anything Prancer had ever seen before. There were huge rock-like structures that stretched upward into the blueness above them that Amethyst said was called the sky. There were massive lakes and ponds everywhere and Prancer saw life all around them.
Prancer saw what looked to be trees around the lake. Back in school, the teacher had a small pot with a plant with branches and leaves growing out of it. His teacher said that this was a tree and that they got bigger than what she was showing us. Prancer didn't believe her then. How could something that little grow to be as tall as our caves? But now Prancer was seeing them for the first time in their full length and they looked mesmerizing. The amount of branches that veered off the trunk and had many leaves on each one was an awe to look at. Prancer could tell that Flint was interested in the landscape as well. This was her first time as well out of the caves that she lived in her whole life.
"This must be pretty amazing for you too right?" Prancer said.
"Yeah, I never thought I would be out here. I mean, I have always dreamed about going to the surface to see what it looks like but this blows away my mind." Flint swooped down to the lake and dived into the water. "YOUCH!" she yelled, coming back up out of the water.
"What is it?" Prancer asked.
Was she hurt? Did something attack her? If anything attacks her I swear I will…
"It's just the water, Prancer. It is a lot hotter up here than it is in the caves. But it felt more refreshing, here you should try." She tried pushing Prancer into the water but Prancer hopped over her.
"No, thank you, I choose not to be wet right now while we are in a whole new territory. Who knows what dangers are up here?"
"Oh, come on Prancer, Amethyst said we would be fine."
Amethyst. If only she could come with them but she said she had to go back to the Cavewings to make up a reason for why Flint disappeared. "Don't worry," she said, "you two will be okay, you will protect each other while you are up there but there shouldn't be anything bad up there that you can't handle.
"Fine, but I am still not getting in the water," he said.
"Fine," Flint said, "it's just I think it would relax you. Hey, look over there."
Prancer looked off in the direction that Flint looked but couldn't see anything. It just looked like more of those tall rocks that reached to the sky's out in the distance.
Oh yeah, Amethyst said those are mountains.
"What am I looking for?" he asked.
"Just keep looking, you will see it," Flint said as she walked behind him. Prancer then realized what she was doing but didn't respond fast enough before she pushed him into the lake.
It definitely was hotter than in the caves but also had a very soothing feeling to it. Prancer relaxed there for a moment and heard Flint splash into the water next to him. He allowed her to swim up next to him to where their wings were touching. He felt her tail twine around his.
His mind was in a jumbled mess. What's wrong with me? Having feelings for a Cavewing? But she really cares about me. But she is a Cavewing! That shouldn't matter now, should it? I mean your mom is a Cavewing. THAT'S DIFFERENT! Is it really, so what if you have feelings for a dragon outside your tribe, you should have your own free will. But what would my tribe think? Are they really your tribe anymore, they want you dead. Prancer didn't know, a few days ago he may have known what to do but now he wasn't sure.
He let himself relax and enjoy the moment. Ever since his secret got out, this was the first time he felt like he wasn't about to be attacked. He felt safe, being with Flint. He didn't know what it was, it just felt like she had an aura around her that comforted him every time he was around her. After a while, he opened his eyes, untwined his tail around hers, and got up out of the lake. Flint followed him afterwards.
"So, didn't I tell you that the lake calmed you down. I mean I can see the smile on your face, you seem less grumpy than you were a few days ago when I found you."
Prancer smiled at her. Maybe it wasn't bad to live his own life and allow his will to be free rather than have it bound to one tribe. But it felt wrong thinking that still. Sure, the Webwings want to kill me but not all of them are bad. For instance, Hunter helped me out when he could have easily turned me in. Hopper and Frisky also took a huge risk raising me as one of their own to keep me safe. Maybe if everybody was able to live their own life and not by the rules then we could be a more happy tribe.
If only, Prancer thought. I doubt that will ever happen though. How will me and a Cavewing stop two tribes from fighting each other who have been at it for hundreds of years? He looked at Flint again. I don't know but I will make sure that no one will ever hurt Flint. I will personally protect her from anyone who tries to harm her.
"Yeah the lake did calm me down, now let's get going. We have to find whatever this help is out here. Did Amethyst say anything to you on how we could find this help?"
"The only thing she said to me was that we were to go north towards the mountains and look for a valley that has a lake in the middle that is shaped like a dragon. When we get there we are to send some sort of signal. Amethyst didn't tell me what that signal was."
"It's ok Flint, we'll figure it out. For now I think we should start flying towards the mountains and then we will figure out where to go from there."
"Sure, let's start flying," Flint said.
Prancer and Flint both took off flying towards the mountains, ready to find whatever help there was in order to stop the war between their tribes.
I wonder whatever this "help" is that Amethyst wants us to find. Is it a weapon? A powerful relic? What is this help that Amethyst wants them to find? Whatever it is, I hope that we don't run into any trouble up here on the surface. Who knows what dangers lurk in the shadows, waiting to strike us?
Flint swooped over to him and bumped his side. He staggered but caught himself and flew back up to her.
"What was that for?" he asked.
"I can see it in your facial expressions that you were worried about everything that might happen to us while we are up here. The bump was to snap you out of it and to reassure you that we will be fine up here. Nothing can be worse than what we had to face in the caves. Just relax for once in your life."
"Flint, I know you are always optimistic about everything but seriously, how can you NOT BE SCARED about something as new as being on the surface?
Flint giggled. "I guess I just trust my instincts and they say that we are going to be safe up here."
"Yeah I guess you may be right," Prancer said.
He still couldn't shake the feeling off of him though that they were being watched. He scanned the area around him but he couldn't see anyone spying on them.
But did those trees down there just rustle like something is running through them? Prancer couldn't tell but he was still on edge.
All of a sudden, Flint stopped flying in front of him. He had to veer to the side to not collide into her.
"What is it, Flint?"
She looked scared, scanning the ground. "I don't know, but I think we are being watched."
