Chapter 38

Dawn

We sit close to each other on perches, each in their own thoughts. Blake is just seething with anger. You can practically see the smoke wafting up from him. I'm not too far behind him. I'm furious that we have to stay behind. I'm not going to be any help surrounded by four walls while so many are dying and are going to be killed. April looks from Blake to me, barely touching her food. I have to say, I'm surprised at her. How could she just let this happen without a fight? "April?" I get her attention.

"Yes, Dawn?"

"Why would you want to stay in Skyborne?" April studies the berries at her feet, staying silent. "April, I want an answer." My voice is as hard as stone. She swallows hard.

"We are soldiers of Skyborne. No matter what we believe is right, it is our duty to obey our leaders' commands." April mutters in a monotone voice.

"That's not why you sided with Kitiro and Leyorra, is it?" Blake and I give April the coldest stares we can give. April takes a deep breath.

"Okay. It's because, well, I'm scared and they do have a point when they want us to stay in Skyborne and..." Her voice trails off and she studies her feet. I really don't know what to say. I'm scared, too. The terror I felt won't just fade away over time. But, this is war. No one can afford to think about themselves.

"What did we promise each other back in the forest a few days ago?" I demand. "We promised that we would fight to save Skyborne no matter what happens to us! And, you're just going back on it now when Skyborne needs help the most!?" I bark at her. She looks hurt by me. I don't care anymore. Her desire to stay in Skyborne is just so selfish!

"Dawn, that was before..."

"Before WHAT!?"

"Before we saw and knew who he was and what he could do..." April whimpers. I never wanted to hurt her like this, but I will not be the one apologizing. So, I drop the subject.

"April?" Blake gets her attention away from her feet. "There's something I want you to see..." Blake raises his wings and lifts into the air with ease. He beckons April and I to follow him as he drops towards the exit, leaving his food behind. April looks to me.

"We'll come back for it." With that, I follow Blake and April follows me.

I keep Blake's tail feathers in sight as I try to chase him, but he's going faster than usual. My chest tightens as I try to twist and turn through to passages like a maze. One wrong turn and I could bash my head against the rock. But, oddly enough, Blake speeds head-on as if he's been down this way hundreds of times. Perhaps he has.

Blake turns a corner into an arched entry. I recognize it after some thought. It's the infirmary again. But, why would he come here of all places? Well, Blake has the answer so I bank into the infirmary after him.

Racing after him, I blow the white curtains of the separated infirmary cots while I fly. The curtains move outward in my wake and close in again just as April makes it through. Blake slows down and so do I . His talons hit the ground and he waddles around the corner of the dividers. April trots in after him and I float. Peering around the corner, my heart drops like a rock to the floor. I'm sure April has a similar reaction, but Blake is emotionless and unfazed. As if he has known about this for a while. He must have known all along. But, I can't believe he didn't tell us of this, that this was here.

Before us is an organized mountain of bodies. Dead bodies. All their eyelids have been shut already, never to open again. Dried blood coats the skin and feathers, some areas on tp even have fresh red blood, dripping down the carcasses. It gives off a wrenching stench that makes my eyes water. But, there's definitely more tears of sadness in them than tears of the smell. These must be the casualties of the war. With this many dead, formal goodbyes are out of the question.

Four of the Togetics station themselves around the bodies. Before I can even question what they're doing, they unleash four massive Flamethrowers. I stumble backward as the mass goes up in flames. And not just a large fire. A massive inferno erupts like a volcano. The flames lick the ceiling, creating dark scorch marks on the rock roof. I flee far away from the fire, feeling the heat roast me alive, searing into my skin. The smell of burning skin lifts into the air and surrounds us. The smell of lives, pokemon that once had a voice and a smile and a laugh, going up in flames. Tears stream down my face like a steady waterfall. Our kind has come to this, to a flaming end. This is Skyborne's deepest sorrow, our most terrifying nightmare, yet also our reality.

I'm snapped back to attention when Blake nudges me. I raise my eyes and, in response, he gestures to April, a couple of steps in front. How is she even able to bear the heat and the stench, much less the pain of it all. But, she stands there watching the the spires of fire consume the dead. "April?" I call out to her. Slowly, she turns to us and BAM! There it is. That stone-hard expression of unmatched determination. Determination to save Skyborne from this fate. One look and I knew she was ready to die if it meant ensuring everyone else can live another day.