Still gotta make the cover...
Sunsets. The final rays of light before the sun tucks itself in to sleep under blankets of night.
Sunsets set the inspiration in lots of things, music, art, dance, writing, and many more.
Perhaps its because of the many colors.
The blues drain from the sea and rushes up into the sky, which gets slowly pushed up into nothingness. Dreamy clouds of purples and pinks pulse through.
The warm yellows is from the sun, creating oranges in the remaining palette of the setting sky.
And right where the sky meets the sea, is a bright eye piercing red.
Red...
Red as in...
Blood.
Just like one particular sunset where that red was not just in the sky, but sprayed along the grounds, dyeing the sands, causing the sea to go a cloudy red. Spilling from the lifeless bodies of our I’ll fated cast of characters. Oh, what a poor, poor ending.
It’s just like…
A blood stained sunset...
Prologue[]
Phalanx
The waves crashed against the stone barrier, sending a salty spray up, drenching the passerbys. Yelps sounded as dragons held up their wings to defend themselves from the ocean water. One dragon didn't seem to care though. He kept walking on the footpath, not in a rushed manner but not exactly calm either. His shoulders were slouched, as if the droplets from the sea were weighing him down. He didn't look at anyone, only forward, looking as if he had a destination set yet was lost at the same time.
"You 'kay senior?" Another dragon, probably around 15 or so moon turns old approached the other older one.
"Yeah, just... taking a stroll along the border walk." The older one with red and dark pink stripes replied.
"Alright Phalanx, you been quite a while since you've last visited Rubellite, so just call me if you need help. Oh! Yeah, aren't you supposed to be working on a grand painting?" The younger one reassured, then suddenly realized something he had been meaning to ask.
The one with the V-like snout and red colored stripes, known as Phalanx, tiredly answered. "Well, yeah I guess, just can't find any inspiration..."
"Oh, as artists we all know what that feels like!" The younger one chuckled. "Alright, see you around!" And he left a wave and departed.
Phalanx resumed his casual walk. He took a seat at a creaky wooden bench, and stretched his neck to look at the sky. The sun had begun to set, tucking itself out of sight for the night. The final golden rays reflected off the ocean, making the water dance with colors, oranges, pinks, reds, yellows.
Those colors reminded him of someone.
A few someones, in fact, it caused a chain reaction, like dominos.
He had last seen them on a day like this, as the horizon faded, as they flew off into the sunset, their friendly looking faces illuminated by the same orange glow. As they drowned. As they screamed. As they died in my hands. As they were never seen again, because I was a coward. Because I brought them into this mess, and they were the ones to face the consequences. And I was selfish, and they were gone. Forever.
A silent tear rolled down his face. It was all my fault, Was the only thing he could think.
9. 9 was what he could remember. 20 years ago, he was nine. A carefree, young soul. It was their anniversary, actually. The anniversary of their deaths. 4 was another number he could remember. 4 friends, 4 deaths. Phalanx sighed and the bench creaked when he shifted his weight.
And the memories. The memories came back. Of their blissful times as young dragons, who didn't have to bear the weight of growing up.
And he remembered. Everything.
Chapter 1 - 20 years ago[]
Feldspar
The best way to explain today was boring. There was nothing else to do but stand against a wall clutching a spear. It was terribly hot as well. It was so humid that his fellow soldiers sat down sprawled under the bits of shade fanning themselves with their wings. The metal burned Feldspars talons and he tried his very best not to flinch, but he gave up and threw the spear at his feet anyway.