1 The War

Year:19

Human Age: 1598

Rebirth Count: 12

This is the feeling, soaring over the Fire Mountain's heat. Colors brighten as it clears my mind from all the worries. The dirt shifts as my feet touch the edge of the Fire Mountain's mouth, it's heat at my back and the cool ocean breeze at my front. It's relaxing, feeling the balance of water and fire, cold and hot. I look down to the village, the last one left, it brings tears to my eyes. I was born in a war that has lasted hundreds of human years and dozens of phoenix lifetimes. I would be ash soon. Almost ready to be reborn a year older. I've reborn 12 times. A dart of motion in the forest removes me from thoughts of my rebirth. Looking closely ahead of the movement, there are three humans traveling in a triangle. The one farthest from me is garbed in scout greens and browns. The one in the lead is clad in light leather armor, but the one closest to me is in a uniform I haven't seen before. It's a robe, navy blue with wavy silver accents, reminds of... no. A water wizard! I have to warn the others. I turn around and make a pass over the mountain; the heat feeding the speed of my wings. I dive towards the collection of mud huts I call home, banging the door of my house open I yell at my parents, "Mom! Dad! We all need to leave. There's a group of humans heading here now, they have a water wizard!"

My mother looks up from her stew, "What ever are you talking about Cassandra? No human knows we are here."

"But these do!"

"It's not good to lie my dear Cass. Now go to the-" The roar of water drowns her out. Her eyes widen and she screams at me ", FLY!"

I bolt already taking off to the mountain, my wings straining from the effort, I think she follows me, I was wrong, very wrong. The damp cave dries instantly from the panicked heat of my wings.

I turn back to my village and see that my mother has just taken off. I'm sure she will make it when a wave hits her and drags her down to the others dying. I scream out at her and the cave explodes in my grief, my rage, my pain, my loss.