The sky was burned red, streaks of orange flames soared into the sky, creating black clouds that circled in the sky, slowly growing grey as it stretched out. It was mating season. I turned to Konner, who was staring worryingly through his binoculars. I sighed and silently slipped down the blackened ridge. Konner joined me, tucking the binoculars into its pouch.

 

“How long have the flames been that high?” he asked. I started walking back to camp, Konner beside me.

​

“Roughly two days,” I answered. Konnor paled as best he could through the dirt and grime that had accumulated on his face. He looked back briefly at the flames, before jogging back to my side.

 

“So, what’s the plan?” he asked. I shrugged. We left decisions like that to our leader, Walter Rotchins. Since they landed on English soil, they had pursued the people and consumed the land with fire. The remains of the human race were nothing but a pile of ashes. Skyscrapers had become derelict and barren shells, with its glass shattered and scattered across the landscape, several collapsing into the streets of old below, swallowing people in dust and debris, never to be seen again. It was a long trek home. We had learned a long time ago that we couldn’t live with the flying beasts, nor could we live near them. Any motor vehicle drew too much attention, so walking had become the main method of transport. All livestock had been eaten, with only a few surviving and now living with us below. Konnor noticed my blank look and nudged me, bringing me back to the path.

 

“Whatcha thinking about?” he inquired. I smiled at the old lingo.

 

“The world,” I said honestly. “Well, what it was at least.” Konnor shuffled uncomfortably, looking up at the grey, ash-covered towers that stretched up into the grey, ash-ridden sky. The two blending together almost seamlessly.

 

“What was the world like?” Konnor asked. “Mum says that it was beautiful, with green everywhere, and people everywhere!” I smiled at the boy's enthusiasm and lightly patted his shoulder.

 

“It was that,” I murmured, “and so much more.” I stopped and turned, looking down the road we had just walked along and sighed. “This road led up to the most beautiful building in the world,” I told him. Konnor looked down the road, his eyes narrowed in confusion. I smiled as the memory flashed through my eyes. “People gathered from all over the world to visit it, it was a light yellow, built from sandstone I believe, and it stood tall and proud across the city.” I turned, gesturing to the desolate and empty city. My smile faded and reality settled back into my mind. A small tear escaped my eye and I quickly wiped it away. Konnor didn’t seem to notice. “Hurry,” I said, drawing his attention back to me. “We need to get to shelter soon before the male arrives.” Konner quickly stumbled up the building and slid down the opposite side, catching me as I followed him. My bones creaking and groaning as I once again got to my feet.

 

As night set over the city, a deafening roar filled the sky. Without looking behind us, I pushed forward, hoping Konnor would follow. Luckily, we reached shelter as the male flew overhead, an immense gust of wind following in its wake. I clung to Konnor tightly until the wind passed. Once it dissipated, I sat down and pulled out that nights rations. Carefully, I pulled the paper sheet off and shovelled the dry, tasteless food into my mouth, swallowing it quickly before the aftertaste could take hold. I chuckled as I watched Konnor struggle to get all the food in quickly, dropping small amounts onto the floor, and gagging at the aftertaste. Konnor saw my giggles and frowned heavily.

 

“It tastes disgusting,” he commented dryly, finishing the food before tossing the paper into the light breeze.

 

“I’m surprised your generation hasn’t adapted to it yet,” I pointed out, “you were raised on the stuff, it was my lot who had to figure it out, then learn to eat it.” Konnor huffed and leaned back against the crumbling wall. My mind drifted back to the street I was describing to the eager boy, and a smile stretched across my face.

 

“Thinking about what it was like?” Konnor asked. I nodded slowly, keeping my eyes on the horizon. Konnor shuffled beside me and looked at me intently. “What happened?” he asked. My head snapped to him, confused. “Like, I know they came from the mountains and burned everything, and this is how we survive…” he trailed off, his mind drifted to a moment in his life. “But what actually happened?” I licked my lips and looked away from the boy’s inquisitive green eyes.

 

“I was twelve,” I began shakily. “I was in the city with my parents. My mother was beautiful. She had blonde hair and radiant blue eyes. She always seemed to wear an Alice band that sat just behind her ears.” I giggled at the image. “My father was tall, quite tall, but was gentler than most. He never raised his voice, not even in an argument, but I could tell he suffered from it. My mother would argue with him about his work, and because of his timid nature, she would always win, but then so would those he spoke to.” I paused and adjusted myself, allowing my eyes to start to follow the sun as it started to gently dip over the blackened horizon. “We came to the city for a fair, or some kind of event, and we came by train. Once we arrived, my father went off to talk to some executives about something or other, and my mother got me a slice of cake from the cake stand.” A grin spread across my face, but the memory changed. Konnor saw the change and pulled himself back.

 

“Sorry,” he said quietly, “I shouldn’t have asked.” I shushed him and he fell silent.

 

“I remember a roar, one that paralysed everyone with fear,” I continued, lost in the memory, “no one knew what it was or what to do. I reached for my mother, but she was at a window, watching something flying across the sky. It was black and gold. And huge. People started screaming, throwing plates and cutlery everywhere, desperate to get to safety. I didn’t know what to do.” A tear fell down my face. “I ran to my mother, but as she turned to flee, a ball of fire erupted through the window, consuming her. I watched my mother slowly blacken and burn as the fire ate her.” Another tear fell down my cheek. I dropped my head to the soot below. “I was lucky enough to be scooped up by my father, who shielded me from the flames, but he wasn’t so lucky. He limped out, with me cradled in his arms. But before we got out, a line of fire flew past the door, preventing us from leaving.” I stopped, the memory of my burned father holding me tight as flames crept around us forcing me to shiver, the echoes of the flames lingering on my skin. I looked at Konner, fear set in my eyes.

 

“The world is better now,” I said quietly. My hand slowly crawling up to the lock of hair suspended around my neck. Another roar rocked the sky, forcing us to cover our ears in pain. Once the roar died down, I paled, my eyes slowly rising to the location of the nest. Konnor looked at me, and quizzical look across his features.

 

“What is it?” he asked. I slowly opened my mouth, terrified to speak the words.

 

“That,” I said slowly, “was the scream of a new-born.” Konnor’s eyes widened and he looked at the horizon.

 

“But they’re not supposed to start for another few weeks,” he protested. I shook my head, my hand gradually reaching around, checking my knife was sheathed.

 

“They’re animals,” I said, “but they still have urges.” I turned my head and looked at him. Konnor had unsheathed his make-shift sword. Several scavenged knifes had been attached together to form the blade, and the handle of a tennis racket made up the handle. Konnor had become very proud of his weapon, joking that it could become a family heirloom if he survives long enough.

 

“What do we do?” Konnor asked, “we’re still days away from camp.” I sighed.

 

“We are going to have to do the commander’s job,” I said gruffly, standing. Konnor gulped and stood beside me, his weapon raised. With a shaky breath, we stepped forward and returned to the scouting position. Once we arrived, I noticed the two beasts circling one another, a low growl in their throats. Gradually, the female, with dark green scales and white snout, stopped and looked behind it. From under its tail, a small, red-scaled beast bounded out and nuzzled against the larger, red and gold scaled beast. The male who has passed over us not too long ago. The male bent down and gently nudged the baby with its golden snout and a light purr emanated from the looming creature. I looked at Konnor, who had lowered his sword and was looking at the young beast affectionately. I could now see why the Commander was as cold as he was. I looked back at the small, spry animal. It was jumping in between its father’s legs, screeching and purring as the father used its long and powerful neck to meander between its legs, looking for it. Behind them, the female turned and slowly rested on the ground, her eyes fluttered closed and her giant wings sagged. I watched as the male looked up and slowly approached the weak female. He rested his snout against her’s.

​

“She’s dying,” Konnor whispered. “Once the female’s given birth, she starts to deteriorate, eventually dying.” I frowned and looked at him. “Part of the Scouters training course,” he said, “gotta learn about your…” he paused and looked back at the three creatures. “Enemy,” he finished. I followed his eyes and sighed. The new-born had snuggled itself against its mother, croaking into her ear. The male had started to move rocks and debris from the fallen buildings around her, building a tomb. The female didn’t move as the structure was built. The new-born tried to help, digging into the floor, throwing ashes and dirt over the female’s dark green scales. Once all the movable debris had been used, the male raised itself as high as it could and forcefully beat its wings down violently, catapulting itself into the grey sky. Without a moment to waste, I stood and silently slid down the bank, ignoring Konnor’s hisses for me to return.

 

Slowly, I crept into the nest, an eye on where the female lay. The new-born was still nuzzled against her, unaware of my approach. My hand reached for my knife, and I slowly brought it out of its sheath. With my eyes fixed on the baby, I advanced further. But I stopped. The new-born purred and stood, waddling over towards me. My hand clenched and fear filled me, its red snout pointed towards me, inhaling deep breaths of air. It paused as it reached me, its nose searching me. Slowly, it moved around me, only stopping once it had done a complete circle. It tilted its head, its eyes quizzical. I opened my mouth to speak, but it had become dry from the terror. Behind the baby, the mother’s green eyes were locked on me. I drew in air, slightly startling the young creature, who recoiled towards its mother. The mother didn’t move, her enormous belly slowly rising and falling as each breath became harder. The mother’s bright emerald eyes were gentle and soft, not full of the malice I had been expecting. I looked back at the baby, who had come further towards me, still unsure of the alien lifeform in front of it. Cautiously, I turned and looked at Konnor, who was sitting on the bank, grinning, clutching his sword in one hand. With my free hand, I waved lightly, and he waved back. I turned back to the new-born, who was now looking at Konnor.

​

“It’s alright,” I muttered. It looked back at me, and a light purr emanated from its long neck. A smile crept around my lips. It took another step closer, and another. Eventually, the creature wrapped its tail around my torso and rested its head on my shoulder. It nuzzled closer to me and I pushed it with my head. Then in one swift movement, I sliced the blade of my knife across the creature’s throat. The new-born screamed in agony as blood poured over my shoulder, fire erupting out of its mouth and neck. The mother roared as best she could, using her remaining strength to push the half-completed tomb off her weak form as she scampered over to her dying baby. I sprinted as best I could towards the bank, seeing the shock and horror in Konnor’s eyes as his mouth hung open in bewilderment.

 

Then I heard it, in the sky. A fearsome roar and flames flew in front of me, cutting me away from Konnor. Konnor covered his eyes and turned, shielding himself from the blast of heat, but he didn’t turn back around. He simply reached the top of the bank, and slid down the other side, out of sight. I sighed and nodded to myself. Another roar echoed through the debris-ridden street and my eyes searched the sky. It was empty. I looked back at the mother, who was cradling the dying beast with her tail. I then noticed that the baby was still breathing. I hadn’t cut deep enough. With my last remaining strength, I dropped to my knees and allowed the blade to fall to the floor, burying itself among the ashes. Another roar rocked my ears, but I kept my eyes to the floor.

 

Behind me, a shockwave threw me off my feet. I flew through the air, coming to a stop a few metres in front of the mourning mother and the breathing new-born. I looked up at the fearsome, dark red-scaled beast, anger set in his eyes. I wiped the soot from my face and the ashes from my hair. Looking into the narrow, yellow eyes, I could see my mother, burning as the flames consumed her. My father, as he shielded me from the ferocious heat. I narrowed my eyes and glared at the monster. Slowly, I stood, my knees firm and my fear gone. The beast snarled and reared back, its wings blocking what light had managed to come through the grey skies. Slowly, my hand reached for the lock of hair around my neck. Then he brought his head down, his teeth snapping my ankles. I screamed in pain. He tossed his head towards the sky and flung me into the air. As I reached the peak, I noticed Konnor, standing by the edge of a collapsed building, watching. Then, I fell back into the beast’s mouth, closing my eyes as his jaw closed around my head.