:: http://www.geocities.com/dragynmistress :: :: By Jennifer Vromant :: :: jen_vromant@yahoo.com :: ---------------------------------------------- Aerdancer - Chapter 04 When the dawn came, I was the first to awaken. I was hungry. Gryphons and dragons would never think of eating a unicorn or pegasus, as they were enchanted like us. We ate only sheep and deer, and maybe an occasional squirrel. Birds were also taboo, because they were related to us through their wings. My brother and sister were both still asleep. The pegasus stirred and woke up. For a moment, we just stared at each other. Then he spoke, "I'm Moonbreeze. What's your name?" I looked at it a moment before answering, "Aerdancer. What happened to your herd?" Moonbreeze was caught offguard and glanced at the sleeping unicorn. "That's Stardust. He's a unicorn." I nodded and repeated my question. He stared at me long and hard, deliberating if he should tell me. He said, "The humans got us into the cages. Our parents came towards us, then they put a big thing on the cage so we couldn't see. And then we heard a couple of those loud bangs. When they took the dark thing off, we couldn't see anyone anymore. I wonder if they're alright." We both turned as Stardust stirred and woke up. He looked at us and yawned. Then he got up and looked around, checking out the situation. "Where are the humans?", he asked me. I looked towards the river and he followed my gaze, "They never crossed the river last night." He and Moonbreeze both turned their heads towards the river, as if listening for something. Then Stardust looked at me and said, "They crossed a long time ago." My siblings soon awoke, and we quickly left the area we had thought safe. We stayed in the shadows, as to be extra careful. When the sun had already begun its descent, we came upon a field of dried grass. Stardust and Moonbreeze cautiously walked onto the field and began grazing the juicy roots. My siblings and I wandered nearby in search of food. At night, we found a small grove of trees that offered sufficient protection from the evening wind and slept.