Once in the courtyard, they crouch, and then leap into the sky, aiming over the trees, back toward the fairgrounds, and the calling Nightmares. They fly fast and true, and when the trees start to thin, they slow their pace. When the trees suddenly stop, they find themselves hovering over nothing. The fairgrounds and carnival were gone. They pause, frowning. How strange. But they don’t dwell on it long. Two swift shapes come from the stars, and a welcoming whiny greets them. They smile, admiring the rippling pelt of the Nightmares. 

‘Come, come’ the horse-like creatures urged.

So they follow the Nightmares into the night sky, hesitating in their mind. Was this right? But the longing… so strong…

Out of the stars, a shape forms. It looks like a cloud, but it looks like one of those clouds that were about to dump buckets of rain down on the ground. The Nightmares fly above the cloud and out of sight. With a sigh, they reluctantly follow. At the top, a wide expanse of flat dark shadow, with only a strange, pulsing, reddish light floating in the center of the place. The Nightmares were standing there, heads bowed, nickering softly. A flash of fear engulfs the fly person, and they turn to leave. But a voice coming from the center of the flat plane speaks in a slippery smooth, low voice. 

“Approach, dear one to the Nightmares. I won’t harm you.”

They turn back, feeling safe all of a sudden, and alight in front of the light. It was simply a large ball that looked a bit like fire. 

“Place your hand on me. I must make sure…”

Trance-like, they reach out and place their left hand on the ball. Instantly, flashes of terrifying and terrible scenes flash before their eyes. Zombies rising from the earth, lost in a wood with no way out, family gone, and you are alone, all alone…

“Good…” the voice hisses, and the scenes flick by faster. A wolf bearing down on two defenseless children, a dragon torching a village, mummies walking the streets of a town, roads streaked in blood, all alone, no one there, lonely, alone…

“Perfect,” the voice cooed, and the hand resting on the floating ball exploded with pain. They reach their hand back, and catch a glimpse of a flaming red sphere on their palm before their own vision turns red. Deep, smooth laughter fills their mind.

“No-” they gasp, and then… Nothing.

Darkvine sat at the edge of the fountain, feeling uneasy. Something was calling to her, like it had been for a while. But then- all at once- no more calling. 

Only deep, smooth laughter echoed in her mind for a moment, and then the presence was gone. Feeling stunned, Darkvine sits frozen on the fountain's edge for at least 5 minutes. The sound of wing beats flips a switch, and she jumps up, instantly on guard. A winged figure alights softly in the courtyard, and their head jerks toward Darkvine. It is too dark to make out any appearance, but she had to bite back a gasp. The figure had eyes that glowed a bright red. 

“Ohhh, you’re the other,” the same smooth, deep voice that had laughed issued from the figure. They took a step closer. “I am sorry to inform you that this one was more willing. I will have to dispose of you. Can’t have you asking that angel woman about strange voices in your head.”

And they lunged. Darkvine ducked, but their hand caught her on her face, and Darkvine felt a searing pain. She scrambled for a weapon, and she happened to grab her Zoodle. She tried to toss him aside and out of the way, but she turned to see the figure on that side, and they caught Bloop. Then, they lunged again, grabbing Darkvine’s dragon wings so she couldn’t escape. Then they pressed their left hand to each of her wings, and they seared with pain. Darkvine opened her mouth to scream, but then something went through her back, and she collapsed. The murderer stepped back, satisfied. 

“Bye,” they said in the deep voice, and Darkvine’s body disappeared, leaving only her wings and Zoodle behind.

Dead: Darkvine

Name: Cloud Bunny (Cloud for short)

Age: Forever

Pronouns: They/them

Appearance: Pixie cut short brown hair

Personality: Nice, funny and smart (in my eyes)

What do your wings look like?: Turqouise fading into lavender, big with a green tip.

Do you want a housemate?(like a roommate only you will be living in mini homes): Possibly.

Other: I like pasta.