I’ve been sleeping for a long time, dreaming of the warm and welcoming hearths deep in the snowy mountains of Hell, of the green fields of Heaven. In my dreams I’ve seen the stars up close, drifted through nebulas, tasted the ice of comets.
I woke up once, briefly. I heard a howling wind. My eyes blinked and I saw fire and smoke. There was a loud explosion. But my body was so heavy and I was so in love with sleep. I closed my eyes again. I dreamt about rain, snow, running water, birds and animals. I dreamt I was an eagle. I dreamt I was a jaguar.
I dreamt of people, people talking. Or are there people actually nearby? I feel like I’m waking up, but it feels so good to just lie here. Why not stay in this dreamy sleepy half-awake state for a while?
Some of the people’s voices are matter of fact. Some are unkind. Others are excited. I feel excited for them. They’re learning. I hope they find what they’re looking for.
I don’t know how long I sleep. Then…
They’re screaming! C’mon Angel, get your ass out of bed!!
******
The steward looked at a map of The Green City. His long cloth fingers spread out among the rendering of the city’s streets and alleys as if he wished this were the city itself, as if he could pick it up and carry it to safety.
If something wasn’t done soon the real city would be embers, rubble, and blood.
“Where is it now?” he asked, turning to Clockwork Martin. Martin was looking out the large window of the city planning room. His metal and glass eyes were focused on the walls of the city. The walls weren’t in good repair. They hadn’t needed to repel invaders for generations.
“It’s just hit the limits. The metal squadron is meeting it now” Martin replied.
“There deaths will give us time” replied The Steward. Some of the staff exchanged looks. Others became more engrossed in their given tasks. One started quietly sobbing before getting in control of themselves.
The steward paused, “We are fighting for our survival. I need everyone to understand that even if we survive, more will die. We will all lose friends and family today. No one in or out of this room is safe. Our goal is to make sure as many of us survive as possible.”
As pep talks go it wasn’t the most rousing. Some of the newer people likely would have said so if they weren’t so intimidated.
Also there was this. The people who had been with him the longest (Martin, Commander Wood, and Jack) seemed to love him.
******
Thoroth saw a lot of metal shiny bugs. They stuck Thoroth with small needles. They were not a real threat. Thoroth would smash the shinies. They were easy to kill.
This place was cold, but it was full of food. Even some of the shinies were food inside. Inside the large square rocks was even more food. Screaming food was running away from Thoroth.
There was so much to eat here. It didn’t seem to belong to anyone. Here, No one was stronger than Thoroth.
More food was flying toward him. It was on fire.
*******
Angel didn’t know why she as a giant cat with wings but she did know she could breathe freely and didn’t feel any pain. More than that, the old physical awkwardness was gone. She was goddamn graceful. Moving and flying (fucking flying!) was so easy.
She could see a giant creature hurting people. She knew she could help them. She’d never felt more alive, more certain of what to do. She spread her wings and let her engines burn as hot as they could.
She didn’t know why she thought these were her people and that she was their protector. The mystery didn’t bother her.
As she barreled toward the giant at top speed, it saw her and raised a clawed arm to strike. She started to laugh uncontrollably. She’d never been happier in her life.
Steven L Smith 