Beneath the Ember sky.

Night had fallen over dragon village, casting a velvet sky

dotted with stars above the quiet jungle.but in the heart 

of the village, the silence gave away to warmth and laughter.

A large campfire crackled in the centre of the village square,

surrounded by smiling faces.flames danced like spirits, casting 

golden light over the worn walls and weathered huts.villagers

clapped and sang, their voices rising with the smoke.children

twirled and danced.some beat drums made from stretched hide.

others clapped hands to the rhythm.the aroma of roasted meat

drifted through the air - sweet, smokey,and mouthwatering.

 

This wasn't a festival,not a holiday.

This was there everyday life.

They had little,but what they had, they shared freely .

and tonight,as they roasted the deer hunted by master 

Tenzin students,they celebrated together -just as they always do.

When the meat was done,it was passed around on wooden 

plates and leaves.laughter grew louder,jokes flew across the firelight.

and among them sat four young warriors-Raikuro, Garrin, kaeli and Lior -

eating, smiling and feeling at home.

After dinner, the villagers slowly quieted.torches were extinguished,

children pulled away from the last dance,and families retreated to

their homes under the jungle stars.

The four companions returned to their shared room near the edge of the village.

it was small, with only one large mat laid across the wooden floor,but it was 

warm and dry.worn blankets were folded in the corners,and a small candle flickered 

on a wooden crate they used as a table.

It wasn't much -but it was theirs.

They had no parents,no luxurious room or 

noble blood.but they had each other's,and the 

village treated them like family.master Tanzin

had brought them here one by one,and dragon 

village had embraced them with open arms.

As they settled in for the night, silence fell-until

Garrin voice broke it.

"Hey, kaeli".he said softly, lying on his back and

staring at the ceiling."can I ask you something?

if you don't mind?".

Kaeli groaned and pulled the blanket over her

head."i don't want to talk, just sleep."

"Just one question,"he bagged.

She let out an annoyed sigh"fine, one 

question only, than don't you dare to disturb me again."

Garrin grinned in the dark,"thanks."

Raikuro turned his head slightly,"what's on your 

mind,big bro?"

"you'll hear it soon enough ", Garrin replied,than

looked toward kaeli."I've always wandered........

how did you end up here? i mean, where are you 

from?do you still have family somewhere?"

There was a pause, than kaeli voice came-

flat and bitter.

"I don't have family, they're dead for me."

Lior turned her head toward her,"sis kaeli.... do

you mean they're still alive?"

Kaeli took a deep breath."yeah, they're alive.

but I don't consider them my family anymore."

She sat up slightly, her voice low, carrying the 

weight of old wounds.

"It was long years ago,i was the third child.i

had two older brothers-both gifted with 

powerful ice magic.they were..... exceptional.I

wasn't.I struggle with my power.compared 

to them, I was week.a disappointment."

She paused, stearing at the dim candlelight.

"One day, during the ice fastival,my 

Parents were honoured guests.me an my

brothers were asked to perform.i gave it 

everything i had.I didn't want to embarrass 

them."

A cold smile touched her lips.

"But it didn't matter.they only had eyes for my

brothers.cheering, praising them like they were 

their only child.I was invisible.that night,i realized-I

don't belong there."

Kaeli looked away.

"So I ran .for more than three days, I wandered the jungle.

no food,no rest.one day I collapsed somewhere deep 

in the forest.when I wake up...... I was here.

I heard master Tenzin found me.that's it, that's the 

story.now be happy and let me sleep."

The room was silent.

Garrin's voice came quietly."sorry....i didn't 

know you went through all that."

Raikuro and Lior said nothing.but their 

expressions were heavy with unspoken 

sympathy.

After a moment, Raikuro asked softly,"what 

about you, big bro?"

Garrin sat up and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Me? it's not as dramatic."

He smiled, though there was shadow behind 

It.

"I never knew my parents.just heard from my 

 grandfather that they died in the war between 

two kingdoms.they were soldiers.frontline

fighters.brave ones.

He leaned back.

"My grandfather raised me.taught me earth 

magic.everything I know, I owe to him.but

when he passed away.l had no one left.no

family just a empty house.so i wandered, from 

place to place.one day I heard rumors of village 

deep in the jungle.a peaceful place.and that's how 

I came here."

Lior whispered,"that's must've been hard."

Garrin shook his head gentle."not really,if I 

hadn't lost everything.I wouldn't have met all

of you.everything happens for a reason.right?"

They all smiled faintly at that.even kaeli's

expression softened.

Than she turned to Lior."your turn sis."

Lior blinked."oh....I never told you all.did I?"

She sat cross - legged,her voice calm.

"I was born here,in this village.my parents 

were the only healers of this village.they died

years ago."

She looked at her hands.as if remembering 

them as a child's.

"I was still young,but I learned quickly.I had to.

and now I carry on their work."

Garrin chuckled."oh right! I remember now -

you were already here when I arrived."

Than they all turned toward the last person lying 

in the dark.

Raikuro.

He stiffened slightly under the weight of 

their gaze.

"What...... what's going on?why are you all 

looking at me like that?"

Lior grinned."we all shared our stories.now it's 

your turn Raikuro."

"come on, little bro,"Garrin teased"spill it, I've 

always wondered.......why that mask?"

Kaeli crossed her arms "idiot, start talking we don't have time."

Raikuro hesitated.than slowly,he sat up.

He took a deep breath.

"Well......it was  years ago."

          To be continue....