Commissioned from the talented  ilijamandic!

I awoke to a chill breeze ruffling my wings, and little else.

By instinct, I reached for my sword, but as I sat up, nothing greeted me. No snarling beast, no wretched brigand, not so much as a shadow. In fact, it was startlingly bright. White clouds rolled across a cheerful blue sky, and the sun shone down upon a golden street. The buildings reached up to brush the sky, rivalling even the greatest structures of the magical city of Starhaven, and the plant life had recently been tended.

But for as lively as the streets looked, there wasn’t a single voice to be heard.

Watching every dark corner and high balcony, I tried to think back to the day before. But nothing came to mind. It was as though I had just been plucked from home and dropped into…into this. But where was this? What was this? Despite the impressive scope of the city, there was no hint of the sort of magic that kept Starhaven aloft.

I rose to my feet and prowled forward, sword at the ready. Little red statues lined along road, their eyeless faces watching me with every step. I gripped my sword tighter, but there was no hint of movement or trap springing from them. I caught my reflection in the vast window front of a building I passed by – whole and hearty in body at least, if not mind. Vehicles were scattered around the streets, abandoned by both driver and pulling steed.

Perhaps I could glean something from one of them – some hint as to where everyone must have rushed off in such a hurry. I circled it, glancing around for anywhere something may be hiding. Nothing. Cautiously, I reached for the door, only to find it refused to open. I pulled at it, shook it, but it gave no quarter. Growling, I bashed at the window with the hilt of my sword, shattering it.

Some banshee must have flown free, as the vehicle suddenly started screaming bloody murder. I leapt back, dropping my sword in surprise, and caught on something. I fell heavily to my back and looked up to see that I had tripped upon one of those little red statues; I blinked, and a torrent of water blasted from it. I shielded my face with a wing and scrambled back to my feet, but stumbled on the slick, wet surface of the street. Unable to find purchase, I fell face-forward, shattering the glass window and falling into the building.

Lights, screams, all went off at once. If there was something around, it knew I was here now. Lowering myself, I darted further into the vast structure, away from the street, away from the commotion I had caused. The interior of the building was littered with garments hanging on racks; elaborate gowns, full suits, tunics that seemed far sharper than anything I had seen in fields or fortresses. But I crashed through them, heedless, thinking only of getting to a place that wasn’t loudly screaming my presence to whatever my be stalking this haunted place.

Tearing away some frilly undergarment that was covering my eyes, I leapt to the stairs, that horrible screeching sound blaring in my ears. Shadows were cast this way and that, ever shifting from the constant flashing light, but I was able to keep my feet long enough to stumble my way up. Another window up here, opening away from the front I had so gracefully strolled into. Flaring my wings to prepare myself, I leapt into it. Glass shattered around me and I opened out my wings, soaring away from the screaming building.

The city stretched as far as I could see, even from the air. I wound through the sky this way and that, no goal in mind but to get somewhere safer. Then I looked up at the sky and cursed myself. Clear skies, shining clouds; if there was anyone here, they only needed to glance up, and they would know I was here.

I angled myself down, aiming for an alleyway. Here, at least, the buildings were smaller. Less places for monstrous haunts to hide in waiting ambush. I landed with a heavy thud, reaching for my sword before I had even folded my wings.

Only to grasp empty air.

Of course; in my panic, I had dropped it by the abandoned vehicle, and that…that little water-wizard statue. I could still hear the screaming building in the distance. I couldn’t go back, not yet.

And there I was. Weaponless, in a place not just wholly unfamiliar, but an environment that made no sense to me.

There was a metallic clatter from behind me, and I whirled around, my claw instinctively going for my sword even if my mind knew there was nothing there. I scanned the piled of trash, the fallen cans, the grimy windows.

And I was sure, I was sure…I saw eyes watching me back.