FSE

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Ashley, this is from me, Devin and Mermaid, for you. We miss you sister, and we hope to see you home on Wattpad again.

The cool, dry night air seeped in through the gap between the canvas tent and the lose, shifty sand of the Iraqi ground. The tent was relatively quiet, though there were a few guys still setting things up for the upcoming show. We had come into Iraq a few days ago after being invited by the president to do one of our well known shows here. It hadn't been my first choice to come here, but the Ringmaster Antony insisted that we come, so here we were.

I walked down the rows of cages, many of the animals within them were already asleep on account of a long day of practice and a show that had just come to an end, though some of them were still awake, hinging on their ability to fight their fatigue. The ones that were awake though were happy to see me. The one who currently had my attention was a Stripped Hyena. We had found her just a few months ago, but she had proven to be incredibly intelligent as well as agile. She often performed with the Acrobats and on several occasions she had shown them up. She looked up at me and batted the ground with her tail as I stopped in front of her cage. I reached my hand between the bars and petted her ears. She had done amazing in the show up until the last minute when she took a tumble and broke her back leg and the Vet said she'd be laid up a while.

"You should be more careful", I teased.

She tilted her head.

"You heard me", I smiled.

"Heard you say what?", a voice came from behind me.

I turned around to see my little sister Allison walk in. She was younger than I was, 15 compared to 24, but she acted as if she was 30 and I was the little sister, a product of Mom and Dad dying all those years ago I guessed, but I never questioned it. She stood at only 5'6, had light brown hair that always hung in her face and bright, sea green eyes. She always dressed in a white T-Shirt and torn jeans, but that was mainly because we didn't really have anything else as most of our money went towards keeping our train, a 1992 JFR Freight Class which in all honesty, was a pile of crap. And not pile of crap as in it was a bad engine, because it wasn't, but pile of crap as in it just doesn't make any power, our mechanic keeps telling Antony that we needed a new one very soon.

"I told Ayissa she needs to be more careful", I laughed, "she broke her leg pretty badly tonight."

"How'd you do that?", Allison asked walking up to Ayissa's cage.

"Say I fell off the trapeze when I lost my footing", I laughed. I felt dirty for laughing about it, but I couldn't help it, because it was a little bit funny.

"Think she understands us?", Allison asks.

"Course she does", I told her, "Animals are all smarter than they let on, they're just like people."

Allison smiled at me, "by the way, Antony told me that tonight's show all but payed what it costs to come here."

I smiled, "and seeing as how we have six more shows here."

"All mola!", Allison smiled.

You could tell Allison and I grew up in New York, just by the way we acted. For me though, memories of the time in NY weren't all good, like they were for her. Our Dad has...or to be more correct, had, a nasty case of alcoholism and was almost always drunk. When he was he would fly into these rages just out of no where and start looking for someone or something to beat on. Most of the time, that was Mom, who had brain cancer for the last 5 years of her life, or Allison. I always managed to get in the way just in the nick of time, so at least they never got beat on. It had left me with more than my fair share of raised eyebrows and games of 20 questions when I would show up at school in the morning with black eyes and bruises, I don't know why I never told anyone exactly what was going on, but at least now neither of us had to worry about him.

"Something on your mind big sister?", Allison asked.

"Not really", I answered, "just old memories is all."

She smiled at me, "let's go get something to eat, I'm starved."

I looked at her, "your always starved."

She shrugged. I smiled and we left the tent with the animals, stepping out into the dry, cool Iraqi night. The moon was high in the sky and the stars were glistening around it, casting a bluish, black glow against the night stand.

"Wonder if your purple make up would glow out here?", Allison asked.

"What?", I asked, "where on Earth did that come from?"

She shrugged and giggled, "not sure, just sort of happened."

I shook my head and we kept walking. We were nearing the food tent when I though I heard something...moaning. It was a sort of deep, pained moan, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out where it was coming from, nor could I make out the exact source of the moan. I tapped Allie's shoulder.

"Hey Allie", I said, "you hear that?"

"Hear what?", she asked.

"Like this...pained moan", I told her, "listen."

We paused for a minute, there was a brief gust of wind and then the moan came again.

"Sounds like it's coming from a few yards out that way", Allie said pointing into the desert, "should we go see?"

"I will", I said, "you go get Antony and Baron in case it turns out to be something Feral."

She nodded and entered the tent as I stepped out of the influence of the tent light and into the dimly lit desert. In the immediate distance, I'd say 20-25 yards from where I was, I could make out a long cylindrical shape that was coiled into a mass, like a knotted garden hose. From the way it was piled, I guessed it to be about 36 feet long. I could also make two, large, flat objects near it that looked as if they were attached, but in the dark, I couldn't tell. Not knowing exactly what I was looking at let me wishing I had my shotgun, tough given the size of the creature, I doubted a 12 gauge would do much other than make it angry, especially if it was already hurt.

Keeping my distance, I started to pace around the object, trying to see if I could make out a head, eyes or some other feature that would clue me into exactly what I was looking at. I had circled almost completely around when I spotted a single, glowing blue, black stilted eye looking straight at me. After seeing the eye, making out the lining of it's jaw, it's head crest, horns and antennae, it took me two seconds to figure it all out.

"It's...it's a dragon", I whispered to myself, "an Eastern Dragon."

I'd only ever read about Eastern Dragons in mythology books, but now, here was one, starring me right in the face, possibly hurt. Carefully as I could, so as not to agitate it, or frighten it into an attack, I stepped closer. It made no noise, or any attempt to move, so deciding to try my luck, I took another step. The dragon made a motion with his head, appearing to be asking me to come over. I stayed where I was, unsure if I should go closer or not.

"Are you coming over or what?", a voice asked.

I stared daggers at the dragon, "did...did you just talk?"

"Yes", he said, "I could use some help, my wing is busted up pretty badly."

"How'd you brake your wing?", I asked.

"I clipped a passenger jet", he answered, "took a 40 thousand foot fall and been laying here a few days. Starting to dry out."

"My sister should be back in a minute", I answered him, "I'll have her bring you something to drink, can you stand?"

"If I could I would have gotten up and walked off", the dragon answered.

"No need to be a smart mouth", I answered him.

He smiled at me and lay his head on the ground, "Tyranny always said the same thing."

"Who?", I asked.

"Oh nothing", he answered, "probably the heat cooking my brain."

"Yeah", I answered, "not quite buying his story."

It was about two more minutes before Allie came back with Antony and Barron. Antony had a lantern in one hand and an ax in the other while Barron had his rifle.

"Really?', I asked, "a rifle and an ax?"

"Well forgive me for wanting to ensure the lead Animal Tamer in my show didn't become food for some feral pig", Antony retorted, slowly beginning to look over the dragon, "what in the hell...?

"What is that thing?", Barron asked.

"He's a dragon", I answered, "he told me his wing and legs are broken, so it would be nice if we could help out a little."

"Wait...whoa, whoa whoa", Antony said waving his hands, "it what? It TOLD you it's wing was broken?"

"My name is Ulysses", the dragon answered, "and yeah, I did."

"Mind. Blown", Barron said slinging his rifle over his shoulder.

"Are you gonna help me or not?", I asked, "I doubt I can carry him on my own."

Antony set down the Ax and gave the lantern to Allison. He slid his hands underneath the dragons stomach as Barron and I did the same.

"Three, two, one", Antony said, "lift!"

With what had to be every ounce of the strength the three of us put together had, we managed to get Ulysses off the ground and carry him to the animal tent where I fixed him the best bed I could manage, which wasn't much other than hay bales Allison and I pulled apart. We set him down and the others left while I stayed behind and sat down against what used to be the tiger cage.

"Sorry the bed can't be better", I sighed, "but funds are tight at the moment and we don't have much."

"Better than the sand", Ulysses smiled.

I smiled back, as I looked him over. He seemed to be about 7 feet tall and 42 feet long, quite a ratio if you asked me. His scales were a deep, chrome blue color and his eyes were dark, neon blue with flecks of pink threaded into them, an interesting combination. His horns had a silvery tint to them and his crest hung down in front of his face. One of his wings was folded tightly against his back now, while the other was still hanging limp off his side.

"What did you say you did?", I asked.

"Hit a plane", he answered.

"Ouch", I said inspecting the wing, "looks like it's broken where these bones meet." I traced my finger along three thin bones that stretched from one side of his wing to the other, causing him to flinch and try and jerk away.

"Ow!", he hollered, "easy!"

"Sorry", I answered setting his wing down, "I was just trying to see where it was broken."

"I know", he answered, "I've busted it before, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."

"If you'd don't mind me asking", I said, "where are you from?"

"Japan", Ulysses answered, "Mount Fujimi Kiado to be exact."

"That's a long ways away", I responded, "what are you doing half way across the planet?"

"Flying", he answered, "seeing new places, meeting new people. I'm 25, so I figured it was time to leave the nest, so to speak, plus, I have an old friend that I'm trying to track down."

"Whose your friend?", I asked.

Ulysses shrugged, "He's in the US right now, unless you've been to California, I doubt you'd met him."

"I haven't been to California no", I answered, "but I'd like to. They say the beaches down there are amazing."

"They've never seen Japan then", Ulysses smiled.

"I'd like to see Japan too", I said standing up, "your welcome to stay here as long as you need."

"Thanks...."

"Emelia", I answered.

"Thanks Emelia", Ulysses smiled.

"Don't mention it", I smiled back, "but try not to hit planes anymore, I suggest flying at a lower altitude."

"I'll keep that in mind", Ulysses stated as I walked out of the tent.

I zipped the tent flap closed and then walked back to the car where Barron was serving dinner. I climbed up o the catwalk and entered an old, refurbished train car that had six rows of oak tables on either side with four people each sitting over a bowl of soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Barron and Antony were still behind the counter talking about something when I walked up.

"May I help you?", Barron asked me as if he were a greeter at McDonalds.

"Hmm", I answered tapping my chin, "I wonder?"

Barron laughed and handed me a bowl of soup and a sandwich. If there was one thing that Barron was good at it was cooking. No one really knew what it was that he did to canned soup and loaves of bread that made them so good, but he did, and I was thankful for it. I took the tray he handed me and then the three of us went to sit with Allison.

"Hey Emelia", Antony said as we sat down, "I just got a call from the General of an American Marine base near by, goes by the name of Xavier Holland."

"Really?", I asked taking a bite of my sandwich, "what he say?"

"He said that we had no idea how close we came to getting toasted last night", Antony answered, "I was told that six Marines stopped a truck that was full of gas cans rigged to explode. The driver said he was on his way to our show."

"I told you coming to Iraq was a bad idea", Barron said, "but now, just a cook, what do I know!"

"Barron", I said, "shut up."

"Anyhow", Antony continued, "Holland informed me that he would send some of his men from the base to ensure our security while we do our shows."

I sighed. Allison looked at me.

"Everything okay?", she asked.

"Yeah", I said taking another bite of my sandwich, "people are just stupid is all."

"How so?", Antony asked.

"The terrorists", I answered, "there dumb. They feel the need to go out and murder innocent people just because they don't believe in the same things as they do, rather than sit down and have a logical discussion, they think killing the person solves the problem. It doesn't."

Antony nodded, "I agree. It's people like them, that get people like my Dad killed."

"And the worst part is that they will never change", I said, "they just keep going to the point where they force the armies to shoot back, and then they want to call soldiers butchers and murders. It's just this circle of murder and violence that never ends."

Barron sighed, "your making me feel bad Emelia."

"Why?", I asked.

"You know I used to be British Special Forces", he answered, "right?"

"Yes", I answered, "did you ever kill anyone?"

He nodded, "in self defense, two guys with shot guns jumped me and shot me in the leg."

"But you only shot them because they would have killed you otherwise right?", I asked.

He nodded, "I still wonder weather or not they have families, it left me with PTSD."

"That's my point exactly", I told him, "they attacked you and forced you to shoot back or lose your life. The only reason I own my shotgun was an encounter I had in New York with some robbers that nearly killed me before the police showed up. If that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have it."

"Plus", Antony said, "when your going to this side of the world, it's wise to have a weapon, even if you wouldn't normally carry one."

"Which brings us right back to my point in the first place", I said, "if they would put down their guns for just a day and try doing something productive, say learning how to work with computers, cars, carpentry, or even just talk with someone who doesn't believe exactly what they do, their picture might change. I don't fault those who shoot in self defense, never have, never will, I fault the people who make it necessary in the first place."

"Amen", Barron said.

Antony smiled, "if you go evil, with a mind like that, were all in trouble."

I smirked, "hell of a way to pay someone a compliment, but I'll take it."

Antony smiled at me, but his smile quickly vanished and he put his head in his hand, groaning a little.

"Everything okay?", I asked leaning forward.

"I just got hit by this monster headache", he answered, "I'm gonna call it a night guys."

"Sleep well", Barron said.

Antony got up and started walking out of the car Near the door, I saw his legs start to wobble and a few seconds later he fell over. He tried grabbing a near by table to stop his fall, but just ended up pulling everything off the table with the cloth. Barron and I jumped out of our seats and went to help him up.

"Are you okay?", I asked.

"No", he groaned as we pulled him up, "my legs just gave out from under me."

"We'll take you back to your tent", I said.

Barron and I helped Antony out of the mess car and then took him to his room. We put him in bed and then Barron returned to the kitchen, I stayed behind.

"You haven't been having headaches off and on all day have you?", I asked.

"No it just smacked me", Antony answered, "I feel like a truck rolled over my skull."

I sighed, "might just be bad luck."

"Maybe", he answered through a sigh, "maybe I've just been awake too late lately."

"Probably", I smiled standing and going to the door,, "you have ibuprofen in your nightstand?"

"Yeah", he said opening the drawer.

"Take some", I answered.

"The thought had occurred to me", Antony said swallowing two of the pills, "hope I'm okay for the show tomorrow. If I still hurt then I guess I suck it up."

"No", I said, "if your head hurts enough that it makes you collapse I'll cancel the show myself."

"And then what are you gonna do for food for yourselves? Food for the animals and diesel fuel for the train engine that runs everything? Not to mention the countless other things our shows pay for?", he asked, "you have any idea how much it cost to ship the train, the animals and everything else overseas from the US?" "I'll bite", I said, "how much?"

"Two hundred thousand dollars", Antony said, "that was JUST the train. The animals and tents were another 120 thousand."

I found myself rubbing my temples. Allison had told me that tonight show had PAYED for the trip over here, and if Antony was giving me the real numbers, and not just trying to convince me to put him on even if he could barely stand, then I could think of a few people who would be beating down my door if I canceled one of our shows for Iraq.

"We still have to make the trip back to America after our shows in Europe", Antony said, "there's another 320 grand."

"Point taken", I sighed.

"I'm not trying to be an ass Emelia", Antony said throwing off his cowboy boots and jeans, "I'm just worried about the money that keeps our show on the road, quite literally, I'd rather not get stuck in Iraq."

"I get you", I said, "just try and sleep it off, if it's still there in the morning, Barron and I could probably think of something."

"I hope so", Antony said, "night Emelia."

"Night", I said exiting his car

I walked across the dry sand back to my animal tent and stuck my head inside. Most of my animals were already asleep, except for the Tiger Luke, but that was due to the fact that he was older than everyone else and had a bad case of insomnia. Ulysses was asleep to, his broken wing taking up most of the space in the tent, but I didn't see that as an issue since everyone but Luke was asleep. I smiled at them zipped the flap closed before walking to my own train car. I climbed up and stepped inside.

The car wasn't much too look at other than sheet rock walls with latex colored paint and blue carpet, there was one picture of my entire family before my Dad turned alcoholic. The four of us were standing on a beach. Mom and Dad were behind me, and I was holding Allison, who couldn't have been any older than a month. That picture always brought back the good memories for some reason, never the bad ones. I smiled at the picture and stepped into the bathroom. I showered off, changed into night clothes and then went to my bedroom. When I opened the door, I found that Allison was already in bed, reading a book titled "Beloved Monster".

"Your still on that?", I asked as I walked to my bed.

"Sorry", she said without looking up, "I'm a slow reader."

"Well obviously I figured that bit", I said as I pulled my covers up over me and turned out my light, "he lives by the way."

"Who?", Allie asked, "wait! NO SPOILERS!!!"

I laughed, "I don't know who lives or dies, I've never read the book. Night baby sister."

"Night Emelia", Allie said.

I smiled, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.