Bright Stephen @applecoral

Dunno but this looks lit 🕯️❤️

Deep into the night, it seemed even sleep had rejected me, I lay there puzzled and pondering about what could had possibly been the harbinger of these restless nights. I slept in the woods instead of the Paradise Land where all birds of paradise were supposed to be until they regained their human form for 30 fortnights every year.

Tociq had shut down the lights of the Class A gates where stronger Birds only reached, filled with darkness and evil; Tociq vowed to end the other Paradise Birds and restart a world of his own. A gust of wind rocked our nest slightly shaking me out of my thoughts, "There's still time to stop him" I said watching my lover, Bloom sleep.

I may not have time left but I rather not waste this night, it's better I catch some sleep as Bloom will soon wakeup and we will continue our journey in this never ending darkness engulfing the forest searching for where there could be Life.

Had the Halloween turned everyone to monsters? Men were already hunting, maiming and killing birds of paradise, we were at risk staying here. But, there's nothing I can do, Bloom was still weak from the eclipse. With no sign of the Blue moon, I can't just leave her behind until she's fully healed.

I was already enjoying my sleep when Bloom woke me up shivering, her feathers falling off. She could only mutter "they're here." It looks like the harm was already done before I was awake.

Bloom's feathers kept glowing revealing our hidden nest to our hunters. Surely, these men had also been affected with the darkness. For a minute, I couldn't decide what to do, our foes were fast approaching, Bloom couldn't fly – I can't carry her either. Her glow became brighter every single second, I still had a bit of glow but not as bright as this. "The portals were just getting opened, why is she glowing this much? Besides I can't excogitate our way out of this wood."

Mustering all the energy I could, I wrapped my wings around Bloom reassuring her I will be back but staying here will be cataclysmic. I stepped on the edge of the nest, took a deep breath and jumped into the air undeterred by the flying bullets launched from my adversaries. I quickly opened my bill and delivered magical bullets hitting down everything on its way.

It was time to return to the nest, at least I'll be safe for now. As I glided slowly, smiling over the feat I just accomplished 🍃 my flight was brought to an end by a sniper who possessed an enchanted gun.

I watched helplessly as Bloom cried and tried flying but couldn't, my wings began to vanish slowly. It was certain I will die there, that night. The sniper jumped down from the tree he hid and headed for Bloom.

"Imagine what power we could have if we harnessed the power of this magical bird" he said as he caged Bloom. Another of his kind, joined him and suggested they picked me up too, but he concluded I was already useless as I would die there. I sobbed almost silently as Bloom was locked up inside their van and they zoomed off.

Laying there, I could only think of my fate. I tried but maybe, it wasn't enough. A portal opened in the sky; was it another dark bird sent to end me permanently? What could be more painful than losing a loved one anyway? But no, it was Orth and Blee — I was revitalized at the sight of these two friends as they flew down to me. Orth held a healing flask in his hand while Blee only served as an accomplice.

One thing was sure, I will find Bloom if I survive it — this was just the beginning of a fearsome adventure 🕊️