When Burble was just a little cloud baby, he was very aware of his situation. As a cloud, it was simply way too easy to die! When he was born, his father jumped for joy and was lifted by a gust of wind, never to be seen again. When he was a child, a passing raven flew through his uncles head while he was taking Burble to the cloud cream store. When he was an adolescent, his mother had gotten too old and heavy and dissolved into two separate cloud people, each with their own personalities far different from his mother. It was a condition called cloud splitting, and as far as Burble knew, it was one of the worst ways to die.
Now, as an adult, Burble did the best he could to survive. When it was windy out, hed stay in his ho. When eagles and other birds were sighted, hed hide under his blanket. When he felt like he was getting too heavy, hed starve himself for days. Despite all his precautions, he still lived in perpetual fear. What if the ground experienced cloud splitting? If cloud people and cloud buildings could split, why couldnt the ground? Why couldnt a huge bird pass through and destroy everything? Why couldnt the cloud get too heavy and fall out of the sky? His neighbors called him crazy because of the way he behaved, but who was the crazy one now!?
Burble stared up at the creature that had just destroyed the royal palace with what seed to be a sneeze. He couldnt help but feel a sense of unfairness in his chest. Of all the generations of cloud people, why did the apocalypse have to co while he was still alive? Couldnt it have ca a hundred years later or a hundred years earlier? That way, he wouldnt be here, fearing for his very life. Right when Burble thought the apocalyptic creature was going to sneeze again, finishing off the world for good, sothing unexpected happened. The majestic creature turned into a blue cloud. The strange bird on top of its head also turned into a cloud, separate from the first one.
Burble exhaled. He finally knew what was happening. This was simply a dream. He wasnt sure how to exit dreams, but he knew if he went to bed, everything would be alright in the morning when he woke up. He waddled back ho, climbed into bed, closed his little cloud eyes, and did his best to ignore the commotion in the streets. However, he couldnt ignore things when his door was kicked open, and he was dragged outside by his neighbors.
On top of the blue apocalyptic cloud, there was a tiny creature. It wasnt quite a bird, but it definitely wasnt a cloud either. Whatever it was, it was saying sothing, but Burble had no idea what it was trying to convey. He looked around, but it didnt seem like anyone else knew what it was trying to convey either. Only the police cloud people that were dragging people into the main square seed to know what they were doing. When a police cloud person walked by, Burble isolated a part of his body and shot it into the police cloud. In response, the police cloud shot part of itself back.
Upon taking in the police clouds separated portion, Burble understood what was happening. The royal family was corrupt, and as such, the god of creation annihilated them and was personally stepping in to guide the nation. Everyone had to be present to witness such a mont, and the police clouds took it upon themselves to help the new leader.
***
Are they attacking ? Vur asked, his voice echoing out from his body. He wasnt sure how he was talking, but he it didnt really matter as long as he could.
Stella flew back and forth in front of Vur, batting away the portions of clouds that the cloud people were shooting at Vur. I think its because you destroyed their palace. Its no surprise theyre angry at you.
No, thats not it, the Recordkeeper said. Unlike Vurs blue cloud, her cloud body was black with tints of red and purple on its outline. This is how cloud people talk. They segregate their thoughts into one portion of their body, and then they shoot it out. The receiving cloud will understand the thoughts of the original cloud.
Stella didnt let the Recordkeepers words stop her from swatting away the incoming clouds. Are you sure it isnt harmful? What if a cloud person rges with Vur and takes him over? I didnt think this place would be this dangerous. How about you turn back into a dragon, Vur?
Vurs cloud body pressed against the ground cloud a few tis. To his surprise, it was hard. It didnt feel nearly as soft as he thought it would from the images he had seen in the Recordkeepers palace. Even the bed at Tafels place was softer than this. There was no way hed get decent rest over here. With that thought in mind, Vurs cloud body hardened and expanded, turning once more into a dragon. The lower half of his body extended and grew through the ground cloud, and when he flapped his wings to get away, the cloud nearly split in half. This place isnt fun, he said and grabbed the Recordkeeper. I dont think Tafel will like it.
***
Burble clung onto the ground cloud for dear life. The apocalyptic creature was upset by the noise and decided to destroy the world. Why couldnt his fellow citizens just keep silent? Why did all of them insist on talking at the blue cloud? Now, the world was ending, and there was nothing anyone could do. The apocalyptic creature tore its way out of the ground cloud, leaving a gaping fissure behind. Then, instead of finishing off the survivors, the creature simply left. Burble swallowed and slowly rose up from the ground cloud. If it werent for all his practice drills preparing himself for a strong gust of wind, he was sure he wouldve been swept away. He looked around and saw very few cloud people left. How long would it take to repopulate the place? Well, at least, one of his worries was solved. The ground cloud had less of a chance of falling out of the sky now that so many people had disappeared. Burble sighed. It was tough being a cloud.
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