April 2026 "The Thunderer" by Uly Ochoa

     The turquoise night sky is torn apart as it flies, while its wings leave behind a shimmering dust that gently rains down upon the pinkish dunes towering over the Zentrati Desert on planet Iria. With a beak and talons that shine a glossy metallic gold, cream colored scales, and a snowy, feathered head donned with fiercely curled ram horns, the creature owns the heavens with angel-like grace. No one knows how long the beast, referred to as the Thunderer, has been alive. Some say it was born along with the desert itself. Loud crashes echo throughout the Zentrati as the Thunderer shatters the sound barrier with its speed. It is barreling towards a remote area at the center of the desert, few have seen, but many have heard of: a large crater that has shards of rose colored glass blooming haphazardly all around. The glass shimmers and glows in various patterns, almost as if the glass is breathing. This area has come to be known as Thunder Nest, even though the beast rarely comes to this area. It is said not to take any glass from Thunder Nest, as beautiful as it may be. Anything made from this glass might rearrange itself in a number of random ways or transport itself hundreds of miles away.

     A congregation of robed figures awaits the Thunderer’s arrival. The figures vary in height and stature, while their black robes are covered in runes of a language long forgotten. With the speed and power of a thunderbolt, the beast lands in Thunder Nest. The glass structures grow upon impact, and the crater deepens slightly. Cheers erupt from the robed ones as a raucous festival begins. Meats are cooked on bronze grills, and various wines are passed from being to being as they all circle around the Thunderer, who gently curls up and sleeps. The festival lasts for days as the adults play with their children when Iria’s twin suns rise, and resume dancing when they fall. After roughly 10 days, comparable to a month on Earth, the robed figures clean up their area around the Thunderer, who has slept all this time. Once all evidence of their carnival has been erased, the robed ones join hands as the beast finally begins to stir. The imposing creature looks around at its worshipers with eyes filled with love. It sheds warm tears and bows as the robed ones return the gesture. Now the true purpose of the robed ones’ festival can begin: The Great Rebirth. The Thunderer begins to deeply inhale as the glass structures of Thunder Nest begin to glow, and the robed ones dematerialize. Their robes fall limply, runes glowing as their forms enter the beast’s mighty lungs. Finally, the beast exhales, causing Thunder Nest to erupt in a storm of rainbow colored lightning. After the storm dies down, the robed ones return to having physical bodies. All are changed in some way, whether that be in age, gender, or species. With one final bow, the robed ones and the Thunderer part ways.