I would relax by my fires for a few ahn considering Galdai's words, just as I promised I would. The silence was broken however by the sound of running feet and my name being called, I knew who was coming, just as I knew my own name, it was Vee and Ess running as if the wind itself was chasing them, in their hands they held a jar. Now I had to wonder what these two little scamps were up to.
So I waited.
"You sure are hard to find." They would state in unison, breathless from all the running they seemed to have been doing, "We have something for you." Now any time boys in particular offer a gift in a jar, you already know that it is not going to be a pretty sight, and if one is faint of heart and squeamish then do not reach out to take this said gift. Because most assuredly it will be some sort of creepy, crawly type critter. Fortunately, I am not faint of heart or afraid of furry, creepy, crawly type things.. So I took the offered jar and looked at it, well, now, what in the name of skies would I do with these. And there sure were a lot of different types crawling about in that jar, tiny legs,tentacles and other oddities worming about within the confines of it. I had to smile, only boys would think to give such a gift. "Why thank you, just what I was looking for earlier today." I offered to them. They smiled ear to ear and hurried off, they had a jar to give to Cana. Now I would have liked to have seen that, but they were already leaving a trail of dust that not even a herlit could keep up with. I had to chuckle softly as I took the jar towards the wagon and sat it inside. I did not dare let them go because I already knew that the two would come back to ensure I still had it. Boys will be boys of that there is no doubt.
After that I went to my furs and lay down, why I am not sure, sleep always seemed to elude me as of late. So I lay there for some time with my eyes closed just waiting for the ahns to pass, surprisingly I fell asleep or at least I think I did, I am not sure, but if it wasn't sleep it was enough to keep me from wanting to go to sleep any time soon. I found myself standing within a circle of fire, it was a part of me and it was burning the flesh away from my bones, the searing pain was enough to elicit screams from the very depths of me, and given I tend to be able to control those impulses no matter how painful something is,this was too much for me, I have never felt this kind of pain before, the flesh melted from me, I could see it and yet I could not stop it, I should be dead, but yet I was not, what manner of madness was this. I could see myself shuddering and writhing as muscle dripped as if liquid onto the ground, leaving only a skeleton with eyes in the sockets, it was repulsive and the scent of burning flesh was so overpowering I wanted to purge it from my senses.
I woke up suddenly hearing my own screams fill the wagons, my body was drenched in a cold sweat and my breath came in shallow ragged gasps. Panic gripped me and I threw the furs off of me and looked at my legs, my hands and touched my face, I was still here, intact. I felt the rush of wind blow within the wagon and wrap about me leaving a stinging sensation about my skin, it felt as if shards of glass were passing thru me as my senses and sensations had been heightened to a sensitivity I had not quite felt before. I tensed as it became unbearable, what manner of torture was this and why, this time I watched beads of blood dot my skin, flowing into little rivulets that then began to form a river of blood, it began to darken and turn black, it lacked life, blood only turned from crimson to black when there was no heart, no spirit and no life, the level of blood rose and rose within the wagon I knew I did not have this much in me, slowly it enveloped me, drawing me down into the dark murky depths, suffocating me, it was heavy, I could not breathe, I felt myself trying to swim thru it, but it was to thick, I tried to break thru the sides of my wagon to get out, I struggled to get out but it would not allow me, I could not give up and I drew upon on my reserves, power and knowledge and I fought against the black liquid tidal wave.
Suddenly I found I was released from its grip as I forced one word from deep within me, "NO! " Once more I lay within my wagon it was as it always is everything in place. I sat up and looked around I could feel my chest heave from trying to draw in a much needed breath, I felt the sweat glide along my back and neck as I sat there for a moment. A dream within a dream, or was it real, I was not really sure but I do know that the vision hurt like hell. I did not particularly care for it and I wrapped a fur about me and stepped out onto the platform of my wagon and looked across the plains.
I saw figures in the distance, I knew who they were, on the wings of the night I heard their words, " That is what you will become if you truly want that path." I know what they were showing me, I know the whys, spirits and fate never played fair, nor did the sky when a message was to be delivered, That one was much to up close and personal.
But it had the effect they desired. I walked to the one part of the stream that was secluded and isolated, dropping the fur I would walk into the water, it felt ice cold against my flesh, but I needed it, I had to wash it all away, I had to absorb what the plains was telling me.
Why do they always have to reach up and smack the hell out of you in a very painful way. It was not amusing.
So I waited.
"You sure are hard to find." They would state in unison, breathless from all the running they seemed to have been doing, "We have something for you." Now any time boys in particular offer a gift in a jar, you already know that it is not going to be a pretty sight, and if one is faint of heart and squeamish then do not reach out to take this said gift. Because most assuredly it will be some sort of creepy, crawly type critter. Fortunately, I am not faint of heart or afraid of furry, creepy, crawly type things.. So I took the offered jar and looked at it, well, now, what in the name of skies would I do with these. And there sure were a lot of different types crawling about in that jar, tiny legs,tentacles and other oddities worming about within the confines of it. I had to smile, only boys would think to give such a gift. "Why thank you, just what I was looking for earlier today." I offered to them. They smiled ear to ear and hurried off, they had a jar to give to Cana. Now I would have liked to have seen that, but they were already leaving a trail of dust that not even a herlit could keep up with. I had to chuckle softly as I took the jar towards the wagon and sat it inside. I did not dare let them go because I already knew that the two would come back to ensure I still had it. Boys will be boys of that there is no doubt.
After that I went to my furs and lay down, why I am not sure, sleep always seemed to elude me as of late. So I lay there for some time with my eyes closed just waiting for the ahns to pass, surprisingly I fell asleep or at least I think I did, I am not sure, but if it wasn't sleep it was enough to keep me from wanting to go to sleep any time soon. I found myself standing within a circle of fire, it was a part of me and it was burning the flesh away from my bones, the searing pain was enough to elicit screams from the very depths of me, and given I tend to be able to control those impulses no matter how painful something is,this was too much for me, I have never felt this kind of pain before, the flesh melted from me, I could see it and yet I could not stop it, I should be dead, but yet I was not, what manner of madness was this. I could see myself shuddering and writhing as muscle dripped as if liquid onto the ground, leaving only a skeleton with eyes in the sockets, it was repulsive and the scent of burning flesh was so overpowering I wanted to purge it from my senses.
I woke up suddenly hearing my own screams fill the wagons, my body was drenched in a cold sweat and my breath came in shallow ragged gasps. Panic gripped me and I threw the furs off of me and looked at my legs, my hands and touched my face, I was still here, intact. I felt the rush of wind blow within the wagon and wrap about me leaving a stinging sensation about my skin, it felt as if shards of glass were passing thru me as my senses and sensations had been heightened to a sensitivity I had not quite felt before. I tensed as it became unbearable, what manner of torture was this and why, this time I watched beads of blood dot my skin, flowing into little rivulets that then began to form a river of blood, it began to darken and turn black, it lacked life, blood only turned from crimson to black when there was no heart, no spirit and no life, the level of blood rose and rose within the wagon I knew I did not have this much in me, slowly it enveloped me, drawing me down into the dark murky depths, suffocating me, it was heavy, I could not breathe, I felt myself trying to swim thru it, but it was to thick, I tried to break thru the sides of my wagon to get out, I struggled to get out but it would not allow me, I could not give up and I drew upon on my reserves, power and knowledge and I fought against the black liquid tidal wave.
Suddenly I found I was released from its grip as I forced one word from deep within me, "NO! " Once more I lay within my wagon it was as it always is everything in place. I sat up and looked around I could feel my chest heave from trying to draw in a much needed breath, I felt the sweat glide along my back and neck as I sat there for a moment. A dream within a dream, or was it real, I was not really sure but I do know that the vision hurt like hell. I did not particularly care for it and I wrapped a fur about me and stepped out onto the platform of my wagon and looked across the plains.
I saw figures in the distance, I knew who they were, on the wings of the night I heard their words, " That is what you will become if you truly want that path." I know what they were showing me, I know the whys, spirits and fate never played fair, nor did the sky when a message was to be delivered, That one was much to up close and personal.
But it had the effect they desired. I walked to the one part of the stream that was secluded and isolated, dropping the fur I would walk into the water, it felt ice cold against my flesh, but I needed it, I had to wash it all away, I had to absorb what the plains was telling me.
Why do they always have to reach up and smack the hell out of you in a very painful way. It was not amusing.
