Memories

Heels click against the wet asphalt as rain continues to pour. I make a right turn red cloak billowing in the wind. It is mid-December and yet it rains. Huge paws thump the ground sending waves of energy towards me. He's nearby I can feel it and even if I couldn't the air is heavy with the scent of his blood. He won't last much longer Shadow Poison has no cure. I find him struggling to remain upright as he takes another step.

His hazel-eyes lock with mine there is only a void there as if his already given up as if the astral plane is all he sees. I stop inches from him and tilt my head sideways.

"you could change back you know," I say but he doesn't answer, "if you changed back you'd die as a man and not a beast." He lets out a growl to weak to scare a rabbit. "there is another choice," I extend my left hand towards him just like mother taught me, "life or death?" finally he looks at me understanding in his hazel eyes more human than beast. He launches at me but I remain where I stand unflinching he cannot hurt me. The moment his nuzzle touches my shoulder I wrap my arm around him, speaking in a language long forgotten, with those words I bind his immortal soul to mine and so I have created my first Shadow Soul. From a man I know nothing about, but whose energy woke me from slumber and brought me into this strange world.

A world were carriages no longer uses horses and are made of iron. A world were there is constant noise unlike that of battle. A world where immortals are nothing more than Myth. I reach into the energy that connects our world until I find the thread that connects me to the gate. I shadow walk towards it and find my energy is practically drained. With what little strength I hold I winnow the rest of the way until I've crossed through the gate. I collapse at the Gatekeeper's feet glossy black boots look up at me.

"you took to long," Crow says as he locks the gate, "you are lucky no one came looking this way."

"Why would anyone venture here?" I ask pushing myself to my feet, "your gate is but forgotten, I only found it by chance."

"Foolish girl you did not find it," Crow wraps a callous hand around my face silver eyes boring into my soul, "So that is why you crossed," he clicks his tongue, "That world is forbidden."

"Since when are Crows sticklers to rules?"

"Since we must guide the dead," he releases my face and steps toward his gate. Taking the form of his namesake he positions himself at the top of the gate until he too is made of iron.