A New World

Nathan... wake up...

I opened my eye to the morning light, glisning into the cave.

What would I do now? Questions filled my mind as dread sunk in my chest. I wanted it to end, I wanted to wake up... I had to run away, to a place where nobody would find me.

I stared out the cave, wondering who that little girl was and how she knew me or why she wasn't scared. As I stared into nothingness, a black bird flew into the cave and stationed itself in front of me. I looked at the winged animal and it only stared back, almost looking curious. I kept looking at the bird, but then a strange longing feeling started to fill my, overwhelming my dread.

We stared at one another for quite a while before the black winged bird flew out of the cave, leaving a few feathers behind.

Then, I pushed myself up, stretching my stiff limbs. I looked at the bright opening before me. Feeling the soft breeze flowing into the cave, almost calming.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the morning light and out into the world I dread.

The birds chirped in symphanies, it's been quite a while since I heard such lovely sounds. I carefully made my way down the steep hill. As I stepped down, a skulk of foxes scuttled into the bushes, leaving nothing but skattered twigs. Cute little creatures.

I wandered through the forest, a cool mist, blanketing the forest floor. The sticks snapped under my feet and leaves crunched like dried bones. Wandering deeper into the forest, the morning light soon started to dissipate between the trees and the shadows soon engulfed around me.

I kept walking, ignoring the feeling of being watched that crept in my mind. A sudden rusling in the bush beside me, made me stop dead in my tracks. I turned to the now lifeless bush. Could it be a rabit or a lone fox? If anything, it could be a wolf. I stared for a few moments before turning away and continued walking deeper into the forest.

I continued walking and the rusling seemed to follow me as the path led deeper into darkness, but I ignored it. Then suddenly, the rusling stopped, not followig me or even moving at all.

I turned around, letting my curiosity get the better of me. And there, I saw a small, glowing animal, almost like a fox but smaller and a pearl white. It looked quite ghostly, but it only stood there, staring at me.

I felt a strange connection with the fox-like creature, almost comforting. I wanted to aproach it or at least talk to it. What a strange thought... The little creature stared up at me, almost calling at me or something like that. I stared back, hesitant to scare it away.

Then, it stepped closer to me, lowering its head, as if to show curiosity. I stood still, watching how it took careful steps. I noticed a sky blue line, almost like a crack, across it's small chest. I sat down and lowered myself to the ground, feeling the cold, moist soil beneath me. The creature stopped a mere foot away from me.

"Nathan?..." spoke a soft, female voice. A familiar voice... My breathe hitched as I recognised the voice, feeling my chest burn. I quickly stood up and stepped closer to her.

"Satrena?..."

She said nothing.

Suddenly, I remembered what I was and I quickly pulled back, leaving a few feet between us. I didn't want her to run away, even if this wasn't her. I felt disgusted with myself, with me body and my own soul. How could I even look at her? Why wasn't she terrified of me?

I'm a monster...

A moster...

"Nathan!" her sudden loud tone brought me back to the reality. I looked at her, shivering where I stood. She seemed so calm, so careless... Why wasn't she disgusted?... I could only at her, why didn't she hate me?

"Nathan love, please don't run away. It wasn't your fault." I tried to speak but all words failed me. "I'm so sorry..." I sulked to the ground, feeling broken. Why couldn't I just die... I stared down at the ruined soil before me, avoiding her gazing.

A bright light shined, blinding my sight for a few seconds, then the light subsided.

Then, I felt a hand against my face and quickly looked up. "Satrena?" I whispered, feeling my sight was betraying me. There she stood in front of me, my wife or her spirit. She reached fot me, but I was hesitant at first then I came forth to her, feeling her touch against my skull covered face. I was much taller then before and had my head hanging into her hand.

I was lost in her warmth, wanting nothing more but to embrace her. She pulled me into her arms, then she whispered, "I don't have a lot of time, love. You need to listen to me," I could hear sorrow in her voice and my blood ran cold as she continued, " I need you to run far away from here, from the village."

"W-What?..." I stuttered, stepping back as she let me go and I looked at her.

"Just head north, to Faith's Kindom." she said with watery eyes, holding her hand to her chest. "I promise, it will all make sense when you get there." and before I could even react she dissapeared in a flash of blinding light. "Dammit!" I shouted into the forest, grief overwhelming my mind and I stared at the ground as everything around me seem to silence.

I breathed as I pulled my mind together, hearing the cold wind whistle through the trees. Then I looked up at the seemingly endless trees, feeling an emptyness once more. I sighed, preparing my mind for the path.

Faith's Kingdom, the abandonded kingdom...

I hope you're right Satrena...