Death

I've been wandering for hours, days, hell I've lost count and the thick forest roof isn't helpful at the slightest. But I had to keep moving, for Satrena's sake.

It was unbarebly quiet, only the crunching leaves under my claws as some audible existence, almost as if time and reality itself was slowed. The shadows around me were starting to dissapate and melt into the light, was it morning already? I remained silent, not even the forest spirit himself could answer my questions. How would I even know He was real, for all I know he could be the myth or a storie... Just like the other creatures.

Hours had passed, I still couldn't tell if I was going deeper or farther out, but I had to keep going. If only I had more time, then maybe I could have told her. "Dammit..." I said, sneerinng at my own thoughts. I turned my focus back to the sound of the bone dry leaves, crunching as I stepped on them, the only real source of sound.

Just as I was drifting into a mindless state, I heard birds chirping in the distance beyond the bushes ahead of me. I felt a sense of relief, "Finally, the first good sign today." I dashed through the bush and was met with a sudden cool breeze. My vision ajusted to the sudden change of lighting and I saw the beautiful mountians ahead. I was surprisingly out of breathe, "Faith's Valley... Beautiful." I said feeling a sense of nestalgia. I've never been that close to the kindom itself.

I stared at the world in front of me, Satrena always told me about how beautiful the world could be but I was to damn scared to even look passed the trees. A new pain swoll in my chest, I wished I had been less of a coward. I looked down at the soil beneath my claws, feeling the earth.

Suddenly, a screetching black bird landed in front of me. It only watched me as I stared at it. The bird screetched one more time before taking off and flying into the distance beyond the mountains. "Why are you following me?" I asked into the wind, not expecting much of an answer. I breathed a sigh on relief before setting forth to the same valley that bird was headed. I stepped near the edge of the cliff and gazed over the far edge. The hill was steep, but not impossible to climb down.

I was temped to just find some alternative route down and then I decided to step back, only for the edge to crack. I didn't react in time and so I fell, tumbling down the hill. I clawed at my spinning surroundings, but to no avail. I panicked, feeling as my body started to ache. The first bit of pain I had felt since my transformation. As I struggled to even slow myself, I crashed and everything around me fell into darkness.

"Nathan... Wake up."

I jumped as my head cleared. Who did that voice belong to? The voice was hoarse and broken, like some sort of damaged record-player, but also not... Almost like it was dead... I looked around me seeing that a large tree was what knocked me out. As I scanned my surroundings, which were mostly brokem branches and scattered leaves, probably from me, I looked up and saw the distance I had fell... "I should be dead." I told myself, not really understanding the reality of my situation. And after some time, I pushed myself off the ground, feeling a sudden shock of pain shoot through my entire body and I collapsed once more.

I steadied myself, before attempting to stand up again. Then, as I pulled my strength together and shakingly pushed myself off the ground, whispers vaguely filled the eerie silence. I sighed in relief as that strange pain vanished. Pain?... What a weird thing, I thought to myself. As I stepped away from the broken tree, I stared at the forest before me. Then I noticed a dirt path, almost invisible due to the amount of leaves and plants covering the forest floor. I took a deep breath before finally deciding that, it would be my only real option.

I had been following the path for a bit, attempting to ignore the sudden silence. Instead, I listened to the crunching leaves and breaking of twigs beneath my claws. I could only wonder how long I'd been looking for for that village. As I wandered upon the path, I asked myself whether I really saw Satrena or if she could have been a halucination. Those thought haunted my mind, "Dammit, Satrena. I really need you." I muttered to myself, feeling my courage fade.

If only I had listened...

The forest seemed to spread into a clearing and as I aproached that clearing, I saw the village... or what had remained. I was frozen in my tracks, a slight breeze whisling through the forest. But all I could hear were chains, clashing against one another. I could only stare as a young girl spoke to that... thing. The hunchbacked creature only watched her, then I noticed It's face. There was nothing, only a dark void and It's back was draped in a dark robe. I felt my bones shiver, feeling It was watching me.

Then the girl turned and looked at me. I couldn't move, fear had woven itself around me. My mind was racing, but my body was frozen in place. I could bearly keep my breathing steady as she aproached me.

"Don't be scared, he won't hurt you." The girl spoke, her voice was soft and... familiar.

Did I know her? I questioned myself, before turning my attention to the dark figure behind the girl. The figure was merely staring at me. Even if I couldn't see it's eyes, I just knew that it was staring at me.

Suddenly, my thoughts were broken by a warm embrace around my neck. I looked down and saw the girl holding me, like she knew me... Why can't I remember...

"It's been so long," she said, pushing her face into my shoulder, "I thought I'd never find you again." I was at a loss for words but I felt calm by her embrace. Then she stepped back, rubbing her eyes. She looked up at me, a weak smile plastered on her small face and she seemed pleased.

Then, the figure behind he came closer and dread started to fill my chest once more. It walked slowly, the sound to chains clashing into one another as he aproached. Then, it came to a stop, it's shadow looming over me, but I stood my ground and looked up into its faceless void.

"Do not fear Nathan. I am Shibito," he spoke, his voice cracked and raspy, lapping over itself like it were multiple. "Maybe you might know me as Death."

Dear Availeh... Where are you...