#between the moon and the owl it was a pleasant time on the patio | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

skleatherbound · 16 years ago

Text

Friends in the Dark ~story~ Storm Kitten

Friends in the Dark Storm kitten by kimbra_ailis All roads and paths lead from the realm and all lead to its center…. The Castle. Its exact origins are known even by the most ancient race only a few old wives tales remain. It is said that the spirits know, they know the truth but they will not speak of it to any. Those who managed to find the truth were drove mad or never lived long enough to tell a soul. Many were never seen again. It has been many generations since last someone lived in the castle yet it keeps in good condition as if it had care takes living there. Th castle itself is four stories tall and the wall was much taller than that even. The castle was a stunning work of art. The many halls and rooms now lay quiet and unused. The halls of the castle are labyrinths lost in time. Not many would dare venture to the castle let alone enter it. Outside the wall the forest is teeming with life. The realm seems to have no end yet traveling to its center takes only a few days of hard walking. The paths for the most part are well worn yet hardly ever during traveling can someone is found upon them. The landscape is dotted with many valleys with wild herds of horse. Streams are abundant by the roadside and if followed will lead to crystal clear lakes. The forest itself is very old and houses a great variety of trees and life. The forest whispers of the old days long gone. The days with the Ancient Gods that are barely a memory in the mind of mortal humans, and remembered only by a few races. But the trees, they remember they remember everything. They remember when the mountains were formed and when the earth forest took its form. The mountains are tall and just as beautiful and often as dangerous as the rest of the realm. The spirits guard the realm and life exists in every rock, stone, tree, and stream. The Ancient Gods are gone but they left this realm to the old spirits and the new Gods. Even in this time the New Gods are becoming old and starting to fade from memory of the outside world. In his realm villages can be found but they are far and wide between. Through them the last of the memories live and still thrive on as they have done for centuries. The Ancient Gods are only spoke by the elder of these villages. In darkened corners with reverent whispers for even they fear waking those cruel gods of yester year. The villages thrive and do well. These are not the villages of the outside world were the unknown is feared. Many ancient races live among the humans without fear of one another. Even newer races have been bred in these small towns where cross breeding has taken place to create new races that are now common in this place. These villages do not pursuit those who are not human for they have never known this hatred or fear of one another. Outsiders are always welcome to pass through or even stay and become part of the community but all are expected to follow the rules set down by the elder’s centuries ago. The night sky is clear and the half moon shines brightly. From time to time a wisp of a cloud passes over the moon but it never last long. Stars tinkle here and there some nearly invisible due to the brightness of the moon. A gentle cool breeze blows from the north through the warm night air. The night air is warm but the breeze gives it life and makes it comfortable. Passing under certain trees a cool chill creeps up the spin but it passes. The breeze carries the scent of herbs and flowers. The flowers and plants were some of the most beautiful to be seen and they gave off such sweet smells. The walkway were laid flat and not a stone out of place. It was easy to walk on and without worry of tripping. The stones themselves were beautifully colored by nature. There were many beautifully sculpted fountains, statues, and benches. The running water of the fountains could help relax the mind and put a person to peace. The sculptors were of the Gods and Goddess, the heroes and the monsters. Some were breath taking beautiful and some were life like frightening. There was no doubt that some contained the essence of the Gods and were the homes of the spirits. Whispers of the spirits can be heard from time to time. Some feel so old they must have been at the castle long before anyone for many generations had come. Some might have even been here before the castle was built and allowed it to stay because of its beauty and the care invested in it. By the look of the place some even went so far as to help keep the castle in tact. The weather was pleasant and the sky clear. Th Gods most have favored this place. Let it rain enough to nourish all life but not so much that is was a miserable rain. Even when the rain fell it was warm and refreshing though it never lasted for long. Once in a great while a storm would roll in. the lightening would light up the whole sky with bright white and purple light. The thunder sounded as if the Gods themselves were fighting in the heavens. When snow fell I was rare but such a beautiful sight. It would fall gently from the heavens above in giant flakes that landed softly on everything, covering it in a beautiful white blanket. The snow lasted long but it gave the garden a peaceful quiet effect that could calm even the guiltiest mind. The night is filled with the usual night sound of leaves gently moving around, night birds, insects, and nocturnal beast. In the distance bullfrogs croak in harmony with one another, and the wolves howl their eerie song. Crickets chirp near by and the fireflies’ light up all around like blinking lights. From time to time an owl can be heard over head calling to those who pass beneath it. The leaves rustle gently as the breeze touches them and moves on into the night. Together they have a musical quality that is almost magickal. Each of the nights was special and had to be savored for fear it was a dream and to be awaken and all around you only hell remained. The pathways for the most part are slab stone but from time to time sandstone slabs can also be found, nearly worn away. Many of the paths lead into groves of trees and round through the trees. Some of the groves had special altars built just off the path onto what almost looked like a patio. Some even had what looked like small temples made from vines that seeming wrapped themselves together forming walls, ceiling, and alters within. Sand made up the flour for most of these but some had stone slabs or wooden planks. Each of the temples and altars where different and there were no two that looked alike. The Garden was enormous and seemed to stretch on for miles. Rarely would a wall stand in the way. When there was a wall, its bricks were nearly completely covered in ivy or moss. When any path ran to the wall there were giant gates, some made of iron and others it was hard to tell because they were completely buried beneath vines of grapes and wild berries. Most of the gates lead into the forest or Groves, which lead into the forest. Storm had come to this realm on a whim. After travelling its borders for many days she had ventured in. The villagers she had come across took her in for a while and offered o let he become part of their community but as always she had declined as politely as possible. She still feared staying in-groups of people especially when over half were of the human population. In her time at these various villages she heard of the castle and its legends. She could not read minds but given enough description she could divine what was left unsaid and that was the case with the elders. Her years had not made her foolish and she approached the castle and its gardens with care. Even after days of asking for admittance, upon walking in she was left barely unconscious and close to death for many days. The barrier set up by the spirits forced each person to face their worse fear and darkest past. The legends she had heard often spoke of such a test… very few lived through it and even fewer had gained access. More often than not they were left for dead on its front door step. Much of Storms life had been living hell so there was much for the gatekeepers to choose from. The test didn’t seem that bad to her but she had daily reminders of everything she had done. They never left and plagued her constantly. Rarely was their relief. She guessed though she would not accept forgiveness even if it came. She could not forgive herself let alone let any one else forgive her. There was once a paladin that had offered to giver her forgiveness and she had ran from him. Of course he was now dead but his face and words still played in her head as a constant reminder. She had been unable to save him and still blamed herself though there was nothing she could have done… she had been miles away when it had happened. Now after the test she had laid unmoving for hours before she could force her self to even begin to get up. The test had taken almost all of her strength and left her body sore and exhausted. In the test the events are relived and all the pain and sensation of it happening again runs through the body. She had managed to find a small stream were she slept for several hours. That night she had hunted a deer that had wondered into the garden. She had been unable to stop the hunger and really at that point had no desire to do. S usual she healed quickly from the damage though there was no physical damage done. Of course Kendra had watched out for her. Kendra had passed through the barrier untouched. Storm guessed it was because of the difference in races. Kendra may be a special cat but she was still of the animal world. In the weeks that followed Storm had explored he gardens, content to stay outside of the castle. Four walls and a ceiling brought to many bad memories for her to stay in such a place too long. On this night as many others before it was warm with a pleasant breeze that blew over her. The wind carried the sweet smell of flowers and herbs. The nightlife music helped calm her nerves somewhat. She kept her cloak over her shoulders and as always her hood over her head. Cold rarely effected her but out of habit she wore the cloak. Her traveling bag hung loosely on her shoulder. It was well worn and had seen to many days of hard travel yet it stayed together and well intact. Kendra also walks with her though she is off and on the path. The leopards spotted coat shines in the moonlight. She moves quietly in and out of the bushes exploring the night. Storm had traveled most of the garden and knew almost all of the paths yet she still enjoyed travelling. There was a quality about them that calmed her mind. The flowers and plants were some of the most beautiful she had seen and they gave off such sweet smells. The walkway was laid flat and not a stone out of place. It was easy to walk on and without worry of tripping. The stones themselves were beautifully colored by nature. In her time of wondering she had found many beautifully sculpted fountains, statues, and benches. On most nights she would sit or lay at one of the places that there was a fountain. She had no favorite, but instead she liked them all. The running water helped her relax and she often sat up late into the night and early into the morning writing in her book. Like Kimbra, her former teacher, she rarely slept. The dreams always waited and she hated to face them too often. Despite what many may have thought she was not quite mad yet and she hoped to keep it that way. Slightly schizophrenic yes, mad not yet. On this night she had walked most of the usual paths. By her guess it was not yet midnight. The night was peaceful and the air was filled wit wonderful smells and lovely sounds all carried by the gentle wind. At some point Storm came to a gate in a wall. The wall was covered in ivy and they gate was open. She followed it and found herself near the castle but an open field expanded in front of her. The field was full of wild flowers now with their heads bowed and closed. Looking more closely she could see a pond, maybe a 100 yards or so away. The path ended shortly in front of her but it made her no difference. The moon’s reflection in the pond was nearly breath taking. The pond water looked black and bottomless. Near the pond grew tail cattails and on the far side willow trees grew at the edge and a few even seemed to grow out of the water. A sandy beach ran along the shore closet to the castle. Near the beach grew a couple of willow trees and what appeared to be an apple tree, maybe even a cherry tree. Moonflowers grew around the edge in small clumps here and there. They had their heads held high and in full bloom under the moonlight. From where she stood she could smell the sweet almost watermelon like scent they had. She slowly walked toward the pond. Kendra soon came through the gate and walked at her side. Storm pushed the hood back off her head and smoothed down her hair though it really didn’t need it. Her purple eyes shone in the moonlight and the streaks of purple in her hair seemed to almost glow. Storm walked toward the sandy beach. After looking around she gathered up some sticks and dead limbs moving them into a small pile onto the beach a safe distance from the waters edge. She lit a small fire using mage fire. Storm looked at the castle and could see a few lights lit but not many. She wondered to herself if any one would be out on this night or if any would come to see who had lit the fire. Shaking her head slightly she sat down beside the fire, looking out into the lake. After splashing around at the water’s edge Kendra finally laid down beside her.

0 notes