May 25, 2011 - 3:54pm — Rutilus
Days passed, and became weeks. The weeks became months, and passed the languid drawl of summer, and the cooling serenity of autumn. Soon, time plunged into the callous chill of winter.
The woods were alerted to her presence very quickly; she was making far too much noise to remain unnoticed. Birds flew to the safety of the trees, the rush of their wings barely audible; drowned by the terrible sounds that the staggering woman was making.
In her arms, she cradled a motionless bundle. In her throat, she held a terrible wail, and let it burst forth again as she slumped forwards against a familiar, leafless tree. The woman's shoulders trembled violently, face soaked with tears as a hand knocked weakly against the bark.
"My baby, my baby, I--please, the keeper--my little boy..."
She had never wanted a son, but gender did not matter now. 'Ven', as she was called, crushed her forehead against the tree's wood, still weeping and crying, clutching the bundle in her arms.
"Please, please, please, anything--bring him back, bring--please, keeper, please..."
Nothing. She gave a tortured wail, high-pitched and atonal, scraping against her own eardrums.
"Please! I'll do anything, anything, please! I want my son, I need him! PLEASE!"
And then, just as she was about to give in - a response.
'The keeper wishes to inform you that Death comes to us all.'
She had heard that before. The woman shook her head with a broken, shattered moan, eyes clenched shut though the tears still freed themselves from behind the lids, and ran openly down her thin, ill face.
"Please--please, keeper, I beg you--I'm dying, I can't take him with me, please--please--"
'The keeper is inclined to believe that the child was never destined to live.'
"Everyone is destined to live!" She raised her head, one hand clawing at the ground, whilst the other kept her lifeless child tucked safely against her chest. "Take me before I am due if you must, but let my son live! Please!"
A long silence.
'The keeper invites you in.'
There was a flash of grey, and then both mother and child disappeared, vanishing.
o_o *awaits more*
Thanks ♥ I'm having a
I'm having a hard time figuring out if anybody else is interested in this story, but I guess it can't be helped. It's human-based for now, after all.