His mind drifts in the blankness. There's nothing, just black. Drifting, no rope to hold. He's letting go.

“Is this what death feels like?” He asks himself.

The mutter sounds loud in the darkness. He hopes this isn't what death is like. It's too blank. He'd hoped that it would be lighter, more comfortable. Not dark...not blank. His doubts are resurfacing, but he pushes them away.

Then he is falling again, crying out as he tumbles, faster and faster. Then everything goes blank again. No thoughts either...

“It's been awhile...” comes the murmur. “Too long.” It's the same nightmare he has every night.

He looks up. For some reason, he can't feel anything. His frail body no longer feels the wind. No longer feels the forest. It's like he's floating. No feeling...? He thinks. But-

“Of course you can't feel anything. Come on.” He stands and follows.

The scene gives way to dark dreams; the dream .

Pain, yelling, screaming, fire. A scornfully said name. Light, too bright. Darkness, too dark. And change.

Then quiet.

But he still screams in that quiet. It echoes in his mind and doesn't fade away.

The past is haunting him.
---

There is a rush and my vision clears. The darkness has evaded me. The pain, searing my whole body, has returned in its place. The blood is dry now, but I am in so much pain. How long have I been out? That demon had nearly killed me. I'll find him...

...But...What can I do? I lost.

I failed my forest. I failed my Gods. History is repeating itself. Dear Gods, this cannot happen again. I cannot fail my brothers again...

I lift my head, slowly, and groan in pain. My body refuses to lift itself up, so I stay. I'm going to be in pain for awhile. I can hardly move now.

The darkness returns and I lose myself again.

-The Priest