The Calling
“You are crazy!” They said. “You will kill yourself!” Words he had taken little heed to. He had not missed a day since, and he would not begin doing so now. It had been a brisk morning, thin sheets of frost covered the leaves, a frozen blanket of the night, but this would soon pass as the morning sun rose above the mountains. A slight breeze drifted down from the northern slopes, but it was very mild in comparison to the blast of the past weeks and months. Yes, if it was to be, it must happen today. His dreams had told him as much. But who was he to decide when?
He turned and looked at the temporary village his people had erected. Forced from their homelands.
Everything burned.
His tired eyes drifted up to the peak, very distant, yet, not so far as one would think.
Yes, his legs had one more in them. With stick in hand and his shawl pulled tight against his shoulders, he paced his steps up the shallow road. But after only a few moments he was interrupted, though not, this time, by any concerned relatives.
“Granda, where are you going?” The little voice called. Skipping over to him, she looked up at him with pearly eyes.
So sweet.
So tender.
This was his legacy. Her small frame was covered in a thick plush, gray and light, speckled with brown spots. Her pointed ears completed the cat-like features, just like his. “No where in particular, my child.” And he must protect it. Pointing up the path that wound through the river bottom, around the Tesapeake hills, and up to the top of Mount Esvril, he rested a hand on her shoulder. “You see this road, it leads into the eternities. That is where I am going, someday.” He answered, somberly with eyes cast down-wards.
“May I come?”
The question, surprisingly, surprised him. No one had ever accompanied him on his walks, yet….
“I’m not sure, I do not know if your mother would approve of it?” he told her. “And besides, it is a long walk, and your legs are very short, so I….” Her beautiful smile slowly drooped and her eyes misted over. “I…” Why not? “You may come.” He finally said after a tense moment of contemplation. His mind continued to tell him of all the reasons why she should not go.
But no, her young mind could not possibly alter the vision, if there was to be one. And his heart deeply yearned for companionship this day. Straightening his frame he turned and began walking. She slipped her small hand in his, and he smiled inside.
For some time they walked, her asking questions all the while. “Why is the grass so red?” “How come the bird taps his head against the tree?” So young, so naive. How he longed to return to that state, to be unaware of the reality of things, to be shielded from pain. He sighed. Such was not the way, and he would do good to keep from brooding over what once was.
Soon, though, her questions and quick pace had tired his frail body out.
“Come come, my child, and rest awhile, I do say you have the energy of a Farling.” He said to her, easing himself onto a suitable looking rock. She laughed as she pictured the flighty little creature bouncing about on its short legs.
“Don’t be silly Granda, I can’t climb the ceiling.”
“Oh ho, I would suppose not.”
“And I can’t stick my tongue out that far, see.” Her mouth opened wide and she flicked her tongue out with all her might. With it still pushed out past her lips she began to explain many more reasons why she was unlike the forenamed creature. He laughed brightly and put a finger to his lips.
“Shh, be still my child. Nature cannot teach you anything when you are thinking that fast.”
Confused, the child fell quite. Picking her up and setting her beside him on the rock, he looked down at the babbling brook that flowed at their feet. You see,” He continued. “The world has much to tell us, if we are willing to listen. Take the river, for instance. Hear how it tinkles over the rocks? It is trying to tell us that spring is on its way. Can you hear it?” He looked down at her, but she was paying no attention to him or the brook, but rather, looking off in the distance.
“My girl, what is it that you are looking at?”
“There, Granda, on the hill.” She said, pointing. He followed her finger, and gasped. Standing amidst the blazing red grass atop a small knoll, in full glory of the early sunrise, a brilliant white object tossed its regal head. Tall and thin, it’s form bespoke beauty and perfection. It’s powerfully delicate legs rooted into the ground, arched neck elevating a perfectly symmetrical head, and adorned with a large rack of twisted horns. Green and blue tendrils of matter radiated from it, reacting in a brilliant display of lights as it touched the grass below and the sky above. It’s bright pink nostrils lightly twitched, sniffing the air. All the while, the child and the elder looked on, elated at what they were seeing. The former, captivated by the beauty, the latter, stunned and amazed at the events that could only transpire in the coming moments. Long had he dreamed about this time, yet, never had he thought it possible, and yet….
The kingly animal had now been watching them for some time, seemingly just as intrigued by their presence. The little one stood, and began walking towards the beast. Quickly reaching out a hand, he said to her, “Child, be still, we must not disturb it.” No sooner had he said so then a voice rang through the trees, as if carried on the very wind itself.
“Why should she not come? There is no darkness in her that can pervert the light. Come, my child, and may it be well with you.”
Releasing her from his tired grasp, he stood and watched as she quickly scampered up the hill to the animal. Once there, she froze for a moment. Was this to touch? Or could her hands taint the perfection that was before her? As if in answer to her questions, the beast stepped forward, and reached out its nose, placing it in the center of her palm. The warmth of it filled her body and mind. Her mouth which was so often moving was still. There was no need to speak, there was only, peace.
Complete.
Utter.
He felt it as well, and for a moment, the world faded away. But the sensation quickly vanished as he realized the importance and reason for this glorious vision. Before he could speak, the voice came again.
“My child, you have many questions. All of them, I cannot answer, but I fear that it would do you no good, even if I was able. The time has arrived, he is coming, and I require your assistance.”
A blur of motion later, and the animal was standing before him. The words now came directly from its mouth. “Far to long has this world waited in the shadows, the purging is at hand.”
“I…do you mean to say that…I don’t understand.”
“It is not for you to understand. You have done your duty well, and your time has come to join me in my halls.”
“Well, I suppose that you are right, I have grown weary, these long years have taken their toll on my mind and it no longer works as well as I should like. I can perform the ceremony tomorrow if that is what you wish?”
The animal exhaled deeply and its breath stirred the trees. “Shomech,” It said, calling him by name for the first time. “Now.”
“What, now? But, the child, and my people? I cannot just abandon them in this time of need.”
“I understand your plight, but it is not for you to decide. I give to you a promise now, that because of your faithfulness, the child and your people will live to see the end, whatever it may be. Please, understand, I do not wish any of this upon you or them, but such is the way of life. It must be.”
Shomech bowed his head and nodded. “If it is what you wish, then I must obey. I only ask that you look after her, she is all that I have left.”
“I shall.”
“Then, I suppose there is nothing left to do.” Bending down, he took up his walking stick, and held it out to the child. The old wood was worn smooth as silk. It’s intricate features wound up its length, ending in a knot which was twisted, formed into the abstract shape of antlers.
“Tarallis, I entrust this to you, the last of my blood. You may not understand any of this, but you will, one day. I…I must go now, you understand?”
She shook her head.
“Why, Granda, go where? I can come with you, my legs may be short, but I can run fast.”
“No, my dear, you must stay here.” Rising, he released the stick. The beast nudged him with its nose, and they both turned down the lane and walked off, leaving the child behind, confused and frightened, a tear escaping her eye. The last thing she saw and heard of them was her grandfather’s sobbing, and the rustling of the animals breath.
Then they vanished.
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