Shadow Mountain "Fools", said I. "You will see."

dated Feb 22

He scowled as he limped. Or rather dragged his leg along the cold ground. scrape. walk, walk. drag. The pain was almost unbearable as the meat hung off of his bones, the whiteness almost matching the snow.

For hours he walked, wanting to put as much distance between them and him as possible. His legs were weak, shaking as a trail of red followed him. Wounds were seeping blood, his head was pounding, then nothing as darkness overcame him at the base of the ragged, dark mountains. He awoke to find a tortoiseshell standing over him. Snarling, she growled deeply in his face and a proposition crossed her lips. He had no choice but to die or take it.

So he took it. A scowl on his face and pain radiating his body. She treated his wounds. For days he lay there as she took care of him. Every day, she reminded him of his obligation and what would happen if he didn't fulfill it. Every day, he nodded. Every night, he plotted. They wouldn't get away with what they did to him. The pain was overwhelming, so she gave him something that he had never had before. Yet it stopped the pain. And made his darkened soul soar.

Finally, the day came when he could stand and walk without help. When she saw this, she shoved him away and reminded him yet again of his agreement. Limping off, his dark thoughts were on the places behind him, yet he started north, the carefully wrapped herb in his mouth, a twisted grin on his face.