Golden eyes watching our every move
Losing time without the sun or moon
Night has become his home, his only solace since that nightmare realm had spat him back out. Perhaps that had been the catalyst, his accidental stumble into a hellish underworld. It had given back a boy changed, predisposed to the darkness that has already dwelled within. And Ether had been easy prey, until the monster had taken hold and bled through his skin.
Since that long ago day, nightmares have held no power over his knowledge of reality. There is so much more to fear in this world than in the land of dreams. And, even without realizing it, he had become one of those feared things. Even now he remains ignorant, a predator who doesn’t realize he should seek prey.
He is silent and still in the crook of that tree, eyeing the world with apprehension as he flinches from the sunlight that filters through the canopy. His ears twitch as the sound of crashing hooves reaches him, bring his head sharply upward. In moments, a dark figure is skidding around the tree, nearly crashing into him until she brings herself up short. Ether jerks backwards in surprise, footfalls silent as he stumbles several steps. His eyes widen, nostrils flaring as he desperately calls his shadows. The open, welcoming him into their dark embrace, closing quickly around him until only darkness remains. Until he disappears from the forest.
After a few steadying breaths, he realizes he is no longer standing in the crook of the tree. The shadows do not react like they used to, swallowing him instead of clinging to him like feral armor. For a minute, he is uncertain weather he wishes to return, to throw himself at the mercy of the crashing, clumsy woman.
Curiosity gets the better of him.
Hesitantly, he parts those curtains once more. With a deep breath, he peeks out, golden eyes wary as they fix on the dark woman. He must look an odd sight, though he doesn’t seem to realize it. Just a shadowy head protruding from a gaping maw of endless black. After a moment, he opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it once more. “Um, hi?” His voice is barely audible in the hushed forest, the timber low and rough with disuse. “It’s… ok. I guess.”
He falls silent then, before remembering the simple niceties of conversation. “Um, I’m... Ether.”
ether