09-27-2015, 07:15 PM
and death shall have no
DOMINION
The dead of winter seemed like rather a questionable time to be making a visit to the frozen north. This time of year made for pleasant weather in more temperate areas, but the farther north they traveled the harsher the cold became. However. Dominion was not unfamiliar with harsh climates. It had, admittedly, been a while since the wasteland of a dying world was the only life she’d known. Still, the cold sinking into her bones was a welcome reminder after years spent in luxury. Paradise, she’d called it when she’d first arrived. It still felt that way most of the time. The blizzard? It brought her back to her roots, calling forth memories of a world where survival was anything but guaranteed and death was a friend much more intimately familiar. Another reminder that even here, death wasn’t so far away, wasn’t so far out of reach that one could take life for granted.
Even if one had only recently become immortal.
The stars sparkling against her spotted coat were hidden beneath thickly falling snow, much like the clouds obscured the still-unfamiliar stars in the sky. She was learning the new constellations, the way they moved through the sky with the turning of the seasons and the whirling of the planet. But there was still a lonely ache to staring at the sky, now that the stars of the old world had faded from its inky expanse forever. All of her ancestors, devoured to save her, and nothing left but their twinkling memorial on her skin.
Still. Now was hardly the time to dwell on what was dead and gone. Dom grinned as her comment about enjoying the view went unremarked upon. Her cover was sub-par, given the blinding white that drowned out most of the scenery. About the only thing she could see aside from the shadow of mountains was Nish walking in front of her, snow clinging to his skin as he trudged through snow up to his knees. Paving the way for her like a gentleman. Oh, she’d offered to take a turn in front, breaking ground, doing the hard work. And she might have insisted more despite his “No, I’m fine,” if she weren’t so, as she’d said, enjoying the view. Next time.
Dom lost track of time, until all that existed was the cold creeping into her body, the flex and stretch and working of muscles propelling her forward and combatting the cold, the snow falling around them, and her awareness of Nish ahead of her. Eventually, though they came to a towering wall of ice that stretched on for what seemed like forever. “I’m guessing we made it, then,” she said, forcing her legs to keep moving despite the urge to pause and admire the ice wall. Stopping was not a good choice mid-blizzard. Well. Worst case scenario, Nish could find a way to keep her warm. He was creative like that. Still, better to be smart than to need saving.
Even if the saving would be fun.
Even if one had only recently become immortal.
The stars sparkling against her spotted coat were hidden beneath thickly falling snow, much like the clouds obscured the still-unfamiliar stars in the sky. She was learning the new constellations, the way they moved through the sky with the turning of the seasons and the whirling of the planet. But there was still a lonely ache to staring at the sky, now that the stars of the old world had faded from its inky expanse forever. All of her ancestors, devoured to save her, and nothing left but their twinkling memorial on her skin.
Still. Now was hardly the time to dwell on what was dead and gone. Dom grinned as her comment about enjoying the view went unremarked upon. Her cover was sub-par, given the blinding white that drowned out most of the scenery. About the only thing she could see aside from the shadow of mountains was Nish walking in front of her, snow clinging to his skin as he trudged through snow up to his knees. Paving the way for her like a gentleman. Oh, she’d offered to take a turn in front, breaking ground, doing the hard work. And she might have insisted more despite his “No, I’m fine,” if she weren’t so, as she’d said, enjoying the view. Next time.
Dom lost track of time, until all that existed was the cold creeping into her body, the flex and stretch and working of muscles propelling her forward and combatting the cold, the snow falling around them, and her awareness of Nish ahead of her. Eventually, though they came to a towering wall of ice that stretched on for what seemed like forever. “I’m guessing we made it, then,” she said, forcing her legs to keep moving despite the urge to pause and admire the ice wall. Stopping was not a good choice mid-blizzard. Well. Worst case scenario, Nish could find a way to keep her warm. He was creative like that. Still, better to be smart than to need saving.
Even if the saving would be fun.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;