LIGHT

Prologue: AWAKE

Prologue: AWAKE

He woke up with a feral reflex still coiled within him –a scream cut short by the unconsciousness that enshrouded him. Curled into a fetal position with his fists clenched in front of him, his eyelids fluttered in reaction to the foreign smell that invaded his barely-conscious mind. It was a wet, rotten smell –like something soaked in water then left in the shade for days.

I should probably wake up now, he thought. It surprised him –as if the ability to think was as foreign to him as the smell.

Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open, giving him full view of silver and blue. His mouth opened in a large ‘O’ as if to continue his scream, but nothing came out save a hoarse squeak. One milky pale hand stretched out and clawed in abandon at the shallow ridge wherein he lay. It was cold, wet and silvery under the muted light. Ice?  No, snow. Everywhere around him save for the cradle he was curled up in was covered in snow.  With agonizingly slow movements, he crawled out, naked body convulsing in reaction to the hard-packed ice. It didn’t help when pain shot out from all over him –sharp, stabbing pains that made him think that knives were slicing through his skin. Gritting his teeth, he slithered into a kneeling position, eyes closed against the unpleasant feeling.

Inadvertently, he raised a trembling hand to sweep back his raven hair. His green eyes blinked hard against tears –tears? He stood up, not at all slowly, wavering still. The same hand shot up again to wipe away the curious moisture from his eyes.

Around him, the night felt almost dead. Nothing but black, leafless skeleton trees covered in snow. Save for the occasional rustling of some unknown animal, it seemed to be empty. An owl hooted from a nearby hollow, making him jump in surprise. The moon shone bright and full, casting the silvery glow that had been everpresent since he opened his eyes.

In a sudden burst of curiosity, he raised his arm up, muscles rippling visibly under milky white skin. His gaze traveled down to his forearm, where it stopped. The mark showed with unnerving clarity against his skin –curling vines of some wispy thing extending from the back of his hand and beyond his shoulder. It wasn’t even that that was most fascinating, but the startling way it seemed to shimmer in alternating white, silver and gold. He twisted his hand slightly, trying to make sense of the real color of the mark. How had he gotten it?

Hard as he tried, his thoughts couldn’t seem to follow one single thread. And even then, the thoughts were broken and unclear. Who he was, where he came from, and especially how he came to be curled up naked on the forest floor was beyond all comprehension. He took a deep breath and attempted to steady his nerves, which had begun to get frayed.

Get away from here, he ordered himself sternly. The thought surprised him again, though not as strongly as the first. Staggering, he attempted to take a step forward. But unsure feet got the best of him and he ended up on all fours. Pain radiated from his knees and hands, making him scream in frustration. Not the inhuman squeak he’d let out earlier, instead, a deep, throaty half growl, half sing-song that was almost leonine. Surprisingly, it sent shivers down his spine and seemed to fill him with a burst of strength.

He shook off the last vestiges of confusion and stood up, taking each step with caution. Where he was to go, he wasn’t quite sure, but his steps grew surer, taking with it, his confidence. Without anything but a cursory glance from side to side, he strode forwards ignoring the painful hit of stray branches on his naked skin. Where they hit him, his skin felt itchy and cold.

Cold.

He wrapped his arms around himself unconsciously, noticing the icy bite of the air for the first time. His teeth chattered violently and he clenched his jaw. Steps growing faster, he surged forward until he was almost at sprinting pace. His breathe grew heavy and came in short gasps.