Interstellar Ross

Chapter 8 Rage

Dragon Realms 4BC

After weeks of travelling on horseback I finally reached a new land of green earth, tall trees and abundant wildlife. I nearly fell to the ground after dropping from the horse I had stolen; my legs numb from hours of disuse. I peered into the distance and shielded my eyes from the sun as I trekked through luscious grass in search of water and sustenance. I had never felt such an intense desire for sustenance before, I had never needed it when I was a Goddess with my complete powers. But since I had been stripped of my magic and power of life giving, I found myself on level grounding with the mortals who so wandered through the seven gates of my past abode.

I stumbled over a rock and the horse reared back, letting loose a startled whinny.

'Hey, it's okay.' I whirled around to try and calm her down.

The mare looked down at me with wild eyes before bolting back towards the sweeping desert we had escaped from.

'No!' I shouted, too exhausted to try and catch up with her. 'Please don't go.' I rasped, coughing before I could call for her any further.

I casted my eyes to the heavens, imagining my sister and all our family laughing down on me at how hopelessly alone and worthless I had become. I returned my eyes to the forest that lied before me, a new resolve to not let my family see me fail solidifying within me.

I made my way deep into the forest, guided by the moss that grew on the trees and boulders that indicated dampness and the possibility of a nearby body of water. The sun gradually disappeared behind the thick canopy above as tiny bugs lifted up from the grass and damp earth cushioned my bare feet. The air grew notably damp before I finally caught sight of water rushing ahead.

I ran to the edge of a river, cupping my hands to gather water to quench my thirst. I gorged on the fast-flowing liquid, washing my face once I was full. I released a satisfied sigh as the dirt and grime that had caked my face was lost in the running water, leaving me feeling a lot cleaner not only physically but mentally.

There was a sudden loud caw of a bird and I jolted in fright, nearly falling in the river. The bird cawed another three times and curiosity had me heading in the direction from where I had heard it, leading me to a small clearing.

At first, I only noticed half a dozen stark black ravens fighting with each other amongst the tall grass. It took me a moment to realise what exactly the corvids were fighting over. It was a man.

I treaded closer and spooked the birds with my presence, sending them fleeing into the near zenith.

My eyes trailed the figure of a creature who for the most part, looked like a human man, naked with chiselled features beneath burnt skin, welts and puncture wounds that indicated he had been through a serious battle of some kind. I crept ever closer as I took in the tattered white wings that were burnt to nearly an incomprehensible level. Despite his haggard form his pose was rather angelic, as if like a bird he had fallen out of the sky to meet his end upon the earth.

I had never seen an Angel before, for Angels never passed through my gates back in the Underworld. I had also never seen a Fallen Angel before, an Angel exiled from Heaven, doomed to spend the rest of eternity walking amongst mortals in sin.

I was fascinated. I leaned over his unconscious form and reached out to see if he was breathing. I held my hand out below his nose and felt the faintest of exhales against my skin.

I straightened and looked around, not quite sure exactly why I was looking and what or who I was looking for. I bent down and started to drag the poor soul's form across the grass towards the river.