Traum von Asterhive

The Fall

You weren't afraid as you fell, only mildly annoyed.

"Well this is going to be bothersome," you said. "If I break all my bones, I won't be able to run."

You'd also be dead, but you liked running.

Thankfully, your shadow friend was with you. He untangled himself from your hair and looped the other end of his ribbon-self around your other wrist. He proceeded to wind himself around you, under your armpits and around your torso and even legs. Then, he flattened the middle of himself to a ridiculous degree, becoming paper-thin though still shadow-strong. He billowed for a moment, then poofed into a parachute.

"Thanks!" you called over the roar of the wind in your ears. "You're very bright for a shadow!"

He seemed to blush, but you couldn't tell for certain.

The two of you fell for a very long time. At the end of it, when the ground was very close, the shadow slipped away from you and slinked to the ground. He poofed again, this time into something akin to a large, bouncy marshmallow. He caught you, gently set you on your feet, then curled around your neck.

"Thank you very much," you said. "You've saved me twice now- maybe I should give you a name."

The shadow said nothing, but seemed to nod.

"How about Night?"

He made an upset sound.

"I'm sorry, that is kind of rude. You're your own bit of darkness. Then, how about Knight?"

The shadow stilled in consideration.

"You're my knight in shadowy armor," you explained.

He seemed pleased.

"Knight it is."

That settled, you began to explore.