Pinnikle: The Lost Truth

18: Imagine with me, if you will

Recorded by Finnegan Lionhartt,
Of the events which took place on the 18th day of Radia, early in the morning, not long before the sun came up, year of Pinnikle: 1,229.

As we walked, sand kept Sophie's and my own scratches open. Leon, however, faced a different problem. His feet sloshed about in wet black boots as he strode along beside me.

"Trying to bring the river home with you?" I asked, and added an introduction: "Hey, I'm sorry I never introduced myself. I'm Fin."

We stopped, and the man looked at my face for the first time since the threat was past.

"Your kind and gentle face does not match the gruff tones of your voice," he said to me, and then told me his name again: "I'm Leon, from Lucidia,". He pointed to the glowing snow capped mountains in the distance, and continued: "I really did think it was over..." he said through a sigh, "But... I am grateful you saved my life. Thank you."

"You can thank the lamp girl for spotting you!" I told him, "We were just nodding off when she noticed you in the water."

"The... lamp girl?" Leon asked?

"Yeah, her name's Tiko. She manages the lamps around the village every night... When you see her, you should thank her for spotting you."

"She spotted me?" He asked.

"Yes. Tiko was lighting lamps for the night, saw you in the water, and called us to come help!"

"She didn't call anyone else?" He asked, and I thought that was strange.

"No. People in Luca don't tend to help with disturbances. Actually, most nix don't even believe in danger, or bravery, or anything of the like," I rattled off.

"I suppose I will have to thank this lamp girl then..." Leon said, peaceably.

I could tell there was more he wanted to say, but that conversation would be for another day. After the formalities of introduction, silence was welcomed. Ahead of us, and across the river: Sophie passed into the tree-line. She had done this to get off the sand, and walk along grass to clean her bloody feet along the gentle, wet blades.

We followed her silhouette through trees until we came to our village. Huts still glowed orange with dull fires, as we, a trio, made our way silently through Luca village. We passed the first and second bridge, hearing snores and mumblings of sleeping villagers.

By the time Leon and I reached the third bridge, Sophie was already ascending a short trail behind it, which led to our little home. As she walked onto the stone pad of our hut, her steps left bloody footprints. She started a fire outside as we came. We were almost crawling up onto the stone, we were so tired.

"Guys! We're Home!" Sophie said, gleaming.

I sat on the edge of the stone slab, and brushed my feet over the grass. Leon swept passed me, and took his place in front of the fire. He smiled widely at the sight of it. He slipped off wet boots, and sat composed beside the little fire as Sophie continued to feed it, creating a homey, warm glow. Before the fire could lay a bed of coals, Leon laid on his side, and quickly began snoring. I suppose he must have felt exhausted, and that he found it easy to sleep being in the safety of two new friends - if he considered us friends yet.

I stood quietly, and moved to lie on my back across from Leon. Sophie sat behind the fire between us.

"Soph, I'm proud of you," I told her, and my voice was very sleepy.

I gestured to the stranger, saying: "That's Leon. I don't know much about him quite yet."

She laid down, and put the dome of her head to mine. I heard the quiver of her breath as a silent tear fell from her eye. It was a happy tear, because I was alive.

"I'm proud of you too!" she said through a lump in her throat. A quiet moment went by as we - two siblings who had perhaps become heroes - stared up at the star-scape together. Crackles from the fire, river sounds, and snores could be heard all around.

Sophie broke the short silence with innocent giggles, and said: "I didn't know you could fly!" remembering how I fell, then appeared on the ledge (from her perspective).

"Yeah, it's only something I picked up today!" I joked.

"Who do you think he is, Fin?" she asked about Leon.

"Best to let the future hold it's answers," I told her.

"What kind of answers do you think it holds?"

"I don't know, Soph... We're not our future's keeper," I said through a smile.

The future is a curious thing. It cradles memories we have not yet lived, with hands that hold discoveries of such moments just out of reach. In that moment, Sophie was captivated by the future, but I was captive by present things: beauty above, a loved one close-by, and a sleeping stranger who's identity and perspective was mysterious to us. We did not know if his company would be burdensome or delightful.

Sophie fell asleep, the dome of her head against mine - having embraced the moment of safety and captivation from the stars above.

Twinkling stars glittered near and far, against trillions of stars in off in the yonder, like waves or bright clouds painting the luminary sky. That night, having been saved by time himself, I pondered how there are many things we do not know, and wondered if there were some things we would be better off to have never discovered.

Imagine with me, if you will, what if you had never known Fear? To do so, you might first ask the question: what is Fear? It is a word used to describe certain instances; like when looking forward to things that end, while you'd like to have them remain. Things like happy moments, sunny days, friendship, love, and life.

Fear comes before the wound - before the dog ravages - the dog who leaves a scar. Scars leave a mark to remember wearily, leaving a person different forever, but maybe wise. Wisdom comes with confusion about things like: "Why is life hard and empty, when living with scars?". Wisdom comes full of other terrifying things too, like the questions: "When will the dog bite again? And could I ever run from it quickly enough to avoid it?"

Fear settles in after the bite that tore life away. It taunts, amidst our moment of understanding, that we are unable to go back to the cherished things which existed before there was a scar: before the dog bit - before we knew Fear, and had been found wanting, when it pierced our soul with its gaze, not like eyes. If you have ever lost anything, you understand.

Still, imagine with me, that you had never known Fear: If you were never held back from brave moments, the kind that time would like to slow down for. Can you feel the glory of those moments you create, when accomplishing spectacular things - things like saving lives, and swinging from stars. Imagine not knowing the threat of death! Are you caught up in awe of the beautiful things you feel, after accomplishing the spectacular?

Without Fear, we are free to be bold - to be humble and proud of each other: always welling with love, and pursuing possibilities. We are free to embrace every soft moment we come to know, and every cherish-able thing - not in locked boxes that make them forgotten. Without that dark man, cherished things spring forth from every moment, in places like: beside warm fires, and under stars of majesty. Do you feel it? Are you brave enough to imagine? I wonder if time himself may slow the scenes of your life for you, as you ponder. Imagine with me, if you will: what if you had known fear?