We Solemn Few

Chapter One : Talks in the Rain

Midnight blue eyes stared out into the horizon, the downpour of rain that cascaded across the endless sea of trees stealing away his mind from other thoughts. The mesmerizing plups and plots of raindrops filled his ears, the sky of rolling, clouded grey pulling his eyes upward towards the obscured, golden sun. They drew back down when a chilled gust poured over the land and rustled the millions of leaves, the wind briefly sending chills across his face. A torrent of light poured from the sky suddenly, crashing down upon the earth as a wave of thunder roared and muted all other sound while the flash blinded all other sight.

A moment later the thunder and lightning both fell away, though what replaced it widened his eyes. The earth had cracked and split, small gashes upon the land swelling to large rifts and chasms that bubbled with magma and spit flame. The ground rolled and threatened to swallow the trees while fiery fury blazed across their branches and leaves, lighting oak and pine like torches in a cave. Soon the beautiful greens were replaced with souring reds and oranges that coated the terrain like a flood, smoke rising and filling the sky with sickly black that swallowed what little light broke through the clouds above. He swallowed dryly.

The smoky darkness grew rapidly, coalescing into dark, inky black that began to obscure even the flames that ravaged the landscape, tendrils of the smolder curling inside the very window he stared out, stretching out to him and coating the room in black fumes. Soon the room itself was choked away, obscured in entirety as gaseous black ran along his legs and arms and tickled the back of his throat. He tried to pull away, but his body remained still as smoke poured into his lungs and choked away his breath, his eyes blurring and dimming as pain throbbed through every inch of his body, his mind drifting and drifting...

In the blackness he saw a red glow grow and swell, two eyelids pulling apart to reveal an eyes of dark crimson with a snake's pupil. A laugh of pure evil roared in his head just as he managed to force his eyes closed.

His eyes flickered; he was staring back out into the downpour. A shuddered breath poured from his lips and his body jolted as a soft hand fell upon his shoulder. He jerked his head away from the window, his blue eyes meeting green ones as he felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him.

"Are you okay, Zen?" the honeycomb voice asked, though he was not sure he focused on her question. He was taking her in, instead. His eyes danced around her face, her lightly tanned skin perfectly smooth, only interrupted by a speckling of freckles atop either cheek, her soft pink lips trembling slightly with worry. He forced his eyes away from her lips and up towards her sunburst curls which framed her kind face, the swirling red and gold locks mostly tied back into a loose ponytail with some curls left to freely hang in front of her face. With her hair parted back, he could even see her silver earrings sparkle against the flickering light of the fireplace.

"Zen?" she repeated cautiously, giving him another shake, "Ethernia to Zenrin, are you okay?

Zenrin forced himself to shake his head, pushing away thoughts that he didn't quite want right now. He met her eyes once more with a faint smile as he spoke, "Sorry, sorry, yes, I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you, Vey." A twinge of pain pulsed in his temples then, his hand instinctively moving to rub them softly.

Nevertheless, relief seemed plain on her face before a twinge of sadness passed over her eyes. "Another headache?" she whispered, clearly concerned. He gave her a meek nod. I can't tell her I've been seeing things. That will only worry her more. She merely gave him a sympathetic smile and brushed a hand over his cheek. He was suddenly very aware of how close she was. He averted his eyes.

A deep sigh escaped his lips as she pulled away, her hand retreating as she turned away. When did I start holding my breath? "I'll make tea. Sit tight, Zen," she chimed. Her spirits seemed to heighten again as she moved across the room, pulling a tea kettle and small satchel from a chest set near the fireplace. Zenrin forced himself to stop staring at her, his eyes scanning across the room simply to avoid her beautiful figure. Stop staring.