When Lightning Strikes: The Cosmic Soldier

4. Tending the Flames

Amal coughed into his cloth mask, the mask that shielded him from the raging dust storms growing before him. The dust whipped violently through the air, rendering it difficult to see past the blinding winds. As he trudged through the deep sand dunes of the Rembaka desert, he noticed the storms clear away for a short moment.

Far out into the distance, the boy caught a glimpse of a large forest surrounded by fog and clouds. It acted as some sort of barrier between him and a large hill that overlooked the landscape of the desert.

"Almost...there," his voice was drowned out by the wailing cries of the spiraling storms. There was no one to hear his voice. To hear his call for help.

Nothing but determination pushed the boy forward, into the umber-coloured abyss. Despite the intense winds that grew as he drew closer to his destination, Amal seemed unfazed.

It became increasingly difficult to breathe, and the sands pooled around him like quicksand. The boy gritted his teeth as he forged on. He produced tears against the sharpness of the winds stinging his eyes.

He found himself further into the strange wilderness. He gazed behind himself, as the expansive forest lay several miles away. His steps left footprints that trailed from the forest, a mix of dirt and moss.

His robes were stained with sweat, grime, and drops of his own blood. His clan symbol of the Anduru, the attacking raven, imprinted on his chest and back, reflected the light of the impeding sun above.

Marching along the soil path, the boy pried his eyes open and forced his body forward. Somewhere out into the distance, sounds of rumbles and sparks echoed through the environment. His surroundings were devoid of human contact; he was in unknown territory.

Again, the boy was thrust into another realm, though this time he was on top of a mountain that overlooked countless miles away. The forest faded into the distance, and the desert completely disappeared from view. A considerable distance away, another mountain lay within view. This mountain was significantly much larger than the one he stood on now. It loomed over him, towering and extending its length to the sky, as though piercing through the atmosphere. At the base, the mountain was decorated with expansive valleys and greenery, which disappeared as it travelled higher, replaced by barren rocky walls and snow-covered surfaces. At the very top, was the source of the increasingly violent rumbles and vibrations that trembled the entire landscape.

The top of the mountain was surrounded by dark clouds, pulsing with light. It was being continuously struck by flashes of thunder.

The boy looked down at his drenched robes, he was seriously ill. I-I'm almost...can sense it, this energy, it's breathtaking...

"Amal!" A voice shouted out to him. Familiar, delicate, the soft voice of a girl. It seemed to warm him up, giving him newfound energy. "Amal wake up!" it was Jasmine, he was sure of it.

"Jas...hel-help m..." his throat burned from his voyage, exhaustion overwhelming him. His mouth was devoid of moisture. Dry as the desert he'd left behind. Amal clawed at his neck, aching with displeasure.

"Amal!" Suddenly he was doused in rainfall, though the skies were clear and blue. His robes were fully drenched in the liquid, as well his hair and face. Refreshing; his prayers have been answered.

What the hell? His confused thoughts echoed through the air, as his body continued to move along the path towards the thundering mountains. He felt his entire body shake furiously.

Wake up, voices cried out. They had a sense of urgency to them.

"AMAL OPEN YOUR EYES."

His eyes fluttered open; the boy was disoriented. One second, he was fighting for his life. The next, he sat upright on a bed, a rather uncomfortable one.