These Dark Eyes

Prologue: ~\1/~

              

There's something calming about the stark quiet of a forest. Only, quiet isn't the right word. It's more like music playing just out of earshot. With each step and turn you catch snatches of birdsong and an accompaniment of wind blowing through the bows of each tree.

It's easily one of the most magical feelings there are, besides actual magic.

Usually.

Now... now is something much different, as a young boy running frantically through it all is no doubt well aware of.

Now, flames are licking up the trunks of each towering tree like hungry hounds. They scorch and burn everything beneath fiery paws.

From a far, this fire is already visible from the column of smoke rising into the sky. But help is even farther from on the way.

The boy knows this as well, but desperation still fuels him in his flight across the woods.

He's small compared to the towering giants of trees, almost unnoticeable compared to the battle between the forest and the fire's roaring destruction around him. He looks no older than ten, though his dark raven hair is streaked with grey and white from the falling ash.

It becomes clear that he's not only running from the fire, when a fearsome screech rises over the constant roar of wind and fire. The boy's eyes widen in fear, and he glances over his shoulder. Unfortunately for him, his foots strikes something on the ground, sending him tumbling down to the earth.

He turns, eyes scanning the trees for whatever made that sound, but sees nothing. That's when his gaze turns down, to the item he'd tripped over.

Except, it's not an item at all. It's a body.

"Max?" The boy breathes, a dirty hand reaching out to touch the shoulder of the body. He turns it over slowly, and relaxes when he notices the other boy's chest rising and falling.

He moves closer, crouching next to Max's unconscious form now, and gently shakes his shoulder. He receives only a low groan from the other boy.

"Max please wake up" He begs, shaking him again. The smoke filling the air around them has turned his voice to a harsh rasp, and draws tears from his eyes.

"Syl?" Max finally mumbles, green eyes blinking open.

Syl can't help but choke out half a laugh in relief, pulling Max to his feet by his arm.

"I thought they got you" He admits. He steadies the still only half conscious Max with an arm over his shoulders, though due to the height difference between the two, it takes most of his strength to hold the other boy up.

"They still might.." Max points out, watering eyes focusing on the destruction all around them as the two begin to walk toward the only place they might be safe from the raging fire.

The lake.