Dryads of the Stars

Chapter 13 : Sunrise at Dusk

The Wind knows a lot of secrets and what he likes the most is to whisper them to travelers in the desert. But what his actual job is, is another matter entirely. His occupation is to be a messenger and not an ordinary one at that. The Wind carries prayers, songs, wishes, dreams and sorrows. Sometimes, perhaps on purpose, he lets his pouch open and as he flies many thing escape out of it. Hopes of mothers for their children, forgotten feelings of love from lovers that were separated by fate, screams of the dead that still linger on this earth and lastly, a message that tries to transcend time and space to reach the receiver but never managed to make it. The Wind can hear it all and so he howls on those cold nights so everyone can hear them. A messenger of the lost and the dead. Those who hear him and understand his words, cry. Because there exists too much sorrow in this twisted world filled with darkness.

"Goodnight"

Iliad woke up abruptly as the wind whispered that word in his ear. He felt something cold on his cheek. It was a tear that eventually fell in his palm. What a strange feeling. As if two suns collided inside him. He lifted his face and slowly got up, the lioness still sleeping beside him. A breeze brushed his face as the first light of the dawn colored the desert in a beautiful Golden shade. Two golden eyes meeting a golden Sun and as he looked at the beautiful Celestial being that spread it's rays across the horizon he murmured.

"If I chose to bring everything to ruin, would you stand in my way? Would you protect them?"

Like a peacock the Sun stretched his rays reaching further and further, his light more blinding than ever before. The Wind started blowing aggressively as if he was scared and as the rays got stronger, he hid behind the man opposing the Sun. That dawn was witness to the brightest Sun the earth would ever see. Across the world it was called the Sunrise at Dusk, because the sun came out during the night at the other side of the planet.

" I suppose that this was your answer. Do not worry, for I have decided otherwise. Who would have known that the cruel desert would hide such kind people? This world is indeed a vast place hiding many treasures."

It was an intense morning. Everyone woke up abruptly to face that impossible sight. Iliad was sitting down on the sand along side the lioness. She had awoken as well and she was rubbing her head on Iliad's leg while he was rubbing her stomach. Only Yenu knew the meaning of this sight. The other men were shaken by the fact that one of the wild beasts that they were hiding from, was right there acting like a house cat. A crowd was gathered in no time just to see the brightest Sun they had ever witnessed, bathe the stranger that had tamed a wild beast, in it's everlasting golder light. Amir approached him with caution from behind and tapped his shoulder. Iliad turned around and smiled gently to him.

"Good morning Amir. Was your sleep pleasant?"

"Good morning brother. Indeed it was." He turned his gaze towards the lioness.  "I see that you had a good night yourself. I would really like to know what occurred, but I feel like I should not."

Amir sat right next to him, a serene moment lasting for an eternity while they were looking at the Sun rise higher and higher. 

"Do not worry about the beast. She will not harm any of you, as she is a friend. When we depart again, we will help her find her pack as we go along our way."

Amir seemed to be reassured as he relaxed his shoulders and sat on the sand comfortably. It was going to be a long day. You could tell from the rising temperature, the scorching Sun burning their skin and the Wind that had seized all actions and was hiding from the blinding light. After admiring the unique spectacle for long enough, everyone gathered in the main tent. It was decided that they would remain one more day there because the weather had become difficult for traveling.