Cloudchild

Chapter 1 - Rebirth

Shattered crystals thundered throughout an abyss. The echoing chimes gradually diminished. A choir of exhales reverberated, slowly replaced with soft breaths.

I breathe. I am alive. Is this me? The tiny being's thoughts went unanswered. It extended itself but neither saw nor touched anything—only coldness pierced its bodiless existence. I know I'm here, but...where is here?

Imagination and thoughts swirled, forming a limitless maze of glowing clouds streaked with roseate hues.

Look up, Inanna.

Far above the hills of clouds was the night sky. A vast black veil bespeckled with twinkling stars, swirling planets, and faraway galaxies.

Behind the cosmos shone a lustrous moon so immense it took up half the space of the sky, casting silvery illumination. Two significantly smaller moons flanked the monumental one, rims touching the horizon.

The galaxies and constellations floated over the lunar faces, seemingly guided by craters and cracks.

I do not remember what was before... Can I imagine what once was? Before...

Perception of the sky and its beauties darkened. The tiny being sank into the dimness, embraced by gentle moisture.

My slumber into this glittery abyss?

*

My awakening from the dreaming clouds?

Spherical eyes reflected the night sky and celestial ornaments. The red eyes with swirly yellow irises followed contrasting cracks of the oversized moon. Slitted pupils narrowed as a shooting star flashed. Slowly, inner eyelids closed diagonally, reflecting the glittering wonders up high.

Sighing, the tiny being stretched. Outer eyelids—right black, left white—closed diagonally. A big yawn revealed rows of pointy teeth. A forked tongue both long and blue flicked out then slid back in.

The tiny being sat up, outstretching her stout limbs. Eyes opened, the being looked at herself. Broad torso atop a short waist. Ivory scales dappled with black. Fingers and toes fitted with claws.

She grasped the ground. Crackles came. She pulled out handfuls of the ground and looked at her palms. Misty soil emanated like moonlight. Wind carried the glowing particles from her clawed fingers. Only chunks of glassy eggshells remained, sprinkling from her clenched hands.

These are very old...

The tiny being leaned in her crackling seat. She slowly inhaled through circular nostrils of her flat, angular nose. She let her head fall back. Dense, black quills hung from her big cranium like hair, flanked by ears long and pointy. The prickles rested along her back like a spiny curtain.

Heavy winds blew. Her cranial prickles rustled as she peered down the foggy, glowing hill. Down below twinkled a moonlit forest of crystalline trees and tall flowers. Stalks and branches swayed, leaves and petals clinked. The misty forest floor gently radiated, and faint light shafts waved through the canopies.

What do you think, Annani? "Beautiful!" she chortled with a sibilant voice. A cool breeze came but she did not shiver. Nearby was a small, black robe. "Need to warm up, to wake up..." Annani slowly slipped it on, oversized hood down. She yawned, looking around. "Where did I put it?"

A bowl of ice cream laid nearby. Her slitted pupils dilated over the rosy, frozen goodness. Annani was about to get herself a spoonful but paused. She lifted her bowl, aligning it for her eyes, staring at faraway rolling hills that looked like roseate clouds. Her eyes went back to the ice cream.