The Archetype Chronicles

1: Enter: Gabriel & Jane

Once upon a time, there lived a boy, rather, a young man--a man of the noble, adventurous type--a hero, if you will. He was striking in feature, strong in stature, and pure in heart. This boy could easily be labeled idealistic, but there was an innocence about about that idealism that made it precious. There lived also a girl, rather, a young woman--equally striking in feature, strong in will, and pure in heart. This girl could easily be labelled a dreamer, but like the boy there was an innocence--a true belief that her dreams could be attained-- which made even the most audacious of dreams beautiful. One day, the two met, and they fell in love. Later the lovers were married and began to erect a small house on a rolling emerald-green hill. They were happy and prosperous as they built their lives on that hill. Before long though, the happiness that they had always known lost its appeal. What once was joyful was now predictable--archetypical. Both silently wished for their world to be shaken. Each hoped for something new, interesting, and even dangerous, but neither knew how much it would cost.

- - -

One drowsy day on the emerald hill, the couple laid staring at cottony clouds after one of many hillside picnics. She was gazing at the clouds; he was letting himself doze away.

"Oh, look. A flower," She said as she looked at the clouds.

"Yeah," He replied, his eyes still closed.

"And that one looks like a hot-air balloon. I'd love to ride in one."

"Maybe some day, love."

"A dragon."

"You know, I love that imagination of your's."

"A dragon, Gabriel." she sounded uneasy.

"Is the cloud that scary?" He couldn't see the immense shadow now enveloping the hill.

"Gabriel. Gabriel! Wake up!" She was crying now. Gabriel felt a rush of wind over his body. He sat up immediately, but it was too late. With a rapture of Crimson wings and wind, she was lifted into the air by the great claws of a terrible beast-- a dragon. Blood red, with large wings and sharp features, it flew on as Gabriel ran after it.

Through tears, he could only manage her name as he watched her be stolen away,"Mary Jane! Jane..."