Shadow dancers

ONE

It was like my body had forgotten that time existed. 

But I guess in a sense it never did. Time, that is. Had days past, months, years? Or was it just an hour? I wouldn't even know how to start to figure that out. I couldn't figure much out. I was awake, at least thats what I thought. My mind had been numbed. That was the closest explanation for it, nothing hurt but everything felt wrong. Why was I here, What was happening? I assume those are questions I should be considering. But honestly I didn't really care. The ground was cold, I think thats what cold feels like, but it didn't bother me. I was just there. Where, how, why, when, who, it was all gone. Should I care? Sure a part of me felt curious, but why? For all I know my entire life could've been spent pondering this. This was all I knew. Whether I had known more before was just a wonder floating in the back of my mind. 

"You have the expression of someone who's reading to much into life". A voice broke into the inner chatter. So I wasn't alone, not that I had asked that question. I guess I must not of been alive/here/awake that long, for surely it must be sane to put together that if I existed, others must. What a selfish breed of creature I must be if not. "Opening your eyes would be a good start" The voice rang out again. Eyes, I had those. Right? The word must of alerted some instinct inside of me for I was suddenly exposed to, well world. It was dark, but I could see clearly. Plant life, I recognised that. A forest, some part of my mind filled in. I was lying in a forest. If I was lying I must have a body, substance. A figure blocked out my vision of the forest, a he. Im not sure how I knew. Maybe I had known more before, maybe this wasn't my only life. That would make some sense. "H..how did, you. How did you know what I was thinking about?" I asked my voice stuttering as I learnt to use it. 

"Really is that the first question?"  He said with a chuckle. "Perhaps I need to leave you to ponder some more, so you can create something to compete with those ancient philosophers of old. The ones we always hear sophisticated people quote"  

I just stared at him unsure of how to reply. What should I say? His face was nice to look at anyway. He shook his head, looking amused. "Why don't you sit up, It might help you understand everything a bit better". I moved to sit up, my limbs achey. I felt like I had been stretched out, every fibre of my body torn. I just hope that my body hadn't suffered amnesia too. That it hadn't forgotten to repair itself. Upright I had a better view of my surroundings and  my eyes drank it all in. Dark, nighttime? There was a moon and it took up most of the sky, the rest was scattered with so many stars it looked like the moon was melting. Maybe it was. The forrest was open and expansive and some of the shadows inside seemed to move and sway in the non existent wind. The moonlight was strong enough that I could see and the whole place had a bluish grey tint it. I turned back to him. "Who am I" I asked trying to piece myself together in all this. It was beautiful, but so... unfamiliar. Which wouldn't make sense if I had just been, what? born? 

"I wouldn't know, all I know is that you chose this. Perhaps you wanted to become something new. Perhaps you didn't want to know who you were." He said. His voice was upbeat however, sounding slightly odd with the sadness of the words he was sharing. What could lead a person to want nothing but to forget everything they were. I must of said that aloud as he followed with; 

"A lot, surprisingly"  his eyes looking into mine. I shivered. 

"Another question then." I said "Who are you?" 

"Me? Well I think most define by name, which is Cade by the way, but who I am I will let you figure out" again his voice was happy, as though finding me in a forest wasn't a strange occurrence. I guess I was selfish again for assuming I was the only one who had ended up like this. At least I now knew his name. "I don't know my name" I told him focusing my eyes on a dancing shadow and away from him. 

"I wouldn't worry, I don't know many who do" was all he replied with.