Shadow dancers

TWO

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"- Socrates

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A name is such a simple thing, just a noise made with the air of someones lungs that another responds to. A classification of sorts though as well, you are your name. So am I nothing because I don't have one? "How would I get a name" I asked into the silence, Cade had decided that just sitting in the forest was boring and we were now walking through it. Our destination seemed random considering that all the trees grew oddly identical, but Cade was calm and sure. He looked over at me "Im not sure there are any rules, I think you can just choose one" 

"But how would I know if it was right?" I replied. I was sure scrunching my face up wasn't very attractive, not that I knew what I looked like anyway, but I couldn't help it. The whole idea was confusing. Cade laughed, which changed my expression from confusion to a scowl. Apparently being laughed at wasn't nice. 

"Your such an innocent thing" was all he said. We fell back into silence after that. Though I didn't really bother me, the forest was rather interesting to watch and as we moved through it so silently it was although we weren't even there. Up close the boring similarity I had overlooked turned into an intricate beauty that made me stare in awe. All of the trees were covered in what seemed like carvings, swirls and loops covered the trees bark. Some made out tiny pictures, symbols I didn't quite understand. The leaves were all uniform and shone a brilliant white. They weren't covered in the markings but still stood out with there angelic glow. "This is called the forest of infinity" Cade spoke up, noticing my growing curiosity. "Its sacred, never here has a tree died or even a leaf been stolen. In our lore it represents the place we call The Middle, a world were its inhabitants are not dead but no longer alive, because of this their lives become infinite, as one that is not alive cannot die." 

"That sounds like a contradictory place" I said my eyebrows raised. 

"I guess it is" He said in reply. 

We walked on for a bit longer, Cade's pace always matching my observing dawdle. I was thankful for that, I assume he had walked through here many times and was most likely no longer impressed as I was. Although I could never imagine myself bored in a place like this. Cade stopped at the edge of the forest and without the leaves covering the sky the moon was even more striking. Luminescent and  speckled with a greyish blue it loomed over us. I raised my hand, a childish part of me wishing to touch it. However once you looked past it, the stars held a beauty that rivalled it. They shimmered and glowed, some winking and slow others shooting past. All in varying shades of blue and silver they stood out stark against the black sky. "Watch out or you will fall off" Cade called out making me tear my eyes away in shock.  Turned out the forest ended right before the edge of a cliff. My feet a mere inch away from where the ground turned to air. "I guess I'm a bit to enthusiastic" I said sheepishly  turning around and walking back to him. We sat on the ground my still sore muscles finally getting to relax after all the walking. "What about Astraea?" Cade asked me as he laid back on the ground his eyes trained on the sky. I looked at him blankly, what was he talking about? "Ah what do you mean" I questioned. 

"A name, Astraea. I think the meaning will suit you" 

"Which is?" I said still a bit puzzled. The name sounded nice though, aa-st-r-EH-a, I sounded it out. 

"In another world, and time I guess, Astraea was a goddess. One of justice and innocence, her name meant star maiden and all though she was indeed a goddess, being the daughter of the god of dusk and the the goddess of dawn, she lived amongst the mortals. However a new age dawned bringing misery and wickedness  she abandoned the world taking of to the sky where she fulfilled her name and became a star. You for one look very star like" He looked at me when he finished his story before turning his gaze back to the stars. I did too. 

Astraea, I liked it although it felt a little vain to name yourself after a goddess. The fact that he mentioned that I looked like a star was a little curious, I suppose it was a compliment as the stars we were currently observing were nothing but beautiful. But I had no idea what I looked like at all, was it something I should be bothered by? 

"I have no idea what I look like" I thought aloud, my voice was quiet but I knew he would hear me. He chuckled, 

"I wouldn't worry about that, but you will see soon. Its properly best if you sleep, most would be exhausted by now." 

I nodded letting the sleepy feeling take over, I wondered idly if I should feel scared or uncertain, but sleep had already taken over before I could think into those thoughts in detail.