Two of the Same

Chapter Eleven *Avian*

Night had fallen on the small traveling group when they had finally stopped riding. Weary Avian practically fell from the saddle of his horse. His back ached and he smelled of dirty horse, he really did hate horses. Avian looked around to see his companions appear to be just a travel as he was, but he found a small comfort in knowing that they were extremely close to their first recruit. That in its self would be a greater challenge all on its own, and with that in mind they would all need to get themselves a good nights rest.

"We should camp here tonight." Avian said walking over to Gwyn's horse. Her eye lids looked heavy and her head lolled slightly. She gave a little moan of exhaustion, "Yes, yes that sounds like a good idea." she murmured her words slurring slightly. She pushed herself up from her saddle and tried to swing her leg around but the action proved to be too much for her in her sleep deprived state. She slipped and as fast as a blink of the eye Avian was at her side, catching her before she could hit the ground. His arms wrapped around securely, pressing her thin frame against his chest. He could feel her trembling from the cold as her head fell back onto his shoulder, she barely had enough strength to keep her eyes open as she lifted her head to look at him.

"I'm sorry, lost my footing," she whispered and tried to stand up on her own, but Avian couldn't find the strength to let her go. She was so close to him, and it brought him both comfort and burden. Her mere presence tore at his innards like a hawk's talons, ripping and shredding him from the inside out. His mind was racked with scenarios as the skin on her neck was illuminated in the pale moonlight. He could picture himself in his mind leaning down, his lips brushing the hallow of her neck gently in one moment, and in the next he could see his fangs ripping into her throat, her blood pouring out all over the both of them as her life slipped away in mere seconds. Unnerved by his conflicting emotions, he let her go. This woke Gwyn up, she starred at him confused with his sudden change in actions. He coughed uncomfortably reaching behind him to rub his neck.

"Er, you should get some sleep, we have a long day tomorrow." He murmured awkwardly and turned quickly on his heel, leaving Gwyn standing alone with a confused hurt look on her face.

Avian lay on his back in the dirt, starring at the stars for the longest time, sleep eluding him. His mind was fighting against him filled with different thought that raced each other to the for front of his mind, colliding and competing for his attention. He groaned in frustration digging the heels of his hands into his eyes, he rolled over on his side trying to find a more comfortable position on the rocky ground. He took his hands away and saw Gwyn, his breath caught in his throat. She was only a few yards away; she was curled up in a ball, the blanket wrapped tightly around her thin body. Avian starred, transfixed by the tranquil quality her face took on as she slept, it was as if all the worries of the world melted away as she succumbed to her own dreams. It was as if this was the only moment she could allow herself the luxary of not being responsible for the rest of the world, but only be obligated to her own thoughts. He watched the gentle rise and fall of the blanket, each breath blowing the hair out of her face only to have it settle back against her cheek. As he watched her sleep he could feel the incessant buzz of his own mind began to slow, the noise fading away into the silence of the night and avian faded to, drifting away into his own dreams.

Avian found himself walking, slowly, picking himself through a war torn battle ground that was pitted and scarred from all sorts of war machines and tactics. The ground was soaked with blood but the bodies were nowhere to be seen. His footsteps echoed as though he were in a small hallway and not an expansive open field.

"Hello?" had called out his voice had sounded warped. It was then that he saw something lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. Avian felt inexplicable panic and had run over to the figures side. He reached out, turning the unconscious person over onto their back. He cried out; in his arms was Gwyn. Her skin was deathly pale and marred with claw marks that seemed to cover her entire body.