Two of the Same

Chapter Nineteen *Gwyn*

'So this is what it feels like to be dead?' she mused quietly, her footsteps barely made a sound they carried her along the path of the dark enclosed tunnel. She reached a hand out letting her finger tips trailing along the smooth unseen walls of the tunnel; like a cat using its whiskers it told her that though the tunnel was small there was still enough room to go forward. Gwyn paused for a moment to ponder, would tight spaces have stopped her from going forward? She would have bet the answer was no, there was something that was pulling her, like a line being reeled in, she was being called to go farther, to reach the end of the tunnel and find whatever it was that was waiting for her. All her mind could focus on was the end of the tunnel, the small sliver of light that peered hopeful through the darkness; it was Gwyn's oasis in this midnight dessert and she didn't want lose it.

"Where are you going Gwyn?" The same voice from her dream greeted her, there was no warning or insinuation in the tone, no sense of irony or mockery, just the honest question but she couldn't think of an answer; where was she going? Gwyn hadn't a clue what was waiting for her in that light, what was at the end of this small dark tunnel that didn't seem to have a beginning, at least not one that Gwyn could remember. Wings fluttered in the darkness and from what seemed to be out of thin air an owl glided down softly, landing on her shoulder with such familiarity it was like they were old friends reuniting. The peculiar creature turned its head sideways peering curiously into Gwyn's eyes with its two glowing orbs. "Where are you going?" it asked again but this time it was more forcefully, expectant of an answer. Gwyn grappled with an answering, searching for something to say and finally nodded her head in submission, shrugging her shoulders.

"I don't know." She responded simply, her voice quiet and unsure as she realized her own blind stupidity at walking, unquestioningly, following a path someone else had lain out for her and having no inclination of the purpose or reasoning behind it. She had, just mere moments before, been content with meeting whatever fate that was waiting for her and offering up no alternative journey instead. And as if it had been waiting for that realization to come about, the tunnel expanded instantaneously her entire surroundings changing until the owl and her were standing in the middle of a cross roads, a head of her was the entrance to the tunnel once more, however the light appeared to be closer now than it had been before. To her right there was a plain path, straight and direct, no curves or detours going on forever into the distance. To her left there was a curving path obscured by mist, but she could tell there were diversions from the paths; trails branching away leading to different destinations and some leading back to the original path after winding itself backwards and around other paths. It was confusing and yet the simple fact that Gwyn couldn't seen beyond the first couple of steps made her want to know what else could be found along that path. She peered back over her shoulder and saw no path behind her, just foot prints that seemed to float after her lingering like a faint memory. She turned to the elder owl perched on her shoulder who was looking at the paths with a curious gleam within its old eyes.

"Where should I go?" She asked quietly but her voice echoed louder and louder throughout the empty place eerily, making it seem as though there was someone speaking from each of the path's, all asking the same question. The owls eyes expressed a sorrowful smile of sorts, like a mother pitying its child for the pain she knew he was going to experience but encouraging him on, knowing the pain was necessary for him to learn, to live. Gwyn knew, even before she had asked, this was not going to be a choice that could be made for her; it was finally up to her to decide. Again she looked ahead of her, only this time the light had lost it's inviting glow, instead it only looked like a looming threat, full of mystery but still imposing it's finality.

"If I go down that way I'll die, won't I?" She said but there was no fear in her voice, Gwyn wanted to know this, she wanted to know what she was up against.