Touched With Gold

Chapter 1

-Laren-

     Pulling on her jacket, Laren stepped into the cool night air. She had been home for months, but could not bring herself to enter the trees. Finally she had slipped into a mundane routine. Sleep, eat, work, eat, sleep; the list rattled through her mind. Tonight, sleep could wait. It was time to brave the forest. As a child, she had roamed through the forest as if it were her backyard, and she missed it. Memories of that terrible typhoon had been plaguing her since the day she got home. The storm, her parents, their mangled bodies trying to cling to each other one last time. A combined and rushed funeral, cremation instead of a burial. Being whisked away to live with her godparents, her only remaining family. It had been too much to take in, the torrent of memories assaulting her. But now, she needed to do this, face her fear of the forest she loved and despised all at the same time. No matter how long she put it off, the forest would still be there, taunting and calling her. Those trees could not yield that night and bring back the past, but she would not let them take her future too. Halting at the border, she took a deep breath, and was once again assaulted with a familiar memory.

     It was clear tonight, she mused as she shrugged on her jacket. Beautiful night for a walk. Looking around briefly, she entered the woods instead of her usual jaunt across the sandy beach. The leaves almost stilled as she basked in the beauty around her. Night owl voices rang through the air as the forest began to breathe again. She heard its whispers as she started to move. Seeming as if the forest had life of its own, the whispers called for her to join in their song. As she softly wandered deeper, the air seemed to swirl around, playing and dancing, beckoning her on.

     The peaceful memory was almost enough to  propel her forward. Tonight the sky was clear again, as it had been that night. Laren felt the pull keenly, but hesitated still. That night long ago had lured her in, but then her life had changed forever at the mercy of the same limbs and trees that called to her now. One foot, then the other, slowly started toward the trees. Everything within her wanted to bound in and run with the breeze. She knew she had to push herself, face her fears, but they betrayed her once again, hurling yet another memory through.

     Lightning crackled and whipped through her as she woke to darkness. The skies were still heaving their turmoil. Crawling from her position on the floor, she immediately sensed that her parents were still not home safe. There was no steady breathing of others inside, no telling comforts of home. Her house was still empty and she was still waiting; still alone.

     Clenching her fists, Laren admonished herself for her fear. Now was not the time; she needed to do this. Shaking as if to remove the inopportune memory, she pushed herself on. Bracing herself, she let herself be swallowed up by the trees. Surprisingly, her hurt eased rather than grew. Once again the comfort of this wood caught her off guard. After expecting a rush of emotions and pain, the quiet was more than welcome. The trees, the ground, the leaves-everything was familiar. And quiet, she thought again. Too quiet.

                                                                                              -Faine-

     After making camp for the night, Faine settled in to have a hot meal. When satisfied, he leaned back, gazing at the night sky. It was warmer here, near the valley floor, but the stars were lacking their usual luster. Gazing at them, he realized they were too far away. Away from his mountainous home,  he couldn’t feel them as well. A small voice tugged at the corners of his mind. That’s the only reason, is it? It has nothing to do with justice for your actions? Growling softly, he rolled over, nudging the thought back to it’s hidden recesses. Trying to relax, he focused on his task.
     He knew roughly where he was headed, but he had nothing but her name and some vague outlines of a younger version of her. Laren. It had been too long since he had seen her. Twenty years was a long time for friends to be away from each other. By now she would be all grown up as well, and might not even remember him. But he refused to acknowledge that thought. She had been the only one there when he had needed someone the most. Friendship like that couldn’t be forgotten. Could it? Scoffing at his insecurities, he drifted off to sleep and allowed his memories to be his only reality for awhile. Things were simpler when he slept. Memories could be dreams and dreams could be an escape.