Black Feather Falls (COMPLETE)

The Little Things (17)

Outside

The wind howled with a monstrous undertone, bending the snow to its twisted will. All that stood before me was a sea of white, forcing me to relive the memories of when I was stuck in Delebit Oblivio.

A flicker of white light glistened through the canopy of the trees outside of the house. I moved closer to it, slowly being deafened by the vicious snow that's juxtaposing the erratic detonations in the distance. Minus the waxing explosions, the howling snow and white light brought to my memory a dream I'd had a couple years ago about a woman trapped in a forest. I trudged through the snow, opting to walk towards the explosion knowing my wings could not withstand the turbulence.

The gale fought me every step of the way; my eyes occasionally deterred from the path ahead and down to my body. My eyes would flutter between seeing myself walking and the woman from my dreams. I could not deduce what was happening to me but it mattered not; it fit perfectly inside the realm of strange occurrences in my life. I had no reason to be afraid but fear twisted inside my heart like prickly thorns. I kept walking toward the warring angels but upon arrival, I realized it was not them.

The snow drifted past my widened eyes, bringing into view a castle more beautiful than any I'd seen before. I stood on its outskirts peering through the grilled steel gates. I was at the far end of the pathway that led up to the castle. I pushed the gate and gently smiled, realizing that the hand in front of me was my own. I wonder if this is the woman's memories?

The ashy brown and otherwise colored cobblestone pathway was spottily laden with black leaves from the trees. On each side leading all the way to its pinnacle were tall black caged lanterns, willfully giving the snow washed atmosphere its luminescence.  I marveled at the castle that stood before me, unable to believe that it was even possible to real.

My reflection came into view in a strangely unfrozen puddle of water. The entirety of my appearance had completely transformed. My hair was no longer long, straight, nor was it midnight black. It was the polar opposite. My hair was now as white as Israel's but shorter and curlier with a lot more volume and luster with faded sides. Similarly, both my eyes, brows, lashes and my clothing were all white as the falling snow.

The keenness of my sense of hearing awakened at the chattering sounds coming from the compound. I sauntered in the direction of the sound, past the massive leviathan statue and through the narrow pathway leading into the backyard. I pushed through a rickety old gate, cringing as it whined on its weathered hinges; I was greeted to an even more breathtaking view.

The backyard was completely blanketed by snow, yet not overpowered; its flora and fauna fought with valiance to express their colorful appeal through the ocean of white. The wind wailed, signaling to me that the gentle snow was swiftly becoming harsh. The back of the castle was just as beautiful; it's shrouded by moonlight, decorated by flowers and trees of all kinds. My thick white trench coat swayed in the breeze as I strolled towards the source of the murmurs. I walked slouched over against the cold, protecting my white eyes from increasingly ravenous snow. My feet drowned in the snow, forcing me to mitigate my movements carefully until I no longer had to. I was on solid ground.

A cobblestone pathway, questionably not covered in snow emerged at my feet. I walked the pathway, as trees and flowers loomed into my vision bringing to life this now snow drenched once mirthful garden. A great gazebo, with unbelievable length and width, came into vision. Silvery flakes drifted down, shimmering in the shining light of the harvest moon. The four corners of the gazebo were designed in an intricately designed twist, thin enough to not overwhelm the design but thick enough to hide whoever was sitting under it.

Two women sat on the bench. The first a slender and voluptuous vixen with straight, deep shimmering midnight blue hair, with eyes to match dressed in a black, thick wintry coat and matching snow boots. The other lady would've almost mirrored her in the image if not for her aquamarine eyes and curly ocean blue hair. She's wrapped in a thick white fleece trench coat and heeled snow boots. I stood on the outskirts of the gazebo and listened intently to their conversation.