Sea of Embers

Broken Silence

Jane's Lament by Kim Planert 

 "You are fire, Denahi,

It's time you remember

Why you Ignited."

(-Lorenzo)

Quote by me!

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 Inhale.

Focus.

Exhale.

Relax.

Inhale.

Pull back.

Don't lose your target.

Exhale.

Wait for that perfect shot.

Don't strain.

Inhale.

And......

Release

There was a sharp wizz of wood and stone slicing through the still, early morning mist. Then, a thump as it struck its target. The doe, neck now pouring blood, jumped several feet into the air before bounding off into the thick pine, hind legs flailing wildly behind her.

I stood, revealing my location to be behind a large pine tree, which was surrounded by several scraggly bushes and lush vibrant underbrush.

I flinched at a sharp stab of pain in my skull, a small gasp leaving my lips . Lifting my arms, I attempted to use the heels of my hands to massage my temples, a grimace on my face, no doubt. I had always hated that. My connection with those animals ran deep into my bones. I could feel them, feel their thoughts and fears. I felt everything they did, especially during their last moments. The haunting mental cries of pain and sadness they made before death echoed in my mind. I almost preferred the cries of agony than the silence that followed. The emptiness in my mind that didn't seem to belong. It left me aching, left me regretting my decision, and wanting to undo what I had done. But that was the way of life.

I disliked that simple fact even more, especially when I had been drafted. I felt everything my enemies felt. Everything. I could describe in complete detail, how they saw me in their last moments.

A halo of dark, curly hair flying wildly around my head. My dark skin almost glowing in the pale moonlight. The stab of agonizing pain in their abdomen as I thrust my sword into their body. The glint of pain in my eyes as I took a life that I had no right to take, but was forced to anyway.

Taking several long bounds forward, I loped in the direction of the doe.

Life looked so infinitely small, so minuscule and fragile. I tried not to remember my moments on the battlefield as I ran. The muscles in my calf bunched up as I took a running leap over a fallen tree.

As I leaped over the corpse of the only friend I ever had in that condemned trainee camp.

My arms swung in an even pace at my side, my breathing level and controlled.

Running through that large field on the right of the main battlegrounds. Snarling reached my ears, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand straight up.

They released the hounds.

The baying got louder as they bounded after me.

My pace slowed as I neared the doe, standing in a small clearing where the trees broke off for about one hundred yards before coming to a close once again. she was weakening, hind legs trembling, front legs kneeled into the earth. It was heartbreaking for me to watch another life fade into the darkness at the fault of my own hands.