STONES OF THE HIGHLAND *CLOSED*

A New Dawn (Original Ch2)

A young man rested on a hill overlooking the campsite watching the sun climb steadily into the dim morning sky. As the sun climbed further into the open air, the gray soon became bleached and then faded in to a burst of colors. The gloriously vivid red created by the golden globe melted to a brilliant orange and yellow. The deep violet and midnight blue of the night soon gave way to these colors and joined in the dawning, patterning the sky with a cerulean blue as bright and deep as the Chasind River that flowed through the forest.

The gray blocky mass that rested on the horizon, was given shape and form as the rays of the dawn gave the forest an aura of light, etching leaves with gold. The sun crept along the horizon as if refusing to get out of bed and start the day. It's beams of light piercing the feathery red-underbelly of the clouds that floated in the unending heavens.

Virr gazed on watching the light and colors dance in delight. Everything was in place, after years wasted in this hellish army, he finally had a plan set in motion for him and his friends. It was one of the most beautiful sunrises Virr had ever remembered viewing and for once, through all the hell he experienced since the start of the crusade, he felt at peace. It was a new dawn. The young man stretched and yawned. His brown hair was tied in a ponytail that danced with the wind, his long bangs cascading gracefully over his eyes. He closed his eyes and breathed in the air and scent of the forest. He sighed calmly and laid back down on the grassy knoll, chewing on a blade of grass that dangled, limply from his mouth. His mind drifting back to when he was a child lying down on a grassy knoll that watched over the coast of his hometown.

"I thought I would be able to find you up here, Lieutenant," Desiree, here to ruin his fun. The harshly spoken words cut the silence. He rolled his eyes but couldn't help letting a small smile flitter on his lips. Her words were stern, but not without a sense of relief and adoration. It made Virr think of his mother when she would lecture him. A slight chuckle escaped his chapped lips.

"Good morning, Desiree," the reclining man said. "How does this fine morning find you?" He said simply. He stood and dusted himself off. His hands thumped lightly against his black and crimson chest piece. He plucked the straw from his mouth and flicked it onto the ground, smiling warmly at her.

"I'd be doing better if I didn't have to keep a constant eye on you." Her voice was pointed, but flirtatious. She couldn't help but smile back at him. The two had been a part of the same unit going on twenty years now, you'd think she'd be used to it.

"True, but somehow you always seem to find me nevertheless," Virr said scratching the back of his head. His smile reminded Desiree of a fox pup, cunning and silly.

"I do." She said flatly ambling over to him, arms wrapped across her breasts. "We will be departing in a half hour; you best hurry up if you don't want to be left behind," Desiree said calmly, although her icy glare warned of a different lesson.

He looked at her in response. "I suppose you have point, Desi." He smiled coyly his usually bright blue eyes were hollow in the morning light as if lost in thought, he sat back down using a nearby Oak tree as a backrest. "Join me? It will be a while until we can actually have a chance to watch the sun rise again." Desiree felt a smile escape her.

She sighed hopelessly and walked over to him, shaking her head. "I guess there's no harm in that," she said as she sat next to him.

"So, you do know how to relax then," he smirked. Desiree rolled her eyes and shook her head. A long silence embraced the couple as they gazed into the sky. A family of orioles chortled away their soft songs, filling the air with a sweet, alluring melody. It was the first time in months that Virr had managed a chance to take time out of his repetitive routine to enjoy living another a day and the beauty that surrounded him.