Silky Feathers

Dark Forest

A sky, dark and bland with nothing but stars. Stars are all he sees anymore. A brisk breeze fills the night air followed by the sound of leaves moving, falling, and speaking. The trees always speak but the words are never heard by anyone. Staring up is like looking into a bottomless abyss where only shimmers of lost souls glow ever-so slightly. The sound of leaves moving steadies until all can be heard is the sleeping sound of a horse. A heavy sigh escapes his mouth and sorely travels through the silent night. His horse neighs quietly and licks his cheek.

“Hey- cut that out!” He says softly with a slight chuckle.

“Yet another lonely night, huh buddy?”

The horse neighs in agreement, shaking his head. Silky stood up with his horse and put his things away. He thought it was about time they set off again to his destination. As silky mounts his horse he sees to the south a dim light heading his direction at a steady pace. He shut his eyes and concentrated his thinking in that direction to check on this light but the dark moon was out. No luck looking that direction, he hides himself and his horse and waits, looking towards the lights direction.

“Stay quiet. We might be in trouble.” Silky says whispered and breathy, petting his snout. What seemed like hours was only minutes as the light got closer. He saw a person on horse, but unsure what kind of person. Silky took a blueish stone out of a pouch and threw it out in the open quietly after speaking into it. A mirage of himself appears and speaks out.

“Hello? Who's there?” He exclaimed. A large neigh from the horse echoes softly through the night as the mysterious person dismounts and speaks in a hearty voice, deep and slightly raspy.

“Hello! Might you be Silky?” He spoke loudly.

“That would be I. What can I do you for, sir?” Silky replies. The man walks forward a few steps. He’s tall with a muscular body followed by rugged, short brown hair. His eyes have a shiftiness as if he’s always on his toes. He gives laugh that echoes through the trees.

“I’m from Kataran. It’s a small village south of here. My name is Ramor and I have been sent to give you a message by an old man that goes by Gerret.” He said.  

“Gerret you say? What is this message, Ramor?” Silky Spoke. Ramor reached into his bag and pulled out something wrapped in cloth. Its elongated with a large bump in the middle.

“He said cryptically ‘It’s yours now. Take it to Yarnam but never use it alone.’ Do you know what he means?” Ramor said in a confused voice. The mirage of silky disappears as he jumps out of hiding and rushes towards Ramor, grabbing the item from his hand.

“Don’t just wave it around! Didn’t he tell you to be careful with it?!” Silky yelled. He quickly put the item in a bag and wrapped soft blankets around it.

“Now that you mention it, he did say to be careful. My-” Ramor was interrupted but rustling noises all around him and silky.

“Shh! Do you have a weapon?” Silky exclaims in a whisper as he takes out his small sword. Ramor takes out a dagger with a ivory hilt.

“What’s going on?” He whispered.

“I’ll explain later, quietly get on your horse and follow me. Put that torch out while you’re at it.” Silky replied. Ramor got on his horse after putting the torch out. Silky got on his horse and began going west slowly and making sure they weren’t getting followed on their journey.

“We’ll be safer when day breaks, which is close.” Silky spoke softly. Ramor didn’t speak a single word for a few hours as they traveled.

The sun began rising upon the horizon and started lighting everything around them. The brisk morning air blows on their faces and making their hair wave around. Silky closes his eyes and puts his arms out, embracing the wind. As the sun rises further, the dark moon sets and disappears. Silky feels energized from the moon's absence and breathes in deeply.