Mythical Melancholy

Moon Drunk Monster

The melancholy monster sulked throughout the forest, slowly approaching the clearing atop a hill. It's movement staggered and swayed back and forth with each step, leaving a trail signed in the beast's blood as it continued towards the patch of grass desolate of trees. The moon saturated all with its intoxicating light and glowed vibrantly as the furry silhouette of a fiend appeared to stare longingly into the sky. It's snout raised and back arched, poised to release a mighty howl but as the moon gradually continued its journey across the sky, the night remained silent. The monster's head hung low as it cowered from the deafening silence. It's eyes trembled before the grand sphere as its fears swelled within; the night's quiet was more menacing than the beast ever could be.

Previously, every night of a full moon was filled with the joyful yips, barks, and howls of an endless variety. Howls that no matter how far, always laughed when teased and always responded when called. Then, as tears flowed from tortured eyes and trailed through mangled fur, the beast threw back its head, swallowed a deep breath, and howled with all its spirit into a sky littered with stars. The sound echoed throughout the sedated forest, rebounding off of lonely rocks and stiff hills for miles. Echos were the only response to this monster's call, ghosts of what once filled the quiet hum of the
forest.

"He was once a respected leader but now only a lone wolf... he is all that remains of his pack after a terrible clash with the vampires..." the Moon began in a monotonous tone.

I watched the large beast fall pitifully to the grass as the moon continued. "He knows this deep down but refuses to accept it. Either way, neglecting the matter doesn't help, for it has already happened and it can never be undone."

The atmosphere grew sad and mournful as the cool voice I respected grew sadder. "I fear the night's silence will torture my poor child, it will only ever serve to him as an everlasting reminder of his despicable reality."

I couldn't exactly understand the real problem here, much less sympathize with the monster the way the moon did. What confused me the most was why it had struggled to call for his pack, "Um..." I began, "if 'he' is refusing to believe his pack is gone, then why did he hesitate to call out to them?"

A deep sigh arose, "He hesitated to call out because he fears the answers" the Moon answered bluntly.

"Answers?" I questioned, "I thought there would only be one."

"Yes, there is only one, but every echo that resonates throughout the forest will confirm the worst, and each time it bounces off a cliff or tree it will tell him over and over again that he is alone."

I stared onward at the poor creature, shocked by the moon's truth and could feel myself grow sadder with every unanswered echo that rang throughout the forest.

Moon dust anointed the land as we continued our journey across the sky. The trip suddenly began to take ages as we drifted calmly across the sky and not another word was spoken. I felt unable to surpass the malicious silence drowning out the gusty wind, so I remained quiet and remembered a similar tragedy of my own...

This chapter isn't done but will be continued whenever
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