The Shadows of Nature

22. The Raven

The red scales glimmered under the powerful sun, the white spots reflecting a mellow shine of yellow. The creature's wings covered the sky for the ground, providing shade to the creatures below while opening the path to a new realm. Such great morals were reflected on the creature's expression, a gentle ferocity in his gaze. He heard a faraway melody as he closed his eyes, the grand echoes of a mythical aura sensed by his consciousness. He faced the sky as he opened his jaw, a string of fire trailing towards that realm. Such a mysterious element it was, fire. A form of energy unlike the other elements, one that could be produced by the creature only because of the atmosphere of the land.

He reached the abyss with the other few dragons behind, few on the ground and few coming through the passage of water. An ethereal feel overcame the dragon as it stared into the fiery chasm. The Land was a symbol of home, though whose home it was, was a matter of perspective. Such thoughts didn't matter to the dragon because it held no curiosity only wisdom. This land's environment was responsible for the evolution of the creature, their connection to their sun and fire prominent in the dragons and the phoenixes. In other lands other mythical creatures existed, or perhaps they would exist in the future, but few creatures were the same across all universes. These mythical ones were connected across a dimension, thinking that the other was a legend while they went on with their lives. Only those who were aware of certain truths knew that no story was unreal, and all one the Land of Hearth were aware.

Suddenly, as the darkness came, the dragon felt the faint and oddly familiar presence of a Shadow that hid within the sight of the Sun's fire. Under the cover of the night that enormous creature approached, its white eyes the only indication of its presence. Its body could be consisting of skin, scales, feathers or anything else; the appearance of the illusion changed from perspective to perspective. However, it had always been known by one name.

The Raven of Hearth.

Perhaps the name was so because of the darkness of its vessel, or because it guided the souls of the dead living things to the place they had to go to till they realised the Truth. But its presence brought a sense of comfort and duty to the dragons as life moved for them, adopting a spiritual journey. They were one of the living things to inhabit the land at that point of time, but were certainly the most powerful.

They had gathered there simply as an action of respect for the Raven, something practiced every year. It was said that on that day, certain souls would 'celebrate' death to help those souls part from the living.

Time began to pass for Mildred as the scenes shifted. The warmth of the air lightened but was still comforting, an alleviating breeze blowing through most seasons, now. However, the end of a dragon's age came closer, the old and wise beings slowly leaving the materialistic plane. Their period of existence was passing and they understood that fact, no new ones being born due to the large energy required and the changes in the environment. Eventually, the moment approached.

Radiations emerged from the mouth of that large fold of land, distorting the image of the sky. The heated orange flowed over the cold white with a sudden force, making its way towards the land of the living creatures. The dragons helped to transport those living in the area in a safe zone, though there was not much time. The only ones who stood any chance against such heat, such energy were them. So the five followed the gestures of the one dragon of Hearth as they stood in the way of the lava, preparing themselves for the impact. At once they understood that this was no ordinary phenomenon; after years had that volcano erupted and its liquid carried nature's force.

Few creatures standing behind the dragons were harmed by that fluid fire, but many were safe. Their time would come in the future for they had to live at that point of time. The dragons accepted their end, the energy in the lava tearing away the particles of their bodies, their souls leaving those vessels. So much zeal was released, some returning to the land but most going back to their dimension. However, the land needed the essence of the dragons to remain. The energy had to be preserved.