Lost is the destination or direction for which he is going. All that rings through his
mind is the word escape. Escape from the dark army that had wiped out the rest of his batallion. But where could it be found? All around is nothing but mile upon mile of grass and wheat. Not that it matters really. He has long since become a machine whos only function was to move one foot in front of the other. Time fails to hold any cognitive meaning anymore. Minutes, hours, perhaps a day or two. He did not even know if the enemy still gave chase.
As steps become more and more labored, it seems this machine would soon lose its steam
and rust.
Suddenly, something in the distance catches the one eye that has not swollen shut. As
memory and sight come together to form thought again, it is recognized as a small
grove. As his minds functions begin working, something tells him he will find his
escape there.
Farther ahead, within that canopy of trees, lithe figures sit under the rainbow canopy of
autumn leaves. Beautifully sculpted bodies seeming carved out of the very things upon
which they are seated. Totally care free are they as chat is past amongst themselves. An odd wind catches one of them and quickly moving out to the edge of the line of trees, the form of the humanoid came into view. Quickly hissing at the others she retreats back inside and seems to disappear into the tree. The others followed suit after the initial surprise. Soon it looks as though no one had ever been there.
Step after trudging step, the man moves towards the grove. A glimmer of hope sparkles
in his eye and new found determination fuels him with renewed vigor. As the wooded
paradise comes closer into view, his steps become faster despite the numbing pain.
Finally he reaches his destination and steps inside. Heaving heavy pants, he moves to the nearest tree and sits himself under its cooling shade.
Above him, eyes look down with disqust when the form drops itself against the tree. Worse than an undead, it is a human. Humans are to greatly despised because they ruthless cut down the homes and entire communities of her people, leaving those who survived to die a slow death. Trees are not only the homes of dryads, but also their life source.
Irritated at his audacity to lie under her tree. Angrily, she shook her leaves, unable to do anything else without leaving the safety of her domicile.
The man continues to pant in and out, holding the wound across his chest, seeing the shaking as a welcome breeze. Listening to nothing but the sound of his own breathing that comes between bloody coughs, a horrible realization came to him; he is going to die. Now tears start welling up in his swollen eyes and stream down through the dirt and grime on his cheek as memories of the wife and daughter he will never return home to. Blood and water seep down onto the ground as he weeps.
From her hiding place just inches from the dying soldier, she sees the fluids fall from him and onto the ground. As they become absorbed into roots, it feels as though the magical creature can feel his pain and sorrow as his end is near. Similar feeling had been felt when animals came and died in the grove, but never have the emotions been as strong as this. Never had she thought humans capable of such deep feelings. As more blood and tears entered the earth, strange feeling crept over her being. Sadness, pity, and compassion; all towards a human of all things.
Cautiously, the supple form steps out of the oak. Gracefully she moves over to his side and gazes down with eyes that look like deep pools. Dark brown skin and yellow-orange-red leafy hair make her look like the tree that now shades them both. She brushes surprisingly soft hands along the cheek of her charge.
Turning his head upward, the man gapes slightly in astonishment. What surprises him even more is when he sees the ethereal maiden over him, he blinks with both eyes! The swelling has gone down and he can see again.
A quiet smile creeps across her face as she looks down at him. Drawing her body closer to him, she runs a dark hand through tussled hair. She is not sure why, but she feels it is her duty the make sure this humans passing is as painless as possible. She and the other dryads have done the same with wounded animals, but never a human. It feels queer but right at the same time.
The gentle touch of the elegant body against him makes the aches and surface damage seem
to vanish into nothingness and for a brief moment, he feels like he is merely going to
sleep for awhile... Sadly, a sudden tremble where the deep wound in his chest still is
brings him back to the grim reality that he is going to die. Again memories of his wife
and daughter fill his mind and tears stream anew down his cheeks.
Pressing a slender finger against his lip with one hand, she makes a hushing motion with her other. Moving her body around, she lifts the mans head onto her lap. Cradling his head in her hands, she looks down at him with an angels smile. All these actions of soothing a human have been unknown to her and yet, after touching this human, they seem a natural thing to do. Bending that head resting atop a long, beautiful neck, she brings her lips over his, kissing him in a passionate and tranquil way.
A wash of total peace flows over the man as dryads lips caress his. The taste is like morning dew and the scent of a potpourri tickles his nose. A slight smile crosses his face and his eyes slowly close. Breathing slows to stillness. Sorrowful memories fade away and soon so does he.
Blinking in surprise, the dryad brings her head up and looks down at the man in shock. A
strange transformation has come over her as the still form lay in her lap. Feelings she has never felt before swam through her mind at a dizzying pace. Images and memories
imprinted themselves in her mind. All the happiness and horror that had ever been a part of the soldier is now a part of her. So is the curse of the dryads gift of healing eternal sleep brings onto others.
Shaking slightly and holding herself, she slowly lifts the man off her and got up.
Moving his body away from the tree, close to the middle of the grove, she uses a final bit
more of her magic to cover his corpse in a blanket of moss.
Walking back to her tree, she feels as though she is being watched judgmentally by her peers and she feels afraid. This is a much different fear than that which animals feel. It is much more terrifying and unknown.
She does not even noticed that some of the leaves in her hair have fallen out as she melds again with her home. As she and the tree become one again, some of the leaves of the oak fall as well and its trunk seems to lean forward slightly.
Though she does not realize it just yet, with the dying of that nameless man, a part of her has died too... [ 03-05-2002: Message edited by: Azymyth ]
The ending was especially good.
sad, but good
I liked it
