During the first real snowfall of the year, two shadows moved slowly across the newborn landscape. White flakes shingled down from an overcast sky and wrapped the padded backs of the wanderers in a cold blanket, but melted quickly when coming in contact with the warm ground. Like shadows they appeared, one at the very beginning of its life and the other close to the end. Both moved with difficulty, wobbly legs struggling to keep up with tired ones that just barely had enough strength left to push forward.
They treaded carefully the treacherous path that led to the shrines of the Gods, led by the glowing veins as dusk fell over the lands. They were quiet, silenced as much by the peaceful serenity of winters touch as the strain of a long journey. And what was there to say, really, when they had already revealed everything that was in their hearts? It has been said that love knows no boundaries, but some obstacles are too tall to be passed over easily, for mere mortals who's time is never long enough.
As the trail ended and the goal of their journey became visible through the curtain of gently falling snow, the old mare stopped and allowed herself a moment to catch her breath. The foal by her side mimicked the way she sighed and slumped down onto the ground, a small bundle of dull black feathers and vivid blue eyes that gazed around curiously. He was too tired to walk anymore, but not so much that the novelty of the world would let him sleep. With a belly full from the last time they paused for dinner and his mother by the side, he had everything a newborn could ask for.
Or so he believed.
He did not see the sadness in the old unicorns eyes as she leaned down and nuzzled the tiny ears, and even if he had he wouldn't understand the reason for it. Neither did he hear the silent prayer whispered to the gods of the realm, to watch over this tiny shard of life she had bestowed upon the world, so fragile yet. And occupied by the cold crystals that fell upon the nose as he was, he didn't notice how she quietly turned around and left, footfalls silent in the soundless world of snow and darkness.
It wasn't out of cruelty that the mare abandoned her first and only son on the threshold of the godly realm, nor was it out of spite. She loved him like she had loved the stallion she met only seasons earlier, a romance blossoming only at the autumn of their lives. But now her time had come, and rather than to leave her most precious gem to mortals she had never known and never trusted, she chose to put her faith in the Gods that she never prayed to. Maybe they could see to it that he ended up in a good place, and maybe one of them might even be willing to provide with knowledge and the curse and blessing that was power. It tore her heart asunder to turn and walk from the dark figure on the ground, so small and lonesome in the whole wide world. She wouldn't leave him to cry over her cold dead body, prey to wolves and cats, truly abandoned with no one to turn to.
This was her gift to her son, her precious Kamien, and may the gods spare his life, if they saw fit to do so. It was in their hands now.
|
.svg/2000px-Google_Chrome_icon_(2011).svg.png){kind=icon}
