Shadow of Sohvan

Wind howled through the canyon. Boulders littered the floor while moss and grass clung to shear rock walls. Cut granite cliffs towered skyward on each side like blades of an axe. Here and there rays of light would pierce the shade of the gorge. Two figures navigated between boulders down the gully. The leading one’s appearance resembled much of a wraith. A tattered black cloak ebbed and flowed from behind a simple white mask. A sharp gale struck his hood causing it to billow about but it never fell from its hold around his head. Gloved hands traced from rock to rock while pebbles rolled out from in front of his quickened pace. Following step for step, Trina trailed him. Her long brown hair rose and fell as she traversed the valley floor. Like a spider the masked man ascended some grey hulking rocks. In one quick motion, Trina leapt and lifted herself to the precipice of the same boulder. Her hazel eyes flashed to her companion who stood waiting for her, perched near a hole in the rock face. “A storm is coming.” He pointed with his white glove toward the black thunderheads rolling behind the towering mountains. “You can rest here out of the rain.” He turned his head toward the cave entrance. Trina glanced at the cave mouth before responding, “No. Let’s press on.” Her face set in a visage of resolve. “Then rest until I bring food.” His masked face turned away toward the canyon. “You won’t be able to keep my pace for long.” A deafening crack of thunder split the stillness of the ravine. “If we keep this pace, you will need to rest too.” She added. Droplets came first, and then rain poured all around them. Trina watched beads trickle down his white mask while he remained crouching. Slowly, he shook his head. “I do not.” Heavy drops began to fall. Like a river, water surged down the canyon walls. “Go inside.” Trina hesitated for a moment searching for a way to continue the argument. When nothing came to her mind, she lowered her head before ducking down into the cave. This shelter helped very little as rain spilled into the entrance soaking her. With the swift movement of her hand, she brushed her dripping bangs from her eyes. Inside the hole, she watched the cloaked figure move out into the middle of the valley. He scaled a boulder much like a panther would a tree. From atop the enormous rock, he kneeled. With his head bent toward the ground, he placed his gloved hand to his chest. For a few minutes she watched him before she pulled herself out from the cave entrance and approached him. Tears from heaven showered all around the two. “I’m not hungry. I’m not tired either. Let’s just keep going.” His mask stared at the floor before rising. Her hand rested at her waist, gripping the crystal rose. Globules of water would form in patches on her soaked sleeves. Her saturated brown locks clung to her shoulders. Behind the curtain her eyes gleamed. Trina waited patiently for some time before he spoke. “What do you see when you gaze into the flower?” Still he did not move. Trina’s vision flashed down at the flower before returning to the mask. “I see Shadow.” He paused, breathing in the storm, “And what do you see… now?” Trina lifted the rose. She brought it close to her face watching water curl and bead off it. “He is climbing a mountain... and there are trees around him.” Her eyes squinted. “He looks sad.” “Is he?” Trina cast her vision back to the cloaked figure. “I don’t know.” “Yes, you do. What does your heart tell you?” She looked down for a moment. Her breath became shallow. “I don’t know.” She paused hoping he would respond. When he didn’t she continued, “I don’t know what I have been feeling now for some time. I have been completely ignoring my emotions for so long.” Again she waited for an answer and again there was only the sound of the rain. “I just don’t know.” Her tears bonded with the rain staining her face. “Yes, you do.” Trina’s eyes flashed downward. “If I don’t know how I am feeling, then how can you ask me how Shadow is feeling?” The white mask stared at her. “Look inside.” She glanced left then right before slowly closing her eyes. Trina took in a deep breath and exhaled. Her face rose up and water quietly slide down her cheeks. Her muscles relaxed before she whispered, “Shadow is hurting.” “Why?” Her eyes opened. “I don’t know.” Pausing only momentarily, he answered, “You do know.” Trina glared at him for but a moment before closing her eyes and exhaling. Once again Trina stopped and listened. She could hear her heart beating. Pain lanced up her spine and anger burned into her blood. Her face grew into a sneer and her fists tightened. Then she felt the cool water slide across her skin and her face relaxed. Her hands unclenched. “He thinks he has lost me.” She whispered slowly. “He feels alone. All alone.” She paused before continuing. “He’s blind. All his pain is blinding him.” After a few more seconds, Trina caught her breath. “He is worried that I will be hurt.” She looked up at the masked man, “hurt by you.” The mask turned facing her. “Yes.” He reached up with his gloved hand and removed his white mask. Two glowing red orbs stared from the sockets of a grey skull. As her vision locked with his, she began to hear the screams well up inside her. Like a tide of blood, the nightmares crashed into her. Everything around her grew black as she sank deeper and deeper.