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Barren Arms
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Barren Arms |
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Alwye
Moderator
Member Elite
since 1999-06-16
Posts 3850In the space between moments 
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An arid stretch of land enveloped the horizon with it’s barren arms as the sun floated through the cerulean skies. Dewdrops of salty sweat clung to her trembling cheeks as a tall, wiry woman dissected the scene with cunning eyes, searching for any sign of the danger that she was certain would come to her. The only image that came to those emerald orbs was of an empty, lonely landscape, void of Heaven’s grace. She continued to sit still, paranoid that the blood thirsty ravens of her guilt would come to strip the flesh from her body once more. The wind flew over the sandy ground with such ferocity that the woman’s simple tan cloak and cream skirts tied around her struggling limbs. Panic arose within her churning stomach and forced itself up through her body and out of her twisted mouth in a shrill, fear laced cry. Although nearly frozen by the call of her demons, the woman found the will to untangle herself from her clothing, calm herself slightly, and continue to push through the screaming whirlwind of dust and sand. “Alea...” A sweet voice echoed within the deepest, most vulnerable chambers of her mind. The woman spun around at the sound of her name, nearly expecting that tan, angular face and those violet eyes to materialize before her shivering frame. When no one appeared, Alea threw herself down to the ground, dug her long fingers into the baking earth, and let another deafening scream rip through her entire being. The power surging through her cracked, thirsting lips caused the ground itself to tremble along with her. For a long while Alea laid with her cheek pressed to the dirt, feeling the boiling heat blister her once beautiful ivory skin. One by one, glassy tears dripped from her eyes, each one a new tribute to the most extraordinary love she had ever known. Thoughts of him clung to her soul like virgin snowflakes to a young maiden’s hair, perfection initially, but soon melting to nothing more than a droplet of forgotten liquid. “Cyran...I have failed you, my love. I have let my soulmate slip through my foolish fingers. I have let death come and claim you as I stood back and did nothing. I did nothing...nothing...” Alea whispered, her words muffled by strings of her auburn tresses. Alea continued to speak of her failure as the cruel desert heat stabbed at her limbs and the wind howled fiercely. She begged the Heaven’s above to kill her too, to give her sweet release from the Hell she subjected herself to. But the azure skies simply laughed at her sobs and unending anguish. “Alea, you did not fail Cyran, sweetheart. You cannot blame yourself for a disease you had no control over. It was his time to go. It is time for you to move on.” A calm, reserved voice spoke to her. Alea’s vision was hazy, but she knewthat blonde hair and rounded figure any where. Her mother. Alea did not respond to her mother’s words, but rather looked around to discover that her hut and the entire village beyond was bustling. “We’re preparing for the funeral, Alea. We cannot wait for you to accept what has occurred. Cyran must be buried by the next full moon or the Gods will not accept him into Eternity. You know that. Let go of your silly tears. After all, he was only a childhood love. Plenty more suitable young men will come your way.” Alea’s mother told her. Her blunt, uncaring words enraged Alea. “He...was...not...just...a childhood love!” Alea sputtered the words out through her fiery anger. “He was everything to me! And I failed him...I deserve to die, not him...” Alea added, her tone softening slightly. Her mother muttered something about arrangements needing to be made and rushed away, leaving Alea to her thoughts once more. She could see the arid landscape beginning to unfold before her once again. The illusion grew in strength and before long the blistering sunays and cruel winds began to slice at her sanity once more. The azure skies were especially bright, but filled with no sympathy for Alea’s loss. With a fresh wave of crystal teardrops washing over her face, Alea let go of all reality and fell into the barren arms of the horizon. < !signature--> *Krista Knutson* "Cherish your vision; Cherish your ideals; Cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts. If you remain true to them, your world will at last be built." ~James Allen~ "We've made houses for hatred...it's time we made a place where people's souls may be seen and made safe"...~Jewel~ [This message has been edited by Alwye (edited 06-24-2000).] |
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| © Copyright 2000 Krista Botterill - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
Excellent story Krista!! Is there more? |
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Dusk Treader
Moderator
Senior Member
since 1999-06-18
Posts 1187St. Paul, MN |
Krista this was a great piece of writing, Krista, I really enjoyed this piece, and once I finally got the ending I found it very fitting (Sorry, I'm tired and slow, LOL) Loved this little piece of imagery "She continued to sit still, paranoid that the blood thirsty ravens of her guilt would come to strip the flesh from her body once more" Very cool! Liked this one much Krista!  Abrahm Simons "Keep on dreamin' boy 'cause when you stop dreaming it's time to die" - Blind Melon |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
Krista, this is wonderful! I hope there's more to come! "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -Oscar Wilde "The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief" -Shakespea |
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Silkdragon Member
since 2000-06-24
Posts 65 |
Krista, i'm very impressed with your story. The imagery is great, as is typical of you. ^_^ Keep up the good work! |
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