ᶠᵒʳ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ⁿⁱᵍʰᵗ ʰᵃˢ ˢᵗᵃʳˢ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ Once upon a time, there was a large beast who lived in the forest. He was much, much older than time, and he had seen everything that was there to be seen — death, grief, war and love. He had watched humans wage war against themselves, watched entire civilizations fall from the shadows. The other spirits of the wild looked upon him with suspicion, whispering furiously amongst themselves. They looked at his gaunt appearance, the cloak that blended in with the shadows, branches that grew from his body and his fixed, yellow stare, and decided to stay clear of him. He did the same, wandering alone in the forest for many a millennia, growing tired and embittered with the world and how things were. Until one day, a new spirit came to the forest. A young woman, formed of light, with wise eyes, flowing robes and long tresses. She often looked at him with warmth and welcoming from far away, as if accepting his presence. She would weave in and out of towns and villages, guiding souls into the afterlife, leaving gifts for the young and old alike. And then one day, he approached. Shh, child. Be patient. You'll find out what happens of them when the time comes. Anyways. Where was I? Oh, yes. That day, he approached, in curiosity, wondering how she could still hope in humanity after everything that happened. The young woman told him that she knew there was much wrong with the world. There was much pain, and sorrow and grief, that she acknowledged. Yet she chose to look at the good, and have hope. They became friends, wandering along the edges of time and civilization, and through towns, villages and cities hand-in-hand, light and shadow, sorrow and joy embracing each other. Loving her as his friend made him a better person, and so was the case for the young woman. Look outside your window, child, and maybe you'll see them for a fleeting moment, arm in arm, striding beside each other. Look outside the window, and you'll see light mingling with the darkness. Take care that you look at and acknowledge both, and keep your eyes on the light. ---- an entirely self-indulgent, simple piece. hope you like it <3
