Oroborus

Naiama sat on the edge of the large bed, Alkan's words echoing in her head. Slowly she pulled back the sheets and crawled into them, still disturbed.

"You have the same soul. I don't know how I know this."

She closed her eyes, feeling the gentle rocking of the Nightstone battle ship beneath her. Sleep closed around her in the early hours of the morning, wrapping the world before her in darkness. Minutes, hours, days, weeks crept by in silence, in dreamless sleep.

Until, from the abyss, a long shape came spiraling upward. It made her dizzy, looking down at the endless movement. An eternity passed as the ribbon coiled up and up. It finally came closer to her eyes, red in appearance. The color of lifeblood. The ribbon shone with rippling muscles.

Closer and closer it spiraled forever up toward Naiama. She tried to focus on its beginning, but there was none. She couldn't understand it, no beginning, no end, yet she could make out a head biting its own tail. Red scales, red as blood...

Suddenly she felt wrenched away, the sound of bones clattering all around her. A man's voice calling her name...Nai...ama, Nai...ama...

''She looked down at her hands. Heavy gloves fit tightly on them. She felt the weight of metal upon her; the dress of battle. A heated wind blew around her face and blonde hair swept in front of her face. She looked up. Massive foliage and vines hung all around her, and the dense humidity and smell of wet leaves hit her. For a moment she stared up at the giant tree canopies. Then...''

Sssss...

''A sharp noise hit her long ears, she looked up. And there before her... She stood up straight, confronting the beast ahead of her. A giant, winged serpent. Red as blood, eyes yellow as the day sun. Naiama heard her name again, that familiar man's voice...then again, the hissing. ''

Sssssss...

''She put out her hand to the serpent. In opened its jaws wide, displaying long fangs. She kept her arm out to the creature. It came forward, flapping its wings. Then it began to wrap itself over Naiama's arm, working up its length until it reached her shoulder. ''

Sssss...

''The serpent hissed again, but not in a threatening manner. It flicked its tongue, and suddenly Naiama felt yellow feathered wings sprout from her back. She shrugged her shoulders oddly, looking at the serpent on her arm. It flicked its tongue and their eyes locked.''

Naiama...

''The elf turned her head, her arm still outstretched with the coiled serpent. She was staring at Alkan, and the jungle around her faded.'' Thssss...hssss...

((Part of The Calling. Tuesday, February 21, 2006.))

Art
The Calling of the Distant Wind