Chilling winds blew through meadow night, and the scent of spring essence danced about the nostrils of every creature. The fog stretched through the grass reaching every crevice glowing translucent and pale under the moonlight. The gas seemingly impermeable allowed no one creature to escape. The haunting song of nature dwelled among the ears of inhabitants; which prevented any from escaping. Yet still the morbid sonnet rested heavily, so beautifully existing.
As the man rested his head on the mossy grass under a wide-reaching willow tree he sighed, "Finally peace and quiet," he exclaimed his heavy-laden heart reaching a tranquility he'd never known. "Is this how it feels to be normal," clutching his chest he questioned himself. Ariandrithe found himself lost in thought. When suddenly a figure ran past ducking between the trees and mist; with hair white as moonlight containing black strands peeking through, it was as dark as night itself, barely visible and cascading in the wind.
His eyes fell on the form, breath steady and unyielding, awaiting the shape to disperse. But right as he was internally formulating his plans, the mysterious figure appeared inching closer whether it was curiosity or a method of intimidation Ariandrithe didn't know, unwilling to attack without a threat showing clear intentions. He gazed at the man's face, it seemed… sympathetic and worried.
Ariandrithe reached his steady hand toward the advancing figure, "I'm no threat, see", he moved his clutched hand to reveal the remains of a stab wound healing yet not, his raven black hair lingering over his glistening skin, his handsome face reflecting the moon's rays, and his clothes ragged and mangled. Scrapes covered his face and oozed a crimson red. It was peculiar, for how did he acquire such injuries? The fragments of what seemed to be crystals emanated from the area attached to a glowing white light formed at the cracks. He quickly placed his hand back over his bosom concealing the wound. The figure stepped back clearly surprised by the sight.
Then it spoke solemnly, "Do you need help?" An expression of concern loomed over his face. His words were sincere and his eyes softly gazed at the other man. He was gorgeous with model-like beauty.
Ariandrithe's face lit instantly, but then suddenly sunk. Questions like *How was this stranger supposed to help?* and, *Who is this man?* arose crowding his mind. He sat stunned for a moment before ultimately deciding to accept the man's offer. He had no option but to trust him, with his strength depleted; he was vulnerable to any and everything. "Yes, I do, thank you kind stranger" He stated humbly.
"Well then follow me," the man said as he crouched down to grab Ariandrithe's hands and pull him up whilst dodging stray branches.
The sound of crunching grass followed relentlessly, and twigs snapped under their feet, the terrain was bearable, but the travel by foot was long. Ariandrithe eventually began losing what little energy he had as he had completely exhausted his energy reserves which rendered him drained and powerless he could barely drudge his feet along the dirt.
"You're slowing down quite a bit," he said, looking at the tired man behind him who was scraping the ground in an attempt to move. "Do you need my help? I don't mind, I'm quite strong. I just can't stand to see you suffer, and I've noticed neither can you." He said making a humorous attempt Ariandrithe was not amused but too tired to argue with the stranger whom had already assisted him so much, but still his tongue got the better of him.
"Ha-ha-ha," he said sarcastically in a voice so monotone it could be mistaken for a robot, "You think you're so funny making such witty remarks, just kick a man while he's down will you- matter of fact you should apply for a position as the king's court jester and put those talents to use," Ariandrithe said begrudgingly trying not to let his animosity toward the joke slip. His face conveying his true emotions. It wasn't his fault he's in a highly irritable mood right now because he is injured.
The man scoffed but feeling the gravity of his situation he mustered up an apology "I apologize I only wanted to brighten the mood" he turned around once more to face the man, but not before rolling his eyes to himself. "You're focused on the wrong thing, do you need my help?" He met the other man's eyes.
"Well since you're being sooo nice about it" with a hint of sarcasm in his tone "I do," he said, sucking up his pride, puffing his cheeks to hide his embarrassment.
As the other man inched closer Ariandrithe instinctively wanted to reject his help but the pain in his chest prevented him from doing so. In the end, he was stuck with one arm across the other man's shoulder leaning on him for support. They proceed to trek through the forest terrain once more.
For a while they walked, it was twenty no thirty minutes; Ariandrithe couldn't tell anymore. When finally the forest came to a clearing and a small house was shown in the distance. It was dainty and elegant, a cottage perhaps, with a wooden door with various flowers adorning it. Nature decorations maybe got bored and wanted to help by reaching vines across the various workings of the home reaching the rooftop and wall intertwining around windowsills, completing the light brown exterior.
"Oh, thank heavens," the man remarked, almost kissing the ground as if to thank the earth for finally allowing them refuge. "I could've sworn I heard the rooster's crow. I thought we would never make it, but we did." He exclaimed crying tears of joy before abruptly stopping. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He remarked, sending the same judgmental stare.
"Like what?" The other man said the attitude peeking through his remark. He knew what he did, but instead chose to feign innocence.
Ariandrithe met his gaze once more, " How dare you act all innocent" he said, taken aback and dramatically clutching his chest in offense.
"*Gasp* What ever do you mean? Little ol' me, I would never." The man sis insincerely. Anyways we should head in now," the other man said, completely ignoring Ariandrithe's grievenances. "It's almost sunup at this point, so we should hurry in and get some shuteye." He said walking toward the door, but right as he stepped forward he heard a yell.
"Stop!"
*The man thought to himself *What does he want now* "* ughh-*What?!" He shouted, clearly irritated and sleep-deprived.
"Is this your house? I'm not sure you're a odd man." Ariandrithe remarked trying to make sure he wasn't the aiding a man that could potentially be a crimson guilty of trespassing.
"…" The man sat perplexed by the comment before finally saying, "Of course it is, do you think I would engage in the crime of breaking and entering? And how would I so conveniently find this place? Please I have much more class than that. How badly do you think of me" He said frantically, trying to clear his name.
"I don't know you're a strange character and also I don't even know you, nor do I know your name. For all I know you could be a murderer trying to harvest my organs." He said whilst purposefully widening his eyes to assume innocence while wrapping his arms across his chest and moving back and forth.
"I mean you didn't ask, all this time we were talking and you didn't think to introduce yourself tsk-tsk" he clicked his tongue while shaking his head and his feet repeatedly tapping the dirt.
"You know you're really starting to piss me off, if I wasn't injured and in dire need of help, I would hurt you, but I am but don't think I won't hesitate to hurt you if I need to. I'll take you and this house down with me. Capise" Ariandrithe said, completely fed up with the man's snarky remarks and expressions.
"Ok-Ok, I'll stop, and for starters my name is Maeralderyl. What is your name? He was completely earnest this time, showing an actual sincere interest.
"My name is Ariandrithe, but you can call me Rianthe," He said, without hostility in a completely normal tone.
"Thank you. Now can we please go inside?" The man remarked as he stepped to open the door, holding it open to allow the other man entry."Any later and it'll be tomorrow."
"Thank you, kind sir," Ariandrithe said as walks past the man to enter the cottage.
The other man walked in after closing the door tight, but not before inscribing a sigil on the door igniting a purple glow. Ariandrithe pretended not to notice, for it wasn't his business he knew the sign but refrained from speaking. He knew for sure he'd be safe.
Once inside Arianthe could see the interior. It had a light yellow wall lit by candle flames and tall bookshelf shelves extending from window to window. Peeking at the windows, they were tall blue and white stained glass windows containing pictures of crystal roses with an unknown insignia inscribed into them. His home was tidy and welcoming with dark wooden floorboards and a dining room, kitchenette, and stairs leading to what he assumed were the bedrooms.
"I'm tired therefore I wish to retire for the night. Where are your bedrooms?" Ariandrithe asked politely.
"They are upstairs. You can use the one at the end of the hall. But don't you need to address your wounds first? I'd rather not have blood on my sheets, it's a pain to remove." He said, trying not to seem sympathetic.
"It'll heal on its own. I just need to wash up. Is there a river nearby, and do you have spare garments?" He said looking at the sorry state of his attire.
"There's one outback," Maeralderyl remarked, gesturing to the direction of the river. I'll go retrieve some clothes but know I'll be asleep by the time you enter the house. He said before walking up the stairs and entering his bedroom.
"Thank you," Ariandrithe remarked as he left the home and proceeded to the river edge. It was still dark, surprisingly still approaching the crucial witching hour. The sound of water crashing into stagnant rocks brushing against the grasses growing alongside it. He removed his top to reveal the still aching wound feeling the rugged edges of what was.
"Those sons of bi-" he yelled just loud enough to vent but not loud enough to wake his host. "Those conniving brats, who do they think they are?" he said, eye twitching in annoyance. He glanced at his reflection seeing the scars covering his face, " Wow they really did a number on me, but why am I taking so long to heal?" He said while angling his face to observe his scars. He decided to wash up and leave before the clock struck three. He headed inside after changing his clothes into the smooth cream-colored garments, a long-sleeved shirt and matching loose-fitting cream-colored pants; they both had dark brown stitching and rims. "Comfy," he said to himself.
He headed into the cottage to sleep, but not before he applied the ointment the other man had snuck into the pile of clothes. "I can't use these tattered things anymore," the man remarked as he incinerated the clothes with what little strength he'd recovered. "Ack- even that takes a lot of energy out of me. What will I do? I can't go back like this… they'll eat me alive. They played so dirty, using my own weakness against me. That traitorous bi-using me. They'll see." He said replaying the events over and over again in his head, like a torturous loop.
As he flopped onto the bed he couldn't even focus on the growing pain spreading throughout his veins. All he could do was replay the betrayal before drifting off into a deep slumber.