Shelter
Cupped hands kept that dancing, warm, azure fire alive, in turn gracing me with a continual force to help me push onward, upward. The stairs were becoming impossible to see, and even harder to trek upon, being unable to use my staff while in possession of the sustaining flame. Physically, I was waning beneath the fury of the mountain sky, its storm pressing down on me with tremendous force, winds flowed quickly or burst into my weakened body, cold seeping into my bones. Bolstering my spirit, pushing against the nature of this place, I continued on, the higher I reached, the darker it became, as if I was running out sky and entering only abyss.
There came a moment, when the air stilled and the clouds halted, silence came to that great jagged edge I teetered on, the flame and I being the only things stirring during this impending pause. Unknowing what would happen next, whether it be a great collapse or an onslaught of frost, I sat myself down, concentrating deep on my own being, pulling the blue glow into my chest, allowing it to wash over me. Focused breathing, I retreated my spirit from danger, my body suspended in burning blue. Opening my eyes, I was amazed to find another standing before me, looking me over with curiosity and bewilderment. "Hail, friend," It said, its long mouth protruding from its hooded robes, arms crossed, feet obscured, no other signs of discerning build or body. "Hello," I replied, marveling at this sly figure whom I had not noticed in such a desolate area. "Come into the cave," It said, the gender unclear, a mysterious being indeed. Without another word, it turned and walked ahead of me, heading for an ice covered cave hiding near my path, unseen in the physical plane, revealed to my spirit form. I stood up, still carrying the fire, a powerful glow in both realms, blazing in both equally. Meeting the stranger in front of the frozen barrier, waiting for what would happen next. "Fire," It said, pointing at the frigid wall before us. I extended my hands forward and touched the surface of the ice, intrigued by this event. Then, with a great shudder, it shattered, boundless flurries now dancing on the winds above, carried into the spiritual sky above. It entered first, and I followed along slowly, deliberalty, uncertain of the terrain and intentions.
Incredible. The interior of the cave spurned to life with every step, darkness shrinking away as star flies stirred and fluttered, illuminating at our presence. Brilliant colors of greens and blues, reds and oranges, each flitting sight a vibrant sight. They seemed drawn by the robed figure leading the way, many hovering around them that I did not know, each shooting star circling the summoner, then away into the corridors leading away, awakening the sleeping lights within the mountain. My guide stopped and turned to face me, then sat down in the middle of what seemed to be an empty room, assuming the pose that one would meditate in. I was but a guest and unfamiliar with the ways of this person, so I too joined them in meditation, that being my original reason for entering the spirit world, hoping to energize my body upon returning to the physical realm. I could feel the energy from this being, growing stronger the longer we stayed within the grasp of focus and shelter. Star flies gathering in each corridor, moving almost like water, caressing the edges of the walls and ceiling until we were surrounded in a humming glow, a pulsing energy, as if the entire group was breathing in unison.
A spike of powerful energy gripped the cavernous room, my eyes opening to witness what great power was being generated and how. In the center of the room, unrobed, stood a lizardlike creature, balancing with ease on its tail, its features smooth even though they were scaled. IT was clearly a woman from the very sight of her eyes opening to look upon me, her body supple, grey toned over the majority of her body with peculiar black stripes and marks adorning her back and sides, extending up to her head and down her tail. "Thank you," She said softly, her reptilian eyes surveying my humble self. "You have returned me to my home, of which was sealed by a soul storm, locking me away from my physical self." I nodded deeply and appreciatively, my actions adding understanding and meaning to the events up to this point. "What brings you to this mountain, monk?" She asked, one of her hands outreached and playing with a wandering star fly. "I seek to reach the peak," I replied, my vision enthralled by the display of dancing orbs. "Then you are as the other star flies were before," She said, sending the rogue glowing soul back to the others. "These are all the souls kept by the mountain, whether lost, perished, or returning at the end. They gather here, buzzing together with pride and desire, becoming one with the heart of this earthen giant. I am their keeper."
A swarm merged now, swirling around the reptilian caretaker, her body unmoving, the air resonating with energy.
Quantum flickers bounced about the room as the maelstrom increased in velocity, my eyes straining to keep sight of the guardian, the brightness increasing in quantity. Within a breath, the group widened, then with another, it collapsed around the master of this cave, swallowing her with star fire. The great cavern yawned beneath the wake of spiritual prowess, the mountain shaking with tremendous force, I felt as if all of my surroundings were about to collapse and implode with cosmic flames. Yet, in my patience, I was rewarded with an impossible sight. Standing in the towering inferno, the keeper was whole, even more so than before, somehow rejuvenated or renewed by this blaze. "Thank you, stanger," Her voice a magnificient echo, reaching into the interiors of myself. "You have restored my spirit and body by unsealing the frozen wall that hindered my return. I have waited some time for this reunion, and your spiritual retreat was a blessing for us both. For your reward, I have brought your body within my warm walls, with no limit on stay, no restriction of wait. It is my gift of appreciation for your kind gesture, unwarranted and with no questions you aided me. For this, I will always remember you, and within this cave you will always have a place you are welcome and safe. Though, I am afraid your brightness would outshine even the ferocity of my fires. Farewell, friend. We will meet again."
It was a wonderful outcome to a strange meeting, as seemed to be the way of this mountain. The fires continued as long as I waited within the shelter of fire from the storm outside. However, I knew I would not linger long, only until my body and spirit were rested, ready to weather the frozen fury. After several days, I reconnected my selves together, bound together in soul and state, the blue flame still encompassing me, protecting me. In the physical realm, the fire was gone, save for my own, its warm resilience fortifying me once more, aiding me in this arduous and adventurous journey of mine. At the mouth of the cave, bracing myself for what hardships awaited, I looked back once more. For a slight moment, I thought I saw the dancing star flies but as quick as they may have registered they were silent again. With a smile and my staff, azure fire clutched close, I set out once more for the peak of the mountain.
Cupped hands kept that dancing, warm, azure fire alive, in turn gracing me with a continual force to help me push onward, upward. The stairs were becoming impossible to see, and even harder to trek upon, being unable to use my staff while in possession of the sustaining flame. Physically, I was waning beneath the fury of the mountain sky, its storm pressing down on me with tremendous force, winds flowed quickly or burst into my weakened body, cold seeping into my bones. Bolstering my spirit, pushing against the nature of this place, I continued on, the higher I reached, the darker it became, as if I was running out sky and entering only abyss.
There came a moment, when the air stilled and the clouds halted, silence came to that great jagged edge I teetered on, the flame and I being the only things stirring during this impending pause. Unknowing what would happen next, whether it be a great collapse or an onslaught of frost, I sat myself down, concentrating deep on my own being, pulling the blue glow into my chest, allowing it to wash over me. Focused breathing, I retreated my spirit from danger, my body suspended in burning blue. Opening my eyes, I was amazed to find another standing before me, looking me over with curiosity and bewilderment. "Hail, friend," It said, its long mouth protruding from its hooded robes, arms crossed, feet obscured, no other signs of discerning build or body. "Hello," I replied, marveling at this sly figure whom I had not noticed in such a desolate area. "Come into the cave," It said, the gender unclear, a mysterious being indeed. Without another word, it turned and walked ahead of me, heading for an ice covered cave hiding near my path, unseen in the physical plane, revealed to my spirit form. I stood up, still carrying the fire, a powerful glow in both realms, blazing in both equally. Meeting the stranger in front of the frozen barrier, waiting for what would happen next. "Fire," It said, pointing at the frigid wall before us. I extended my hands forward and touched the surface of the ice, intrigued by this event. Then, with a great shudder, it shattered, boundless flurries now dancing on the winds above, carried into the spiritual sky above. It entered first, and I followed along slowly, deliberalty, uncertain of the terrain and intentions.
Incredible. The interior of the cave spurned to life with every step, darkness shrinking away as star flies stirred and fluttered, illuminating at our presence. Brilliant colors of greens and blues, reds and oranges, each flitting sight a vibrant sight. They seemed drawn by the robed figure leading the way, many hovering around them that I did not know, each shooting star circling the summoner, then away into the corridors leading away, awakening the sleeping lights within the mountain. My guide stopped and turned to face me, then sat down in the middle of what seemed to be an empty room, assuming the pose that one would meditate in. I was but a guest and unfamiliar with the ways of this person, so I too joined them in meditation, that being my original reason for entering the spirit world, hoping to energize my body upon returning to the physical realm. I could feel the energy from this being, growing stronger the longer we stayed within the grasp of focus and shelter. Star flies gathering in each corridor, moving almost like water, caressing the edges of the walls and ceiling until we were surrounded in a humming glow, a pulsing energy, as if the entire group was breathing in unison.
A spike of powerful energy gripped the cavernous room, my eyes opening to witness what great power was being generated and how. In the center of the room, unrobed, stood a lizardlike creature, balancing with ease on its tail, its features smooth even though they were scaled. IT was clearly a woman from the very sight of her eyes opening to look upon me, her body supple, grey toned over the majority of her body with peculiar black stripes and marks adorning her back and sides, extending up to her head and down her tail. "Thank you," She said softly, her reptilian eyes surveying my humble self. "You have returned me to my home, of which was sealed by a soul storm, locking me away from my physical self." I nodded deeply and appreciatively, my actions adding understanding and meaning to the events up to this point. "What brings you to this mountain, monk?" She asked, one of her hands outreached and playing with a wandering star fly. "I seek to reach the peak," I replied, my vision enthralled by the display of dancing orbs. "Then you are as the other star flies were before," She said, sending the rogue glowing soul back to the others. "These are all the souls kept by the mountain, whether lost, perished, or returning at the end. They gather here, buzzing together with pride and desire, becoming one with the heart of this earthen giant. I am their keeper."
A swarm merged now, swirling around the reptilian caretaker, her body unmoving, the air resonating with energy.
Quantum flickers bounced about the room as the maelstrom increased in velocity, my eyes straining to keep sight of the guardian, the brightness increasing in quantity. Within a breath, the group widened, then with another, it collapsed around the master of this cave, swallowing her with star fire. The great cavern yawned beneath the wake of spiritual prowess, the mountain shaking with tremendous force, I felt as if all of my surroundings were about to collapse and implode with cosmic flames. Yet, in my patience, I was rewarded with an impossible sight. Standing in the towering inferno, the keeper was whole, even more so than before, somehow rejuvenated or renewed by this blaze. "Thank you, stanger," Her voice a magnificient echo, reaching into the interiors of myself. "You have restored my spirit and body by unsealing the frozen wall that hindered my return. I have waited some time for this reunion, and your spiritual retreat was a blessing for us both. For your reward, I have brought your body within my warm walls, with no limit on stay, no restriction of wait. It is my gift of appreciation for your kind gesture, unwarranted and with no questions you aided me. For this, I will always remember you, and within this cave you will always have a place you are welcome and safe. Though, I am afraid your brightness would outshine even the ferocity of my fires. Farewell, friend. We will meet again."
It was a wonderful outcome to a strange meeting, as seemed to be the way of this mountain. The fires continued as long as I waited within the shelter of fire from the storm outside. However, I knew I would not linger long, only until my body and spirit were rested, ready to weather the frozen fury. After several days, I reconnected my selves together, bound together in soul and state, the blue flame still encompassing me, protecting me. In the physical realm, the fire was gone, save for my own, its warm resilience fortifying me once more, aiding me in this arduous and adventurous journey of mine. At the mouth of the cave, bracing myself for what hardships awaited, I looked back once more. For a slight moment, I thought I saw the dancing star flies but as quick as they may have registered they were silent again. With a smile and my staff, azure fire clutched close, I set out once more for the peak of the mountain.