Tempest the Turk Drabble Series
Episode I
"Fallen Star"
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Western Continent
22:02 GST +8 June 2, 1882
Johann had always loved the stars. As long as he could remember, he would stay up until after the rest of the Canyon had gone to sleep bar the Watchman, and look up at the stars. When he became older, he would steal out through the gate with his journal and sit on the steps, staring up at the skies and noting down the positions of the stars.
During the daylight, once his chores were done, he would try to find out the names the stars and the constellations they formed had been given. There was Obold the Wanderer and the snaking necks of the Mighty Hydra. The Spear of Halcyon and the Tears of Lune. Even the Sickle that foretold harvest time and Sephira's Mask.
There was one star in particular that had always fascinated Johann. It was larger than any of the rest, at times the size a man's finger-width, large enough that its blue light was unmistakable. Records called it Jarsai, but Johann wasn't sure it was even a star, Johann had gone through those records carefully and discovered that as the years went by . . . the star moved.
Slowly, but surely.
Not only that, but it seemed to be coming closer.
Johann, now well into his second decade, looked up at the sky, searching for the blue star, only for his mouth to open in disbelief at the sight of a fiery light streaking downwards. Then it was gone, colliding with the desert sands with a mighty clap like thunder.
Before the young teen had even considered his thoughts, he was running down the steps, weaponless, and towards the almost molten glow only a few dozen meters away.
As he neared, he slowed as he saw a form on the sand. It was hard to discern in the darkness, but he could have sworn it had moved. Surely all the nearby fiends had been scared off by the noise and heat of the collision? As the green-eyed boy approached warily, he realized that it wasn't a fiend, it was woman, dark hair singed and her clothing reduced to charred shreds.
"Ifrit's Breath."
Johann reached out and touched her shoulder, to his surprise, she groaned and lifted her head, revealing a tired and pained face, as well as the palest eyes he had ever seen.
"Ishka – Ishka na sarit, shonbei? Ish . . ." she collapsed mid-word, eyes rolling back.
While he couldn't understand her words, but her tone told him her question clear as day.
Help me.
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A/N: okay, that didn't turn out quite how I thought it would, but then, it's a drabble, so, it obviously took on a life of its own. XD
Written: 1:29 EST April 27, 2010