"We live in dark times, Ms. Rose. I... I am sorry for your loss." Ruby couldn't hear the words. She wouldn't really understand even if she did, too young she was. All she could do was stare... Stare at the freshly dug patch of dirt. Stare at the stone above it. Stare at the red, purple, and orange colors of the setting sun hidden behind colorless clouds. Stare at the droplets of ice cold rain. She hadn't seen her mother in weeks. Weeks of... Nothing. Absolute nothingness. She hadn't felt sad; angry; or even lost. It was easier to feel nothing at all.
She was standing on mud, her feet having sunk into the mud a few centimeters. Standing to her right was her father, to her left was a man she'd never seen before. Tall, grey hair, wearing a black suit and holding a cane. He talked a lot. She didn't understand. She didn't really seem to understand anyone anymore. Where once she found comfort in her family and home she now found nothing. She hadn't slept in... She didn't know how long. Long enough her eyes were bloodshot and heavy bags formed beneath them. She'd grown thinner, too, having found herself no longer feeling hungry. She didn't talk anymore; didn't smile; didn't laugh. She didn't even really feel alive. A hollow life for a betrayed soul...
They all stood solemn faced with grim eyes. The wind was low and weak, the rain light, the sunlight even weaker than the rain. Why? Why had mother disappeared? Did someone take her? Did she not love them anymore? Had she found a better family she could love more? Those were the thoughts that passed through little Ruby's young mind. She could not understand what had happened. She wouldn't for several more years. No one dared explain how Summer died, or what death even was to her. Why would they? No, not a soul dared break Ruby's innocence. That responsibility fell to another...
Ruby watched on as one by one they all left, save for the tall man. He said something to her father and uncle, something Ruby couldn't care less about. She remained there; hollow and empty. Ruby never noticed when the man placed a hand on her shoulder, and broke into a monologue about something or another. No, she looked on at the gravestone.
'Here lie Summer Rose. Thus calmly I scatter.' Why would she do that? Didn't she love Ruby? Taiyang? Yang? Why leave? Why run away? Why not at least say goodbye? So many questions without answers. The world had lost it's color to her. T'was all grey and tasteless and dreamless. Every shadow seemed to linger longer than it should, ever light dimmer then it ought to be, every face a little less familiar. Food had no taste; Zwei's fur and licks brought nothing; her family growing further and further away.
Not long after the sun was replaced by the moon did the tall man take her by the hand and lead her home. She entered into the wooden cabin, drenched in rain and shivering, hollow eyed and hollow hearted. Her father said something, her sister hugged her, and her uncle rubbed her head. Normally her uncle's touch, her sister's hugs, or her father's words would make Ruby feel happy and content. But on this virgin night she felt nought but the hollowness of her cold heart. She mumbled words she didn't really understand and went to her and her sister's room. She laid down without showering or changing clothes, covered herself in a blanket, and stared up at the ceiling. Silvery white rays of the shattered moon gave light to the dark shadows. Ruby didn't care. She didn't think, didn't feel, did nothing but stare. Her sister came in and spoke hollow words that Ruby did not truly understand.
Eventually Yang laid down next to her, saying something Ruby didn't care about. Instead little Ruby remained awake and hollow. Even as the the light of the moon dimmed, the wind howled, and lightning thundered, Ruby felt nothing. Even when countless pairs of golden glowing eyes watched her from the shadows, whispering to one another, eyes full of avarice and... Hope.
This is the only other story I plan on working on until the Alduin one is finished. So, what did you think? I'm aiming for a more depressing tone for this story, given what's to come. You guys like it? Hate it? Don't really care? Any comment's a good one, in my book. And for those of you wondering, our favorite disembodied, demonic, wraith-like, monster is going to appear rather soon.