I woke up with my mouth full of sand.

It took me a while to understand anything, my head was spinning, and I could hear an odd sound. I dragged myself up, coughing and spitting, blinking at the extraordinary brightness. Finally things began to make sense; I looked up and saw banks of billowing white clouds, illuminated from behind. White sand stretched out, and I could hear waves crashing distantly. It was beautiful. And completely unfamiliar.

When all the sand had been evicted from my mouth, I flopped back, inspecting myself. I wasn't wet, my backpack was gone, there wasn't any pain from an impact, just soreness. And also there was sand everywhere, but that should have gone without saying. I still had my jacket, and my cargo pants thankfully hadn't gone anywhere, leaving me with some useful things. I patted the front pocket, yes, the case was still there. A small comfort.

But the majority of it was gone, food, water, tent. I knew without looking that my phone had no service. That's just the kind of day it was shaping out to be.

So. I was on a mystery beach. With nothing to really keep me alive. A sense of familiar melancholy crept into me, and I guess I had no other option but to fight it in the way I knew how. I pulled the pack from my pocket and extracted a slim cigarette. The lighter was out, flicked open and on in a reflexive motion, and I took in that first breath of smoke, warming me from the inside. Even as the nicotine traveled to my brain, the hopelessness began to grip me, the chemicals decidedly not strong enough to stave off the wordless panic of waking up in an unfamiliar world, combining and mixing with other, older fears and pains. This particular incarnation of it emerged as a frustrated, muttered question. "Where the hell am I?"

I wasn't expecting an answer.

And even if I was, it definitely wouldn't have been what I got.

"Honk."

I blinked. It was that sound, when I first woke up. Then I became suddenly aware I wasn't alone, on the sand.

"Honk?"

I spun around and scrambled back from the silhouetted figure standing near me, swearing loudly, reaching for my knife.

The figure was startled and flew away.

I watched, mouth agape as the small shape went soaring up into the morning sky. I didn't even notice the cig falling from my mouth, it was such an unexpected and wonderous sight, until smoke started rising from my jeans. I brushed it off hurriedly but looked back up, anxious to see where the caped thing went. The being didn't go far, however, and slowly descended, using its wide-rimmed brown cape almost as a glider to land softly a little farther from me.

"Honk?"

The small being made the sound again. It was a strange sound, more like an instrument than an animal or person, but I could still tell that it seemed inquisitive. I guess people popping up on the beach out of nowhere was just as odd to it as it was to me.

Adrenaline had flooded through my system, but after a deep breath and a cough, I squinted, and got a proper look at the humanoid. Two arms, two legs, barefoot, a tan tunic-like garment, short white hair, that cape… and three eyes. Three eyes? I realized with another shock that it didn't seem to have a mouth.

It cocked its head at me, making that honking sound again. It sounded curious. I let go of my knife, leaving it in my pocket. It didn't look dangerous.

"Uh. Hello there." I picked up the fallen cigarette and brushed off the sand, reluctantly putting it back in the box. Even though the morning itch rigged at me, I needed all my attention for the otherworldly sight before me. Also, I'd never liked smoking around kids, anyway.

I stood, stumbling slightly, noting that I was almost twice as tall as it was. It was the size of a seven year old child, and after another look I could see it wore what looked like a mask that covered its face. It's eyes, if they truly were eyes, glowed, along with a small diamond-shaped hole in its chest that shared a similar yellow light. It seemed to be lit from within, like there was a flame at its center.

It didn't reply, just looked back.

"Uh, can you talk? Do you understand me?"

Another honk came as a reply, (what had I honestly expected), but then came a nod. Oh, progress.

"You do?" I squatted until I was at the small being's eye level, boots creaking. "Well, small alien or demon or whatever you are, I'm a bit lost." I forced a grin."You wouldn't happen to know the way back to a place called Earth, would you?"

It tilted its head, confused. I noted there was some change of expression possible on the simple face, slight variations in the shape of the two normally-positioned eyes. It shook its head, and honked.

I sat back, sighing, putting my arms on my knees and looking out at the rolling seas. Well, it had been worth a try. "Seems I'm stuck here, then."

The masked child just looked at me for a moment, then walked closer.

I kept an eye on it, but if it had wanted to hurt me I would have figured that out by now.

It flopped on the sand beside me with a smaller, "honk". It looked over the waves with me. It let out a series of softer honks, gesturing. I guess it was talking to itself? Trying to figure out what to do with the strange thing that had washed up on its shores, perhaps.

My thoughts returned to myself. It wasn't as if I was missing much, back on the blue marble I previously existed on. I snorted. It's not like I would be missed much, either. I knew that statement wasn't entirely true, but it's not like it mattered much anyhow. I leaned forward, resting my head on my crossed arms. I was gone, disappeared, dead for all they knew.

And that… that was fine with me.

Suddenly the figure leapt to its feet, honking once, loudly. It turned to me and reached out with its small hand.

I looked at it, then its hand, then back at it. "What do you want?"

"HONK." It wiggled its hand, and then I noticed that it didn't have fingers. Eyes going wide, I looked at it closer. That should have been terrifyingly uncanny, but for some reason…

"You… want to show me something?"

A nod. I reached out and took its hand. There were several moments of confusion and analysis on both sides. It was confused for a second by my fingers, and reached out with its other hand to touch them individually with wide eyes.

On my end, I was trying to hide the fact that my hairs had stood up on the back of my neck. It didn't have skin. Ok, that was maybe an extreme way to put it, but it didn't feel like holding the hand of a person. It felt like touching a candle, a waxy surface that clung slightly.

But like the fact that it didn't have fingers, the strangeness and unease rapidly dispersed. The child's hand was warm in such a way that I suddenly felt… lighter. And warmer, inside. In quite a different way than I was used to.

It looked up at me with its lighted eyes, and the undeniable innocence of how it did so surprised me. Somehow, without being told, I knew that it trusted me. Why?

Then I was pulled to my feet as the being took off. It's brown cape flung it into the air with a flurry of sparks, then it cried out with a surprised HONK as it was jerked back down by my weight, it's momentum carried it back down to flump into the sand.

"Hey, hey careful there, kid, you ok?" I tried to let go of its hand, but for some reason there was a slight resistance.

The child bounced up, honking in confusion. It poked at me with its other hand. Then it met my eyes and dramatically patted its belly, puffing out its small torso like…

I blinked, then narrowed my eyes as I understood. "Hold on, you little punk, are you calling me fat?"

"Honk." It started pulling me again, determined to take me somewhere. It seemed all right, so I followed, burying my own confusion. Its little legs beat on the sand, and I kept up easily with my longer strides. It didn't wear shoes, but I was increasingly certain it didn't need them. With skin like wax, maybe the child was tougher than the soft bean it looked like.

We moved along the sandbar together, and in the distance I saw a large roundish thing appear out of the morning mists. Meanwhile, the sea began to lap ever closer to us. The tide, I realized, was coming in. The shape became clear as we got closer. A huge rock, rounded by erosion and time, with a small path leading into it. Along the path were standing stones, obviously placed there purposefully. Built by the strange being? The rock had a round opening that seemed both natural and carved at the same time.

Pulled along by the child, we entered without hesitation. He (I wasn't quite sure of the gender with the hairstyle, and it definitely wasn't possible to tell by body shape) had obviously been here before. Slowing suddenly, I saw a trio of candles. The child let go of my hand and approached it, beckoning me over. I walked toward the white candles, slowly, looking up at the rounded stone ceiling.

Then from nowhere, light appeared. The child had produced a candle from somewhere, and was gesturing with it. "Honk."

"You want me to light them? You have the fire, why don't you do it?"

The being shook their head and gestured again, enthusiastic. Seemed like it wanted me to do this. I sighed, reaching into a pocket, producing my lighter. It was a Zippo, old faithful, decaled with a metallic sun and moon. I flicked it, the flint scratching to produce a clean flame, and knelt, lighting the candles.

It only took a moment for my brain to expand into eternity. I felt myself fall backwards, the lighter falling from my hands, but i didn't notice, didn't care, because suddenly the cave was lit with stars, actual blue ones painting the cavern with beautiful light, but also beyond them, a sky, a firmament of suns stretching into forever.

A voice, a feeling, a presence, filled my mind, and it was all I could hear. "With the stars united, our light was infinite." As if the heavens themselves were telling the story, I saw a constellation picked out among the vast expanse; a staff, vaguely shaped like a shepherds, filling with golden light.

"And together, we lived in harmony." Some of the stars grew, becoming small humanoid figures, all looking towards the leading staff, and a sense of anticipation, of peace, filled me as I shared in the emotions of those I knew were in the past.

Then I shrank back into my body again, gasping breaths. I looked around frantically, but there was nothing to see but the child, who was jittering with respectful impatience, and the stars glowing on the ceiling and walls. And the staff, pointing me further down the cave.

The small being honked inquisitively at me, and I sat up, rubbing my head. "What… was that?" Even as I asked the question, I realized I knew the answer, as if my mind meld with the universe had injected the information straight into my brain. It was as simple as I thought; it was the history of this world.

So I came up with a better question. "How did that happen? Who spoke to me?"

I should have expected the flurry of honking.

"I really hadn't been asking you, cape boy, you know I have no idea what you're saying." I picked up my lighter and snapped it shut. I needed to preserve its fuel; I'd refilled it recently, but I didn't have any more on me. "By the way, is it ok if I refer to you as boy, he, stuff like that? Just want to make sure."

The kid nodded, then beckoned again before running ahead, honking excitedly.

I stood and moved towards another row of candles, many more than just the first three. I was unsure if I shared his enthusiasm; but I couldn't deny curiously. How I'd felt hearing that voice and seeing those unending stars… well, let's just say that a high had nothing on temporary transcendence.

I knelt before the small plinth, flicking my lighter on. I lit one, and the flame spread by itself as if the wicks themselves couldn't wait to show me their secrets. I sat quickly, and closed my lighter just in time. The feeling returned, a massive and existential zooming out, centered on myself. Because I was expecting it, it didn't hit quite as hard, but awe still rose in me as the stars multiplied, brightened the sky, became the stylized humanoid figures. And then the voice returned.

"As spirits, we soon became many," The figures multiplied, each illuminated from within by their own brilliant light, and a great castle-like building sprouted from the banks of light-woven clouds. "creating our home here in the clouds." Once again I felt that sense of peace, of hope, of community, something so rare to my mind these past few years, and I bathed in it as long as I could.

But it didn't last forever. The wide view of existence faded once again, and I managed to keep my balance this time. Just like before, the images remained outlined on the walls of the cavern, like neon-lit cave paintings. I continued down the tunnel, actually looking forward to learning more. This was way better than any history class.

The child followed, skipping happily.

But I slowed, confused. The last groups of candles had increased in number, but this stretch of the wall held only one. I leaned forward and lit it.

I was pulled into a war. The light that had been so prominent all this time was shuddering, flickering, in blinding flashes that caused me mental pain. Jagged streaks of lightning tore through the sky, their light destructive. The sense of peace was gone, driven away. And for the first time, there was a blackness. A tear in the infinite sky that had given so much light before.

"But darkness came, and the stars fell." And with growing horror, I saw it happen. The points of brightness in the sky, one after another, fell from their places, leaving only darkness behind them. I cried out as a sense of loss engulfed me, a tearing un-rightness that I was powerless to stop. And then they were gone, and the sky was empty.

"And with their light, we faded away." The people-figures, who I'd forgotten about, stood alone in the darkness, gazing up at their broken sky, and after a time they disappeared as well. The vision faded, and I staggered forward, just barely catching myself against the wall, breaths coming ragged and fast. I felt like something had been torn from me, taken.

And this feeling, while painful, wasn't altogether unfamiliar.

The child approached me, honking in concern. It reached out, but I held a hand up.

"No thanks, I'm good. Just need a second." I looked up at the ceiling, closing my eyes, trying to stabilize my breathing. What in the world had happened here? What the hell was the darkness? That was the most cliche bad thing name I'd ever heard, but it had still pierced me to the core with dread.

My eyes shot open. The stars. I leapt to my feet, staggered, then ran through the tunnel, seeing the light on the other side. There was a drop, and I jumped from it heavily, allowing the sand to cushion my impact. I had to see the sky. In my rush, I almost passed the last candle.

The kid, flapping past me, honking and pointing back, made sure I didn't miss it.

I turned slowly. There was more? What could possibly come next? The darkness had won, the stars were gone. Supposedly… But then I remembered the bright morning light, the illuminated clouds, the peace that I might have felt on the beach before my personal issues drove it back. The child landed beside me, masked face expectant.

There was still light here. I sighed, opened my lighter, and lit the final candle.

The dark returned. But it was not everything anymore. A small pinprick, then another, then more emerged from the dark. Small, winged figures. With masked faces. "A long time has passed, now we call to you." Another figure appeared. Tall, outlined in a different, darker blue than the pure golds and light blues of the other figures, standing by them, holding their hands. "Go forth, son of another light. Learn from our children, and from our mistakes. Go, and bring light to the world."

This time, I was returned to the real world without any fanfare or excessive emotion. Just that empty hollowness from before, with a strong spike of confusion for taste. This voice… wanted something from me? To learn? Learn what? Light this world? I huffed a dry laugh. With what? My shining personality that brings joy to the very air I breath and smiles to the faces of every person I've ever met? Yeah, right.

But then something hit me. Sometime during the mental messages of unearthly contact, I realized that the voice had changed, from a general lesson on history to a personal message. They had been speaking to me. Me, Thomas Gale. A human from planet Earth.

"Son of another light?" I muttered. I suddenly really wanted to finish that cigarette. "That's a fancy way to say alien."

"Honk, honk. Honk?"

"Yeah, yeah, you nuisance, I'm coming." I stood up, trying to hide my shakiness. That sense of loss still weighed heavily on me, and I knew as a matter of course it would be a while before it faded. At least the smol honking creature would be a welcome distraction.

We walked in the sand for a bit, then I asked, "So what do I call you? Honk, or like," I changed the intonation. "Hônk. Or hønk?"

It protested honkily and stopped, facing me with hands on slim hips. It honked once, plainly, then shook its head, waving its arms in a negative fashion. It honked again, with a definite inquisitive tone, then nodded.

"So like, honk?"

"Honk."

"Honk?"

"Honk honk. Honk?"

"Wait, so specifically the question part?"

At that the child nodded enthusiastically, eyes lighting up.

"Your name… is a question."

"HONK!"

We'd reached an outlook, and a greater expanse of beach stretched out before us. There were large jutting stone outcrops, riding towards a roiling cloud layer. And at the peak of that… my eyes widened, and I rubbed one before taking another look. A magnificent castle, or temple, seemingly floating in the sky. With a jolt of recognition, I realized it was the same structure I had been shown in the visions.

"Woah," I breathed.

Then the kid puffed up in pride, folding his arms and strutting about.

"Not you. At best that would warrant a good 'oh'."

It deflated and honked in annoyance back, but then seemed to realize for the first time that the ledge we stood on was twenty feet above the ground.

"Yeah. What am I supposed to do about that? I can't fly."

"Honk?"

"I have no idea what you asked but the answer is probably no." I sat in the sand, pulling the box back out of my pocket. "Besides, I need a bit to process all this."

"Honk." The boy then made a motion that seemed like the snapping of fingers, if, of course, he'd had any. He honked at me, making a gesture I assumed meant "wait here", then he flapped his cape and soared away.

"Nice meeting you too," I called, lighting the only slightly sandy cigarette. Leaning against the rock wall and taking a long drag, I took another look at the breathtaking sight before me. In all honestly, I meant to do some processing, but it was rare to have a moment where I felt content, the nicotine and ambient beauty pushing back the darkness. So instead I sat, and allowed the peaceful morning light of an unfamiliar sun to shine on me.

...
Song from Tom's playlist for this section- Sunrise, by Coldplay