There would be no turning back now.
The blue-haired youth was on his own, living in a world swallowed up in fear. The world was dying, fading, vanishing. Everyone was holding on to every possession they owned, in fear that they would lose it all. No one travelled around anymore.
However, there were few of nomadic type who could not stay in one place for long. They were known as 'Dream Chasers'; going from town to town, they would eat, stay the night, talk among the natives, and be on their way to new adventures.
Rudy, the blue-haired youth, was afraid that he would become one of them. He was alone in the world now. There would be no turning back. His only friend, grandfather; his only connection in the world had been taken from this world, passed on to a new life, a new future. But Rudy had been left behind.
"Rudy, someday I will be gone," Zepet used to say to him. "When the heavens desire my company, I will have to give in and ascend to a new life in death."
"Grandpa, I can't stay in this world if you're not with me!" Rudy would respond.
"Don't say that, Rudy! Your time has not come yet! You must learn to live on your own. The life of a Dream Chaser can be hard sometimes, but life is full of hardships."
"But…"
"When I die, you must not come along with me…yet. You have your whole life ahead of you! Me, I'm just old – an old, tired man who has lived a long enough life. When the time comes – Rudy – when it comes, you will be alone – I know. I'm sorry. But, you can find friends in this world that live like you. They're out there – you just have to find them."
Rudy, in those times, did not want to believe him. But now, as he stood against the rocky cliff, and the cold wind blew into his face, he could not escape the fact that he was really alone in the world now. Rudy had buried Zepet within the rocks of the cliff edge that he had loved. The view was great – from there, the two of them had been able to see the entire valley that they lived in. But now, Rudy was the only one who could see it now. At the edge of the cliff there was a small, wooden cross. From it hung the necklace that Zepet had passed on to Rudy some long time ago. But he couldn't take it with him – these memories would be too painful.
The moon shone strong upon the cross. It was beautiful, the way that the moonlight reflected in the shiny metal of the necklace. At this time, when the moon was right in the sky, Rudy left the land in search of someone like him, alone in the world.
Rudy could not remember how many days he had been travelling now. He did not even really know where he was anymore. All he thought was that he was travelling further north, for the air had been getting colder and colder. Nothing to see though. No town, no village, nothing.
One night, Rudy was resting when he noticed lights dancing through the sky. That was unnatural. Nothing like that had been seen before. Curious, Rudy watched the lights travelling up a cliff in the distance. He rubbed his eyes, got up and began to follow them. Yep, they all went up this cliff. He approached the cliff, found some grips in the rock and began to climb. As he ascended he was able to get a closer look at them. They were pure white and perfectly spherical. Very curious. He had never seen anything like them in his life.
Higher and higher he climbed.
Almost there, he thought. In a sudden instant, he felt his foot slip and his body shifted as it threatened to sink back down the steep rock wall. Rudy began to panic. Fear. Don't look down, looking down increases fear. Fear brings about disaster. Disaster, catastrophe. Rudy looked down. In that instant, he felt sick. I can't join Zepet yet!…he thought. Zepet had told Rudy that he would be the only one going on the journey. So don't follow… he had said!
Rudy's hands slipped around on the rocky wall as he rapidly tried to get a firm grip, anything.
Then, in a moment, he felt warmth. He felt something grabbing his arm. He looked up. It was the palest hand he had ever seen. A hand cannot be that white, he thought.
A tug, a firm pull, and Rudy felt himself rising. Panting heavily, he felt himself ascend over the edge of the cliff wall. As soon as he found himself lateral on firm ground again, he closed his eyes and thanked the heavens. He was sweating profusely, his arms and legs were scratched and bleeding, but he was alive. He opened his eyes and looked around to see his human savior. There was no one to be seen. Rudy was mystified. He noticed the white spheres once again. His eyes followed them across the skyline to the horizon. And then his heart leapt.
Further down in the valley, the welcoming lights of a village caught Rudy's attention.
There you go, grandpa, he thought; maybe I won't have to be alone anymore.
His heart was lifted high, and Rudy felt something that he hadn't felt in a long time. Hope.