Eclipse: The Fall of Eternity
By Oblvnwarrior
Author's Note: Well, to be honest, I had absolutely no idea how to upload this stuff, so I don't really have an author's note for each chapter. I'm sure I'll make up some while I go, though.
The pale snow was falling in larger quantities than its usual dusting. Misavi knew it was a bad sign, but said nothing; she was certain one of the village elders would soon notice the increase in snow and declare the approach of a blizzard. But everyone was milling about, carrying on their usual duties like nothing was happening.
Blizzards were not uncommon in the Rynigu Mountains, where Misavi's village, Kyar, was nestled between peaks. It seemed one was forming at the moment. Kyar's citizens were well-adapted to life in the mountains, but a blizzard was always a big deal. Everyone went inside and gathered around the fireplace, refusing to come out until not a single snowflake fell. Misavi went into her house and attempted to light a fire. Her twenty-year-old brother, Haruko (who was two years older than her), grabbed the two flint rocks out of her hand and deftly ignited the logs in the fireplace. She glared at him, and his lips lifted into a toothy grin.
Outside the window of their cabin, the snow was descending in torrents. Everyone had retreated to their homes. Misavi's parents came downstairs, and her mother was delighted to see her son. "Haruko!" she exclaimed, embracing the boy, "what a lovely surprise!" "Yeah," he said modestly, "figured I'd come check on things, make sure Missy didn't burn the house down." Misavi scowled at her brother; she hated that nickname. Their family reunion was abruptly ceased by a loud noise outside. In the middle of the season's largest blizzard, the villagers were looking up at the sky, jaws dropped, the way turkeys act when it's raining. Misavi's family hurried outside, and gasped when they discovered what was happening.
The silver clouds that were so violently dropping snow ceased in their barrage. Each one moved ever so slightly, so the chain reaction left a gaping circle of sky within it. Through this lens, the sun was perfectly visible. But then the sun began to disappear. A black circle was moving towards the symbol of peace and life at an amazing rate. The elders parted the crowd and rushed into their cabins, searching desperately through the many bookshelves that lined the walls.
Finally one of the elders found what he was looking for. Grabbing a dusty old book, the old man ran into the street. He held his book up triumphantly, and began to flip through the yellowed pages.
"Fear not, my fellow Kyarans," he said in a soothing voice. "It is said in this book that every thousand years the Black Moon engulfs the sun, and a century of darkness will follow." His audience gasped, but did not act too scared, for they were anticipating the words he next uttered. "However," he continued, "our ancestors constructed the seven Sun Symbols to protect the land. As long as these ornaments are safe, the Black Moon will be repelled." Sighs of relief were audible, emanating from the crowd. "As you know, our town was chosen to hold the Emblem of Light." The elder gestured towards a large totem pole with an alcove that was meant to host the Sun Symbol. But it was empty. Relieved sighs changed to gasps of disbelief. A laugh was heard over the crowd, and everyone looked up at the roof of that elder's cabin.
A man was standing there, chuckling. His cape swayed in the winter wind, which also ruffled his baggy black pants, attached to his belt and sleeves by small, silver chains. His hair, a dark gray, was spiked in a fashion similar to pineapple leaves, but less pronounced. "Looking for this?" he asked, smirking, as he held up a small piece of metal about the size of an orange. It was round in shape and about half an inch thick. Green and blue beads were connected to the bottom in a style similar to that of a dream catcher. In the center of the circle was an etching of a tree, which began to glow as the stranger lowered it and placed it into an alcove on his belt. "That doubles my collection," he chuckled, patting the emblem with a black-gloved hand. "What are you doing?" asked one of the elders. "Don't you realize removing the Sun Symbols from their altars can destroy the world?" "Exactly," said the man. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have Sun Symbols to claim, and a world to rule." "Wait!" shouted an elder, but it was too late. The black-clothed stranger had vanished.
Murmurs could be heard in the center of town. The elders rushed into their main cabin, and proceeded to discuss Kyar's new predicament. Meanwhile the villagers were talking among themselves; children bombarded their parents with questions. Misavi and her family returned to their home, conversing.
"What are we going to do?" asked the girl, seated at the solid wood kitchen table, a worried expression on her pale face. "There isn't anything we can do, hun," said her mother, sitting across the table. "Someone should tell Gidrain. I'm sure their messengers can alert the rest of the Symbol cities," said Misavi's brother, entering the room with three mugs in his hands. He offered Misavi a mug, and she took it gratefully. Dark times like these called for hot cocoa.
