Sago stared at the flames of the fire, scattering different shadows around the area. None of the shadows seemed to rest on Yakumos peaceful face as she slept. Mushras' loud snoring mixed with Kutals' was the only thing that shattered the night's peace. He stood sighing slightly.
"Why did I volunteer to guard tonight?" he asked himself tiredly, a yawn rearing up from his mouth. "I'll take a look around."
Standing from his watch post he stretched slightly and glancing back on time at the sleeping group he made his way down the weeded forest path, walking ahead on the trail they would all take when morning came.
A wind picked up, rustling up scattered leaves, a green turret dancing on moonbeams shimmering down through the holes in the canopy. He looked around curiously, a chill running up his back.
He gulped, the feeling of being watched becoming stronger. He turned sharply on his heel, preparing to head back, suddenly worried for his friends when he heard it. The sound of crying, pained and sad, echoing around him like a thick fog.
The crying seemed to subside to words, a nameless and sad chant in the night.
"Somewhere in the night a child cries, as I wept and someone died. Somewhere in the night, humanity hides. Somewhere in the night, a soul screamed, as people fade and die, lost in dreams."
Sago shivered at the whispered words, turning around, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from, but it seemed to resonate from every area. From every tree and from every shadow, it sang. The voice clear and soft as the wind, disturbingly beautiful in it's clarity.
"Hello?" he called, his blue eyes searching for any sign of life in the moon shined shadows.
"Somewhere in the night, reality lives. Somewhere in the night loneliness dwells, as people die, no sounding bells. Somewhere in the night, we died alone. Somewhere in the night..."
"Show yourself!" Sago growled, getting angry suddenly.
"Where is the light?"
Sago whirled around to face a figure shrouded in the shadows, but in the faint light of the moon, tears could be seen glittering on it's face and in it's eyes. As the moonlight swept over the form, it was clear to tell it was a young man. Pain and suffering seemed to cloak the male like a second skin.
His eyes captivated him, as they met. Dark and unearthly, they were a pale blue gray, shimmering with unshed tears and spoke of sorrows and pains that would make angels weep in pity and devils laugh in joy. His skin seemed to glow, white as ivory, and smooth as pearl.
Instinctively, Sago drew his weapon, even while a voice in his head swore that this man was not an enemy but a child, staring down the strange man.
He wore no armor; only a pair of simple white cloth pants, leaving his upper half bared to the cold and dark. He carried no weapon, and with tears staining his angelic pale face he seemed of little threat.
"Step into the light," he said softly, his face softening a tone, though he kept his grip on his weapon, should it be an attempt for an attack.
The man shifted, a bare glimmer of movement that appeared as quick and graceful and slow as a glimmer of shadowed light across the surface of a lake. He took a step forward, the movement elegant but tense. Afraid.
He crossed the threshold of darkness into the beams of light provided by the moon. A wind picked up brushing a chilling hand over them both. Sago's eyes widened as he took the stranger in. His hair shimmered, pale silver gray like old earth. In the faintness of the light his shadow seemed to dance. He looked human, almost.
Where the beauty began to grow, new and horrifying features began to sprout as well, like weeds in a garden.
From elegant and smooth hands grew vicious black talons, like those of a hawk. And it did not stop there. Sprouting from his back were a pair of glorious folded feathered wings. Brown and gold dusted with black and gray. His ears were pointed and talons grew from his feet as well. Horror filled Sago, killing the image of a crying child his mind had created.
"What are you?" he gasped and quickly turned running back towards the camp, intent on waking his companions to warn them of this new creature.
The teens eyes widened as he watched sago flee into the night, tears falling from his eyes once again. He reached out his clawed hand falling to the ground, sobs chocking him and racking his chest. He closed his eyes tightly.
"Please….," he whispered. "Kill me…."
Sago ran into the camp breathing heavily. He looked around to make sure everyone was still there and let out a sigh. He gulped turning back to where he had run from. The path seemed endless, a wide and open mouth ready to swallow him should he enter again.
"What the heck was that thing!" he asked himself. "It looked human…but it wasn't an Enterran, that's for sure."
He looked over at Yakumo sleeping peacefully with the kittens. "And it couldn't have been a human…Yakumos the only one left and I'm pretty sure humans don't have wings…"He gulped slightly remembering the sight of the claws. "Or claws"
He shook his head hard and stood firmly, though he wasn't able to stop shaking.
Something about that creature, as innocent and pained it had appeared, filled him with fear. He wouldn't move, and he'd shout if he saw it again. It hadn't followed him and for that he was grateful. But what would happen if he ran into it again? And what if it attacked them?
He wouldn't allow it. Nothing would ever hurt his friends. Nothing. He'd remove all threats that came his way.
"I'll destroy it," he vowed darkly. "If I see it again….I'll destroy it."
I hope you readers like the new version.