The sky was a deep violet, torn with saturated reds and splattered with stars that formed waves of mist in the darkness. It seemed impossible but it seemed like I was in space, the stars spread out before me, stretching into infinity.
Until he turned to look at me, I didn't noticed the man made of celestial dust drifting before me. He seemed infinitely large, stretching across the universe, yet close enough to feel a sense of love roll off of him.
A calm smile drew across his starry lips, "What do you think?" he gestured towards the stars.
The view filled me like the wind wind always seemed to, electrifying my senses and making me feel power and security, like it was where I belonged. Here, I not only had a place among the star dust and colliding galaxies, I was a part of it - a very small part - but I was a piece of the ethereal beauty. I didn't think any words could describe how the majesty affected me but I had a feeling he already knew how I felt.
"You were brave down there." His voice hummed with serene strength that echoed through the sky.
"Down where?" I looked below me and gasped. The globe of the earth shined far below me as the sun inched its way across the land. "What is this?" I sighed, marveling, "Who are you?"
"You don't recognize me?" He said dreamily, letting the words tumble out, "I thought you would, seeing how deeply you connected to me when you fought off Hephaestus's gryphon. But no matter, you'll find out for yourself." He streaked his arm across the sky, leaving a new trail of misty stars.
His words left me confused but as I stared at him, one thing became clear,"You're the sky," I said.
Another warm smile spread across his face. "I brought you up here to tell you something. Things are changing in the realm of man and gods, and very quickly you will realize how gravely this change will threaten the survival of humankind. I'm sorry to leave you without more help. All I can tell you is not to lose yourself as you embark on this new journey."
"What do you mean? Why would I lose myself?"
He seemed to acknowledge my questions but went on without answering them, "I know you've been taught to believe that you are lost, but that doesn't mean you can't find yourself. Remember where your loyalties lie and find your hope." His eyes drifted, either losing interest or losing contact with me. "People like you will never truly be lost. Your mind travels with the wind, forever drifting."
The outlines of his face began to blend into the stars behind him and fade into white. He widened until it seemed he made up the entire dome of sky, watching over the earth, yet wandering into the depths of the universe.
I felt a tug at my feet and began to sink as the earth's gravity reached out for a girl who had strayed too far from reality. Clouds inched into my vision as the earth reclaimed me, erasing the night sky and engulfing me until I disappeared completely.