The two sat there face to face, prepared for any attack. They knew that one of them would die, and the other would stand triumphant in victory. The roadrunner stood at the ready and the rattlesnake viciously rattled its tail. The snake flashed its tongue and the bird tilted its head, ready for any attack. The snake struck first with a bite as fast as a speeding bullet. The runner jumped out of the way and flapped its wings. It circled the snake and waited for its mark, and it knew that in time, the snake would grow tired. The snake struck again, and the bird jumped with all its might. It took its chance, it used its curved beak and stabbed hard into the snake's mouth. It could see the deadly fangs of the serpent, but it didn't care. It used its mouth and slammed the snake against the rocks on the ground. It did so again and again, until the snake was finally motionless. The roadrunner won the battle, and now it had a meal.
And yet, it raised its head cautiously with the snake in its mouth. It heard something sound off in the distance, and it was getting closer. Something big, something it knew it couldn't face.
After two days in the desert sun, my skin began to turn red.
It turned its head and saw a boy walking in the distance, singing with a voice that cracked occasionally.
After three days in the desert fun, I was lookin' at a river bed.
The roadrunner scurried off with its meal, and as for the boy? He continued walking through this desert, dragging his sleeping brother by the hood. He ventured through this desert without a care in the world, and the smiling moon was looking at him with that unnerving grin.
And the story it told of a river that flowed made me sad to think it was dead.
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name, it felt good to be out of the rain. Crane sang. In the desert, you can't remember your name. 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain.
La la la la la la la.
Crane simply wandered while dragging Ichabod through all the rocks and dirt. The boy didn't respond whatsoever, he must have been in a deep sleep. He was dragged over rocks, ditches, sand, dirt, and much more. None of it affected him. He didn't react, didn't flinch, didn't so much as raise an eyebrow. Ichabod slept through it all, and Crane carried on.
He felt the wind pick up, like a storm was coming. In an instant it was strong and turbulent, so much so that Crane stopped singing and felt the wind push him back a little bit. He looked westward. He waited for a moment, wondering if he should find somewhere to settle down, when the wind stopped, leaving as suddenly as it came.
He shrugged his shoulders and continued on, dragging Ichabod with him. He took a breath and picked up where he left off.
After nine days, I let the horse run free. 'Cause the desert had turned to sea.
The wind arose once more with a ravenous force, but Crane was determined to keep walking.
There were plants and birds and rocks and things, there was sand and hills and rings.
The wind clapped at him with a force so great that he was pushed backward. He stood his ground and continued his song. This time, he raised his free hand to protect his face, and he wiped his glasses of any dirt and sand.
The ocean is a desert with its life underground, and a perfect disguise above.
As Crane sang his song, a great roar blasted across the desert. He was blown off his feet and he landed firmly on his back. Crane felt the rocks and sand crash against his back, and he felt the loose gravel sink into his hair.
"OH COME ON! CAN'T A GUY FINISH A SONG HE LIKES?!" He screamed.
Crane brought his legs to his chest and sprang off the ground with ease. He shook himself down and felt the sand fall down his suit. His ponytail had come undone, and his hair draped against the back of his neck. He widened his eyes for a brief moment, but he scoffed. He scurried around in the sand looking for his hair band. He had to find it, he needed to find it. It went along with his suit so well.
"Of course I have to lose it now of all times." he muttered angrily.
He continued rubbing his hands through the sand and gravel, desperately searching for his hair band. His long bangs fell in his face, and in a fit of rage he angrily brushed them aside. He hustled around and scurried about, until he felt that familiar texture. He yanked his hair band out of the sand and brushed it off as much as he could. He quickly grabbed his hair and straightened it as best he could, and he tied it together in the back and formed a long, smooth ponytail. He shook the sand off his body and swept anything off his shoulders the best he could.
He grabbed Ichabod's hood and picked up where he left off. He dragged his brother through this endless plain, there was no end in sight. The moon's position had changed and the wind seemed to die down. Crane whistled that same song, then he hummed it. The eerie smile of that cheeky moon gave him a strange sensation however, as though it was watching him with curiosity. Crane stared right back, like he was picking a fight. He raised an eyebrow at the heavenly body, as if daring it to talk back, taunt, do something deserving of his ire. But he knew this was a waste of time. The moon smiled on, unbothered by his glare.
Through the rocks and through the sand he kept on walkin'. That Witch had to be out here somewhere, he knew it. He just had a feeling she would be somewhere, he was never wrong before, right? His brother would probably disagree, but his opinion didn't matter right now, he was sleeping. Crane paused, and took a deep breath. As he slowly exhaled, he focused his vision, and his sight sharpened, zooming in across the desert. Like all things, nothing escaped his sight.
He listened carefully to all the things around him. He heard a sudden rattle, and he peered to the right. It was a rattlesnake alright, and it came across a wild dog. The growling was vicious and arcane, but it was nothing Crane wasn't used to at this point. Even so, this was all happening a few miles away. When Crane blinked, those animals were the size of ants, and as he blinked again, the two predators were in perfect view.
He looked down at his brother and sighed, even if he wanted to find that Witch, something just felt off. It wasn't right. Crane dragged Ichabod onward and together, they kept going. Some clouds obfuscated the moon for a moment, causing the light to vanish. Crane pressed onward in the night. He crossed a steep hill, however, once he descended he saw something majestic. It was a large dune, something so picturesque that Crane simply stared with sparkling eyes. He could hear the sand drift across the surface, like waves in an ocean, and he sat quietly, simply listening. Grabbing his brother's hood, he descended the hill with great speed and leapt out toward the dune. When he landed, he felt the sand splash across the dune after his great impact. A wave of sand grains hit him in the face, causing him to spit and shout and vigorously rub his hair. After the sand subsided, Crane found himself alone with Ichabod on this lone dune, and his eyes grew heavy.
Goddamnit, no Witches anywhere… He thought. He sat on the side of the dune and carefully laid Ichabod against the rugged surface.
He sat and pondered his thoughts, was it really a good idea to come out into this desert? In the middle of the night no less? He looked at his brother once more, and couldn't help but think of him. They had been through everything together, they were always there. Ichabod would have his back, right? After all this time?
We'll find that Witch, then we'll have one before anyone else! I know it. Just trust me Icha, we'll find it.
HOOO
Crane looked leftward and saw an owl perched atop a lone tree. This small tree barely stood its ground, and this bird simply watched the two boys. It had glowing, golden eyes, and strangely, it had blue feathers.
"What're you looking at?" Crane asked.
HOOO
Crane sat for a moment.
"Yeah… I get that a lot."
The owl turned its head 90 degrees, then looked back at Crane. Something in its large eyes spoke to him, as though the owl were whispering something in his ear.
"Well I'm the only one willing to do something for us. He's the one who fell asleep in town, and besides we got that evil soul. I know I can help out, I just know."
HOOO
The owl flew off without making a sound, leaving the boys alone in this vast, sandy body. Crane felt his eyes grow heavy once again, and he looked up at the sky. The stars glimmered ever so softly, and with each shimmer, he felt his vision blur.
"Maybe… a nap will help."
He yawned and stretched his arms, blinking his eyes in a haze. He glanced over at Ichabod, who slept soundly under the sand. He took a deep breath and exhaled deeply, he must have been in a deep sleep. Crane couldn't help but frown, deep down, he felt something inside of him. Guilt? Regret? Or was it sympathy?
He grabbed his suit jacket, one he treasured so much, and laid it on top of Ichabod. Crane felt the desert's chill hit him instantly as the wind picked up once again, but he didn't care. He shivered slightly in his white dress shirt, but all that mattered was that his brother was ever so slightly more comfortable. He stood up and stretched his arms with a deep yawn, when suddenly, he twisted his arms 360 degrees. He bent his arms over his back and stretched his muscles. They were bent backward so far that he was touching his ankles. He stretched his back and bent himself upward and back to normal. He reached for his toes and easily palmed the sand on the ground, before kicking into a handstand. Then, he slowly allowed his legs to bend forward in front of him, like a perfect bridge. His body twisted and contorted like rubber, or perhaps a snake, before he finally laid on the sand. He turned over on his side, and tried to sleep.
"Goodnight." he said quietly. Then, he slowly drifted to sleep.
A loud clap rang out across the sand and Crane shot himself awake. He felt something pull on his hair, and before he knew it his hair was loose once again. His band had disappeared, and his long, neck-length hair rained down his face and his neck. The wind kicked up again and blew sand across the desert in a fierce squall.
"AW COME ON!" He screamed.
He shook his hair out of his face, brushed it with his hands, he did everything he could to keep it out of his face. Alas, it was fruitless, and his hair fell back into his face. The sand peppered his hair, and before he realized it, he was sneezing.
Crane didn't care, all that mattered was that hair band. He needed to find it. He turned against the dune and dropped to all fours, and scurried around in the sand. He rummaged through the endless grains and felt only the cold sand caress and palms. He dug at the hill, rummaged through it like a dog, he even grabbed clumps of sand and threw them to the side. Yet, no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't find his precious hair band.
"Oh great now my hair's in the way, my suit's all dirty and messed up! And I can't find my stupid band! I can just picture you now Icha. 'Crane, why the hell are we in a desert? I thought we were going home.'" He said with a mocking, nasally voice.
"Crane, why the hell are we in a desert?"
Crane stopped for a moment and turned around, and Ichabod was sitting up rubbing his eyes. The boy turned his attention to his brother, who was still scrambling on all fours, and crossed his legs.
"I thought we were going home."
"I WAS FUCKING KIDDING! " Crane roared.
"Mmhmm, sure ." Ichabod retorted. "Still need an answer though."
"Alright look, I wanted to find a Witch and I couldn't just leave you obviously." Crane explained.
"So your solution was to drag me who knows how far across the desert?" Ichabod asked. His eye twitched slightly, doing his absolute best not to immediately smack his brother.
"Yeah, yeah. Maybe if you didn't decide to sleep in the middle of town, we could've gone home together." Crane argued, his earlier irritation bleeding into his voice.
"You know it doesn't work like-"
"But since you did, I made the executive decision. Besides, look at how nice the view is." He gestured out to the desert.
Ichabod sighed and stood up. He noticed Crane's suit sitting on top of him, and he gently grabbed it. He handed it to his brother, who shook it out and put it back on. After buttoning the suit blazer, Crane looked at Ichabod, who gave him a soft nod. Crane nodded back, and Ichabod glanced downward for a moment. It was quiet, serene. A moment of bliss and… gratitude.
"A nice view doesn't make up for the lack of food and a soft bed." Ichabod muttered.
"Well boo-hoo we don't have any beds out here do we now?" Crane fired back.
Once again the wind started up, carrying dust and rocks with it. Both brothers raised an arm, defending from the next onslaught of debris before it eventually died down once more.
"What's with all the wind?" Ichabod asked. "I don't remember seeing storms in the weather."
"Air is just like water, it makes its own currents, especially in a desert." Crane explained.
"Mmm." Ichabod replied. Crane buzzed his lips. "Let's go home."
"Wait! Come on Icha, there's gotta be a Witch out here."
"Based on what? Wind? " Ichabod asked angrily. "Did Death tell us he sensed a Witch out here or something, because last I checked he simply told us we need a Witch's soul. He didn't say any Witches were out here ."
"I just- I just have a feeling." Crane replied.
"Of course you do, because that's never let us down before." Ichabod clapped back.
"Kiss my ass."
The brothers sighed, and turned away from each other. The wind calmly brisked across the sands and kicked some grains off the ground. They were truly alone out here, and the silence brought a sense of peace for a moment. Something howled in the distance, both brothers shifting slightly towards the noise, and Crane started marching off.
"Fine, one hour." Ichabod said begrudgingly. "You get one hour to find this Witch, not a second longer."
"You're up for it?" Crane asked.
"Well we're out here aren't we? No point in complaining about it now."
Crane chuckled under his breath and started walking. However, before he could get far, he turned around and went up against the dune again.
"Can you help me find my hairband?" Crane asked quietly. "I uh… I lost it."
Ichabod suddenly raised his arm, and revealed the hair band was in his grasp. Crane raised his brow in shock, and Ichabod looked at him calmly.
"It was sitting next to me under some sand." He said as he handed Crane the band. Crane took it and tied his hair back into a ponytail. "You know, if you don't like your hair that long, you should cut it."
"Into what though? An undercut, a combover?"
"I don't know, it's your hair, not mine."
"Oh I know, I should get dreads, like you."
"Pfft." Ichabod scoffed. "I wear them because I make them look good."
"I can make it work too." Crane argued.
Ichabod simply raised an eyebrow as he looked at Crane.
"What's that look for? I totally could, dude!"
"Sure." Ichabod smirked slightly at his brother as they continued, conversation lulling back into silence after a moment. They walked deeper into the desert, and the moon kept smiling the whole way.
"It's been 45 minutes and we haven't found anything." Ichabod said.
"You've been timing me?!" Crane asked. Ichabod pointed at a watch on his left wrist.
"We started at 10, it's 10:45. I'm pretty sure we're the only ones out here."
"I'd like to see you try and look for something, a helping hand wouldn't hurt." Crane argued.
"Who says I wasn't? The problem is there's nothing to find. At least not a Witch."
"You just want to go home." Crane said.
"You're not wrong. " Ichabod replied.
They looked at each other for a moment, and before long, Ichabod wandered off.
"Fifteen minutes Crane." He said.
"Shut up!"
Together they scavenged the desert, climbing hills and trailing on the empty plains. Ichabod kept his hands in his pockets while Crane followed him closely, listening for any sounds. They stared out across the sands, yet there was nothing there. They walked and hiked, climbed and fell, Crane ran down a hill even, with Ichabod closing the distance. And yet, there was still nothing. The moon shifted its position in the sky, and the boys' shadows were now pointing in a different direction.
"Okay, time's up, it's 11." Ichabod said.
"What?! Come on that Witch's out here." Crane cried.
"Your hour's up Crane. We're going home." Ichabod said.
"But we're so close! I can tell dude, just trust me." Crane assured.
"No dude. Time to leave." Ichabod said, more forcefully this time. Turning around, he began looking around trying to figure out how to leave the desert they'd trekked into.
"Wait, we've already done it for so long, we can't give up now." Crane attempted to reason.
"Longer we're out, longer it's gonna take to get back. And we still haven't eaten." Ichabod rebutted, shooting down Crane's reasoning immediately.
"Alright hear me out, if we stay for just a little longer I'll get you that Migration album you were looking at." Hearing that Ichabod turned towards his brother. Crane could see the hair on the back of his neck rise, and Ichabod lowered his head slowly.
"Limited edition?" He asked quietly.
"Of course."
Ichabod approached Crane and stood by his side quietly. Then, he started walking.
"You also get dish duty for a month." He added.
"Hold up, I'm already offering to buy you this, a month is a bit unfair here. Two weeks." Crane argued.
Ichabod thought for a moment, before nodding in agreement.
"Yes!" Crane pumped his fist while Ichabod sighed, resigning himself to the idea that the only way he was getting more sleep was if Crane dragged him back through the desert.
"Let's go-"
A blast of wind blew them off their feet, with Crane flying back and tumbling in the sand. Ichabod landed on his feet and clawed into the sand with his hands. The wind was as fierce as a tornado, sending Ichabod straight back toward his brother. He grit his teeth under his lip and faced the sudden squall, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"What the HELL WAS EVEN THAT?!" Crane screamed. "WHY IS IT ALWAY ME?!"
"Because you aren't careful." Ichabod said.
"BULLSHIT! WHAT WAS THAT THEN?!"
"You not being careful."
Ichabod offered Crane his hand, with his brother taking the offer. Ichabod pulled Crane out of the sand and the boy shook himself off. They looked around strenuously, searching for anyone else, but there was nothing there. No force, no enemies, nothing.
"Wait, someone's close by." Ichabod said.
"What? What do you mean?" Crane asked.
Ichabod shushed Crane and closed his eyes. Suddenly, he ripped them open with a new purpose. Crane could feel a strange energy emanating from his brother, like water had burst a dam. It overflowed and washed over him. Ichabod however felt that power, and sent it cascading across the sand.
"There are two souls about a mile west." Ichabod said.
"Huh? Ohhhhhh right, you're a Meister, how could I forget." Crane replied.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ichabod asked, his irritation bubbled to the surface. Crane started walking, leaving his brother behind.
"Weapons can't see souls, remember? So there, we're even."
Ichabod raised an eyebrow, something like that couldn't cause that much anger could it?
"Well, it could be the Witch, so let's go."
"You're damn right!" Crane cried, suddenly filled with energy.
Crane ran off, and Ichabod gave chase. Sand burst off the soles of their shoes with every step, every push of force propelled them forward to their goal. Crane jumped high into the air and flew across the sky, landing with a resounding blast of sand. Ichabod followed suit, leaping into the sky and traveling several hundred feet as though he were flying. He landed next to his brother, and together they quietly approached the souls. They heard a sound, something eerily familiar, yet distant.
"Is that a drum?" Crane asked.
"Shhh."
They peaked over another sand dune and spotted something they never saw coming. Something that clearly did not belong in the desert. There was a boy sitting next to a campfire, he looked to be around their age, and he was playing with an old, almost ritualistic drum.
This boy had fiery red hair, slicked back and tied in a small bun. He was wearing a flannel jacket and deep black jeans. He seemed to be wearing a necklace and a ring on each of his hands, ones made of gold and silver. His youth was something to behold however, why would someone so young be out here, alone in this desert?
The brothers listened as he repeated this same melody on the drum. It was as simple back and forth, a repeated sound, like a heartbeat. The boy looked upward, and met his eyes with another. One with deep, ocean blue hair, and golden eyes. Her hair was formed in a long bob cut, yet her golden eyes peered through the bangs covering them. She was a sight to behold, one so elegant that Ichabod felt absorbed by her very being. Crane glanced at him seeing that rare glimmer in his brother's eye. Ichabod never was talented when it came to showing his emotion, but this? This was different.
The woman bobbed her head up and down in sync with the boy's drum. She wore a satin, beige blouse with a flowing bow collar. She wore black dress pants and sleek, glossy boots. However, it wasn't her appearance that enthralled Ichabod so much, but rather something else. Crane heard it as well, the drum, the animals nearing their location, the sands, but most of all, the song.
Trøllabundin eri eg, eri eg
This woman sang with an intangible voice, something that couldn't be described. It was beyond anything the boys have ever heard, beyond comprehension. A voice best fit for a goddess among humans.
Galdramaður festi meg, festi meg
The boy hit the drum with more power, more conviction with each beat. He was lost to the harmony of the song, yet he didn't seem to mind.
Trøllabundin inn í hjartarót, í hjartarót
Ichabod stood up and slowly approached the fire.
"What the hell are you doing?" Crane whispered angrily.
"She's amazing." Ichabod said quietly.
"Or she could be casting a spell or something! That's how Witches are!"
"If she was a Witch, I would've noticed, remember? Besides, you're the one who wanted to fight a witch anyways."
Eyga mítt festist har ið galdramaðurin stóð
Her voice was carried across the desert itself. She let out a cry that carried the same key and the same melody as she was before, but her singing was transformed. These were not lyrics she sang, they were a cry from her very soul. Ichabod could see her very soul stretching out like a pair of wings. She felt so free from something, so… passionate in her song.
Something struck Ichabod on the back of the head, knocking him off balance. He felt his glasses fly off his face causing his vision to blur slightly. The surrounding area was washed like glass, and the smudge appearance disoriented the boy for a moment. The creature flew into the air reaching heights they couldn't reach.
"Icha?" Crane asked nervously.
Ichabod rubbed the back of his head and swiftly turned around, as did Crane. An owl appeared, startling the boys. There was no sound, no warning whatsoever when it appeared. Its gigantic eyes were fixated on the boys and struck them with talons as sharp as steel. Crane raised his arm in defense as the owl crashed upon him. The bird ripped into his flesh, causing him to scream into the night sky.
Crane swung at the bird wildly. He ripped his arms abound and his right hand clawed into bladed fingers. He swept back and forth trying to hit the avian creature, but to no avail. The bird landed another hit, digging deeper into the gaping wound on Crane's left arm. He roared into the sky and fell backward in searing pain.
"Crane!" Ichabod screamed.
Ichabod stepped in with a furious growl. As the owl dove for another attack, Ichabod took one powerful step, springing off the ground with the force of an earthquake. With a single clap of his hands, he sent a thunderous wave outward that caused the owl to shoot through the sky for miles. The bird shot through the air with blistering speed, so fast that some of its feathers peeled off its wings. There was a loud crash that rang out in the distance, one that broke the silence of the sands. Ichabod opened his eyes and focused his gaze on the bird. It was miles from their location, but he could see it plain as day. Over a large, desolate plain of ground, the bird was crushed against a large boulder, his target was flattened and its blood slowly dripped down the rock. Ichabod took several deep breaths, and when he blinked, his sight returned to normal, human vision. He could barely make the creature out, and the rock? It was microscopic, he could barely see it anymore.
It didn't matter, Crane knelt on the ground and grunted in a vicious, almost monstrous voice from the pain. Ichabod raced to his brother's side and grabbed his arm.
"How bad is it?" he asked as he tried to turn Crane's arm.
"HOW BAD DO YOU THINK?! STOP!"
"Let me see it damnit!" Ichabod retorted.
Crane let out a deep, bloodcurdling sound as Ichabod slowly twisted his arm and looked at the wound. Crane's blood was pouring all over the ground from three gaping scratches.
"GAH! BE CAREFUL!" Crane yelled.
"Well squirming doesn't help!" Ichabod fired back. He placed his hand on Crane's wounds and gently placed his hand over the blood.
"Breathe. Just breathe big bro." Ichabod said.
Crane inhaled and exhaled with a horrendous snarl. He felt the pain eating at his flesh, stinging his nerves and ripping his muscles. The crimson fluid spilled onto Ichabod's pants as he waited patiently. He sat, unmoving and silent, and breathed. Together, they waited with the moon hanging overhead.
Eventually, Crane's breathing slowed, and so did Ichabod's. They focused only on each other as time went on, for in this moment, a small energy was rising to the surface. Crane focused on his breath, ebbing and flowing like the waves on a beach, and he opened his eyes. He closed his hand in a fist.
"Let go, I'm fine now."
Ichabod looked Crane in the eye, feeling his fear in his breath. He tried to stabilize himself, he truly did. This had only happened so many times, but the blood, the sounds…
He relented, he let go of Crane's arm and saw the blood that soaked his brown hand. Then he heard that ring. He saw the small orange embers on Crane's arm. They waltzed across his skin like lovers dancing the night away, and with each step, the wound on Crane's arm closed. The muscle fibers grew back, his nerves slowly repaired themselves, and for the finale, Crane's skin had regenerated. The wound had been closed, and the blood slowly dried on his skin. Crane breathed slowly, focusing all his energy on the breath. A sound breath brings a sound mind. A sound mind brings a sound body, and within that body? A sound soul.
"There, that didn't take long." Crane remarked, feeling his arm.
"That took three minutes." Ichabod said with a modicum of fear.
"And? That's how long it usually takes. Besides if that was you who got cut it would've taken that long for you to heal too."
Ichabod helped Crane off the ground once more. Crane held his hand firmly as he rose off the ground, standing with a newfound conviction. He raised Ichabod's hand into a handshake of sorts, taking his hand in stride.
"Aw come on you're not that shaken up are you?"
Ichabod could feel Crane trying to push down on his hand, and he knew exactly what was happening.
"For a moment maybe." He said.
They started arm wrestling in the air. They put their might into the contest, every vein flowing thick with blood as the brothers fought for victory. Ichabod felt the match flowing in his favor as he slowly shoved Crane's arm down. Crane furrowed his brow and pulled with all his might. He slowly tilted the scale back to neutrality, before gaining the advantage.
"See? It's as good as new! And now you lose."
Crane struggled to keep going however, as Ichabod wrestled it back to the starting point. It remained there for a moment longer, before Ichabod grit his teeth. Before long, Ichabod snapped the arm down and claimed the victory. He rocked his head forward, feeling his dreads wave in his face slightly, and let go.
"Aw what?! I had you!" Crane shouted.
"And you still lost!" Ichabod clapped back. Crane noticed the excitement in his brother's voice. It was a sight he hadn't seen in years.
Crane smirked and bumped Ichabod on the shoulder.
"Really Icha, I'm fine. You don't have to worry."
"If you really say so. I'm just…"
He hesitated for a moment. Something had crawled up his leg, but after a deep breath, it subsided.
"I'm just glad you're okay." Ichabod said, returning to his neutral expression. Crane nodded, and Ichabod gave him a soft smile.
"I get it." He said softly. "Oh- oh damn, your pants."
Ichabod glanced down and saw the blood staining the material. It looked as though it was soaked deep in the threads.
"It'll wash out, if not, I'll just buy a new pair." He said.
Ichabod looked around for a moment until he found what he needed. He approached a shining object in the sand and knelt down. He found his circular glasses, and blew on the lens. After he cleaned the lens, he put his glasses back on. He nodded once more at Crane, and Crane did the same for him.
"So back to where we were, it's time we paid that Witch a-"
As they turned their attention back to the campfire, they soon realized that the boy and the woman had vanished. The fire was extinguished, the drums had vanished, as did any tracks.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!" Crane screamed.
He raced down the dune and searched the site, with Ichabod slowly following him. Crane searched around the camp, lifting the entire log off the ground. He checked under the wood, around the fire, even raced up the hill and back. He dug a hole in the ground in seconds.
"WHERE DID THEY GO?!"
"They left, obviously." Ichabod replied.
"Oh so they just raced off without leaving a trace?! Sure, and I'm Lawrence of Arabia!" Crane yelled.
He kept circling the campsite over and over, desperately searching for any sign of life. He He checked the fire once again, searched for any footprints or tire tracks, he even ripped the fire right out of the ground and looked underneath.
"WHERE IS THE WITCH?!"
Crane felt Ichabod grab his shoulder, and when he turned around, Ichabod shook his head.
"Pretty sure they're gone, Crane." He said.
"But- I-"
"Hey, I think we've had enough craziness for one night, yeah?"
Crane paused for a moment, and just as Ichabod expected, his brother let out a disappointed, pouty groan.
"Yeahhhhhhhhh… you're right… " He muttered.
"Is complaining about it going to change anything?" Ichabod asked.
"No…" Crane begrudgingly moaned.
"Well at least you know that much."
Ichabod took one last look at the desert. This was clearly a waste of time, in the end nothing really happened. They walked and walked, ran and ran, and for what. Something caught his eyes however, there was a shining light on the horizon.
He blinked and looked closely, for who knows how many miles they were from this light. He blinked again, and the light came into view. He saw a familiar sight, and he smiled.
"There's a city over there, you think it's Tucson?" He asked.
Crane blinked his eyes and did the same. Ichabod pointed in the city's direction, and Crane focused his sight. Much like his brother, he could see this city despite their distance, he saw the shining lights, the glamorous billboards, and even a sign.
"Yeah, it's Tucson." He said.
"Well, maybe we can get some food there." Ichabod said as he checked his watch. "It's already 11:30, and I really don't feel like cooking and shopping…"
"You still owe me burritos Icha." Crane moaned.
"And you owe me Bonobo's Migration album, Crow ." Ichabod replied.
"Oh fuck off with that name." Crane said strongly.
The brothers looked at each other in silence. They were here, now, waiting in silence as the wind blew softly across the desert. The sound this wind made carried for miles. It was tranquil and still, like a perfectly still lake.
"Loser pays for everything." Crane said. Ichabod smirked.
"You're on."
In an instant, the brothers exploded into the air with a single jump, flying in the sky for over a mile before falling to the ground. The lake has been disturbed, and ripples of sand made waves across the surface. Ichabod and Crane sprinted and jumped across the sands, racing excitedly to the city. The moon's face remained unchanged, and it smiled with a toothy grin as the boys had one last moment of fun…
As they ran, someone watched. She sat on a cliff slide ever curious of their nature. She kicked her feet slowly and gazed on the horizon, basking forevermore in the moonlight. Her blue hair flowed down her head like a river, and her golden eyes glowed with the purest light imaginable.
"Well that was a close one, if Jakob didn't fly in we would've had quite a unique scenario on our hands wouldn't we?"
A devilish growl bellowed out from behind her. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw the beast approaching her. A wolfman, one with deep red fur. A color that could be mistaken for blood, as its sanguine hue shimmered in the moonlight. The creature stared at her with crazed, sharp eyes. It approached her slowly, like it was ready to pounce, but the woman paid no mind. Instead, the beast joined her side quietly.
"They're gone, you can return to your human form Sihtric." She said calmly.
The wolfman growled quietly, before his body changed. His elongated face shrunk back into a more human shape, as the long limbs and claws contracted. The cracking and breaking of bones cackled in the night, yet strangely, the boy felt nothing. There was a strange smoke emanating from his body, and as the smoke subsided, there laid the red-headed boy from earlier.
"We shouldn't have come here, we're way too far from the village." Sihtric snarled. He grabbed his fiery hair and tied it back into a bun.
"Despite being seen, they didn't realize who or what we are. I suspect we will be fine."
"You saw them, they're clearly followers of the Reaper. They must be students of that damned school." Sihtric said angrily. "You saw how quickly they tracked us. One of them must be a Meister."
"Their souls told me that much, I'm not blind." The woman spoke.
"Do you think your magic may have attracted them? They were sleeping on that dune for quite a while." The boy said. The woman gripped her chin.
"I suppose I may have used too much power, I… I'm doing what I can to satiate that craving."
"I know, and I have faith you'll shake it." the boy said with hope.
They sat for a moment longer, with the young teen looking out at the desert. The woman glanced at him, noticing his large, bold tattoo underneath his necklace. She could feel the magic inside. She reached for the ink on his shoulder, gazing evermore at the pattern.
ᚷᛟᛞᛊ ᚺᛖᛚᛈ ᚦᛟᛊᛖ ᚹᚺᛟ ᚺᛖᛚᛈ ᚦᛖᛗᛊᛖᛚᚢᛖᛊ
Yet, she stopped. She sighed and looked out at the desert as well. She could hear the sand singing that same melody on this gleaming night. The melody of stillness, something sacred to the earth. The harmony of peace that reverberated with nature itself. The wolves, the insects, the air, the water, the sand. It was a beautiful song, one she wished she could bask in for a while longer.
"That healing factor, I've never seen any humans with such an ability." Sihtric said, gaining the woman's attention. "They may be children but we shouldn't underestimate them."
"Human you say? They didn't quite seem so to me. Not completely…" The woman looked over at Sihtric before the hint of a smirk graced her face. "Tell me, if it had come to a fight, did you intend to battle them exposed like that?" The woman asked, looking down briefly. "I'm sure you wouldn't want the family jewels being harmed, would you?"
"I… don't follow, mistress." He said.
Sihtric looked down, and within seconds felt a great fear and humiliation overwhelmed him. He shot off the ground and covered himself the best he could.
"FORGIVE ME MY LADY!" He screamed while sprinting toward a nearby bush.
The woman burst out laughing the night away, laughing so hard that she nearly fell over. She covered her mouth and hushed herself. Sihtric's face had become as red as his hair by this point.
"Come now Sihtric, nudity is a natural state of being. The quicker you accept that fact, the less humiliated you'll feel about it."
"That doesn't excuse my exposure to you! It's disgraceful!" Sihtric cried.
"You really need to stop taking things so seriously." The woman said. "And come out of that bush, it's time for us to leave anyway."
"Okay, can I just get my clothes quickly?"
"You shredded them when you transformed."
"Oh… right…"
The woman giggled.
"It doesn't matter…"
She suddenly stood up, and raised her arm.
"Soul Protect: Release."
A burst of energy shot out from her body as she waved her arm. The air around her vibrated with magical energy so powerful the very ground itself trembled in her wake. The wind shifted and changed, raining fiercely on her as feathers as hard as diamonds pierced the sky. The azure feathers formed a grand cloak around her, and soon after, a bundle of them wrapped around Sihtric acting as clothes. Seeing this, he left the bush and joined her side once more, with a crimson light glowing from his shoulders.
"Wait, before we go," Sihtric said. The woman glanced at him with a sudden solemnity. "Are you actually ready to return, Lady Skaði? You know the risks if you… you know."
The woman sighed deeply, and gazed on the horizon.
"I can return for now, but the embers remain, as they always do." She said with lingering sadness. "Thank you for staying with me."
Sihtric bowed deeply, placing his hand on his heart.
"I am always at your service, my lady." He said gracefully.
As he bowed, Skaði noticed the tattoo on his collarbone, one that encircled his neck in a wide berth. She could feel the faint magic contained within, and she placed a soft hand on Sihtric's shoulder.
"Let us return home, we'll deal with these children another day."
Skaði snapped her fingers, and the feathers swarmed the two. They flew with the speed of the gods themselves, and before long, they shot into the sky, and vanished into the stars…
Ichabod stopped dead in his tracks and landed with a resounding crash in the sand. Crane turned his head and stopped. Despite his lead in the race, he shouted.
"Everything alright?!"
Ichabod felt a shiver up his spine. He felt the wind change and could feel something. But he was tired, exhaustion began to overtake him. This wave of energy, this colossal wave of vivacity was something best left for another day.
"It's nothing! We're fine!" Ichabod yelled.
He lept into the sky with a thunderous clap echoing through the sand. He landed next to Crane, and started sprinting.
"The bet's still on!" Ichabod cried.
"Hey, cheaters don't win!"
"You can tell that to your wallet!"
Crane took off after him with dinner being the only thing on his mind. They continued their race strong and true.
All the while, the moon continued laughing. It laughed and laughed and laughed.
For the moon sees all, whether some know it, or not.