The old ones call

My breath was coming rigidly. The air was cooling my lungs, as the frigid air burned my throat. Shivers ran down my spine. Reaching up almost searchingly my hand coiled around the green jade pendent at the base of my neck. The stone was the only warmth in the otherwise fringed morning. That strange warmth gave me the strength to walk forward. Edging towards the forest, I swallowed as the panic of sheer fear rose in my blood. Even so, even with that fear the warmth in the pendent kept me going. “Elian.” My voice was raged and haggard. Only the softest of crocks, was the sound of my voice after a night of crying. The old people, they took you didn't they? I am the sear, I know the signs. “The old people have come.” My voice was barely a whisper, just a hair louder than the wind. The others will not stop me.

Only a step away from the forest, pine, sweet and strong drifts to my nose from the forest. One more step Dan, one more step and I could save Elean. A wolf howls in the distance as the last of the nights moon drifts away with the coming of the dawn. I had to save her from the old people. Taking the last step into the forest, I was engulfed by the shadows of the woods. “Mommy’s coming.” My only hope was that it wasn't to late. As eerie echo’s whispered my name Leading me farther in to the forest. “Dan....... Dan....... Dan." That was when I knew I would do anything to have Elean safe again even trade my soul.