Raine

The rain fell slowly down, spiraling from the stormy heavens. She watched the drops hit the long, knee-length grass. Above her head trees towered above, sinking her into dappled shadows. One by one golden, red and brown leaves were dislodged from the branches and floated on the wind, merging with the rain.1

A small stream ran through the middle of the forest, made larger with the downpour. It gurgled and chuckled as it ran past her, wetting the bottom of her long, black jeans. The sun was behind a cloud, every so often it appeared to light up the world again but mostly it stayed shrouded in mist.2

The wind whistled through the trees, playfully twisting the leaves and knotting her hair, making it swirl wildly. With a single thought she told the wind to stop. It instantly moved away, surprised to find a human who talk to it. She stood up slowly, her shirt made out of pure water following her every movement. Her green eyes flashed across the wood, the golden specks glinting as she memorised every detail.3

She concentrated briefly, calling out for the wind to come back. It cautiously blew towards her, sending her rusty hair streaming behind her. Speaking slowly to it she told it what to do. It gathered all the leaves, bark and water and combined it to make a shimmering shape, a boy around her size.4

The girl called the wise power in the trees to aid her, gusting the North, West and South wind to help as well. At exactly the same time they met a burst of air in all directions. A boy emerged from the elemental combination. His eyes were a lush grass green, contrasting with his golden, brown and red hair. He wore pants similar to her own shirt, a material made purely out of shimmering water, opaque.5

She smiled at him welcomingly, her companion. He gazed at her quietly, absorbing her appearance. A little bit disconcerted by his silence the girl reached out to him with her mind, calling to him with her thoughts.6

'Hello.'7

He just looked at her. She shivered under that full glance, uncertain whether creating him had been such a good idea. Deciding to let him become accustomed to his presence here she shouted loudly with her mind, thanking all who had helped with his creation. A hand on her shoulder snapped her out of her semi-trance.8

She turned to find the boy staring at her. She slowly reached out with her hand to his forehead, it was easier to talk that way. With a rush of air she entered his mind, for the sake of privacy taking them to another place. He looked up, confused. Above their heads was a glass ceiling protecting them from the weather outside. 9

Rain splattered against the roof, creating splotches of shadow on the lush emerald grass on which they stood. Lightning flashed down, piercing the horizon with tendrils of red electricity. Thunder rolled and crashed directly above, making the ground shake slightly.10

"Where are we?"11

A voice surprised her, a ringing curious voice that instantly captured her attention. She stared at him in wonder, she hadn't heard a voice in over a thousand years. She attempted to reach him with her thoughts but found her way blocked, filled with the power of the sea in all its might. She hastily broke off and tried to remember how to talk.12

"Your mind, a different place in it but still in you."13

Her voice echoed strangely, pleasant yet hoarse.14

"What are we?"15

"Human."16

"No really, what are we?"17

For the first time in a millenia she had to think properly to answer the question.18

"We are... shape shifters." She answered finally.19

He nodded trustingly, his big eyes blinking up at her. She thought about the question. For humans they looked around 17 years old, but in a mental age they were over a thousand years old and could live for longer, unless they found a Carryer.20

Still thinking hard she transported them back to real life. Almost instictively she switched into a wolf, its fur running water. The boy gazed at her for a second then mimicked her, his fur was made of the breeze. She stared at him, he was a fast learner.21

She ran faster and faster, her paws moving so fast they became a blur. She leaped off a waterfall nearby, water plummeting down onto sharp rocks where froth tossed and bubbled. At the last second she changed into an eagle and soared up, not bothering to wait. She landed on a rock reaching for the sky.22

"What is your name?"23

She almost sighed when she heard the boy, the peacefulness broken. She turned to look at him and felt a strange warmth stretching through her body. She wobbled cautiously, she had never felt this before. Her heart beat faster as she answered.24

"Raine."25

He smiled at that. He looked into her eyes and she knew he felt what she was feeling. She tried to pull herself away, she didn't want to condemn him, but the feeling pulled her, urged her on. He bent down slightly and she looked at him. 26

Their lips met softly. Raine had never felt anything like this. He ran his fingers through her hair, she didn't try to pull away. Up above her namesake spiraled down towards them, still locked as they were in an embrace. Raine kissed him harder, knowing her time was nearly up. Slowly she moved away, her eyes filling with unwept tears. 27

She dissolved into the rain, letting it carry her away. She softly murmered "I'm sorry." Then was gone, free from Earth.28

He gazed up at the stormy sky and whispered quietly that he loved her. He then changed into a wolf and ran away, condemned to wander Earth until he found a Carryer. To pass on his curse of life.