The hazy sky was causing the setting sun to shed brilliant reds. Levi paused and knelt in the fragrant grass. It had been a long August day and many miles had been traversed. He had caught a plump rabbit for his supper and the dancing fireflies invited him to make this verdant field his bed for the night. The knoll gave a pleasant view of his surroundings and would also provide the advantage of a stone wall behind his back. Levi would be partially sheltered and nothing two or four legged could take him by surprise. A bird on the wing was returning to it's retirement nest and he wondered briefly what it would feel like to fly even as he chided himself for such a whimsical notion. Humans would always be earthbound.
This journey to the Livermore and Nappa Valley Vineyards was as much a vacation as a scouting expedition. He would inspect the maturing vines and return to Goren to advise the Village Elders where the better crops were so that they could be harvested in September at crushing time. He divested himself of his back pack and set about making a meal.
Eating with relish, as only young and healthy males can do, he spread his blanket and began to relax. The fading metal pillars kept beckoning his eyes for further speculation. There were so many legends about the Ancient Ones, the Giants of the Earth who had departed unknown centuries ago. Who could possibly sort truth from myth? Their broken homes and strange objects left on the roads did not look like they belonged to a large race. However these tall silent sentinels known for some obscure reason as the olden Gate, were surely the work of superhuman beings.
Levi was a Hunter by nature and could recognize animal signs and track any beast over any terrain. Some scholars could read the tracks left in books left by the Ancient People, or so they claimed. These books were rare and brittle and the tales that the Village Wizens told made less and less sense with their heated arguments over interpretation. One book was Gideon's and the other belonged to Stephen King, their names were emblazoned on the front page, he doubted that anyone could ever reconcile the two philosophies. The Hunter was only interested in what he could see for himself and contentedly left the gibberish for others to discuss.
He lay very still, listening. Nothing seemed to be amiss. Closing his eyes, the vision of Tessa filled drowning senses and he swam eagerly into a young man's dreams. He failed to hear the sighing ghosts of the Ancient Ones, it was Tessa's sighs he thought he heard. Her scent and touch he ached for. Did she ever think about him? In his nightly other life, she smiled especially for him. His words were fluent and charmed her, making her eyes light up and sing that low, throaty laugh that lit a fire in his belly.
And so, on he slept, becoming in his mind the man he wanted to be. All problems were solved and every door was open to him. His body lay dormant, refreshing itself for whatever was to come tomorrow. He forsaw no worries, only possibilities.
To be continued.....
Author notes
#5: Different Worlds by Iron Maiden
"Everybody has a different way to view the world."
Was inspired by the picture of a long demolished San Francisco. What would a new world be like? This is the first of two chapters, so far.........
A contest entry
- Song Fiction by UndercoverShinoda.
300 points, ended June 19, 2007, 3 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next story in this contest, remove from contest - After the End by roars-in-public.
388 points, ended July 6, 2007, 32 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
1st story, be gentle ~ but honest! How else can I improve?
Comments
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This was good. It paints a very vivid picture in my mind. I would be hard pressed to find just one flaw here. I don't think there are any. Good luck to you in the contest although I don't think you need to rely on luck.
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I really like this. Actually... just, wow. I can't actually think of anything that I don't like about this. Good luck in the contest, you've done well.
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