1 The Forest

I can hear the clear strikes of whistling wings above me and their accompanied morning cries. I look upward towards the sky barely peeking forth against the dense green vegetation clouding my surroundings, maybe I'll spot it? Briefly, I swear it was red... red, red chest, can it be a wood pigeon? One from those books that Harry brings me? Ah, I wish that I can see them clearly at my next chance... The soft moss beneath my feet is almost prickly to the touch, I bet many plants, vines, and branches are halfway submerged in this living earth, clinging to these colossal trees, an embrace, a soft embrace of, I think the word was unity, unity... and life.

Ah, I almost want to get lost in these sounds, the creaking of branches, the songs of birds, and steps just beyond my sight. What else can I get to see within this bright green? I want to explore, I want to see what is to see before I return, I want this all to remain with me for the rest of my days to come. That sound, those steps, they're to my left I think, my pale white wings twitching in excitement, they are contrasting against my surroundings, aren't they?... Almost, like a painting, no, more than that. Aw, I should not get myself distracted, to the left, the sounds, the snapping of twigs against the soft earth. My heart is pounding against my chest, will I see something new this time?

Four legs ending in obsidian hooves, its fur a vibrant almost orange-brown, coating its form from top to bottom, and its head draped in a majestic crown of bones over deep amber eyes looking straight at me from across the clearing, bathing it in a golden glow, my chest, it feels so tight, who knew I would ever get to see something this beautiful? It is still here... it hasn't moved away or run off, no it has gotten closer, does it want me to approach? Can I, Can I touch it?

Its skin, so warm, almost pulsing through the prickles of the stiff fur grazing my hand and face, right by the chest it sounds against my ears, the pounding of a heart rhythmically pumping life, through its royal keeper. That face, those deep amber eyes, is it trying to tell me something? The head turns back towards the enclosure of trees, placing one of its hooves on the ground ahead.

"Do you want me to follow you?" The words, when was the last time I spoke to anything during these journeys? Anytime I had... but still, I swear.

"You can hear me, can't you?" Its long, wise face, it's turning towards me again brushing up against my chin. It's a response, it must be, my face, it's wet... my eyes they're stinging, and this clutch around my chest, it is making it hard to breathe. Those amber eyes, are you trying to comfort me? I must get it together, I don't know how much time I got left.

"L-lead the way."

The sight, the sounds, the smells, they're so vibrant, so alive. Every graze of fur, trees, or moss. Every gaze of woodland critters skittering between the green, colorful plants painting the ground with diverse visions. Every sweet floral scent, pungent odors, and fresh breaths... all of them. This crowned being, he's still by my side guiding me down a slim path between the trees, or, at least I think it's a "he". The ground in front has changed, it's no longer dominated by just moss and some flowers peaking forth, no, this I've seen it in some books too, its a heather of purple bells, draping almost every inch of the ground accompanied by a sweet scent almost overpowered by some grassy odor. Is there maybe a lake nearby? My feet grazing the bells have me almost jump, wings, purple and golden, flickering like the beats of my heart before my eyes reflecting the rays peeking through the seemingly endless branches, illuminating this heather so similarly to that clearing. This crowned one, is he showing me what I long for? How would... no, I should be grateful for these chances, to be able to bear witness to all of this.

He keeps stepping ahead through this heather in between endless trees, I must keep up. The earth, it is starting to arch upwards, a wall of stone and moss, and to the side a split. A split widening down the middle giving gaze within a pit of darkness. Something, this feeling, how can I place it? Why is the crowned one showing me this? And why...

That sound, that inhumane growling, no, I don't want to see this... the beginning of all of this. But he wants me to... The trees, they are folding in on themselves, the ground splitting opens plunging the earth into darkness, the darkness, but... those amber eyes are still here, looking back at me from across the abyss, the distance... it's getting wider, he still didn't finish.

"No, don't leave." He's swallowed by the nothingness.

Bright, ah its the lamp, illuminating the pages of the book on the edge of my pillow, the pages are slightly tattered, I should take better care of it... that crowned one, I wonder what he was? Will I find out in one of these books stacking the left wall of this dark wooden room, no windows, one lonely mattress, a plate with the scraps of yesterdays meal, the wooden tub in the right corner, and the door, heavy and dark, standing between me and the outside, but I know I can never leave, the world outside is dangerous and the one that I'm seeing... is one that no longer exists. My eyes, they're flooding again, why? What happened out there? Will I come to know?... For all my life, here I am, a winged creature behind this door, dreaming of a world that used to be.