The return of the darkness
Zuline had a big smile all over her face. It was great news for her people. She had made a promise to Zarkhaim that the Jessadians would never be aggressive, in order to set an example to the humans, and so far this had caused them nothing but desolation, forcing them to take shelter under the dome and never come out. If they were now under protection, then, they could finally live a peaceful life as they wanted. For centuries, Zuline had been gathering the souls of the damned and various creatures in the Entrance of Death to protect her people and the land they had left. Now she was free to go in search of them and allow them to live with them in the village beneath the dome, so that their watch would finally be over, and they too could finally rest. Everyone will be safe from now on.
Her tribe could become nomadic again and walk into all the regions of the North to live from hunting and gathering, feeding from the shadows like they did before. Guiding the souls they would meet to the center of the shadows where everyone could live together in harmony, far from the rage of the living.
Zuline was very excited by the situation. She rolled her arms around Zarkhaïm's waist and held him strongly.
"Thank you. I knew I could believe in you."
Indeed, her faith in him was unbroken for thousands of years. She always has been by his side, always supporting him and trying her best to help him in his moments of doubts. She never questioned his actions and always tried to comfort him in every circumstance. Since the beginning of life on earth, she has been his precious advisor.
After the big news, she stood up and took his hand. She pulled him to join the rest of the clan. This night was a night of celebration and joy. They started a large fire, baked the best meat they had and opened the bottles of alcohol.
Zuline wore her most traditional and beautiful ornament, and she started to lead the way to dance around the fire. They had this tribal dance proper to their millennial culture, almost like a trance in the rhythm of the drums. Zarkhaïm admired her leading her people in the joy and celebration, she had an incredible force to transmit emotions. The shadows raised around them, amplifying the intensity of the fire, and the women of the clan followed this ritual they did since the beginning of ages.
They were looking unreal, part of their bodies appearing randomly in the light of the fire, the rest being hidden in the shadows. Their long horns were wearing feathers and jewels, shining in the light. They were like ghosts, immaterial and at the same time so overwhelming for anybody watching them.
This was their way of dancing in the night since always, embracing the shadows and being one with them, absorbing the darkness and being barely visible in the light of the fire. It was a strong moment Zarkhaïm always had loved to watch. He had a sweet look after seeing the reaction of some Jessadians men watching at Zuline. She was a beautiful one of her kind, but she was never interested in the company of anyone except Zarkhaïm.
In reality, she was full of an intense deep love and all the tribe was her companion, she loved all the members of the clan equally, and it was not possible for her to pay more attention to one person in particular. If these kinds of celebrations were usually the perfect occasion for couples to be formed, Zuline was the one guiding in the shadows. She was the solid foundation for her people to rest on, the one showing the way.
Zarkhaïm wondered if it was a good or a bad thing that he was in her life, he would have loved that she could share this intimate relations with others, but he could understand her feelings. He also was one made of a deep true love, and he understood that, even if she was more important than the others to him, his attention was equal for all living creatures in the world. However, deep inside him, he always wondered what it was to have this unique and special bond to someone. As he was watching the couples laughing together happily, he was asking himself if Zuline and him took the right path for their own lives. Maybe, he was showing her a bad example and maybe, by imitating him, she was wrong. Love for every form of life had never brought her anything but suffering, after all. He couldn't explain it, but he knew, one day, she would have a decision to make between the tribe and herself. He knew that one day, she would meet someone so special to her that her life would take another turn. Someone who would change her forever.
He watched the stars in the sky, his heart felt a bump. He was lost in thoughts.
"Is there a special someone for me?"
He closed his eyes and let himself dream. He could almost see a figure being drawn in front of him. The figure of someone he wanted to catch, he wanted to know his face, his name. Somehow, he knew, he was absolutely certain that it existed. That he would have a soulmate too.
The Jessadians continued to dance for some time, but Zarkhaïm, under the influence of alcohol, decided to join them and the laughter mingled with the drums until there was no one left standing to dance in front of the now extinguished fire. They were simply happy to live.