The Day After- Part Five
Endurance
Limply Etheirgrums head hung to the side of the grey stallions mane, bumping as the steel clad hooves of the great beast pounded into the earth. Gravel and mud flew behind their path as pounding rain met their every advance, beating into Etheirgrums cheeks and eyes as if to blind him. The storm was as punishment for his actions, his selfish deeds of the past, and present. Or so he thought, though ending the happiness of one to bring joy to another did not seem wrong. Especially if he sharred in such joy. To him everything happening was a blur, the red liquid spilling from his foot to his horses thundering legs, the crystal tears falling from his eyes that met with every drop from the heavens, in a union, everything. Slowly he slipped from his valiant horses saddle, tumbling through the harsh, cold earth untill his tumbling was stopped by the force of one of natures many guardians. The might tree acted as shelter for the beaten man, shading his eyes from the rain, his ears from the jeering of the wind. The horse rode onward still into the storm, most likely to meet it's end from it's panic. Possibly as it's rider might as well. Grabbing onto the soggy blades of green below him he pulled himself to sit, leaning heavilly into his silent and sturdy wooden guardian. He sat panting, the fog engulfing him and in return his view, acting as a soft silk blanket over his eyes. Groaning in pain and annoyance once he realised his conciousness was being bickered about. Slowly his right hand shakingly reached to his neck, pulling a small carved neclace from his neck, his eyes weakly looking down at the gift his wife gave to him months ago. It was the last vision he saw before darkness took him yet again.
Harshly the wind jeered at the man hidden under the large tree sorrounded by seas of green. Small red capped mushrooms littered the roots and proxemity of the silent guardian, acting as decoration and pests. Rain fell unendingly, adding to the beateb mans torment even if he did not notice it, unconxious as he was. A puddle of murky water started to form under him as his rough figure sank into the soft soil, leaving it's imprint. Flies circled around his leg, taking what blood they could from under the soaked bandages wrapped tightly around his bloodied and ruint foot. A crow flew overhead, brining the harsh reality of death as it's keen eyes watched hopefully under the branches of the tree. Dripping from the old giants leaves drop after drop found it's way to Etheirgrums lips, soaking into the cracked and dry skin upon them. Refreshing the torn look to a remenant of it's old self, his tan body paler than ever.
Hours later the rain stopped, followed by the criping of birds and the chorus of the bugs. Etheirgrums eyes were soon opened, as blirry as it was he looked around, shakingly pushing himself up from his rest. Whispering a word of sorry before snapping a thick branch from his wooden guardians 'mane'. Slowly limping through the mist, as dreary and weak as he did he would not give up. Into his eyes came parts of the ford as he trod on, once he reached it he fell to his hands and knees, lapping up the water as an animal in the streets. Dipping his face he washed some of the muck from his hair, though all the water did was make it thicker, along with his hair to droop further, causing his eyes to be blocked not only by blur but his own unruly hair. He would not give up, trying to find his way home. Onward he limped, following the river North, not knowing where it would take him. All he knew is wherever it was, that it was most likely better than where he was now. And if it was worse, well, he had not expected to live as long as he has. So he'd look death in the face and spit, he was not ready to go.
