Thwack!

The jolt of something falling on my head startles me awake. I look beside me, only to see an apple rolling its way down a shallow hill, into a rolling field of grasses and brilliant flowers. I look up, the branches of a large tree crisscrossing high above me, casting me in a cool shade.

"Greetings, child, we meet yet again." a firm, but soft voice wafts into my ears. I look up to see a figure, clad in white robes with a black sash hanging from its shoulders, holding an outstretched hand to me. I cannot make out the figure's visage; it is as if it's always out of focus, always blurry.

"Glad to be back, old friend." I grab the figure's hand, and they pull me to my feet with great ease."Care for a stroll?" the figure says, as they turn on their heel. The two of us walk together down the hill, taking in the beauty which surrounds us. Clouds like pillows roll high above the plain. As we step out from under the canopy of the tree, the warmth of the sun wraps around me like a blanket.

"This is definitely a break from protocol. Where are we going?" I say to the figure.

"Nowhere in particular. Anywhere our feet take us." We come to a stop in a patch of tall goldenrod, busy bees buzzing back and forth between us, covered in pollen.

"The truth is, I am intrigued by you. We have crossed paths dozens of times, far more than any other poor and misguided soul to pay me a visit." The figure turns to face me, their mysterious visage no more discernable than ever. "Why is that? Why do you refuse to enter the realm of rewards or the realms beyond?"

Moments which feel like hours pass, as I rattle responses 'round my brain. Finally, I choose my careful reply.

"Those places just sound boring," I say. "The idea of a 'forever anything' does not interest me. I love our conversations, and I love being able to always see the world through new eyes, a new lens."

The figure shifts its weight, perhaps uncomfortably, and continues walking. "I'm listening." They say.

"Well, how do I put it..." I mutter, my mind searching for examples. "As a human, life is so colorful. So many emotions, so many experiences, so many memories. But as an eagle, I am so free. Nowhere can hold me down. One time I was an oyster, and it was a peaceful existence. Lots of time to think. I think my favorite incarnation was a mantis shrimp, what lovely colors they can see! The coral reef was absolutely breathtaking... so to speak."

"You never cease to fascinate me, old chap." The figure once again stopped, and turned their face to the sky, now a sea of purples and oranges. "But it seems our time is running out. The sun hangs low. Do you have a preference for your next life?"

We walk in a moment of contemplation, the daylight waning. The sound of buzzing bees gives way to the choruses of grasshoppers, and a sea of blinking lights of light betray the presence of lightning bugs. As we meander back to the base of the large tree, I hold my hand out, and a little firefly lands on the tip of my finger, its hindquarters illuminating my fingernail.

"I think I'd like to give one of these lil' fellas a spin." I say, taking a seat where I first awoke.

"Very well. May we meet again, my friend." And with a wave of their arms, the figure vanished, and my eyelids begin to feel heavy. With a sigh, I leaned my head against the rough bark of the tree, and close my eyes.

Through wisps of snow and over jagged rock, the traveler pushed on. Coming to a rest at an overhang, the lone man kicked a few sticks into a pile, and with a deep breath, blew into his outstretched palm. Sparks and a wave of heat eminated from his palm and strike the sticks, igniting with a soft phwoom, casting soft shadows across the overhang walls. The traveler shrugged off his backpack and began to dig in it, pulling out a few crackers and a tin of dried fruits. He then drove another stick into the deep into the ground next to the crackling fire, a slab of meat hanging from its end.

​

"Damn, I miss Taco Tuesdays." the traveler muttered, taking a seat on a frozen rock. Through the crunch of his crackers and the popping of the flame, the traveler heard a beating of wings in the soft snowfall. Without hesitation, the traveler kicked a snowy mix of sand and pebbles onto the small flame, extinguishing it as easily as it was ignited. The beating stopped with the creaking of a branch, and smoke filled the cavity of the overhang.

A moment passed, the smoke burning the traveler's eyes and irritating his nose. He can feel the itch coming on; unable to hold it in, he sneezed.

​

A quiet beat passed, to his relief. The silence was broken as a ball of ice impacted the ground before him, shattering into hundreds of frozen shards. Immediately after, a winged claw reached through the mouth of the overhang, barely missing the traveler with a swipe, but tore his backpack and caused the contents to spill.

The traveler recoiled, and after gaining his footing, inhaled a deep breath. With his exhale, a stream of flames roared from his mouth toward the opening of the overhang. A terrifying shriek ensued, rattling his bones and splitting his ears.

​

This is my chance, the traveler thought, and leapt out from under the overhang, landing with a roll. Turning towards the overhang, taking in another deep inhale, he locked eyes with the creature. A drake leered over him, clinging to the top of the overhang. The drake let loose an intimidating shriek, its face enveloped in a soft magical glow as it readied another blast of ice.

The two launched their attacks. One with a yell, the other with a shriek, the stream of fire met and melted the incoming ball of ice. The drake was quick to follow with a series of swipes, using its reach and positioning to its advantage. The traveler expertly danced around the first flurry of swipes, preparing his next offensive with a deep nasal snort, but was met with a solid blow to his chest from the final swipe in creature's onslaught.

Reeling back, the stream of fire escaped the traveler's mouth, singeing the shoulder and wing of the drake. The drake launched another flurry of swipes, tearing flesh from the traveler's left arm, and readied another ball of ice, the soft glow casting grotesque shadows upon its face.

​

Oh, this is bad, flickered across the traveler's mind, regaining his footing, instinctively entering into a broad, braced stance. He crossed his arms, blood flowing from his wound, staining the snow beneath him a deep red. The ball of ice launched from the drake's mouth, and met his arms with a solid crack!, his wide stance preventing him from tumbling with the force of the impact. The drake crept down from the overhang, snarling as it circled and closed the distance between it and the man, waiting for him to telegraph his next move.

The traveler's mind was racing. It's do or die, no need for holding back now.

Holding his stance, the traveler took a long, slow, deep breath. He could feel his chest expanding, the heat within burning his lungs, his arms aching and pulsing with pain. He tensed his legs, ready to charge when the moment was right.

The drake inched closer, its cold gaze and otherworldly snarls sending shivers down the traveler's spine. It hesitated as it noticed him complete his breath.

The words exploded from his mouth, a river of flame in its wake."Let's do this! LEEEEEROOOOYYYYY JEEEENNKIIINNNSSSS!"

​

The flames hit their mark. The drake, burned and recoiling, skittered back up to its perch on the overhang. The traveler rushed towards it, preparing another inhale, his lungs screaming from the heat within. As he closed the distance, he noticed the drake was not preparing another attack. He unleashed another exhale of brilliant flame, which the drake dodged with a beat of its wings, climbing into the air. It then settled back down, gripping onto the overhang.

The traveler, wary but curious, re-entered his defensive stance, meeting the gaze of the drake once more. Its cold gaze was replaced with a mournful look. It raised its clawed hand, and gestured between itself and the traveler, before pointing upwards, accompanied by a solemn howl. It then sat on its hindquarters, wrapped its winged arms around itself, its tail wriggling at its feet.

Slowly, the realization hit the traveler.

"You... and I..." he groaned through gritted teeth, "are not so different after all, huh?

"The traveler broke his stance, and fell to his knees, waves of pain and exhaustion rolling over him. After a moment, he gained his composure, and sat cross-legged on the frozen ground.

"So, uh, what now?" he said, contemplating openly with the drake. A rumble from his stomach sounded out. The two locked eyes once more.

"You know, I think I have an idea."

​

Under the overhang, the sound of crackling fire complimented the silence of falling snow. The soft light illuminated both man and beast, bandaged and snoring, exhausted from their battle and full from the meal they had just shared.