On the shores of Moonscape

Written for Moonscape by: LaFea NiDraco

By: Eddy Hess

The first sounds I grow aware of as I awaken on a soft patch of grass that feels like plush is the gentle ebb of a sea nearby. The wind carries a subtle scent of something sweet and pollen from the grass and flowers that grow peacefully a few steps from where I am. Still with my eyes closed I allow my shoulders to be embraced by the soft wisps that surround my body and I attempt to stay blissfully ignorant to my wakefulness. I almost fall back into sleep but something beckons my attention and the spell over me is broken. I lazily open my eyes to meet this strange place. Almost as if my ears open with my eyelids, my head is filled with the far away singing of unseen birds and the quiet hiss of wind meandering between the leaves of distant trees. The balmy breeze almost aids me as I roll to my side and look out towards the sea and watch large violet waves crash against the far away pillars of stone that pierce the surface gracefully. I follow the towers up to where they reach far into the sky and wonder about the tops obscured by the almost fire-like clouds that canopy overhead. I brush away my light curiosity and stand, feeling weightless as I my feet press into the cushion of the naturally ordered mat of grass and ancient leaves long-forgotten. The light from the strange sun filters through the clouds and immerses the entirety of this vast plain with a friendly, warm glow that gently warms my bare skin. I begin towards the ocean and allow the sweet air to fill my lungs. As my awareness widens and my mind sharpens after the stillness of sleep, I begin to notice tiny ships riding in the clouds. The sight on its own casts a very dark shadow of doubt about the integrity of my own sanity but my rationality tells me they are as real as the city atop the massive, natural arch carved out by time from an ancient plateau to my left in the distance. The tiny ships atop the clouds give me a sense of my scale among these natural titans and I suddenly feel laughably minuscule standing by their side. Before long I stumble upon a beach and I abandon the plains, leaving them behind me to walk upon the sandy shore. Thousands of tiny crystals in the sand reflect like embers the rays that seep in through the swirl of orange, pink, and yellow that seems to almost caress the atmosphere. Here, my eyes can see into infinity and I appreciate every curve and corner of this realm all the while I resist every urge to give into amazement lest I lose grasp on my wit and cease observing. For the moment, time seems to stand still, even the ocean has calmed. A distant crackle of crumbling rock calls my attention and atop the stone arc I see a tiny, floating ship beside a plume of smoke and rubble that fall for miles into the ocean below. I do not feel fear and instead stare with curiosity. What could they be doing? The tiny ship floats under a large balloon bound to the craft by rope and atop it I see beings walking back and forth with purpose. This sight threatens to anchor my intrigue but I wave it away and resume my personal theater of color and shapes. A hauntingly beautiful song takes hold of my ear and I turn to look for its source. As inspiring as this place is be I find it to be equally horrifying. A knife of terror tears down my spine as I lay eyes upon a great corpse raptor flying high above the land and behind it follows a veil of darkness. Night has begun to fall. Paralyzed with fear, I fall backwards onto the sand and a splash of sweet ocean water fills my mouth and I gasp loudly for air. The syrupy ocean spawns large crystals along the coast that glow from within allowing me to remain visibly aware of my surroundings. A moment later I am face-to-face with the decaying bird that towers higher than I stand. I try in vain to make out its form but something about it scrambles whatever image my eyes may be seeing and I succumb to darkness.

Welcome to my library, wanderer.