Snow crunched underneath Raven's feet. The brisk cold made his face feel slightly numb but at the same time so very alive.
It was nighttime and the moon was not even out. Despite this he could see very clearly. His eyes were never hindered by darkness.
The new fallen snow made the air have, for lack of better words, a clean, pure scent.
Despite the fact that there was no sign of life, Raven could still sense it. Under the ground, or hiding. Curled up, hibernating. But there was just a sense of waiting. When spring came this place would be crawling with all kinds of life. Pity he would not be able to see it.
The wind was starting to pick up as the snow flurries became more dense, and Raven looked around for shelter. He very much did not want a snow storm to be the death of him.
Even if it was so very beautiful. But then, as his father had always said, 'Nothing is more beautiful than nature…. Except your mother.' He could still hear his mother laughing at his father over that.
As he spotted a snow-covered dilapidated building and moved towards it, he wondered what his parents were doing at the moment. Did they miss him? It had been a while since he had left home. He should probably think of returning soon.
It was only after he decked into the old shed like building that he noticed the fire that was blazing inside.
His eyes went to the occupant of the place and widened at what he saw.
She was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on. More beautiful even then his mother. Even with the dirt streaking her pale face and the blueness of her lips from the cold she looked ever so striking.
She looked to be about sixteen, a few years younger than himself. Malnourished, and way too skinny, making it a bit hard to be sure. But he was pretty sure sixteen was at least close.
Her eyes were filled with wariness and Raven put a smile on his face hoping to ease it. She looked so scared, as she went to stand and then faltered, falling to the ground.
Her leg was twisted at an odd angle and with a glance he could tell it was broken. Seeing that the young girl was in pain he did not even think before walking over and squatting next to her. As he reached out his hand to touch her, he paused, "Is it okay if I set it for you?" He kept his voice gentle, "I'll be as gentle as possible."
After a moment of hesitation, the girl nodded. Her eyes did not look very trusting but she seemed to at least be willing to give him a chance to help her.
Taking her thin legs in his hands he snapped it back into place. She whimpered at the pain, but bit her shapely lips trying to not let her discomfort show.
He continued speaking in a soft voice as he splintered her leg. He was glad that he had bothered to learn a bit of first aid even though he really never used it for his own wounds.
"There you go, little lady." He smiled at the beautiful girl, "Is it okay with you if I sleep here tonight?"
An bit of a shy smile came to her lips and he felt it strike through him. He wanted to make sure this girl was safe –
NO. Raven backed up, almost stumbling. He was no longer in love with her. He did not want to remember how he had even met this girl so incapable of ever loving him. As innocent as it had been then, before he had really truly fallen for her it was still not something he even wanted to dwell on.
As far as he was concerned, he never wanted to even see her again. And so, he turned and ran, ran from the bittersweet memory.
As he ran, everything began to fracture. Breaking up, and vanishing. Suddenly he was running into a void.
A sense of falling as the shards flew up as he went down. Multitudes of scenes of his past love flew by. Her eyes crinkling as she gave one of her rare smiles that had always had his heart beating fast. Her bold way of commanding him around as she grew more familiar with him. The way she would sometimes almost act as if she was concerned about him making him misunderstand that she could come to love him in time.
Eventually it all faded and all was dark. He was in so very much pain. His body felt battered and bruised just like it had when he had woken up all those weeks ago, half-dead and no idea of who he was.
He stumbled around trying to find his way. But there were no walls, only this vast emptiness. Truly a void. No smells, no sounds and other than the ground absolutely nothing.
Then he felt a touch on his hand, and felt an immense relief as he heard a familiar, oh so very comforting, voice.
"D-dawn?" He managed. He could not describe the feeling in his heart. All he knew was that if she was here than everything would be okay.
He had no idea what was going on, and trying to think of it made his head feel fuzzy.
"I'm here." She moved his hand to feel her cheek, giving him assurance that he was not all alone here.
"Where are we?" He asked as he already started to calm down.
She did not immediately answer and he started wondering if she even knew. He took in a deep breath, happy that he could at least smell her scent. It was disorienting for all his senses to be rendered useless.
His hand slipped, or Dawn moved. He was not sure which. But his finger brushed against something soft and pliable and he felt an electric shock go through him.
Suddenly he felt really unsure what he was exactly feeling. Why did that affect him like that?