Once Upon A Decomber

[Zephyr]

The frigid night air of December was harsh against such pale of skin. Still, the silhouette of a young woman felt nothing near chilled. Instead she continued her steps through the fields, the moon caressing her form as she gently moved her way through the grass. Not even the slowly falling snow could cease those meaningful steps. In fact...very few things could stop her.

For the first time in a long time, the ever-tough Zephyr wore a light golden skirt, flowing down to her feet ( a thing she had acquired her her travels and wore now as her armor dried in the nearby trees). A golden-copper corset adorned her chest, showing off small yet gently sloped shoulders. Her hair hung unruly, yets beautifully over her shoulders. A few red strands framed a pretty face, golden eyes looking out under long lashes. Her mouth was carved elegantly, the curve of her lips set under a delicate nose. Zephyr could be a pretty girl when she wanted to be. It was a shame she rarely cared.

The moon gleamed bright on the fields, the long stalks waving back and forth like the ocean itself. The snow seemed to disappear somewhere within it, spiraling down through the sky in slow, drifting ways. Zephyr walked on, as if she had not realized it was snowing. In her head she could hear a lullaby falling with that snow. Every whisper of cloth on skin a simple note added to the tune.

Dancing bears,
Painted wings,
Things I almost remember,
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December.

Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory...

Far away, long ago,
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart
Used to know,
Things it yearns to remember...

And a song
Someone sings
Once upon a December

The song had soon reached a hum, her lips tingling as the sound vibrated through them. She stopped the minute she heard herself, resulting back to walking quietly through the grass. She could see the ocean only slightly from where she was, the water just as silent as she had become. Snow vanished into its depths, the calm water giving a place for the cold to seek a different kind of shelter.

Zephyr had been distant. No one had ever said a word at the way she seemed so far away. But then again, no one knew how she once was. The fighter who would bite back at anything thrown at her. No, she was on her own. Her only comfort were the dizzying memories that fought to bring her back to a world she did not remember as clearly as she hoped. Faces and places so beautiful came to her mind; names and feelings...though what they were she did not know.

It was infuriating. She wanted to know. She knew that she needed these memories, and yet they tore her apart. After all, it was a life she wanted to go back to. This one was too empty, happiness stolen so unfairly from her. All she could do was look back on all of those things and wish that one day she could be there again. With them...with him ...

As the soft white blurs were lit by the moon, Zephyr became a part of a fantasy. She could imagine him then, his face so perfect and his eyes so bright. He could take her hand and they would run. Through the snow, and night, they would fly to a place far away. She smiled sadly at the daydream, caging up the hurt. Then slowly, Zephyr raised her head and began to sing in a whisper. "Once upon a December..."

[Dysin Hexfire]

It was cold, brisk and yet even as timid winds lapped against his body was that of a ghost and protected naturally human delicate skin. He was white as the snow surrounding them, pale as the moonlight hue that touched the lands ever so lightly and made them glisten in fresh powder, kissed with some look of magic. It was so quiet that even the hum of the winds across massive wings was audible to some a near mile away. Here there were no shadows…it was all light by moon and here he was safe, she was safe. Like a lone wolf that might howl to the moon in all loneliness his call might seem perceptibly downy yet surfaced with some distant sorrow.

Though eagle it might resemble, the call was unique and much more song like, a smooth tone that wheeled in the uplift of snow and faded just as a breeze came to join in unison. He’d been circling these lands for hours looking for something and yet nothing. He couldn’t push this feeling that he needed to find something or someone. No…he didn’t know a single soul of the few that thrived in these lands and yet to move out of such a destroyed kingdom seemed a dream he’d never wish to come true. There was something here he’d decided some time ago, that he needed to discover, to learn before he was to ever depart to a new world.

There were always reasons there were always answers and to justify the theory he stayed, looking for something he wasn’t sure he’d ever find. But these feelings, those turning stomach emotions were ones he put aside moments following their wake- if anything to feel has done everything but make him happy… or so for now.

Winding around to again scope the lands he’d just recently seen it was then a light tune, sweet and littered with dreams, some foreign innocence that was a different shade of guiltlessness. Eyes narrowed into pale white slits he lowered his large body from the barrier of cloud and to the ground below so low that as he passed above still grass it swayed by breeze of his ghostly wings. Soft snow already settled upon cool soil uplifted and bowed with his wings swirling into a misty mass with every effortless flap. But eyes though sweeping across the lands like a scanner fell still on her form closing in distance his speed coming to a swift halt as he towed himself back and landed on bird-like hinds. To anyone uninformed he was no more than a gigantic bird-eagle rather but to others the red flecks across dusty white feathers meant something more.

He watched her…simply watched as she trudged through snow without a moment of hesitation fascinated by some new sense pulsing in his veins, a new interest that say ahead was his answer to every question- to every night left without sleep- to every day left to fade when he’d done nothing more than sit by a river bend and think.

He wanted nothing more in the world but to know why.

Strange how three hundred years could pass before your soul makes a round trip and yet memories of love remain unforgotten, untainted and only shaded by a thick mass of new memories. He wanted to know why when he thought of love, when he saw a woman his heart ached. But I ached heavy as though it’d been yearning not broken. It ached as though he waited for someone not looked. He needed something and yet had no idea what it was. Little did he know what he needed was literally wondering on right to him.

[Zephyr]

The moon never gave up its serene qualities, gracing the earth and all who dwelt so lonely with a pale and beautiful light. It was that light that made her heart ache so...once upon a December. There had always been a hole in her chest, open and hurting for the puzzle piece that would fit. It was not that she wanted something to make things feel right but that she needed that thing...that person.

His face was in her mind in an instant, her golden eyes drinking him in. His pale cheeks, his eyes; she wanted to trace his outline with her fingers. She wanted to feel that he was real . Was she lying to herself? To fill this pain, was she creating an image of someone she wanted to be with? Or was this really him... the person she was trying to find. She felt his name in her bones, heard his purr of a voice. Why did thinking of him now send shivers down her spine?

It was then that she heard a call, so pure and sweet, drifting through the cold breeze so pleasantly. She shut her eyes for a moment, sighing. She had not seen that one watched her. For if she had, she may have felt an awakening somewhere deep down. Her heart hammered at the sudden quake that sent her begging for it again. She wanted it all to be so real. But how would she ever know...if these dreams and memories were real? She could see herself. She was different and yet the same. She had a different life, a different history. But she was still Zephyr. Why did she yearn for a life that may not have ever existed?

Because it was the life she wanted. It was the love she wanted. Distant gold and silver eyes looked out at the fields in front of her, almost unseeing as white snow fell upon her. She had not noticed the bird, her mind fluttering in dreams and fantasies that she wished would come true. Oh, how one could wish on these December nights.

Finding the song in her mind leaving her, Zephyr focused on him again. And very softly she whispered the name that haunted her. The one she could scrawl in elegant script on paper for hours, and not know what it meant. The forbidden word slid from her tongue as if she sang it. It was strange how she wished she could sing it.

"Dysin...Dysin..." she almost laughed at her foolishness at thinking he could hear her. "Oh, how I wish you would find me. To let me be your headstrong brat once more. If you only knew how much I'd give... And how I would do anything just to know you were there. That you exist."

Things my heart
Used to know,
Things it yearns to remember...

[Dysin Hexfire]

He listened to her speak and regardless of the distance, her voice was as clear as if he were nearer.
‘Dysin'
She seemed to whisper in some foreign need some distant clutching to a hope he could not recognize. She was hoping for him.
His mind swerved to an uneasy halt. But he didn’t even know her…and yet the distance begged to be broken. He was so unsure and yet a part so deep inside begged him forward, urged him dearly to run for her. Faith overwhelmed doubt and as it was with a sweet twist of wind did with it take his feathery form leaving behind a long stary tail wheeling up and away into the sky until finally like shedding water did once creature morph to man the last few timid brushes of wind tousling pale hair leaving it to restlessly shade wild eyes. His lips barley curved to anything considered emotion mind so stray on her he hadn’t a moment to care to smile or care to frown.
Snow warped at his feet lifting with a wing of wind and reaching off to farther lands and indeed what beauty left in these domains seemed to hold a true wonderland magic. Though again icy sting touched mortal temper skin he swept forward ignoring the weather that despite its deadly chill, only made what scenery more miraculous.

And where was he going? To her but wasn’t sure why. His name murmured from delicate lips made him curious. The tone in which wrapped his name- deprived and distantly dreamy made him see answers he’d expire to learn. Was this a dream?

And when his feet had carried him but six steps from her did his chest seem to tighten while a hectic mind paused and time seemed to wade in thick waters. Though his features were hesitant to present the new feeling colliding with him and his conscience his eyes spoke the words of wonder and sudden aspiration.

Her name was something he thought to have never known yet once his eyes found hers there it lay at his will. Speak and he thought his new slow silent world would shatter, spread like glass so unsafe to walk across and yet to taste a word…a name…

“Zephyr…”

Where it had come from was a mystery just as was the sudden surge of new bound intentions that cruised his spine and extended to his entire body. Though itching to fulfill his innovative ideals he remained still where he was ignoring disheveling breeze so charmingly combing a ruthless mane. He ignored the snow and how it so coolly touched his nose chilled his ghost's skin- simply stood watching waiting with ears yearning a voice, body yearning another’s warmth, hands yearning to touch delicately smooth skin- hers- simply yearning her…

[Zephyr]

Though she rarely found the need to get social, Zephyr could recall someone telling her to get her head out of the clouds. True, she felt she was constantly wading through a heavy fog, something like sleep tugging on her eye lids as she struggled to fight the overwhelming current. She had always seemed lost...empty. And people could see it...though they could not ever know who Zephyer once was...the could see that she wasn't quite there .

She heaved a sigh, watching her breath make a crystal steam in the air. She could recall, at some point in time, that she used to be on her guard. Constantly watching, listening- she remembered the feeling of dread and adrenaline when there would be a footstep behind her. But that was gone now, and in a way, replaced. Now, she would look to the footstep. She would long to find the eyes of the one behind her, a hopeful expression worn and failing.

She did not hear his footsteps. Not at first. She was elsewhere, drowning in a sea of emotions, images, memories...his perfect face chiseled into her mind's eye. Her fantasy ended and yet began when his voice drifted to her ear, cradling her senses and drawing her to turn. And very slowly she did. Her name still hanging in the air like a drop of sap hanging from a tree.

He was as she remembered. His face painted in detail before her, his outline rimmed in the glow she begged for. His skin like marble, enticing the touch of hands against smooth textured skin. Her golden gaze traced every line, every feature. She drank him in, a panicking feeling arising when she felt he might soon disappear. That thought drove her to yearn for him more, finally have the taste of him on her lips. She watched with a wide golden gaze, waiting for him to simply melt away into the dream he really was. When nothing happened, her name mixed with his voice still filling her senses, Zephyr found it hard to control the powerful wave that was overtaking her.

"Dysin..." she had to say it again, even if her voice shook. The tiny flakes collecting in her hair were forgotten. She tested her ability to speak once more and found that sound would not dare touch her vocal cords. No, she was shocked into a silence so painful that she wished to fall to her knees. More than that, she wished to hold him...see if he still remained Dysin. She wanted to run her hands through his hair, ask him so many questions. And yet she stood so still, the moon casting its pale glow upon her matching pale skin.

[Dysin Hexfire]

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer's day

And as much as she longed to touch did he. His name smooth as fine wine moved from her lips and whirled across his conscience. He was dizzy yet he was attentive. He was ill yet so utterly content.

That once throbbing of a burdened chest ceased and for once he could finally breathe…
The moon.
Her.
And oh how they mixed so beautifully, pastel hues damp on her virgin skin while touches of shadowy midnight glow swiveled in blameless still divine eyes. A smile so soft so warm cut curious expressions and eyes feral wavered in a new blaze.

To simply drink a scent he imagined as sweet as hers. To touch a skin as downy, and flavor lips as sweet; he longed with distant shivers and weighty hushed sighs.
And yet she paused as though not sure he was no more than the wheeling snow around her able to whither off the moment she dared step forward.

But he stepped forward unable to sustain an aching stare upon something so gorgeous and know somehow he would be committing no sin to take her in his arms. Though his smile came and went as though it were light enough to a breeze’s will, he still lingered in some new radiance that was undecided in intention.

His hand was the first, rising that moment distance was no longer between them, and grazing across cool smooth flesh.

Fragile.

He only saw flawlessness though never drew eyes away from the display of her own. His hand seemed to slightly quiver yet as did his body cool from nothing more than anxiety and stimulation.

Fingers finally journeyed a slow easy path to her mane, slipping in and through like it were heavy waters satisfied with the silken soft of it.

His eyes seemed to weigh heavy now and glazed with undeterminable thoughts yet he only focused on her.

With one sigh he released her timid scent only to again taste it once parted lips lowered to her and quietly followed the slope of her neck yet never once touched shimmering skin.
He never paused until his lips found her ear ample breath tepid in slow cruising feathers down her neck.

His opposing hand lifted and promptly sculpted her jaw running a thumb over lustrous skin tracing fine lines to the angle of her lower neck- sliding up and behind her head.
Dysin murmured a word so lost in the mess of feelings he purred it content as a tending kitten.
“Zephyr…” It was her he knew with the fond tang on her skin the moment he pressed his lips to just beneath her ear.

Then following he rested a heavy head upon her own letting both once occupied hands drop to the delicate curve of her lower back pulling her to be his warmth and he hers.
“Tell me I’ve found you…” He swallowed doubt and only clung to her, promising to all heavens he’d never let her go.

With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land

[Zephyr]

Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds and violet haze

When he touched her face... The strange silence fell away and Zephyr felt that she could trust the mirage in front of her. Yes, he was here. All borders between them shattered as he took her in once more, accepting that she was real and that once more they were standing together. Brilliant gold eyes kept their metallic hue upon him, afraid to look away. She would not lose him again. Never again...

His touch sent gentle shivers over her uncovered arms, her lips parted just to taste his scent; to breathe him in and make him hers. His lips below her ear was enough to drive her to bring her arms up around his neck, to let her hands run through his silken hair. Her own thumbs traced little patterns where his temples were. It was then that she realized, with his head on hers, that tears fell from her cheeks. She had him again. He was all she wanted.

All of the emptiness she had felt...the distant feeling towards the world...all of the strange emotion she felt were vanishing. She had found someone to keep her feet on the ground; to keep her from falling away from a nonexistent world. She could not let go of him and she would refuse to. Never again would she lose track of his gorgeous face, his honey-kissed eyes. No...she'd hold him forever in her arms, her head on his shoulder, knowing that nothing could ever be better than just being with him.

Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free

She shut her eyes for a moment, pressing her cheek against his. She felt the warmth in his skin, not realizing he was but a ghost of himself, found it pleasant and meaningful. She found that standing on two legs was getting slowly more challenging, for more than anything she wished to collapse into his strong arms and have him whisper all kinds of love in her ear. Why did these tears not cease their flow?

"You have...please don't lose me again...."

This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you...

But as the sun began to rise in this desolate place, he faded from her grasp. His ghost disappearing until he was gone and she was once more alone. The sun shining over her lonely skin. His warmth all but a dream. She collapsed to the ground, had she imagined it all? She had to keep moving....

[Dysin Hexfire]

Far away from here, Dysin shot up from his bed. Confused. What had all that been? Who had been that woman? that fay, her crimson locks and fragile skin pulling him toward her with an emotion long lost to him. Love.

Frowning, he dismissed it and left it quarters back in his palace. He loved no one, had never loved anyone. It had merely been a strange and unnerving dream. And yet, as the day went on, it was one he could not forget.