Glimpse of Life by Vixeria Snow

Glimpse of Life

AN: I completely and utterly forgot that I had an account here. I've gone dark for quite a while, and just forgot to post this here before my disappearance. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Eternal

Her light illuminated her surroundings, guiding her along the worn forest path despite the new moon’s cast of darkness. Her power danced across the surface of her skin in glowing, swirling wisps of soft, pink light. Small, bursting sparkles of color trailed behind her as she walked, floating to the ground like softly falling snow before being absorbed into the earth.

She remained hidden amongst the foliage of the forest, relying heavily on Mother Nature’s gifts. Those who spotted her called her a spirit, a ghost… a wandering lost soul. And she supposed they’d be more or less correct.

And she wandered on.

She lifted a hand to the still-darkened sky, knowing that sunrise would peak soon, but not here; the sun’s light couldn’t reach here because of the forest’s density.

So she walked to the meadow, a very small clearing that allowed her the small bit of sunlight that she craved. And as light began to fill the area, her power began to dim, giving her just a modicum of comfort… of normalcy.

But it would not last, for when night fell again, she would once more become the wandering light of the forest.

Potential

There were endless questions that flew through his mind as he watched what seemed to be a moon goddess. Her power tumbled from her skin, warding off creatures that meant her harm and drawing those that sought safety in her immediate vicinity. The natural light of her power flooded the pool that she waded in. Half submerged and completely bare, he watched as she lifted her luxuriously long hair, fanning it out and letting it drape and settle atop the water.

Her visage made for a compelling appetite of another nature.

He watched as she lifted her face to the sky. Shimmering tears of some unrecognizable, raw emotion cascaded down to her chin. Yet her face remained neutral. The expression of a stoic facade burned into his memory, and he recalled where he had seen her before.

And suddenly he saw… he knew her… and he could see her promise.

Lasting

“I ran,” she said. She could see the demand for answers burning in his molten amber gaze. “They chased me, claiming me to be some sort of hime, wanting to capture me for a rumor that I miraculously heal people.

“I was wanted in every village I crossed. Every town… everywhere I went. Doesn’t help that I glow in the dark,” her voice began to mumble, her thoughts rambling off her tongue. “So I hid in the forest. I’m safe here.”

Her eyes took on a forlorn look, and her demeanor suddenly seemed… impoverished, despite the pink light of her skin. And he realized it right then… she hadn’t any idea of the century she endured, give or take a few years.

And so he told her, humoring himself and endulging in his curiosity.

But her only response was to look at her softly glowing hands, a frown upon her face and the softest of “oh’s” falling from her mouth.

Worn

Her skin gave her the appearance of a young woman. Although he had managed to somehow bring her everlasting light to finally reach her eyes, he could see the debilitation of the years with the way she carried herself.

His visits had become frequent, though he was unsure as to the reason why. He supposed there were still questions that proved puzzling in his mind. Hope had raced across his being despite the weariness that had taken a toll on her. The hope for answers. The hope for courage. The hope for something new.

It dawned on him that he had no idea how to speak to a woman of her nature. Women were… unapproachable but unavoidable in his mind. He wanted nothing to do with them.

But as he looked upon the tired face of a woman beyond her time… something attached to his chest and didn’t let go.

Ageless

She had closed her eyes laying in a bed of wildflowers. He had found her there one evening amongst blooming moon flowers of the forest. Her skin still glowed brilliantly, albeit softly. Her skin was still just as smooth as when he’d first seen her. His finger brushed her bangs from her face, a habit he found himself doing when she was unaware.

On some sub level of his conscious mind, he recognized that he considered her a valuable companion. Even moreso… a powerful potential mate.

Would she consent? He oft wondered what it would be like. To wake every morn with his beloved under his arm. To sleep knowing all is well as he protected his pack and they in return.

Would her pups be as beautiful as she?

He made a decision; he would ask her. Soon. But for now, he wanted to bask in her endless beauty.

Fade

To this day he could hardly believe she’d consented. Their mating had been successful. Everything was as it should have been. However…

Conceiving a pup had proven a more difficult task than either of them had initially presumed.

But this time it was different. She had reached full-term. She was giving birth right at this moment. He would be a father. Soon. Very soon.

But as the day grew dark and no screams of a new babe echoed in the clearing, his concern grew and he took the first few steps around her to the rasping newborn on the forest floor.

A whimper erupted from his throat. The purity overpowered the pup, and as the pups movements began to wane, a mournful sob came from his exhausted mate.

And it simply wasn’t meant to be as he cradled them both to his chest.

Endure

The trials of the last century had seen them at their worst. Longing to create a family and sustain a home seemed always out of reach for the two of them.

They were each their better halves. Soul mates. They completed each other in every way possible… but was it enough?

They comforted and brushed away each other’s tears. They tried and tried again, to no avail. They continuously picked each other up and pushed the other to move forward.

It was, perhaps, the hardest thing either of them had ever gone through. And their love grew stronger because of it. They depended on each other for all they were worth.

And somehow… that was fine.

Relic

It was his gift to her. He watched as she brought her fingers up to caress the smooth edges of her newly acquired knife. It was the first weapon he’d ever fashioned for another being. Imbued with his power but also those of his forefathers. An heirloom passed through generations.

One that he’d hoped to give to a son or daughter.

But he wanted her to have it. Times were changing and becoming dangerous. At least…. with this… he knew her to be on guard.

Timeless

It was their final try. Why? Why had she done this?

He reached forward to draw her bangs behind her ear. He was waiting. Waiting for her to open her eyes.

But she wouldn’t. Her body had remained prone and still. His hand shifted to her rapidly swelling belly, and he could hear three heart beats. Time would tell if they even made it to full term, let alone birth.

Here in this encased tomb of perennial foliage lay his beautiful, sleeping goddess. But why? Why would she not wake? Would she not want to meet the life she brought into the world?

All he could do was wait.

Immortal/Human

Beautiful little cherub faces. Healthy. They look just like him… and her. Her body lay in ashes after the birth of the pups. He watched, before his eyes, as the two tumbled from her belly, her soft glow of light dimmed, and her body rapidly aged to fine dust in a matter of minutes.

The babes’ cries had brought him to a temporary reality. He knew not how to care for newborns. But he looked at their cooing faces, and his face twisted with pain and grief.

His daughter was human.

His son was half.

And he would have to live with the burden of losing each of them before his own time one day. The pain of the future mixed with the loss of his mate.

But they were beautiful.

And they looked just like her.