Aether

Chapter 2

     Everything is dark. Quiet. I can neither see, nor hear, nor speak, nor feel. To put it simply, I am just my thoughts.

     Where am I?

     How long have I been here?

     Is this what it's like to be dead? Empty dark quiet space?

     I feel something beat in my chest. My heart? Am I breathing now too? The scent of salt water infiltrates my nose. Warmth passes over my right hand and arm and then ebbs away. Slowly, I become more and more aware of my body. Something gritty presses against my cheek. Again, warmth suddenly washes over my right arm. Sounds start to fade in as though someone is turning up the volume dial on a radio. The call of strange birds, the crash of gentle waves, and the sound of a soft breeze become audible. I feel as though I'm being reborn into a new world.

     My eyes open slowly.

     Before me expands a vast ocean of dark blue water, rising and falling peacefully against a golden sand beach. This explains the warmth I felt against my arm and I watch as, once more, a small wave washes up to submerge it and then slowly flow away. More sensations begin to return to my body and I feel the gentle heat of the sun against my neck and cheek. White fluffy clouds hang high in the light blue sky above me. It has been a very long time since I've seen clear skies.

     This must be the after life.

     Sand and water move through my hand as I dig my fingers into the beach to take in the softness of the textures there. I lift my head off the damp ground and take a deep breath. Everything here seems peaceful with a fulfilling tranquility that seems to reach my very soul. There is even a vast forest of palm and pine trees on the opposite side of the beach. 

     "Ah, finally awake I see."

     The higher pitched squeaky voice startles me and I jolt, turning my head in the direction from which the sound came. My eyes grow wide and my lips separate slightly in astonishment as I take in the source of the voice.

     This is it. Definitive proof that I have to be dead. There could be no other explanation.

     Standing before me, on its hind legs, is what appears to be a small wolf pup with forest green fur. He is maybe two feet tall with a look of impatience spread across his muzzle. This creature resembles what I can only describe to be a werewolf in appearance, complete with furry ears, claws, sharp teeth, and a tail. The sea breeze ruffles his soft looking fur and whiskers. Draped around his body is a very large, oversized cloak that has been dyed in the same color as his fur.

     Perhaps the most striking thing about this little werewolf creature is the tall staff he holds in his two paws. It is made of a very light tan colored wood with just a hint of golden yellow mixed in. At the top of his staff is a large spherical blue crystal, opaque and just slightly smaller than the size of a basketball, with the wood curving over top of it and wrapping around it in a spiral like fashion to hold it in place. This marvelous staff has to be at least seven feet tall which makes the sight of the little pup lugging it around all the more humorous.

     "Oh boy, I can tell this isn't going to be as easy as I had hoped," the tiny pup says as he puts one of his little paws on his face and drags it downward to exaggerate the features of his face. "Let's start off with the basics shall we? Then we can move on from there. My name is Vynorian and yes, I am a werewolf." The pup holds out a tiny paw towards me. I look around for a moment in a state of uncertainty and then shake the pup's paw with two fingers, pinching his soft pads and fur between them.

     "And I'm Brax. It's nice to meet you," I give a warm smile before continuing, "A werewolf, huh? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but still I kind of imagined death to be a lot different than this, like falling asleep into an eternal black peace," I explain as my eyes continue to explore this world and the creature before me.