Originally published July 20, 2020...
In the previous post of The One, we left with a cliffhanger. A “being” emerged from the seaside cave – a visitation, so to speak. Who or what is this apparition? Will an identity even be revealed? More details surface in this segment; however, mystery remains. Decide for yourself how many more revelations need to arise before we fully comprehend who or what this cave dweller presents.
. . . I mumble words I barely hear myself
Argose at my side gently licks my hand
“I cannot say why I am come to this place
and not some other more surpassing gate
She pauses, pondering it seems, as I
speculate the manner of her strangeness . . .
She wears a long, rough black smock with rope belt
Her dainty, bare feet all dirt-encrusted
Hair disheveled but something gleams fine in it
When she speaks, her eye teeth show sharpened points
protruding longer than the other ones
her upper teeth extend over lower
But in this stranger form, the most pronounced
that are dead and clear at once
The black hooded cloak hangs from her shoulders
graceful, flowing in colors of sunset
as storms roll beyond the horizon
like her hair, gray with streaks of rusty red
Her tall, thin form stands firm and commanding
She occupies the cave she calls her own
and most certainly she sees as a home
What to make of this creature of the cave?
and what to make of me standing with her?
As I consider all this, from within
the black throat of the hollow, pulsations
low groans reverberate and fill the maw
Force of heavy steps steadily pound rock
Her shape turns rapidly as if frightened
– not frightened, rather anxious to conceal
a mysterious legend of great proportions
“What be that? Perhaps outside we should run?”
“Hold! We dare not move!” But she takes swift steps
toward the entrance to the lofted cavern
then shrinks back retreating into the light
“Move rather than to our deaths be trampled!”
“Worry not. What you fear will not harm you
From that place and being I ascend here
Of harm, we mean no such unto either”
“Then to me show what lies elsewhere hidden”
“Mysteries arisen may also cease”
I am losing patience with all this talk
and stride with purpose past her to the verge
Argose cowers and follow he will not
This guardian of caverns whirls to face me
her fine traveling cloak swirls with her
like wings – I sense some emerging magic
from a flowing figure flashing sunsets
“So, if it must be, entry do I permit
if friend you be who may not be followed
who in truth means no harm now or ever
So be it as you say, if needs you must
Standing in the way, I cannot shadow
Me have you caught in some manner of spell
Seeing so, I cannot but cede to you
my person and my will – it must be so”
She proceeds regal in stark elegance
Argose whimpers and retreats from darker
territory where his wisdom fails him
I console him, pat his chest, stroke his back
Hesitantly, he decides to follow
Full of curiosity, we enter
with our guide to hell or to paradise
Makes no matter . . .
Background
As a young person, I found enjoyment in reading mysteries. My favorites were stories featuring a mystifying character, secretive, furtive, and often enigmatic. The cave dweller in this segment certainly fits the requirements.
Exploration 1: As features of the apparition appear at the beginning of this segment, do you find yourself trying to identify who or what this creature is? Do you come to any early conclusions?
Exploration 2: Likewise, as in Exploration 1, at the end of this segment, if you will hazard a guess, what or who is inside the cave, i.e., who is making the sounds?
Exploration 3: Describe the dynamic between the main character and the female entity.
ReplyDelete1. She is a dragon in disguise, or else a herring of reddish hue methinks.
2. An even bigger dragon. It has too be.
3. Sylph and seeker.