A candle in the Dark with Umbra and Pazzo

[Umbra do urden]

An early autumn morning and there was a frosty chill in the air. The sweet surrendering scent of the morning dew fills the forest with a scent that does not belong on earth. The autumn leaves from the tall trees lay scattered on the forest floor; they were in motion of turning brittle brown, there was the sound like walnut shells being crunched when you stood on them, pushing their papery remains deep into the soft soil. The dark shadows of the voluminous trees and the surrounding bushes had become the backbone of the forest. The trees stood as passive protectors of this peaceful place. As the autumn sun rose in a timely hurry as if trying to make up for setting too early the evening before, the sun bloomed into the pale sky with a warm mellow glow, sending what is left of the silvery moon packing until its next shift guarding the night. The mid-morning sky was a brilliant bright blue. As the morning developed the sound of young birds began to fulfill the air with a lovely feel, they chirped and tweeted incessantly.



The lake ahead of her had been hardened by the sharp cold unforgivingness of an icy frost, the translucent water was bound as a smooth solid which showed potential of being a warm crisp lake. The wildlife was bold but cautious trying to figure out their new visitor. Daring to get closer to have a look at what was disturbing their peace. As the day goes on the Forest comes to life, the trees dance in the wind, the sound of running water in the stream has the same hypnotic quality as music luring animals in to have drink, to taste the warm sweet sensation of fresh water.

Persephone walked down the familiar path across the frozen lake. Once on the other side the frozen water cracked and broke melting into a warm vast pool of fresh water. The lake alive again as if kissed by spring, fish played jumping in and out of the water as the other animals drank the cool waters. The plants were at their best in vivid colors of greens and yellows, reds and blues, Alive and growing still. She walked into a grassy clearing on the edge of her forest. The day was bright overhead and the breeze felt good on her face. It was at times like this her mind began to wander. Wondering what it was like outside her forest and what the world had in store. She knew there was others like her but she never met them. But oh how interesting and fun would it be to see new thing’s. She laid on the grass her soft curly hair a pillow for her head. She wore pink and white robes of shear pastels resembling the twilight when day meets night. She looked up at the clouds relaxing into a lazy sleep.

 

[Pazzo]

As the sun crept a little higher in the eastern sky, a tawny screech owl rested upon a bough of a white poplar, overlooking the peaceful and tranquil scenery, quietly preening her feathers, as she digested the fat mole she had caught trying to burrow the night before. Every so often something would move along the forest floor, and her enormous eyes would dart out and follow it instinctively, even though she was quite full of rodent already. As she preened, she had heard more movement, as well as the rustling of a dried bed of leaves, as a gorgeous girl laid her feet upon upon them, with the rest of her body on the soft bed of grass and moss that grew nearby.

****

A shadowy, gaunt figure, dressed in a standard issue style Greek toga, woven from black fabric, prowled around a set of heavy wooden casks, rapping upon one with his muscular, yet gnarled fingers. The casks were full of his very own vintage, the grapes smashed and juice extracted from his very own fingers. While he was immortal, and could age the wine for centuries upon end, he was still thirsty beyond belief. He had an impressive array of such wooden ageing containers neatly organized in perfectly laid rows, secret from all of his siblings. Such was the collection that it rivaled that of his younger brother Dionysis.

Hades was almost comical in the way he half crawled, half - walked between the rows of barrels and casks, placing his hands upon them, knocking upon their surfaces, then pressing his ear to each one, listening, as his eyes wandered around, looking at nothing in particular as his mind occupied itself with listening for the perfect tone and echo of the knocking. He yelped as he inadvertently tripped and fell over something at his feet, as he caught himself upon the cold stone ground of Hadean bedrock. He cast his furious eyes downwards, looking for the offending thing that tripped him, only to see a very big, very muscular, all black pit bull look back at him, his mouth open as he panted contentedly, his long tongue loling out of the side of his mouth. The dog stopped panting, and lightly crawled forwards, sniffing as he neared closer to the God's face, starting to lick at the air as he got closer, offering the fallen god a multitude of slobbery apology kisses.

In a voice that was both older than time, yet strangely modern, all at one, the god of the underworld groaned at the youngest of his three dogs. His face softened, as he brought his legs up into a crossed sitting position, as he brought the huge animal to his chest, rubbing his fur. "Dammit Russ..." He grumbled low and deep in his chest. "...I told you to stay out of here." He finished, tousling the massive dogs ears as he stood up. Suddenly, at the very edge of his hearing, he could hear a soft golden chiming, like a bell ringing off in the distance somewhere. He turned around and gestured to the air before him, opening it up, so that it glowed with an amber gold light.

Looking through the eyes of his most sacred of birds, he saw the lovely young woman lounging upon the grass, just on the other side of the river Stix... His face went from puzzled to positively enchanted, as he absently reached out for the image, as if to touch her directly. "She uh..." He murmured, hesitating, looking down at the dog at his feet, who had turned over on his back, exposing his belly, as an invitation to rub it. "...she looks like she is thirsty too. Yeah, I should uh, bring her something to drink maybe.." Hades then looked around, and simply grabbed the nearest huge barrel that was easily ten times the size of him, as it it weighed nothing, and hefted it to one of his shoulders. He did not worry about glasses. He could coax a perfect set from the stones on the banks of the river...

The god of the underworld hurried, eager to learn the name of the beautiful creature he had just seen....

 

[Umbra do urden]

Persephone’s thoughts had wandered, dozing in and out of consciousness while she laid on the warm grass. Thinking it was about time to move on and get up to find food or make it at least, She opened her eyes and sat up. The sun in the sky was high and signified the late noon. The smell of thistle weed and dry grasses filled your nose as you breathed in the dry hot air. It was a very warm day out. Before she went to find food she thought she would cool off. The river was a perfect place to do so. With that thought she began to disrobe and walk into the cool water. She left her clothes on the bank before she waded in. The water was clean, clear and cool to the touch. She waded in up to her breasts splashing joyously as she walked. She hummed to herself as she walked from one side to the other of two large rocks in the river. The river here was slow and one could swim across very easily in fact she did often. She loved to swim and climb and so many other things’. It was a wonder sometimes how many things’ she did like to do. She watched as fish swam by and other animals went about their business and their lives.