The night had passed into day and both Hirow and Talia grew weary as the morning sun showed its face. Talia had many questions that Hirow answered to the best of his abilities and throughout the entire night, she never stopped asking. Hirow began to nod off as Talia asked another one not realizing what state he was in. Wrapped in his cloak she sat watching the sun as its light covered the land below. A thick stagnant fog had risen from the lakes in the distance concealing the sparkling water.

Talia turned toward Hirow and saw he was beginning to doze off, “Sorry, I should’ve let you go to sleep a while ago. I never thought I would keep you up all night.”

“You’ll just have to repay me by helping me find out who you are.”

“ I already told you,” she said, wrapping herself tighter in the cloak, “I don’t know anything other than my name. So how do you expect that to happen?”

She waited for an answer but none came. Hirow had already drifted off. It was strange, she didn’t feel tired at all and she had been awake all night like him. Right now that was the least of her worries. Staring into the dawn she remembered something had happened moments before she woke up. She had felt scared and trapped, in a darkness that would not yield. Confusion had filled her and everything was silent. She lay there in an endless void wondering if time would move once again. Then she remembered hearing someone weeping. One person became several until the sound filled the blackness. Their oppressive cries came from many directions yet no one appeared. She had reached out to find the location of those weeping. Then a voice cut through the darkness outweighing the cries. It was laughing. The wicked laughter echoed around the void bearing down on her never ceasing its wordless onslaught. Then it stopped and the voice became colder with sharpness in it.

It said, “Your own life and the lives of all others you endanger are yours to bear. The guilt, the regret, the despair let it consume you for no one waits in the heavens above. Never will you find rest or peace from this hardship. For pain is everlasting until it drives you to the brink of madness may the blood of the Gods run through your veins and curse you, for this burden is yours alone to bear.”

Then as quickly as the voice came, it left. It left her alone to ponder the cruelties that would follow. Then she awoke. A kind gentle voice different from the one she had just heard welcomed her into the world. That was when she met the boy who called himself Hirow. What did it all mean? That was the one question she couldn’t ask. The one question she needed to be answered most. The voice had said that any life she endangered would be hers to bear. Was she endangering Hirow? The boy was able to answer how she got here but as to why it remained up to her.

Sitting there pondering what was to come Talia watched as the sun reached above the horizon. Wrapped in the cloak and basking in the warm sunlight she began to drift off until the darkness consumed her.

She suddenly awoke cold and stiff. The void. The dark endless all-consuming void. She didn’t want to go back. The light provided comfort. If she fell asleep all of this could slip from her fingers and she would be back. The cries of the anguished and the laughter of the wicked. She couldn’t return now, not ever. Talia sat straight up, eyes wide gripping her legs tightly until she felt pain and let go. She looked down and saw that her nails had dug deep leaving pale white indents. So staying awake Talia sat there waiting. Something felt strange about this scene before her. It was too peaceful. Maybe the voice was wrong and she could find peace. Maybe she was worrying too much.

The wind blew through her hair rushing off to uncover the lakes ahead. Talia sat there letting it wrap around her until she felt something touch her hand. Raising her hand a small piece of ash lay upon it. Then she felt something flutter onto her head. Using the other hand, she tugged at her hair until several large white flakes fell off. Glancing up she beheld a multitude of ash gliding down from above. Ominous black smoke rose in the distance blotting out the sky. The trail of ashes carried a repulsive scent of burning flesh along with it.

Talia quickly got up securing the cloak around herself and dashed towards Hirow in a wild frenzy of panic. Shaking him he wouldn’t wake.

She gripped his shoulder tightly, “Hirow, wake up! There’s a fire. Hirow hurry I don’t know what to do.” She continued shaking him growing more panicked by the second, “Hirow you need to wake up!”

Hirow began to stir. He yawned as he stretched his arms toward the sky. Standing up he turned toward Talia and asked, “What do you need?”

Her eyes were wide and full of fear as she pointed toward the sky. He turned to face the west and saw the dark smoke rising.

“No. It can’t be,” he said, shaking. “Talia, come on we have to hurry.”

Hirow started running towards the smoke leaving her behind, who was unsure of what was happening. After taking one last look at the fallen star she took off after him. He was sprinting with every ounce of strength he had. Talia remained behind, not able to catch up. He thought he was running away from it all but cruel fate had dragged him back. The first thing that came to his mind was Haddrung and Clement, the only two people in the village he cared for anymore. He had so many questions. He couldn’t know for sure if Celestate was burning if he hadn’t seen it yet. They could just be setting fire to crops for all he knew. They did that sometimes if there was a bad harvest, but it was the middle of summer. There was no reason for them to be doing that now. He tried to push away the horrid thoughts with wishful thinking while the foreboding smell seemed to only confirm his worries.

Hirow kept running in the direction of the smoke, never stopping. His legs began to tire, his heart beat rapidly and his breath became sporadic. Yet he never stopped. He couldn’t stop.

Talia shouted from behind him, “We have to stop, I can’t keep up.”

“We can’t, what if people are in trouble.” He turned to face her exasperated, “What if my friends are in trouble I can’t let them die.”

“What do you mean?”

“My friends, they're in danger,” he said, getting frustrated.

“What are friends?”

She really did know nothing. “Well friends are… people you like. They’re people you enjoy spending time with.”

“Am I your friend?”

“Well, I only just met you so I’m not sure.” Hirow stopped unsure of how to respond, “I guess you're a friend. I didn’t talk with you the entire night for nothing.” He walked to Talia and stretched out his hand. “Come on, it's just a little further. We can’t stop again.”

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She took his hand and got back up onto her feet. Then Hirow took off and she followed.

Hirow came over the last hill gasping for breath. A ghastly sight awaited him. About half the village had burned to the ground. Wooden houses lay broken and smoldering, their embers still glowing. Some of the fields surrounding the northern half were still in flames. Near to the crops, farmers were desperately running from well to well trying to put out the encroaching fire. Among the rubble, the dead covered the dirt roads stained by their blood as mothers in vain tried to calm the crying children.

Talia arrived at the top just as Hirow was barrelling toward the bottom. Upon seeing what had happened she lurched forward and covered her mouth trying to prevent herself from vomiting. Was it her fault? All those lives, had she caused their deaths? She closed her eyes, not being able to bear the sight any longer. It must be her fault what else would have the voice meant? She sat there wallowing until she found the resolve to open her eyes again. Hirow was still running across the field not noticing Talia had stopped. Knowing he was running into a horrific scene his concern for his friends kept him going. If he had the strength to go on so did she. Talia stood up hoping the voice could have been trying to plant seeds of doubt. She didn’t even know why this had happened. That wicked laugh and cold tone gave her no reason to believe in its words, but still, the ghastly sight ahead struck fear into her very core. Shaking, she walked forward.

She made it to the outskirts of the village and the wretched scent of burnt corpses grew stronger. The charred remains of houses stuck up like grave markers. There wasn’t a person in sight. Unlike the northern half of the village which was full of frantic commotion, the southern half was deathly silent. Talia could no longer see Hirow, who had disappeared moments after he entered the scorched land. She wandered around amiss, not sure what to do. The area ahead felt like a hazy dream. The silence wrapped around seeping into her ears and filling her body until it was almost too much to bear. The dull landscape, black and white, consumed her vision until the sun above seemed pale and harsh. As she almost became lost in the oppressive light, her foot hit something.

She looked down with sunken eyes and awoke from her trance. To her horror, it was a body. She stepped back in fear, tripping on a wood beam. Eyes wide she couldn’t look away. She wanted to, but her body wouldn’t move. It had the shape of a person but barely retained any of the features of one. The whole thing was charred and blackened with the skin peeling off as if they were ashes. Cracks of dried blood covered it like a field of magma and the face remained contorted even though most of the features had burned into the skull.

This was the death she had feared to see. I never should have come here, Talia thought.

She heard someone shouting in the distance. At first, it was just indistinguishable sounds but soon she realized someone was calling her name. Supporting herself with a blackened beam she steadily stood up. Gazing into the distance she saw Hirow running towards her. She waited until he came closer.

Just before Hirow was about to speak she kicked him in the shin.

“Ow! What was that for,” he said, gripping his leg.

She collapsed on the ground crying, “That was for leaving me.”

“Sorry about that. I was so panicked that I forgot about you.”

“That still doesn’t make it any better.”

“Yes, yes, I know, we can argue later but now we have to hide.” Hirow paced around looking cautiously from side to side, “Quickly follow me.”

She looked up and quieted her sobs, “Last time I followed you it didn’t work out well.”

“I don’t have time to argue! There are soldiers in the village, and I think they’re looking for you.”

“And why would they be looking for me? I’m obviously not of any importance since you left me.”

“Ugh, I heard they're looking for people who have arrived at the village in the past day, “ Hirow grumbled, stopping his steps, “and as I said before, I didn’t mean to leave you behind. So please just follow me unless you want to die.”

“Now you're threatening me.”

“Why would I be. . . Nevermind. If the soldiers find you, you could be killed or worse so all I’m asking Talia is, to let me protect you.

“You’ll stay with me this time,” she said, wiping her tears.”

“I promise.”

She stood up and brushed off the cloak, “Okay, I'll come, but you better keep your promise.”

“It’s not far from here, just stay right behind me.”

They went further into the southern half of the village moving slowly and quietly through the ashen remains. As they passed several bodies Hirow urged Talia to look away, all the while he cringed wondering if his friends had met the same fate. As they moved closer to the northern half the commotion got louder. There was a large crowd gathering where the priests had spoken last night. Many were whispering throughout as parents tried to gather their children. From those not in the crowd there would occasionally be a shout for more water to subdue the remaining flames. Hirow wondered why they were gathering but kept the thought to himself as they went on. He changed their course to get further away from the people. Looking behind him to check if Talia was still there he saw that she was transfixed on the crowd.

This is the first time she’s been around so many people, Hirow thought. I guess she can’t help but stare. He let her sit there for a moment then tapped on her shoulder.

She stopped staring and abruptly turned, “Uh, sorry I drifted off. What do you need?”

“It’s just a little further. Make sure you keep behind the houses,” Hirow whispered, keeping quiet as he moved along.

They kept to the northern half of the village, moving away from the chattering crowd. Hirow stopped in front of a large but poorly built building. Like most other houses in the village, it had no windows. The foundation could be seen crumbling under the weight of logs on top. Hirow motioned for Talia to stay put. Then he ran across the road and rapped on the door. After no one answered he peeked inside and waved his hand for her to come. After she came inside Hirow quickly closed it and sunk down in a sigh of relief.

The only light in the room came from the rim of the door. Talia remained close to the entrance trying to stay in the few rays of sun that made it through. After a moment's rest, Hirow stood up and started heading for the back.

“Where are you going,” Talia said, gripping the wall.

“I'm trying to find a light.” he called back, “You should come and help. We’ll find it faster that way.”

“I think I’ll stay by the door.”

“It’ll be quick and this place isn’t that big so you won’t get lost.”

“What if someone comes by, “ she perked up, “If someone tries to get in then I will have to warn you.”

“Never mind, that’s probably a good idea. I’ll just go search for it myself.” Hirow then disappeared into the darkness.

Talia waited in her sanctuary of light as time flowed by. The shouting and frantic chaos continued outside. She felt her legs shake and took it as a sign to sit down. The voice still troubled her but it was so shrouded in mystery that there was no point in dwelling on it. Someone ran by the door, their feet pounding on the dirt road below. Talia tensed as they passed by until the sound of the footsteps grew dull. What if someone tried to get in, she thought. What would she do? There would be no way to know if they were dangerous and even if they weren’t Hirow probably wouldn’t want people to be aware they were here. She could try and stop them but most people would be able to get past her. Another solution was barricading the door but then she would have to venture into the darkness and that of course wasn’t an option. The only thing left was to remain quiet and hope. She didn’t like it but that was the only thing she could do. So frozen behind the door Talia decided to put her trust in Hirow.