Keeper of Life - NaPoWrMo Entry

The city was brimming with activity, signs and banners were hung, streamers with tiny green triangles knitting the buildings together. Even the merchant shops seemed to be decorating their stands and stores. It put Solar's mind at ease. Everything had happened so fast, all together. Yet now it was as if her mind told her, 'It's okay, we'll worry about stuff again once the festival is over.' In fact she felt a bit guilty about not being worried, then she thought of her mother and had to stifle tears. 'So much for that,' Solar thought cringing. She shook her head as if to ward off the thought. 'Enough, enough.'

That's when she saw the mare sitting beside her; middle aged with sunken features, it only reminded Sol of her mother. She looked out into the city as they strode through the districts.

“It's pretty isn't it?” Solar asked purposely distracting herself.

“Yes it is,” she replied.

“I know it happens twice every year, but it's nice to see everyone so happy,” Solar said looking out with her.

“Yes,” she replied flatly.

“I...” Solar trailed off.

To the surprise of both of them the mare turned and asked, “Are you alright little one?”

She chuckled. “I guess I'm not very good at hiding it eh?” Solar said brushing her nose. “I'm sorry.”

“You don't have to be,” she replied. “We all have our reasons.”

“Yeah, it's just...” Solar paused. “It's hard losing someone. I mean, you know it's going to happen sooner or later, but still it's just...”

Silence hung between them until the mare finished, “It's hard.”

“Yeah,” Solar said. “I should have been ready, I mean, I thought I was ready,” she said surprising herself by being so open. Yet she didn't really have anyone to talk to, her Dad was going through it himself and she tried not talking about it, Clover was in the archives and when she was with Valor she didn't want to bring it up. She shook her head. “I guess I wasn't. I'm glad though, she lived a full forty-five years, and she didn't have regrets. Still though.”

“Forty-five?” she asked and Solar nodded. “It wasn't always like that.”

Again silence.

“Can I ask you something... Silly?” Solar asked switching topics. The mare nodded. “Do you ever... you know, do you wonder what's out there?” She thought of the stars and of the moon in crisp detail. She looked up at the haze of the sun to where stars could have been.

“Sand,” she replied.

Solar smiled and chuckled. “I know that, but you know, what else?”

The mare opened her mouth to talk then closed it. They both sat there without saying a word as the trolly slowed.

“Guess it's just sand,” Sol said capping the conversation, now embarrassed.

“There used to be fields of grass the size of this city. Massive pools of water further then the eye can see, teeming, a system of life so deep it rivaled our own. Birds soared through the sky and clouds painted the ground with brilliant brushstrokes. You could see the snow capped mountains of the dragons and watch the water as it spilled over the cliffsides. The spray would billow up like cotton pillows as the light danced inside it.” She seemed lost in her words and swam in her own mental painting. “There were forests filled with trees, trees that belonged to the cycle. Some that would touch the top of the barrier and could live to see eons pass. And the flowers; fields of flowers with colors so deep I'm told they can bring you to tears just by looking at them.”

“But not anymore?” Solar asked.

“Not anymore,” she replied.

Solar looked up to the canopy of the trolly as if she could see through it. The images danced in her mind as she tried to form them, as she tried to imagine what an endless pool of water would look like.

“What happened?” she asked but when she looked over the mare was gone. The trolly lurched forward again, and departed toward District 3.