17 June 2012
Fleetfooted, with quick sure steps I ran alongside the river. I could hear the swishing of branches and curses of the men attempting to follow me. They had no chance of catching me; I glided across the tangle of roots and ducked underneath overhanging branches, weaving effortlessly between the trees.
The river was picking up speed, just like me, tearing its way around rocks and obstructions in its turbulent waters. Dancing in my peripheral vision, the reflection of me and my pursuers was an unclear, surreal blur of colours. I had to hand it to them, they were dogged in their determination to catch me. Ha! As if I would ever let them! I could easily outmanoeuvre them and hide, but that way I'd never be free. The only way to truly shake off these unrelenting attackers was to convince them I was no more, and only then would I finally be released from the shadows.
However, for this ruse to work I had to rely upon the knowledge I gained from my ancestors. At several weeks before my coming of age it was a great risk to take, but I had faith in my abilities.
Ahead of me the river was surging to its fate, launching itself towards the horizon in its desperate desire to reach the ocean. Looking further with my keen eyesight, I finally caught sight of what I had been watching for. The cliff edge.
The raging water tumbled over, roaring as it went. Violently unforgiving, the furious water lashed out wildly, before inevitably crashing when gravity eventually regained control.
I didn't even hesitate, unlike those behind me who stopped in terror. It was time to commit myself. Give my everything. Take a wild gamble. Pray for my cry for help to be heard. I increased the pace of my widening strides and without looking back once I took the final step that sent me plummeting over the edge and let my wings unfurl. I could only hope they were strong enough...
I.Sparrow
Gabriel • Opuss № I