Nighthorse and Perfect Days

JP with Gonyaul and Voah:

Voah woke to the sudden screech of a raptor somewhere off in the distance of the mountains. Her heart was racing from some nightmare as she jolted awake, blinking away the awful brilliance of predawn light. Her eyes had seen darkness for so long that any light, including the campfire from last night, was a menace which brought her a mild but temporary headache.

She sighed in relief, still curled up in a blanket at Tar’s camp with her beau wrapped in his own beside her.

Gonyaul was startled awake and his eyes flew open; however, after years of conditioning his natural response was to remain still until a threat was verified. He ascertained they were safe and thus remained still. He was already facing Voah, since he liked to sleep on his side. His dark deep eyes were a soothing balm compared to any light around them.

He whispered with a dry throat and a concerned brow, “What wrong, nighthorse?” He meant to say nightmare.

She turned to him, lips trembling, their eyes met.

“…Yes.” she said softly.

He looked down briefly before regaining eye contact. Seeing her luscious lips tremble in fear made his heart ache. He scooted closer. And whispered, “Want talk about it? Or just need hug?”

She didn’t speak at first and looked away, his gaze too intense, she knew that look. One that had gotten her into trouble in the past. He was infatuated. She had to be careful of that.

She soon softened, his were large, serene eyes after all.

“…I was running… in the dark…” she admitted.

He nodded, “Scary place to run sometimes.” He was giving her room to breathe and continue should she wish to share more.

“Yes… especially when you can see there is no way out.” she closed her eyes to think, then opened them again, not wanting to stay in the dark. She gulped.

“Running from something? Or lost try running to something?”he gently inquired. He didn’t want to force anything outside her comfort zone to share.

She chuckled, it was like he could read her mind.

“Both at the same time, I suppose… I was running into the darkness… and running from… myself… much younger… angry… with this… sword.” she reached for the blade, always nearby. A tear ran under her eye and sideways across her face, dropping to the blanket.

Gonyaul reached up with his left hand and gently caressed the tear’s trail from her soft cheek. “What would you today say to you younger if could?” He waited patiently for her to continue.

If any words of wisdom had come to mind, they would have caught in her throat. She just closed her eyes and shook her head. If she could change the past, where would she even be right now. Sure there had been trials, and dangers, and regrets… but right now… at this moment… everything was perfect.

The perfect day question… it probably didn’t exist… but perfect place? The perfect people? To try and make your perfect days with… maybe she could work towards that.

Gonyaul returned his hand and just breathed. He could tell she was grappling with something very important to her core of being. You don’t force a flower to bloom before it’s time, he could remember hearing one of his teachers say. All he could do was give her a reassuring smile.

Part of her wanted to kick herself for feeling so vulnerable lately, not keeping it together, but maybe she needed it. She was going through some kind of identity crisis maybe. Brain to mouth, her thoughts flowed out like a fountain.

"The perfect day is... Waking up to a fresh spring morning with all of the sounds and smells that come with it. Looking out over a beautiful vista, be it ocean, mountain, forest, or valley... With no rush... no worries... far from evils of the world... fresh clean drinking water... stretching and meditating... slowly saying good morning to the world before cooking a small breakfast... sipping hot tea in the garden... then walking, hiking, or traveling by horse, for a while... just long enough to enjoy the sights before arriving at a fascinating destination to explore... safely... something like the ruins off of the mines would have been such a place if things had turned out differently..."

She looked around her as if the thought brought her back to the reality of the world, but then she sat up straight, stared off into the mountains and went on.

"Painting, poetry, theatrics... exploring another town I've never known... talking with the people... playing with children... seeing my younger self in them... spend some time in a temple or shrine... singing… swimming at twilight… returning in the evening... dancing in that same garden to music… I have done these things... do things like that every day... but it would be so much better... to do them with someone I care about... someone to chat casually about any topic in the world... someone to share stories with..."

She turned to him. "The day is starting out pretty good so far."

Gonyaul sat up as Voah turned to him. He was enchanted by her response. Her stream of consciousness was yet another validation of how much he liked the way she thought. Furthermore, how like-minded they were when she was true to herself, in his humble opinion.

He turned to her as well. The blanket falling from his shoulders, to pool down and around his lap, as he rose up from the ground. His exposed upper body quickly obtained goosebumps from the cold air suddenly hitting it, but you could make the argument her passion just now put goosebumps on his heart. How he would have loved to be a wish granter and could make that all happen instantly for her with a wrinkle of his nose and a flick of his wrist. No, he would have to try doing it the old fashion way; trust, disciplined effort and loving consistency over time.

It didn’t take a follower of Hoi to be able to see how smitten Gonyaul was, it was obvious. Unlike Voah, Gonyaul was adept at embracing vulnerability. In addition, this was his first experience with possible intimacy; the fledgling’s heart was raw and exposed with no tears or callouses that can come from relationships gone wrong.

He nodded in agreement, “Yes. I never seen this day before.” He exclaimed quietly with a tone of adventure. “Tis best to start it with you.”

Her eyes just watched him, gathering insight from his words, his demeanor. She sensed his inexperience, his immaturity. She felt herself inwardly withdrawing from the thought of getting too romantically involved. Outwardly, she couldn’t help but smile genuinely at his hopeful excitement.

‘Hoi, what have I done?’ she thought to herself. Hoping not to regret what she started.