Universe in your Eyes

I saw her sitting by the side of the road, in quiet waiting contemplation. She sat atop two luggage cases - one laying down on its broad side, the other stac0ked upon the first in a precarious arrangement, as if she was daring the wind to topple her from her perch.

The hairline implications of her daring pose atop this ill-planned arrangement, drew me to stop and offer assistance. At first it seemed that she hadn't noticed my arrival; her raven-black hair flowing with the breeze the only movement. I rolled down the window on my truck and leant out.

"Excuse me ma'am? Do you need a ride? I'm heading into town..." was all I could manage before her startling emerald-green eyes were locked onto mine, with an intensity I'd never experienced before, as if she was reading my soul. For what felt like an eternity, I was locked in her searching gaze. Then she smiled, breaking the hypnotic trance, and politely accepted my offer.

The afternoon glow of the sun soon disappeared behind the horizon, replaced by a brilliantly bright full moon, as we approached her destination. I'd lost sense of time and place somewhere along the winding roads of the foothills. I'd grown up in these parts, familiar with even the most remote of places, but now I'd become displaced. What was I doing here?

Turning to the Lady with the Emerald Eyes, I noticed she was wearing a silver pendant in the shape of what looked like a barn owl. It somehow seemed familiar to me. Looking to her face, about to ask about her pendant, I found myself once again hypnotised by her gaze.

After what seemed another eternity, she finally broke contact. I intended to ask where we were and how I was to find my way back out, when she simply stated: "It's late. Stay the night.". I nodded my assent, and for the first time noticed that within the emerald irises of her eyes, there was a fiery ring of orange flecks surrounding her pupils. Strange, I hadn't noticed this before.

The log cabin was vast and spacious, a fire ablaze in the living room as warm greeting upon entering through the heavy rosewood front door. From the outside it looked like a small single story modest abode, but as I looked around I noticed a vast staircase leading to a U-shaped open upper level. It appeared to house many rooms; 9 doors at a count.

I asked the Lady with the Emerald Eyes how many people reside here. I could hear conversations and smell food being cooked, coming from what I assumed was the kitchen just beyond the foyer of the living room we'd just entered. A look of curiousness crossed her face, followed by a small smile, the only answer.

She motioned for me to follow her upstairs, and showed me in to the first room. Turning down the bed and motioning to the adjoining bathroom, she placed a towel and washer on the end of the bed.

"I have some spare clothes that will fit you. Please take a shower and I will bring them in, along with supper.", she explained before closing the door. Looking around the room, I surveyed a huge redwood four-poster bed, draped with sheer curtaining, adorning a crest with the same barn owl symboled pendant I'd noticed on the Lady with the Emerald Eyes. The room was adorned in ruby red and emerald green furnishings. In the corner, a fireplace burned warm and cosy.

After showering and dressing, I devoured the supper on the nightstand which had been left for me. Although it was hearty and delicious, I couldn't place what exactly the stew consisted of. I was about to head downstairs to take my dishes to the kitchen, when I suddenly felt very sleepy. Placing the dishes back on the nightstand, I decided to have a quick little rest before venturing on.

******

Groggily rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I looked around. Where was I? Why is it dark? Do I smell...hay? And what is that sound? I feel around with my hands, and am startled by an errupting flash of light and heat....of fire, all around me. In panic, I yell out for help. What is this? Why am I here? Wait, what are these chains around my ankles?

I scream for help again, and this time my pleas are heard. The Lady with the Emerald Eyes appears. Her eyes and the owl pendant are glowing with the light of the inferno between us. Suddenly, her gaze locks me in place again, and I hear her voice in my head:

"You know what to do. It was always in you. Come away with us, be free.", and with that, her body shrank into the pendant on her chest, replaced by a raven-black feathered owl with those same emerald eyes. I looked down upon my own chest and saw, and remembered. I had seen this owl in my dreams my whole life. Then, an owl pendant formed in the middle of my chest, protruding, glowing. It shined like the stars of a thousand galaxies, burning my chest with hot and cold fury.

I remember, I remember! Closing my eyes, a haunting chant floods my mind:

"...on the day of the full moon,
In the dead of night,
The all powerful spring equinox,
Heralds the Chosen in flight..."

Suddenly, I was up in the air, soaring out of the barn and into the night sky. No longer in harm's way. No longer tethered to ground. Soaring amongst the sea of stars, higher and higher. Amongst my family, The Chosen. Free.

Now is the time. We must prepare for our final trip, our finally battle. To take back Earth and rid our mother planet of the evil Humans who have taken to destruction and mayhem, both above and below. Thankfully their meat makes a delicious stew...waste not want not.