The Stand

A dark place where a fell beast preys on the unfortunate.

After rebirth, with blade in hand and resolute with purpose

I ventured in.

Many a times fear gripped me, and doubt clouded my heart,

But my guardians marched me toward anguished cries.

Then one day I heard him call out to me, my kin who was lost,

With hope and blade held high I set out.

The beast had struck a deadly blow, but together we stood up to the inevitable,

Wounded but alive he returned feeling triumphant.

Our spirits rose, the clouds lifted momentarily,

Then deathly silence, darkness descended.

The beast had doubled back, and my friend was swallowed whole.

I was besieged by guilt and crippled by pain.

Through misty eyes I looked back into the darkness and there she was,

At once both beautiful and terrible, an intoxication of hope and despair.

She was leading the beast back to its lair.

Our eyes met, she laughed, and I sharpened my blade.

-Aneesh