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The sun had left the sky. The night was falling over the landscape, bathing it in darkness. The air became colder, chilling the darkness of the water. The river near the sea made his way like he had all the years since his birth. He had carried away so many things in his being, but that night, it was different.
The soft lapping of waves touched the riverside in a remote corner, but I didn't realize it. The river's current carried me away, but I didn't feel it until my motionless body touched firm, wet ground. The contact was like an electric shock. I winced, and new life flooded me.
I gasped, and my lungs filled with fresh air. I tried to move by reflex, but my body was numb. My senses, however, still worked. I tasted blood, and the smell of gunpowder scented the air and lay heavy on my lungs.
My head was pounding. The sharp pain of a headache pierced through me like nails. At first, I had no memories of what had happened only a few hours ago. Bit by bit, pictures came back. I remembered how I had closed my eyes before the cannon brutally came down on me. After that, I didn't know anything. First there was pain, and then water. I didn't fight. I had let it happen. Something carried me away, like soft hands. No, not soft. My body hurt like it was on fire. It ached with every movement of the cold water. Everything was dark. I blinked and looked around weakly. Grass, bushes, and trees edged the riverside.
Again, I tried to move, but my feet didn't obey me. One foot seemed to stick in the mud.
I managed to move one of my wings. I rolled over, and my face touched cold, wet mud. There was no sound. I was alone. Alone and forgotten.
My feathery fingers felt wet soil. I tried to raise myself up, but I slithered back into the water again. I couldn't stand it any longer. I opened my beak. I wanted to say a word. I don't know who I wanted to talk to. Maybe to myself or to the emptiness around me. But there was nothing. Just darkness.
I couldn't open my eyes because of the pain that wrapped around my damaged body, its grip like iron. It didn't want to release me. I winced, and some more air slid through my throat and gave my heart a new push. I didn't want to breathe again. I closed my beak. But that made my pain worse. I had learned to control pain, but this was too much.
My mind was broken and so was my will. I lost my self-control. I reached for a shadow, what had to be a branch. But my wing slipped off. This took the last of my strength.
Let it go, let it go.
I relaxed my muscles and let myself sink back. I closed my flickering eyes and let it happen. The darkness searched for my presence. It pulled my wing. But it didn't pull me down. It pulled me up.
My head left the water until I felt the air around my face. Maybe it was the spirits who wanted to take me with them? A hoof touched my cheek. I pressed my eyelids together. Every touch hurt so much.
Finally, I opened my eyes. Worried and benevolent eyes met mine. My breathing became faster. I gasped for air, enraged. I wanted to push her away, but after my feathers touched her clothes, I dug into the cloth. I felt tears in my eyes. It felt warm. The surrounding hooves cared for me. I didn't want it to stop. The pain enslaved my body, forcing it to search for protection. My body didn't want the pain to stay.
A blanket wrapped around me and touched my cold feathers. I didn't resist.
Please, don't stop.
I breathed in more air. My lungs gave in, and a wincing sob left my throat through my quivering beak. I couldn't move my body, but the movements of her didn't inflict pain on me.
I blinked. My energy was gone, but I forced myself to stay awake for a moment to look at her. She smiled. I smiled back, before I closed my eyes with relief. There was no danger. I could let myself fall asleep because I was sure she would care for me.
I didn't realize that she had carried me with her until I opened my eyes again. I know that I will rant at her because she pulled me out of the water, but inwardly, I will be thankful for her mercy.
- The End -