[Not
too graphic, I hope.
]
The sky was a beautiful azure blue. White clouds drifted by peacefully on their way to the world's end. At least, that was what Awena thought the clouds must be going on. "Send a message to the rainbows for me," she whispered to a particularly large, puffy cloud. Old rainbows that had once spread their great arcs across the sky lived in the world's end, she was sure.
Closing her eyes, she lay back against the grassy hillside and basked in the warm sunshine. It was a lovely day and she meant to make the most of it. She was going to enjoy her morning before she had to go home and do the chores. For now, soaking in the sun was a delightful prospect.
Perhaps she dozed off a little; perhaps she didn't. Upon opening her eyes, Awena realised that something was distinctly out of order. For one thing, the clouds were green. The sky was still blue, but the clouds were green - a leaf-green, at that. Was there a change in the weather? she wondered anxiously. Before she could sit up and look around her though, the green clouds began to swirl with the blue sky until it was all one great, blue-green mixture. As the sky churned above her, the girl felt powerless to do anything but watch it all.
Slowly, streaks of yellow appeared amidst the strange, coloured turmoil that happened above her. Yes, something was decidedly wrong with the weather. Before long, purple blotches had appeared as well and the whole heavens turned into one giant, marbling effect. It was not a beautiful sight, but it was, needless to say, incredibly stunning.
As the twirling colours began to spin faster, merging into a mess of ugly shades and tones of what had been before, Awena decided she really
must do something about it all. What she had in mind we shall never know, because the very moment she decided to do something about the horrific sky, it turned a deep crimson.
Rose-red, blood-red, she thought.
For what seemed like a long time, she lay motionless while staring at the red, red sky. It looked as though there had been a great deal of bloodshed and pain, which in turn had stained the skies a terrible colour. What could have happened to have allowed all this to occur? She shuddered. War, pain, grief and conflict were all horrendous events that Awena could never reconcile herself to.
The change was so slow that Awena didn't know when it began. A soft, pale white light had begun to disperse the dark crimson. Gentle waves of white light washed away the red sky, filling it completely with light. She closed her eyes to allow the radiant light to shine on her without having to squint.
Perhaps she dozed off; perhaps she didn't. Upon opening her eyes once more, the sky was just as it had been originally - or was it? Surely the sky was just a little more blue than it had been before? Was the light stronger and more caressing? Awena was hard put to tell. All she did know as she got up was that if what she saw had been a vision, a dream or one of those odd, very visual fancies she had now and then, and if it was to be taken seriously ... A great conflict would occur and there would be much pain.
"But in the end," she whispered to herself, dusting herself down, "there is always hope." Reflecting on the white light, she nodded.