The Valley of Shadows

Graphic © Iced Gem 2003

The Shaman had told me I was the chosen one, that I must journey up the valley of shadows, climb the great cliffs where the Earth Mother bleeds, walk the great snow fields, travel beyond and even higher to the great spires of ice. There I would search the ice canyons until I found the Spirit.
I would then free the Spirit of the greening season, Spring.
"What would she look like?" I asked.
"How would I know her?"
And most importantly, " How would I free her?"
"You will know all these things when you find her, all questions will be answered" he said.

Each year a warrior was chosen and sent out never to return. But the Spirit of the greening season would soon arrive signaling the warriors triumph and his sacrifice.
An so with my provision pack of dried meat, nuts and dried berries, I set out.

I stopped at the entrance of the valley of shadows looking, listening as so many before me must have done, but the darkness would reveal no secrets.
It is said you're lifes deeds await you in the valley. That only you would know what lies in wait there for you. Some before had failed to enter the valley from fear and were banished from the people. Banishment here means certain death. I felt no fear. Yes I had spilled blood as a warrior, but it was for the defence of my people, justified. There were times when I could have killed but did not, and when I did , there was no enjoyment, only a sense of duty.
Useing stealth I advanced into the darkness. Prickly vines clung to me, trying to intwine me. The ground itself tried to suck me down, I dared not stand in one spot for long. The dark skelitons of dead trees, moved, moaned and their branches reached for me.
Then there were the voices, ones I had heard before, missleading, moans and sighs I had heard before on the battlefield.
Then I felt the hands, some icy cold, clawing, ripping, except for the one hand in mine , warm, caring, leading me through the shadows. This hand I knew from childhood, my mothers.
The darkness began to give way to a faint blue light. The landscape was like a dream of blue swirling mists. The ground was more solid. The voices had stopped, except for one last whisper, "...go my son, you no longer need me, fullfill you're duty to the tribe....."
The full moon illuminated the blue, misty landscape and the ancient path at my feet.
In the far hazy distance I could see the green cliffs rising skyward with the veins off crimson spreading down the sides.....where the Earth Mother bleeds..............

Go to Chapter 2...............

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