A Past into the Present

Quiet night after the storms and that feel to the air of a good cleansing. The waters were still a bit rough and many leaves were strewn on the land below. Gabriel was there soaking in the scene, or more feeling, at his usual rock. Eventually it might be refereed to as Gabriel's rock. He was listening to all the sounds as if hearing some for the first time when he concentrated on one amongst many. He was quite into it.

Aiden knew where to find his brother lately. He made his way along the shore to search him out. Trying his best to be perfectly silent, he even avoided walking in the water.

Cole was coming from the opposite direction and feeling significantly more calm and centered. The tingling feeling that seemed to course through his veins was gone and the sparking was not so frequent. He hadn't forgotten its effect on Gabriel, and rather than brood on it, figured he would find his brothers at the lake; it was their mutual thinking spot by silent agreement.

He felt his comrades and finally drew from this other concentration as dark eyes shifted as well a smile to lift. "Neither of you could resist either. Water is warm and different than when calm, like more energy coursing through it if you should take a swim."

"It seems to call to the three of us, doesn't it?" He scrambled up onto the rock to sit beside Gabriel. "Not much damage from the storms." A good thing to his mind, but it was just the beginning of the season.

"The storms went out to sea quickly," came the quiet observation as he too shifted his weight into a sitting position on the other side of Gabriel. "Almost like someone pushed them."

"Maybe someone did." He chuckled as he looked up at the sky, watching the stars. "Just to allow the stars to shine so brightly tonight. A show of sorts?"

"There seems to be a draw, a connection. Neither of you have had any odd dreams of late either?" He was tracing a look along the opposite shore and the trees there trying to find something or the feel of someone.

"Not I." He gave a shake of his head. "My dreams have been peaceful. Though I can't remember them. What about you, Cole?"

"None so far, though the tingling is gone. What kind of dreams, Gabriel?" He exchanged a look with Aiden, then arched a brow at Gabriel.

"Dreams, more than a dream like the last one I had. There were ones like you both in them, gifts. The one man turned shadows into beasts to fight these other beasts and the other stunned so they could be killed by the ones flying using bow and arrow, I watched them first and then I was one of the ones flying. The one that could stun could also directly shock the enemy to death if needed."

"That's interesting. I wonder if it's telling you what we can do?" He was skeptical though. How could shadows kill?

He had that far off look to his eyes as he tried to recall the strange words. "Saoi, Saoi-dhean. I think that is why I was plagued maybe, to remember. After I remembered that much, I've not been plagued."

He considered it for a few minutes, frowning thoughtfully. "You said it was us, but not us... and yourself too. It almost sounds like alternate reality or something."

"First it was like I was being shown to remember, then I was one. I had the feeling it was of a long past ago, ancient times of the beginnings here or an alternate reality or some other place in time." That he couldn't be sure of other than the feelings. "I didn't see the other's faces but I felt like there was a strong bond like family."

"Like there's one more missing?"

"Only one?" That was a bit of a relief though.

"It might be more than one as the feeling was they were to meet up with others of kind after the battle was done, their original destination. There were four, two winged of which I became one firsthand, one that cast shadows and one that stunned and shocked."

"Well, we know which one I am." He chuckled softly, "and which Cole is."

"And we know you're one of the winged ones... but who the other is remains to be seen. I wonder if he hasn't arrived yet." Musing, he gazed over the glassy surface of the water.

"That is the very thing I started wondering, or is coming. Both of you have recently discovered new abilities that had been dormant. Something is stirring them back alive. It is why I wondered if you had any such vivid dreams it is like you are there, like we are here right now." With a messenger lad coming to let them know they were needed back at the castle, all three took their leave with the idea of coming back later.

Later that Evening....

Raphael took to staying around the lake most of the time. An area of woods with tall oak trees near across the lake suited him just fine. In fact, more than just fine as the largest tree became his domain. It gave him time to reflect on the other night, vibes picked up on the two with his Bràthairel. Saoi Càirdean, cariad, mòr càirdean. He was in the crock of the tree on a very large branch, leaning back with his hands behind his head as he let the evening soak in. Temperature was dropping and the sounds of birds settling into the night. Soon the sky would be streaked with the last rays of the sun before setting. Here he waited as much time he could in the hopes any of the three came.

Aiden was alone as he made his way to the lake after an afternoon run. He stripped off his shirt and boots as soon as he reached the shore, then stripped down to the pants he had cut off for swimming, knowing well there could be others about. After diving into the water, he swam a short distance then floated on his back. This had become his favorite part of the day of late. A glance toward Gabriel's rock showed him his friend wasn't about.

Hearing one, he gave a glance to the side where afforded a view through the foliage. Seeing who it was he sat up, excitement welling up for the possible opportunity to try and have him remember things of a past long forgotten through rebirths. He'd not try it while Aiden was swimming and risking the chance of him drowning if he got caught deep under and sunk then deep under.

After a few moments, he made his way back to shore. Sun still warmed the rock and he made his way up onto it, stretching out to enjoy those final rays of the day. Hands behind his head to form a pillow of sorts, he closed his eyes, listening to the sounds around him. It was rare there was no one at the lake, so he'd take the opportunity to enjoy the sounds of nature.

As Aiden settled down, as well those walls on another level, Raphael prepared himself. Something that came second nature at this point as he surfed those edges of Aiden's consciousness. Remember mòr cariad, Saoi Sgàith. Luring him to his voice as hazel eyes turned a glowing green the more he moved to that level. Coaxing Aiden to open up his mind to him. It was easier for the connection between he and Gabriel and wasn't sure it would work on the Càirdean.

At first, he resisted but gradually, as the warmth of the sun lulled him into a sleepy state, his mind opened enough to allow a first tentative contact. He was unaware that it was another speaking to him. More he felt it was a dream he was drifting into.

Raphael didn't have firsthand experiences with Aiden, unlike Gabriel, until met later on. He was privy to where his people came from and could bring him there having been there. For the frames of time, even ones past, he would pick a time when his clan prospered and hoped he picked up on who he was there during that time. The scene first started out in a bird's eye view of the immense Valley like he had taken Gabriel. Strange large beasts could be seen, ones of bulk, single horn and looked like shields either side of his head. The long necks with heavy torsos also were there as they continued along following the river in flashes of scenes below.

There was a moment of being disoriented, something that nearly jerked him back to consciousness. When it passed, Aiden found himself fascinated, and aware that he was. The beasts were familiar, yet not. Something that he could remember, though not why or how. Somewhere in his mind he wondered how he felt a part of what he was seeing, yet not -- as if he were watching from someone else's eyes.

They passed the fertile valley taking an upwards turn in this guided tour, he might be aware of the winged man but not seen presently. Someone at his side guiding him. As he became more in tune to what was being seen, it would become more vivid in color, no haze like seen in his present form as if the atmosphere was taken away. Across the river from a passing glimpse of tree homes (technically a great distance) the cliffs rose to a more rocky terrain. Still great trees grew tall more like the pines of today, firs and others such as oak, cherry and birchwood. The birch gave an unusual contrast where there were areas of the stark near white with black markings. At first one would not notice the cliffs they were coming upon were different as the dwellings blending right into the side of reddish  brown stone. The first clue was the Swiss cheese effect as closer inspection gave way to lines of like buildings he was use to seeing. There was an open area, big as a very large field of stone that jutted out and people milling about. There was a group of young children casting shadows to chase them in tag. One lad had made a bumpy one they could slide down over. A group of older ones made ropes they skipped with, teens were making a web to haul things up with to the higher buildings. He might notice that ability went with the ages as there was a group of young men casting shadows that took on the form of a type of wolf and bear, these they pitted against each other like one would spar using a weapon. It helped to perfect their ability. Some were little while ones with more training had average size and there was one that had made a wolf the size of an elephant. This was the one that would draw Aiden the most as Raphael hovered to watch him merge if he could.

The landscape was as Gabriel had explained but it wouldn't be until later that realization would come to him. The fact that a winged man guided him wasn't shocking either, even with the certainty it wasn't his brother-in-arms. As the cliff dwellings grew clearer, he felt a sense of home and that did startled him. Anyone who came near might see his breathing grow faster then slow again. Each group of shadow casters were noted, and what was created. As they drew nearer to the group of young men, he felt drawn to one. Dark-haired and eyed, with copper skin, the young man was watching intently as the wolf he created turned to take on a bear. Aiden drew nearer, reaching his hand out first, then stepping closer. He didn't glance back as he took one more step and found himself watching the shadow wolf through different eyes. The voices around him became clearer, the language they spoke understood.

He left Aiden to explore this, emerging with a self long ago forgotten that would bring back the wisdom of the ages for him. Raphael would not let him linger too long or become trapped in an existence that no longer existed. He would be there while his body here, believed to be in a comatose state which few ever found their way back from. Or, half there and half here which they took as insanity.

Continued....