The River Pt. 1

The soft thundering clouds
creeping across the sky above
a tiny cascade of light, brightening the hills
as the tired young man rises
one boot after another and a splash of cold water

Waking his companion as he straps on the gloves
the grim expression he holds dire
the dirt and blood caked on his face
the very visage of the reaper
with the ache of humanity in his temples

The two men rustle throughout the camp
shaking and moving the items about
stuffing and tossing, eating a bite
a meager breakfast, even for a laborer
but it must suffice for the morning's travel

Like a couple of shambling mounds the two set off
wrapped and bandaged here and there
the gleam of metal shining out atop their heads and across their backs
clank and rattle as their equipment moves about
one boot after another on a cold, desolate morning

The task is great
the journey already long
but still they walk, silent in their stride
alert but foggy
the gripping daze of danger

Minutes to hours and hours to days
they've walked this way
A quest impossible
a hope fragile
Heroes unlikely in a world gone to waste

Who knows the days they have traveled
when at last a sign
peering out from the darkened wood
three grimacing eyes of hatred bright
and sounds enough to unnerve an army

The battle did commence, a horrible sight for a commoner
as steel matched with claws and blood coated the trees
for there amongst the moonlit wood
a beast of the river was slain
tho' not without struggle plain

Clawing and raking
making sounds unheard this side of life
attempting to wound its hunters
it spilt the blood of the young man's companion
and in return lost its head

For a moment the night is silent
all but the heavy breathing of these two forgotten souls
as their hearts beat loudly in their ears
and they look down helplessly
on the terrible scene about

Fumbling and hurting, as the two patch themselves best they can
their bodies can take little more of this pain
for this adventure seems far little like the stuff of legends
to slay the great evil is far more gruesome
it is far more uncomfortable and with far more pain

At last the young man's companion laughs
grabs his friend's shoulder
and they share in a chuckle
a little light in a dark place
the hope is dim but it has not been extinguished