Read Online Dreams and Shadows (The Aylosian Chronicles Book 1) by Jeffrey Collyer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jeffrey Collyer
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A tiny movement caught his eye, and he could just discern through the tall grasses a pair of large dark eyes staring back at him. As he lifted his head slightly to take a closer look, the small creature was startled and scampered off, hiding itself in the grass as it went, and making it impossible for Michael to determine what type of animal it was.
Still looking to where the critter had run, he was about to stand up, when a sudden voice stopped him.
“Oh!” a surprised squeal came from in front of him.
Remembering he was naked, and hearing the woman’s voice, Michael quickly reversed the slow rise he had begun until he was confident that he was as modest as circumstances would allow and looked up.
Standing maybe fifteen paces in front of him was a young woman of Michael’s age. Her loose mousy brown hair flowed freely behind her shoulders, and her hazel eyes were now directed at his. She had evidently just rounded the corner of some tall bushes when she had seen him and made her involuntary exclamation. As they now stared at each other’s faces, neither noticed the other’s cheeks turn a bright red, conscious only of their own discomfort. What had felt only moments before like a blissful sun on Michael’s back now felt like a blistering heat. He desperately wanted somehow to break the embarrassment he was feeling but remained motionless and unable to speak.
It was the woman who finally broke their gaze, quickly turning her head to the right to examine the tall trees. “Hello,” she said, “I am very sorry for interrupting… whatever you were doing.”
She began to turn around to leave, but Michael stopped her, “Please wait,” he called, “Um… This is really awkward. I’m really sorry. Um…”
The woman had paused but kept her back to him, her head turned slightly to the side so that her left ear faced him.
But having successfully stopped her from leaving, Michael now didn’t know what to say. How could he explain what had happened even to himself, let alone to someone else? At the same time, however, he had no idea where he was, he was naked, and he needed help from someone. Perhaps this woman could help him… somehow.
“I really don’t know how to explain anything,” he began, “It’s going to sound really crazy I know. But, I don’t know how I got here.” Michael paused for a second before continuing more tentatively, “Um… I don’t suppose, um, you might be able to find some clothes or something for me?”
The woman stood still for a minute, seeming to consider what he had asked. Clearing her throat, she finally replied, “I will go and see what I can find. I will not be long.”
As she started to leave, she seemed to gain confidence as she called back, “Please know that I am within easy shouting distance of Bow Weavers.”
She disappeared around the bushes, leaving Michael pondering why he should be concerned about weavers. The nearby presence of these artisans appeared to give the woman assurance in her safety, which confused him, and he decided that he must have misheard.
Quickly forgetting her warning words, and knowing that his solitude would be temporary, his eyes searched his surroundings for taller grass or shrubs that he might be able to hide part of his body in. He soon identified a small collection of green shrubs about chest high which were loaded with bright blue berries a few dozen paces behind him, and ignoring whether other eyes were on him, he ran back to them where he immediately felt more comfortable in their modest safety.
From here, he was able to study his surroundings more closely. The trees to his left appeared to form the edge of a forest, the density of the underbrush thickening the further back he could see. They were filled with a variety of different types of trees, none of which Michael recognised, but all deciduous – their orange and red leaves informing Michael that at least the season in this place was the same as from where he had
Still looking to where the critter had run, he was about to stand up, when a sudden voice stopped him.
“Oh!” a surprised squeal came from in front of him.
Remembering he was naked, and hearing the woman’s voice, Michael quickly reversed the slow rise he had begun until he was confident that he was as modest as circumstances would allow and looked up.
Standing maybe fifteen paces in front of him was a young woman of Michael’s age. Her loose mousy brown hair flowed freely behind her shoulders, and her hazel eyes were now directed at his. She had evidently just rounded the corner of some tall bushes when she had seen him and made her involuntary exclamation. As they now stared at each other’s faces, neither noticed the other’s cheeks turn a bright red, conscious only of their own discomfort. What had felt only moments before like a blissful sun on Michael’s back now felt like a blistering heat. He desperately wanted somehow to break the embarrassment he was feeling but remained motionless and unable to speak.
It was the woman who finally broke their gaze, quickly turning her head to the right to examine the tall trees. “Hello,” she said, “I am very sorry for interrupting… whatever you were doing.”
She began to turn around to leave, but Michael stopped her, “Please wait,” he called, “Um… This is really awkward. I’m really sorry. Um…”
The woman had paused but kept her back to him, her head turned slightly to the side so that her left ear faced him.
But having successfully stopped her from leaving, Michael now didn’t know what to say. How could he explain what had happened even to himself, let alone to someone else? At the same time, however, he had no idea where he was, he was naked, and he needed help from someone. Perhaps this woman could help him… somehow.
“I really don’t know how to explain anything,” he began, “It’s going to sound really crazy I know. But, I don’t know how I got here.” Michael paused for a second before continuing more tentatively, “Um… I don’t suppose, um, you might be able to find some clothes or something for me?”
The woman stood still for a minute, seeming to consider what he had asked. Clearing her throat, she finally replied, “I will go and see what I can find. I will not be long.”
As she started to leave, she seemed to gain confidence as she called back, “Please know that I am within easy shouting distance of Bow Weavers.”
She disappeared around the bushes, leaving Michael pondering why he should be concerned about weavers. The nearby presence of these artisans appeared to give the woman assurance in her safety, which confused him, and he decided that he must have misheard.
Quickly forgetting her warning words, and knowing that his solitude would be temporary, his eyes searched his surroundings for taller grass or shrubs that he might be able to hide part of his body in. He soon identified a small collection of green shrubs about chest high which were loaded with bright blue berries a few dozen paces behind him, and ignoring whether other eyes were on him, he ran back to them where he immediately felt more comfortable in their modest safety.
From here, he was able to study his surroundings more closely. The trees to his left appeared to form the edge of a forest, the density of the underbrush thickening the further back he could see. They were filled with a variety of different types of trees, none of which Michael recognised, but all deciduous – their orange and red leaves informing Michael that at least the season in this place was the same as from where he had
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