"Eclipse" by Kayla A. Ross

The world is always turning on its axis, slowly vibrating and leading the pass of time, always leading the change of seasons, the pass of the days, always hindering the anchor and pull that kept eternity in motion. The gravity of the Sun pulling it into orbit, while the Earth's own mass and momentum creates that struggle against it gravity. Always kept the clock turning, always ticking towards the time until time has ended.

         The bright golden sphere of the Sun became overcast in darkness as the shadow of the moon slowly tilted over its radiance. The world waited in a hushed breath as the world became shrouded in darkness, when it should have been day. Torrential winds swept through the deserted terrain with an avengement, the same place that had been adored and looked upon as lovely only hours ago. Though now they seemed to release a fear of the unknown, which seemed to foreshadow something terrible.

         In the stilled silence of the town, a young boy began to cry, as if it knew the peril that awaited them... knew what peril they would have to face, the peril that the world has waited for. Waited for a long time, for this eclipse, for the assault of night and day, light and dark, good and evil.

         The child was stilled, his mouth muffled by his mothers shawl, the saliva from the open mouth creating a damp spot, tears of fear running tiny rivers down his cheeks.

         The Earth's crust abruptly began to shudder, as it rumbled from its very core, as if it was shaking in fear from what was about to come. The hot magma inside the planet, witch had seemed so mighty. They were afraid.

         Then it happened.

         The clouds rolled in, clouds rolling in over each other, as if they were in hot pursuit to arrive somewhere. Somewhere is where no mere mortal will ever know. The clouds, fleetly gliding through the sky, colliding with each other, eager to approach their destination. The heavens, if they weren't dark enough, became darker, as a thick, stuffy blanket gently sprung over the atmosphere, concealing the world.

         Not a sound could be heard, none, other then the muffled sob of the pitiful child, and the relentless wind. The roaring, screaming rush of the clouds as they raced across the deep blue hue of the sky, the trembling of the world. That too was waiting.

         And just as sudden, amidst the vicious claw of the wind, the rising clouds, the shaking ground, out of the clouds appeared the winged steeds.

         Two proud stallions, one the hue of untainted ebony, and the other, more bright then ivory, shining with more splendor then the now darkened Sun. From their shoulders sprouted large wings, the long fingers of the feathers straining to keep altitude, striving to keep in their place against the ever-surmounting wind. They hovered in the air above the crowd, flying in what could be mistaken for glee, though dismal emotions lingered on their cool features. Their eyes rolled in their sockets, lit with fired intensity at each other, teeth bared, the hiss of decayed breath sneaking out from their dilated nostrils, swinging to and fro before mingling with the cloud cover. With a more eagle-like screech, they fell upon each other, the turbulent winds blowing their screams of anguish and rage out of reach of the hushed humans. For should they hear it, most likely they would become swallowed up in it, their cries mingling with another's, mingling with their fears for the worst. 

         The shadow of the moon had now completely covered the stilled globe of whatever light was left, and it was, truly dark. The rounded disc of the moon, hovering just in front of the Sun, didn't look like it was about to move soon. But, the universe has always had a way with these complicated things, and, as it would be told, the moon would move. It would move very soon.

         Then, the moon shifted, and a pale blaze of light tickled around the one rounded corner, catching the gleaming coats of the two stallions, who still fought. Though, abruptly, they turned towards the waning eclipse, and they ceased to assault upon each other. The two stallions settled, heads bowed, with a vow that they would meet again, should the next eclipse arrive.