The sun in flames below … sinking 'neath the horizon now,
The freedom of the day lost to the weary climb back down …
To the lake shore and the fire's embers,
To the wintry chill …
And the sense of foreboding which haunts the canyon basin.
"Beware" … cried the soaring eagle in the hazy light of the morning,
Awakening him … warning him … preparing him …
Invading spectres walked the shore …
They'd haunted his dreams the night before ….
"My friend … give me the insight" was his weary reply …
A mental link with his regal friend …
Then with clear sight … and the clarity of the eagle …
He sees warriors approaching the entry to the canyon …
Painted faces … poison tipped arrows awaiting their target …
He knew … this was the day dark forces came to claim this shore.
Like the wind his mind flew,
Silently on the wing … with deadly eyes,
Soaring, soaring, hovering … watching
Then plummeting down ….
Down, down …
Razor sharp talons digging deep … deeper …
It's unsuspecting pray seeing a spectre … fall from the sky …
Too late … too quick for warrior to put arrow to bow
The spectre joined in battle by another …
The 'battle' over before it had begun,
The threat of the marauders ended …
The spectre fading into the sunlight …
The regal eagle soaring on the thermals with a triumphant cry.
The lone shaman waking from his slumber then …
Sensing the preternatural chill in the air,
But knowing the threat had ceased into the next ones came …
His hallowed shore safe then … at least for a while.
Matthew James 24th October 2011