//------------------------------//
// waiting. 
// Story: EntiQuest 
// by Sputniik 
//------------------------------//

Daarin hadn't been around for very long.

He figured it was unusual for him to be so aware of this. But it was undeniable how long ago the Unyears had killed Time, and now he realized he was much younger than he first remembered. 

Looking down to his feet, he shuffled. 

"Don't speak. You are messing up your transformation," It said again. The voice was only there when he felt most alone. Daarin didn't know who it was, but their presence always raised the furs on his back.

But he complied anyway and shut himself up.

"Now," It began again, "Remember who you are. If I asked you, would you remember?"

Of course, I do... Daarin urged to say. But for reasons even he couldn't distinguish, he refused to speak. The familiar tingling filled his system as if he were slowly fading away.

The glow of his eyes dimmed and his legs gave beneath him. Daarin lay on his stomach, fatigue brushing over him.

He was going far away again. What if this time, he didn't come back?

"Now, who are you?"

Daarin paused to think. 

I don't know. I don't remember. He heard himself reply in his head. 

The voice responded. "Now you understand,"

The autumn leaves swept over him, blanketing his tiny body in shades of gold. 

"That nothing lasts forever."

Its presence was closer than ever. He could feel warm breath against his neck, and Daarin wanted to squirm away. His eyes shut. And he was sure he had just been put to sleep. 



And when he opened his eyes, everything was white.