Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't Chapter Two

Just at dawn...

The scene grew swiftly dim and faded quickly before Sailor's startled eyes as the blue haze of the forest with the sunlit field just beyond came into sharp focus. Was he still trapped in the strange woods? He knew the town had been real, just as he now understood that the fishing village just down the hill from the ruined castle was, in fact at one time, the medieval village he was just in. As he blinked, the sunlight seemed to move towards him as it overtook the woods. The night and the blue haze vanished amongst the chatter of leaves in the cool wind coming off the ocean below. Sailor looked to the sky and beheld trees that were once again resplendent with autumn foliage. Realization was now breaking and trying to make its way into his balking mind but would he accept it? Was he starting to perceive the truth and the reality of his existence? Sailor wasn't sure of anything he had just experienced. He was content to let it go for now and explore it no further. Right at the moment all he wanted was to go back to the fishing village, back to what was familiar to him. The fish mongers and the wharf, to spend his days watching the fishing boats go out and come back in with their catches. Sailor suddenly longed to sit in his favorite places and to sleep in his chosen niches and eat out of the fish bucket again. This was the comfort he sought now.

Now, at dusk.

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

One autumn evening found Sailor sleeping on the dock, watching the fishing boats start to come in and be moored, then unloaded of the days catch. With the boats also came a very real fog that was steadily blanketing the wharf. It had the immediate effect of making the pleasant, warm evening suddenly chilly and damp. The fog seemed oppressive and heavy, like a hand coming out of nowhere to snatch all things in its path. Sailor abandoned the small enclosure he was resting in and headed towards the town square, he desperately wanted to find a safe place that would shelter him from the cold and penetrating fingers of the white/grey cloud that had descended over the harbour; it now threatened to engulf the village as well. It felt like his paws were made of lead and couldn't move fast enough over the breakaway and down the wet cobblestone road into town. Had the fog found him at last? Was it chasing him! Driving him toward some unknown destination Sailor had no intention of going? That's exactly what it felt like.

  

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

The week past quietly enough and was filled with fishing boats and days at sea, Sailor was content to visit with the fish mongers and meander through the village thoroughfares; there was even that special trip to the open market that was very interesting. But the very air began to feel different to Sailor and it seemed to signal change, a change he didn't necessarily want. Always now this feeling dogged his steps; almost a part of him now: this nameless apprehension. Something was going to happen and soon! Was it meant for the town or for him? He could not tell because as the week progressed this feeling became like fog, enveloping Sailor, making things unclear and hard to see. It was like being swallowed into something or somewhere... Yes, that was it ~ somewhere. A place, different from here? But 'here' was the only place Sailor knew, the only place that was familiar to him. He was leaving! He felt that too and it frightened him. 

The story gets creepier from here 


Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

Sailor spent the day introspectively, traversing the man-made dock that enclosed the small harbour. He stopped at his favorite spot and settled himself, contentedly observing all the ordinary little minutes that made up life in this village. He loved watching the men on the fishing boats shouting orders as the deckhands and boys scrambled to obey before they set out for the open water. Sometimes wives or daughters would accompany them to the wharf, waving goodbye as they prepared to spend the entire day at sea; sometimes, if fishing was good, they would stay out long into the evening. 

The sun was ascending, warning of a another hot day on the rise but the light wind coming off the waters cooled the air around the harbour. Although it was still early morning, windows were thrown open to the refreshing breeze and calls emanated from them as conversations between friends in houses and in the streets below commenced. Vehicles lumbered slowly along the dock and out into the thoroughfare, some loaded with goods headed for the towns' open market. Sailor sat contentedly, enjoying these times as he squatted, then rolled over onto his back; the rich smell of the harbour and fish in his nostrils. Still, his calming surroundings failed to completely loosen the dream from his mind. What did the dream mean?

Are you ready for what's about to happen??

Catspaw