Nature's Reckoning Part 1: The Edge of the World

Long shadows streaked across the lawn behind him as a shadowed figure disappeared past the horizon, almost seeming to drop off the edge of the world against the orange and red glow of the setting sun.

The faint scent of ozone in the air felt strange as he looked out over clear skies. But a moody, dark energy was slowly making its way over him as shadows crept backward into the darkness of the approaching storm.

Although he could feel it—like the slide of a sharp claw gently tracing the back of his neck—he refused to look back. Instead, he focused on the warm glow of his setting star. His only star. His only source of life.

Another figure fell off the face of the planet.

He started to walk toward the light, away from the menacing past closing in behind him. But it was catching up, no matter how hard he tried to outrun it.

One more shadow leapt into the sinking sun.

His mind swelled with everything he should have done to take one step closer to the light. Time was running out. Faster now. Too fast.

He felt something closing in. Icy whispers brushed his ears.

I know, he thought. I know… Choices.

A crack of thunder rolled across the land from the east, reverberating through his soul. The sun sank lower. More shapes dashed over the edge.

He started to run as the first drops of rain hit the soil. The air was humid, thick, electric—nature striking out in rage at what remained of her once lush and beautiful lands.

It was too late. Nothing was left.

He ran toward the trailing light as darkness swallowed the ground behind him. Even the last rays of sunshine felt cold—mocking—as they grazed his face.

At the edge, he finally looked down. The race was to the bottom.
Piled high beneath him were all who had come before—those who’d done nothing to stop the coming dark.

If only I’d chosen differently.
If only I’d cared while there was still time.
If only I’d done something—anything.

He stepped off the edge and joined them as the sun went down on his planet one final time.

Read Part 2: The Silence of Gods
Read Part 3: The Light of the Cathedral