The Loop

Below them the lands unwrapped in the sunlight. From underneath the misty clouds stretched lumpy, green fields, crooked, pointy forests and deep, dark waters. The mountains ripped through the layer of clouds and bathed coolly in the agonizingly sharp sun.

From the back of the giant bird, they could see everything. All they could hear was the sound of its wings beating heavily against the howling winds, all they could feel was the cold whipping against their faces, the soft warmth of the bird’s feathers and the intensity of each other’s firm grasps. The bird was soaring high, its eyes slits in the bright light.

Then suddenly the world ended, and all they could see was the ocean. The last terrifying cliffs disappeared behind them as a foamy, azure carpet stretched indefinitely ahead of them, ready to devour them if they were to lose their grip.

And that was the world around them. To great to understand, so they understood each other instead, because as far as feelings and physique – at least a human could be described. The dramatic features of the planet’s worn surface were to extreme to put into words.

The bird dived towards the licking, lush lips of the cold waves below them. She could feel how he dug his fingertips harder into her clothes, and the dampness of his breath against her ear – then they hit it. The water smacked her in the face, her lungs flattened – everything lost focus. All around her was bubbles and rushing water – then she felt a faint, sucking sensation slowly, but determinedly pulling her downwards.

It was interesting how the bird had known exactly where to disappear into the ocean, because the ocean looked exactly the same all over. The waves were a little different from each other, but apart from that, there was no way one could know where to find the right spot. The bird however, definitely had.

Suddenly the wetness was all gone. It was like the pressing force against her airways and the intense cold had all been an illusion. Because they were both still safely seated on the bird’s back, still clinging on to each other too hard, and the sound of the bird’s wings monotone beat was the only thing to be heard. She waited for a long time to open her eyes. Just in case the sight that awaited her would throw her into the rushing water again. When silently parting her lashes, revealing the pearlescent orb of her eye with her massive, dark pupil in the middle – she nearly lost her grip, on everything. Even reality.

Because below them were once again the mountains ripping through the layer of clouds and glowing coolly in an agonizingly sharp sun. Between the dark tops were patches of crispy snow and the surging forces of partly frozen waterfalls.

Suddenly the world ended again, and all they could see was ocean. The last cliffs of land disappeared behind them, an azure carpet stretched ahead of them, ready to devour them.

The bird dived towards the cold waves. She could feel his fingertips, and the dampness of his breath – then they hit it. The water smacked her in the face, her lungs– everything lost focus. Bubbles and rushing water – then she felt a faint sensation pulling her downwards.

Suddenly the wetness was all gone.