Avery's pov
It was on a winter night, the fire crackled in the fireplace, the embers bright and red. In a side of the room, a stone statue of the moon goddess gracefully stood, seemingly smiling. Flowers were arranged, and they gave off a sweet fragrance. The room was warm, different from the weather outside.
"Push!"
The groans of a woman could be heard, her veins bulging as she yelled, pushing as hard as she could.
"I see the head!" The midwife yelled, a small smile forming on her lips.
Her husband fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he watched his wife struggle in pain.
"I wish I could experience this pain for you, my love.."
"Almost there!" She yelled, her voice dripping with determination.
The woman yelled, and soon, the baby was out, but it didn't cry. It didn't make a single sound.
"Th…the baby isn't crying. Why isn't my baby crying?" The woman questioned, tears streaming down her face while her heartbeat increased. A quiet baby at birth wasn't a good sign. All living things were meant to come to the world with noise and leave in silence.
It was abnormal to come to the world in silence.
She stood up, bleeding and in pain to hold her baby. She fell as soon as she stood but was held by her husband, who was crying as hard as she was.
"We…we can always make a new baby, t..the important thing is that you're safe. You're alright.." he spoke reassuringly to his wife, but he was actually speaking to reassure himself.
'"No!" The woman yelled, "I want my baby now!" She screamed before breaking down in tears.
The midwife had done everything she could, but nothing seemed to be making the baby cry. Accepting the will of fate, she cleaned up the dead child and gave it to the parents who cradled their child, sobbing profusely. The husband wore a sad smile as he stared at his baby.
"You are beautiful, my child.." he muttered, breaking down again.
"Sister, what will you do?" The midwife who was actually the woman's sister asked slowly.
"What will I do?" The woman questioned back. "What will I do, you ask?" She broke from the hug, holding her baby with resolve. "The goddess will bring back my baby, and I'm not taking no for an answer."
"What do you mean?"
The woman gave no reply before heading out.
….
It was cold, and she could feel her feet go numb, but she persisted, walking in the snow filled roads. She glanced at the houses near her, and she could hear the cries and laughter that erupted from them.
"There's no way I'm letting go of you, my love." She held her already dead baby closer to her chest.
She continued the walk in the snow, leaving the residential area of the village. She passed the temple and gave a small bow according to the laws.
"You see, baby. You'll visit this temple three days after you've woken up." She sighed, chuckling to herself. "I just wish you wouldn't be stubborn and just open your eyes for me. I waited nine months to meet you, you know? Even longer before I knew I would have to wait for nine months." She chuckled again, but the water constantly falling from her eyes betrayed her chuckle.
She finally arrived at the forest. It was dark and thick, the moon offering the only source of light. The trees were all covered with snow, and it was especially cold.
It was dangerous to be outside on a day like this, when it was cold and dark. Clutching her baby tighter to her chest, she entered into the forest.
The forest was even darker inside, but she continued walking. The wolves howled, threatening to come near her, but they couldn't. There was something about her demeanour that just kept them away. They knew this woman wouldn't simply accept her death if they decided to attack, even as a pack, so the only thing they could do was watch in wonder as she continued walking in the snow.
She passed by owls, sitting comfortably on a branch, and could hear the critters chattering in their homes. She passed by the bats who had hung upside down on trees as they did. She even came across a snake slithering along the road. The snake had stopped, afraid that she would try to hit its head, but she merely passed him by, paying no heed to it.
A bear had witnessed this in a corner and was surprised. It followed her in curiosity. Soon, a lot of animals tailed behind the strange woman who moved without paying any attention to her surroundings.
She finally arrived at her destination. A river that looked to be glistening in the dark. The moon's reflection could be clearly seen in the middle of the river. Swans floated gently on the surface, enjoying the water.
All the animals continued watching the woman.
"We're at the river of the moon, baby." She informed, gently rubbing its chestnut colored hair.
Slowly, she walked into the river. Her steps were slow and almost calculated. Soon, it looked as if she was dancing in the river, which she actually was. She moved further into the river, and something amazing was happening. The river, unlike the normal temperature, was warm, so warm she could feel her stress and pain fading away.
She continued on the journey until she arrived at the exact spot where the moon reflected in the water, big and bright.
"I have done the dance of the moon, goddess. Now, hear my plea and bring my child back to me." She prayed earnestly, closing her eyes.
Suddenly, she raised her baby above her head and buried her head into the water.
'If I die, I die..' she thought to herself in the water.
A few minutes and nothing was happening, she could feel her breath slipping out of her. She was going to die, but a smile graced her lips. 'It's better this way, my love. At least, I will get to see you soon.'
The animals watching her became scared. A human couldn't stay under the water for too long unless they had the blessings of the water god like the fishes.
The bear was about to run into a river to drag the strange woman but was stopped by a bright light that came down from the sky.
A lady who looked ethereal stood on the surface of the water and gently carried the mother and child out of the river, laying them gently on the riverbank.
She wore a white gown that flowed, her hair was white, and she wore a moon shaped crown on her head. There were markings on her wrists, making it look like she wore a bracelet. She was barefooted, and her eyes were silver in colour.
She gently tapped the mother of the baby on her chest, which woke the woman who had already fainted.
"I have heard your prayers, child." She paused for a while before smiling. "And I have decided to do as you have asked. I will give back life to your child."
As soon as she said those words, the baby's chestnut coloured hair turned pure white immediately.
"When you take your child to the temple, the priest will call its name. You will know what to do then.." she smiled, looking at the woman who was already all snot and tears.
"godd…" she couldn't speak.
The goddess held her hands up and enveloped the woman in a hug. "It would be cruel of me to let you go back to your home yourself so I will take you home. Your husband awaits your return in tears." She said, snapping her fingers with a smile.
Soon, the woman found herself in front of her house. No sooner had she entered into her house that the baby started crying. The cry was so loud that neighbours came knocking at the door. The mother chuckled, hugging her baby.
"You finally woke up, I finally met you…"
And that was how I, Avery Clouds, greeted the world.