Short Story: Nature's Animation

Life comes from the earth and life returns to the earth. Zhuangzi‏
Beyond the weather worn walls that surrounded the city of Glisand not many people dared live. This was not because danger lurked beyond the protective bounds of the city but simply as a result of time. Peace of mind and community were commodities valued by the citizens and so within the walls they slowly but surely gathered; all but one.
   It was no secret who stayed behind. A lone man by the name of Idris Betellion lived beyond the city walls. Though his name was remembered, it had been so long since anyone had interacted with the man that his character was largely forgotten. The sole reminder of his existence was the occasional plume of smoke that would rise like wisps of smoky memory from the distant forested hills to the North. With so much occurring within Glisand, it was only a matter of time before Idris would be completely forgotten.
 A slow crescendo of excitement began to build within the city as Glisand neared its twenty fifth year since the construction of its great walls. With the season at its most bountiful, the people stopped short of nothing to celebrate this momentous anniversary. Street vendors sprung up on every avenue with fresh produce and handmade goods. Lush greens gave highlight to the rainbow of vegetables, fruits and flowers from the recent harvest. Baskets of nearly every size and construction could be found stacked and ready for purchase while tapestries swung gently in the wind displaying their owner’s precision in patterns. Music, voices and laughter competed discordantly for control of the airwaves. Life seemed to thrive.
 Glisand was directed by a counsel of five citizens. Islot, Pesnia, Haslin, Brevan and Lodinus made up the current guiding body. Two women and three men. All were gathered to discuss the impending celebration.
 “Have all citizens committed to contribute their yearly donation to the city? This year is especially momentous. We need to ensure the community continues to support us and the idea that they are safer within our protective bounds” Brevan asserts.
 “Yes, Brevan. All have commited” says Pesnia.
 “Excellent, then—“
 “Not all have, Brevan” Islot declares.
 “Who have we overlooked?”
 “Idris Betellion” says Islot.
 “Idris? No one has seen the man ever since the construction of the walls. Why is it so important that he contributes? He is no more a citizen than this piece of parchment” states Haslin raising his parchment from the great wooden table.
 “People have been talking about the possibility of living beyond Glisand’s walls and given that Idris is still out there with his fires, it is an even more tempting proposition. Talk of overcrowding can be heard wherever you go and many are unhappy with the rising yearly contribution to the city” explains Lodinus.
 “We can’t afford to let him sway the people out of the city” Pesnia says.
 “What must we do then?” asks Haslin.
 “One of us must go and convince Idris to move back to Glisand or else we have no choice than to force him to move far away so no one will ever be distracted by his smoky signs of life again. We can’t afford to allow the people to imagine life can be had beyond our city’s walls” says Brevan.
 “Who will go then?” asks Lodinus.
 “I will” Islot pronounces.
 “Then it is settled. Islot will take care of the citizen Idris.
 Out through the cities large gates rode Islot upon her obsidian black horse. The sounds of its hooves clacked and echoed emptily as she moved further from the city.
 Islot reached the edge of the aged forest and the start of a single dark pathway. Here she could no longer ride so she dismounted and tied her horse to a knotted root. As she walked nearer to the dark forest, her golden robes shown even brighter. Moving into the forest Islot could have been mistaken for a shooting star quickly disappearing into the firmament. 
 Unlike the expanse of space above, the forest that laid to the North of Glisand was filled with far less wonder as fear and despair gripped those parts tightly. Nocturnal beasts slinked and crawled through the tall canvas of trees and brush. Islot provided the only warmth.
 Idris was in a place not incredibly hard to reach for at one time it was a crowded metropolis like that of its sister city of Glisand. Trisdan was the center’s name. Glisand used to trade through this town and as such, Trisdan had received moderate levels of wealth. This was manifested through the many fountains, parks and gardens that were proudly displayed throughout the town. Islot was sure she would find the town in disrepair but the closer she found herself to the Trisdan, the less menacing her surroundings became.
 Levels of lighting began to rise drastically as the trees began to thin, ivy loosened its gnarly grasp of the foliage the further she walked and the animals she had heard earlier prowling in the distance began to show themselves alleviating her fears. Soon she found herself on the edge of an open glade and what she found surprised her.
 Trisdan, in its long twenty five year vacancy, was still as glorious and magnificent as ever. Fountains played their soothing water melodies, large bushes of roses blushing bloomed shades of pink and reds and all other plants and brush remained immaculately cared for. Past the walls of Glisand and beyond the dark and dreary forest, life was not only unchanged but thriving beyond imagination.
 Lost in a state of awe and wonder, Islot was suddenly snapped back into reality for at that moment a voice from above her kindly, but in a deep bellowing voice, asked of whom this beautifully clad visitor was and what business they had in visiting.
 High up in a nearby tree sat a man. This man obviously was Idris but given the twenty five year absence and Islot’s young age of twenty six, Islot only ever heard rumors regarding his appearance. He had a friendly face that beamed down upon her like the sun through the branches of the tree but his build was large and intimidating. Most likely, his efforts to preserve the city of Trisdan had sculpted his body in such a manner for the upkeep of such a city alone would require the strength of many men.
 “I’m Islot Draveen. Member of the high counsel of Glisand.” Islot replied.
 “Aww” drawled the curious man in the tree. “It has been quite some time since I have seen someone from Glisand. Curious of all the people to grace me with their company they send someone as high ranking as you.”
 “I come bearing a simple message.”
 In order to properly receive the special message, Idris jumped down from his perch on the tree, landing gracefully like a cat but with the thud of a boulder.
 “What might this message be?” Idris inquires.
 “We ask that you come back to Glisand and live under the protection of our community.”
 Idris smile waned and disappeared.
 “And why would I do that?” Idris ask suspiciously. “I am content here in Trisdan. As you can see, I live in harmony and peace. Glisand, though once a great city, has become corrupted and disconnected because it walled itself in.”
 “But the walls offer protection, they—“
 “They cut off the people from nature” Idris interjects. “Your grand walls and cramped communities are blind and I cannot willfully place blinders before my eyes and leave with you.”
 “Then I must ask that you leave Trisdan. Move as far from here and Glisand as you can. We cannot afford to let the people know life is possible beyond our protection and your occasional fires keep that hope alive. Glisand needs to be contained. The people can’t survive outside.”
 “I have.”
 Islot pauses for a moment.
 “But you are different…”
 “The only difference is that I remember life before the walls, the lies and the deception. I embrace life, I don’t embrace total order. Now if this is the extent of your message, I would ask that you return to Glisand and leave me.”
 Idris turns his back on Islot and tends to a nearby flower. Islot gazes off at the beautifully kept city of Trisdan and back at Idris. For a moment everything is still, then Islot turns to leave.
 Before Islot enters the woods, Idris calls out to her.
 “Islot?”
 “Yes, Idris?” says Islot.
 “You are quite young. I believe there is a part of you that believes in something beyond your walled city. Is this true?”
 “… I’ve always wondered” admits Islot.
 “Then I have something to show you.”
 Idris and Islot gather in a central garden in the town. Rhododendrons, Lillies, Tulips, and all manner of shrubbery abound. Though the sun is beginning to wane, the scene is full of color and warmth. The pair sit down on the intricately sculpted fountain and wait. Islot wears a concerned expression on her face.
 “What are we waiting on exactly…” says Islot.
 “This.”
 At that moment, one of the tulips rocks back and forth. But unlike a ruffle of the wind, the tulip continues to move until it uproots itself and stands! Soon, other foliage follows suit and the whole of the garden is alive.
 Islot gasps but appears to be pleased.
 “This is how life used to be in Glisand. All life used to coexist together but that all changed with the construction of the city walls. Human life without the thought of organic life proved much simpler to control and so Glisand has sustained its total control for twenty five years.”
 “And I am part of the problem.” Islot slowly admits.
 “But you could help to change that” says Idris.
 “How?”
 “I was hoping you would ask.”