They were falling. Such a crimson shower, that it almost looked as if it was raining blood. But there was no blood falling from the skies. Only the gentle sway of the red petals as they drifted towards the earth. There was many, of course, but the source of the petals was unknown. They only continued to drift. No thoughts to burden their gentle fall. As it should be.

Vines along the earth, being coated by the falling petals shifted and squirmed. Their thorns catching an unfortunate petal every so often, piercing the delicate symbol with the sharp point of the thorn. However, as the green life that shimmered across the ground, It stood on a large rock by a waterfall. The waterfall itself was not that large - just a small stream, but it held It's attention regardless of the raining petals that fell along It's shoulders, or the petals that were captured in the flow of the river.

It was a humanoid creature, but larger than any such creature that was known to inhabit the plant covered lands. It's features and body seemed to be carved from stone, which in fact, they were. They thing was a manifestation of the earth itself. Almost as if a calm figure was encased in stone. Regardless of It's harsh appearance, the thing had a calm about it. It stood staring at the flow of the stream, crystal orbs washing over its endless flow.

Yet, as if pulled by some unknown force, It began to rise from It's seat atop the rock. It stood to it's full imposing height, and the earth below It's feet sank a few inches under the weight of the stone. The other was soon to be coming. He had to wait for the other, and it would be joining him soon. A closer examination would reveal the thing's face to resemble that of a man. While, if the thing hadn't been made of stone, it would've appeared almost handsom. The expression was frozen in the stone, one of an eternal calm. Never changing. Never needing to.

The petals continued to fall all around Him, yet behind It, they drifted in odd patterns within the air, as if caught by some unseen wind. As they continued to fall, the wind carrying petals began to outline a figure shrouded in a hood and long, flowing cloak. At it's will, it became fully visable.

The other creature seemed to be a woman, yet while her curved body seemed to be solid, her body began to fade off like wisps of smoke, off into nothingness. The Wraith, for that is what the creature was, drifted up to the Stone figure and laid her hands gently on his smooth, muscular arms. At first sight, one would think She was a Banshee, yet when she spoke, it was of soft whispers. Whispers that seemed to seep deep within you and take a hold upon your soul. Those whispers brought comfort, even if they were slightly chilled by the Spirit's touch. Her fingertips caressed His stone arms, her voice whispering deep into his mind.

I'm sorry I've kept you waiting, Darling.

Even though the constant aura of cold was forever surrounding her words, they were the only things that could bring warmth to Him. It was the only warmth he could feel. Only from Her.

These petals falling.. They're beautiful, don't you think so? I almost wish I could feel their soft touch in my hands..

Turning vieled eyes underneath Her cowl to the petals drifting by them, she brought forward a ethereal hand - almost as if to catch one. The petal simply drifted past her outstretched hand as if it were smoke.

They're red, aren't they? I can tell. Red is the only faint shimmer of colors I can see anymore.. What do your crystals gaze upon, Love?

He looked down at the Ethereal maiden cloaked within the silky cowl and cloak. The movement was slow, but he turned his crystal gaze upon her, not answering. But he didn't need to. From every single movement he made, she knew what he wished and wished not to say.

These petals must mean something.. Yet they seem so distant to me, as do most things these days.. But not you, my Darling.

She stroked his stone arm affectionately, even as he turned his gaze towards the heavens, watching the flow of petals falling around them. Yet within a sudden moment, with a smooth and graceful movement, the stone figure brought his hand down  to the soil. With one tug, he lifted a mass of stone from beneath the ground, as if it was moldable clay. Beneath the mass was a large gaping rift in the earth. He looked back to the maiden.

Leaving so soon? When will be the next time, my love? Fifty years? A hundred?

He didn't answer. He only continued to look at her, and longed to see her eyes hidden beneath her cowl as he once remembered them. She read his expression, and drifted up to his stone body.

Visit me once you return from the Earth. You know how I long for you, for you to hold me, for you to be with me..

Slowly, He nodded. With that she drifted closer to him and pressed her ethereal lips to his own stone ones. While with most, and nearly all things, her body would simply pass through anything solid as if she was smoke, her lips made contact against his. Their embrace lingered for many moments. Even as the cold seeped from her lips into his.

That cold, was what gave him warmth, deep within his stoney frame.

As they broke off, he nodded once more. Turning slowly to the rift within the earth, he stepped down into it. Deeper, and deeper until he was out of view. Once he had finally disappeared, the slice in the earth closed itself, as if mending a wound. All that was left was a patch of soil and stone where the rift had once been.

The maiden hovered there for a moment longer, watching nothing. Even as a silver tear slid down her ghostly beautiful face. Another moment later, the petals continued to fall, and nothing was there to watch their decent.

Only the petals were left at that scene. Falling like red tears from the heavens.