The wind leapt across the yard like a raging bull, flattening the blades of grass. The chill air breathed through my skin and stabbed at my eyes. I ran out the door, into the black night, lit slightly by the lamps near our door. Wind howled and bounced through the massive pines, swaying them back and forth, back and forth like ocean waves. I pulled up the hood on my sweatshirt and drew the strings tight, only allowing my eyes and nose access to the torrential gale. I laughed and bounded through the trees, my eyes dancing among the dark shadows of needles and branches.
I met the crew at our fort, buried amongst the massive branches and trunks of the pines. We talked freely, shouting wildly into the wind from atop our ship like the seamen we were. The events of the day were whisked from our minds by the incessant wind. “Full sail ahead!” The cloth of our clothes billowed and screamed, yearning to be free of the weight of bodies that pulled it to the ground. We leaped from our perch and ran with the wind, daring it to match our speed.
“Here they come!” Our enemies thundered with the wind in search of our wanted souls. We laughed our threats against the onslaught and charged into their ranks, shouting “Eulaliaaaaa!” and destroying all who came near with magic blades of star-hewn metal. I, the harlequin, drew my mask tighter across my face and parried with death, twirling and dodging, leaping through them all to catch my breath in the buffeting wind.
“To the base! To the base! Here they come!” I ran against the terrific wind, my face streaming with joyous tears, and threw a pine-cone to the ground. I burst through the sudden portal of swirling light, flying to the fort on a cloud that burst into rain as I jumped into the ranks of my compatriots. Our eyes were lit by a fire of intensity, and we reveled in the laughter of our amazing pirouettes through the army that loomed close. We broke our huddle and again swept across their ranks like the wind on leaves. We wheeled across the lawn, twisting and shouting and dancing, filled with the exuberant energy of life.
“There he is, the leader! Get him!” We rushed toward the massive beast like a river rushing through rapids. “Eulaliaaaaa!” Our battle-cry pierced the noise of the wind and screamed into the face of the enemy. We all exploded forth atop the mighty creature and struck our weapons down upon its face with horrible vengeance. Energy bloomed and erupted as if from a volcano, spewing forth wind and wonder as our blows crushed the enemy. We landed with a mighty gust of wind that tossed us upon our backs. We laughed and shouted and sounded the trumpets with lungs gasping for breath. The night was ours! We scrambled to our feet and awarded ourselves purple medallions for the triumph. But the wind was yet to die. It stampeded against our flesh, raging through our souls like a demon. It pounded and drummed against our ears and roared a laugh down our throats. We stumbled back in retreat. I scrambled to my door, and tossed my stick into the night, knowing that the wind was truly the mighty warrior.