Five Ways on the Valley Floor

I stood at a junction,
Knowing my fate.

Imprisoned within the Valley of Ashes,
There was nowhere left to go
But forward.

So I chose to explore.

Upon returning to the valley floor,
I was confronted with a quandary.

Before me stood Five Ways,
A junction where five roads
Split into five separate journeys.

At their centre rose a mound of skulls,
Bones and ash heaped into a small pale hill.

Seated upon its summit
Was an ancient creature.

Pale-skinned.
Legless.

Its face was withered and dry,
Possessing no visible features
Except for a vast black mouth.

Part hermit.
Part beast.

Long black hair hung across
Its bony chest
And swollen belly.

In one hand it held a long black pipe,
From which it occasionally drew a breath.

The smoke it exhaled
Seemed to thicken the surrounding mist.

Its other hand gripped
An ancient wooden staff.

Tattered strips of black and turquoise cloth
Hung from its length,
Hints of former splendour.

“Lost, are we?” the creature crackled.

“No,” I replied.
“I am beginning a new journey.”

The creature grumbled to itself
And drew deeply upon its pipe.

“Choose a path.”

A cloud of smoke drifted from its mouth.

“All paths from the Thunder Road
Return here eventually.”

It paused.

“When you return,
You will tell me of your travels.”

“Who are you?”
I asked cautiously.

“And why should I tell you anything?”

The creature laughed,
A sound like dry leaves scraping stone.

“I am the Keeper of the Path.”

Its staff struck the earth.

“I govern every journey’s end.”

A cold wind swept through the valley,
Lifting dust and ash into the air.

“From me,”
The Keeper said,

“You will learn why you are here.”

For a moment I considered the five roads.

Then I chose an eastern path.

Without another word,
I began to walk.

Behind me,
The Keeper drew once more upon its pipe.

Its eyeless face slowly followed my passing.

And so I embarked
Upon a new journey of self-discovery,

With the Thunder Road beneath my feet,

And storm clouds gathering above.