You can read minds but it 's too noisy in the city . You move to the mountains to learn what silence was . Then you heard something deep beneath the ground . [ WP ]

The air ran swiftly through the trees for a moment and then settled back down, like an exhale from the mountains themselves. It had been peaceful for Dakota as he made his move from the busy city into his quiet country life in the mountains. The wind was always pleasant when it rushed it's ways down the mountainside, and the sun with it's constant rays had already begun to darken the pigment of his skin. 
 
 It was silent here. It was silent and it was wonderful, unlike the city. At first he loved it. The voices sand a melody in his head as he heard the private thoughts of those around him for miles. There were bashful lovers, a family preparing their night's meal, a child hugging his father, all singing a harmony, while crooks looking for loose pockets, a widow weeping from a broken heart, and a child with and empty stomach, sang a dark melody. Life was n't always perfect, but the song they sang rang in his head as he heard their thoughts, and he could understand the hidden intentions of the people he saw. This was life around him, and even when it was dark, it was still miraculous and beautiful the hope he could find in people. But even the best songs can only be heard so many times, and eventually Dakota could n't stand it any longer. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts and so he made his way to the countryside, where the silence embraces him. 
 
 It was peaceful, and the thoughts in his head were his own. 
 
 He lay in the long green grass, and watched as it danced like waves in the ocean as the air hurried by. His spirit was at peace with the world, his mind taking a break from the music. It was beautiful when he heard it, but even the best pieces had breaks before returning to the piece. He watched now as a the clouds moved slowly in the sky, strong and steady like cattle that grazed their way through the hills. This was his break in the masterpiece that was life. He closed his eyes and it was n't long before he began to have the half muddled thoughts that precede a peaceful nap. 
 
 `` *Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiik vooooooooooooooo daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa*'' 
 
 His eyes shot open. Had he imagined it? It was likely. After all of the voices that often sang in his head, it was n't uncommon for them to echo in his sleep, not that he ever minded. His gift was listening, even when people spoke directly to his ears and not into his mind. He closed his eyes once more and let his mind think empty thoughts. 
 
 `` *Kroooooooooooooooo? Do you not hear me? *'' He heard it now. It's voice was slow as the clouds and heavy as thunder. `` *Vaaaaaaaas tuuuuuuuuuu. I am Aeron, of the mountains, listener of the minds of men, and I would hear your thoughts. Tell me now of the world. *'' 
 
 Confusion entered Dakota's mind. To whom was he speaking? The voice did not seem angry. It was calming, and gentle. 
 
 `` *Jaaaaac? You are still confused, as is understandable. Think then on what you seek to know, and I will answer. It is not often I have such pleasures as this, to hold conversation with one like yourself. *'' 
 
 Dakota had to ponder. What was the nature of this... man? Was he someone like him who could read his thoughts? But why then had n't there been contact when he had first moved to the mountain? 
 
 `` *Yes. Who am I? I will entertain that thought first. I am not man nor beast. I exist to balance the world. I've been entrusted to make sure that evil and villainy do not triumph again. Again... *'' He repeated the word and a flood of images came into Dakota's mind. Visions of houses burning, of rape and murder, and of death. The world was lawless, and there was only pain. He could feel the cacophony of disaster that the images brought to his mind, and they sang in discord. He felt the mind of Aeron and the pain that the world brought to the being's soul. What he saw next was both awe inspiring and terrible. Through unseen forces, the being shook the entirety of the earth and brought down civilizations. Houses were laid low and people swallowed by the earth. Dakota could feel Aeron's mind after the disaster, as it searched for the minds of men. It found only few scattered across the lands, and their minds were full of shock and awe. With their minds only on survival and no one to make war with, the people began anew, and started to rebuild in peace. This peace was a great silence to Aeron, and he fell asleep as the peaceful minds of men played out a lullaby in his own great mind. 
 
 Dakota still had questions, but the thoughts that were planted in his mind were sufficient to understand who he was talking to. 
 
 `` *And tell me now of the world as it stands. I fear this sleep has left my mind bogged. Given enough time, yes, I could search the world in whole and judge the earth once more. Never again shall it be given over to such darkness. *'' 
 
 What of the world? Images began to form in Dakota's mind, forming a dark melody. The robbers, the widow's tears, the hunger of a child. They had barely formed in his mind when he felt the earth began to shake beneath himself. 
 
 `` *KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL! *'' The voice boomed in his head with anger, and the earth shook ever more violently. 
 
 But that was only half the song. Dakota thought of the lover's, of the family preparing a meal, and of a child's love, and the shaking subsided. 
 
 `` *Vaaaaaaaaak. *'' The being was silent for a moment as he listened. `` *These are good things, but tell me, do you think that they can last in the face of evil? I fear for what good there is in the world. I have a mind to stop it early and start again. I have seen where this leads. I have watched the world grow darker before, I have heard the songs of light fade as a chorus of darkness spreads. Tell me now, why should n't I act this very moment?'' And the harmony and melody collided. 
 
 Dakota's thoughts turned to the family that brought in the hungry child, who went on to comfort the widow, who acted in kindness to the crook. He stole, and was caught, and the woman offered him grace instead of justice. 
 
 `` Like the sun and the moon,'' Dakota spoke out loud, knowing the thoughts would echo in his mind, `` the good and the bad come and go, and neither overtakes the other.'' The thoughts intertwined with each other now. They were a beautiful balance. The highs and the lows of the song weaved with each other to make a sound more beautiful than either could make on their own. He could feel the mind of Aeron begin to settle. 
 
 `` *Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas. What art the world has made. The darkness has not won, nor the good. They make something new. Yes. What artist does not use the full spectrum of color? What composer does n't use the whole realm of notes before him? What storyteller writes an epic without tragedy and triumph? Let the world be for now. I will take this new song and let it lull me back to my slumber. I take faith that maybe this time the sorrows of my heart can be avoided. *'' 
 
 Their mind's stayed intermingled over the next few hours as they both listened to the sounds, and Dakota could feel the great mind slowly fade back into a slumber until he could no longer feel it's presence. 
 
 The stars were out now. The breeze a little cooler than before. And the stars looked brilliant against the blackness of the night sky.
