from Comfort Zones, released June 17, 2016
Players: Kent Seeberger, Clarinet and Piano; Niko Vlahakis, Flute; Oliver Berliner, Violin and Trombone; William Ellzey, Cello; Bradford Ellzey, Viola; Jame Tingle, Double Bass; Mikael Nida, Trumpet
Written, Mixed and Story by Kent Seeberger
Story: Atop a mountain, two men stood. Hard eyes, empty and soulless from all they had seen. Hands eroded by time, faces worn and scarred from all they had done, all they had fought. Never ending. Never ceasing. Never changing. Once, there were two nations, two ideas. No longer. They had fought until there was nothing. As they looked at each other, both knew the end had come. Winds howled past them, the wailing souls of those who have been ended in their battle. Far off, a bell tower struck. Swords were drawn. They clashed. Over and over. Just as before. But nothing was left to fight over. It pained them more and more everytime the blades crossed. Finally, their blades locked, and they stood there, staring into each other's eyes. Both saw the other's wounds, cut deep into their minds. Both saw what they had lost. And it was then they understood. In silent agreement, they dropped their weapons. Nothing more would come from fighting. Only more pain. As they stood, a blinding light shone down from the heavens, bathing them in white and gold. They saw the past. Soldiers bleeding out on the battlefield. Fires consuming entire hillsides. And it is then they remembered who they had hurt in the struggle. Persons. Families. Entire cities. And then they saw their nations in their prime. Beautiful and prosperous, enjoying the peace. Life and laughter. And then they saw what they had become. Crumbling buildings, ruined fields. Death everywhere. In a moment, they had relived a lifetime of pain. At the bottom of the mountain, a funeral procession marched by, carrying another body. A child, no less. They looked at each other over last time. Then they turned, and walked away.