Solus snarled, “I’ve told you dearie, we must force Sol’s warmth on them, they will not give in willing.”

“Grackle thinks we should try, it is very rude elsewise! To just burn and eats them without asking, Grackle wants to ask,” she protested.

The sterner half huffed in disgust, then focused an eye on a set of figures approaching them, one taller and one smaller. Solus retorted, “very well very well, try your method on these two, you will see how wrong you are.”




Josephine was trying to hurry. She didn’t like traveling at night, especially when she was with her young son, Charlie. But the boy was only eight, he struggled to keep up and so Josephine was forced to lessen her pace. They had stayed far too long at the farmhouse near the end of the street. Enjoying tea, pastries, and gossiping whilst the little ones played. She really should’ve left before sundown yet here she was walking the lonely trail with offspring in tow. Vulnerable.

Josephine then noticed the small kenku alone. Merrily walking down the earthen path with a certain swagger that convinced the young mother that the bird may be a jester or bard or some other happy profession. It was getting late though, no time to stay and chat. Luckily the kenku did not appear to be a threat.

“Hello, good moontime miss, Grackle wants have a word with you,” the blackbird conveyed.

Taken aback, Josephine hesitated before replying, “sorry hun, we must be getting back home,” she gestured towards Charlie, “it’s past someone’s bed time.” The fair skinned lady gave a smile to the lonely fowl.

Persistent, the poultry maid continued, “yep, Grackle understands, young boy must get many rest,” fluffing our feathers she began her pitch, “what if Grackle say you could be something more!” The kenku spread her arms wide and with a beaming smile elaborated, “you could join Sol in eternal warmth! Where it will never be darktime again, Grackle can help you.”

Josephine was at her wit’s end when it came to religious pitches. Just days prior folk had pestered her for money for some Thayne she had never heard of. In annoyance she replied, “no thank you, not interested.”

“Grackle can help, Grackle can show you one true way to bask in the glow,” she pestered on. Licking her beak she explained further, “see you will let Solus burn away impurities which chars the skin with fire. Yum! Grackle thinks charred flesh is most tasty. Is Grackle’s favorite.” To the audience of one shocked Josephine she proceeded with her pitch, “then Grackle will feast on your innards until you stop breathing, is slow process, you will scream many times, hurts Grackle’s ears!”

At this stage the scared mother had picked her son up and began running away, screaming out, “help! Please someone help us, I have a child with me!”

Grackle did not pursue, she merely called out, “Grackle and Solus will burn your body to ashes after, no need fear, you will spend eternity in glow!”

Solus smiled, happy to be proven right. “There there dearie, now you see, this is why we must force it on them. It’s the only way we can keep you fed,” she reassured her other half.

“Grackle not ready to accept it, will try again, explain better next time,” she insisted.