A New Dawn - [Violence]

[Grackle]

Night grew colder as Sol’s abandonment from the sky persisted. Other, lesser stars, tried to occupy his place. They would shift and shuffle, vying for a larger slice of Sol’s domain whilst he regained his strength. It was a fool’s errand however, not a one of them would ever wield the hold that Sol had on the stratosphere. Not a one of them would ever have a champion like Grackle.

“Tell me dearie, do you resent Kami for abandoning us?” the clever Solus questioned.

This was not the first time she had asked such a thing, but there was always a lesson at the end. Reluctantly the other half responded, “Grackle does not care, no need Kami after Sol smiles on Grackle.”

Solus formed her beak into a jagged curvature upwards, “yes yes dearie, we are the only kenku, that I know of, to receive the sun’s gift of fire.” A feathered arm came up to push dirt off her beak as she pressed her questioning further, “but then who do you blame for our heartache, dearie? Kami for abandoning us? Our people for failing us? Our family for turning us over?”

Defensively Grackle cut back, “not mommy’s fault.”

Proud of herself, Solus stared upwards with mouth agape and said, “there we are again dearie, there we are again... talks of mother.”

“Grackle will not bring flame to mommy. Grackle has told Solus this,” she protested, now realizing where the journey of questions was meant to end.

“Right-o dearie, I remember, but it is strange for me. We are bringing the sun’s salvation to all yet if the opportunity arose you’d deny his warmth to our mother,” Solus mused. “‘Tis a curious thing my little bird.”

“Grackle loves mommy, will not eat mommy, will not burn mommy,” the words were true, fluffed up feathers were proof of Grackle’s annoyance.

Solus seemed perturbed by that, not wanting to let the matter lie, “so if we pay our old flock a visit, we introduce them to his glow, what will you do with our family? What will you do if it is Sol’s Will to embrace mother in his warmth?”

Now she was done with this game, “Grackle will eat the mean kenku that tore Grackle from mommy. Grackle will hug mommy. Grackle won’t hurt mommy or daddy or nestlings. Grackle is finished talking.”

It was just as well. The farm house they were targeting was just up ahead. Sparse crops, surrounded by a picketed brown fence with chipped paint peeling off in crisscrossing patterns. The home itself made of thick logs pasted together by a spattering of greying clay. Interestingly the roof was a mixture of the very same clay and various layers of straw, likely chosen to help regulate temperature inside the home. Dried clumps of straw would certainly be great fuel for the coming bonfire.

Solus sighed in defeat while Grackle’s anger subsided a bit. At least they had arrived at their goal. Burning a home down together would be a good way to mend the two’s relationship.