Polis-adopts

Turnskin-Owls

Aisurah

Dead Light

 
LEGEND

            “Are you being punished or here to punish?”

Because Owl knew better. Owl knew that poor one was not poor. That poor one was really an immortal one. And that Immortal one say to Owl:

            “Neither, I’m here for my clock. It has broken and I cannot fix it. I have sought out help, but no one will help me.”

Owl scoffed and replied:

            “That is because you seek help from humans. Dimwitted and foolhardy. They’ll destroy others for themselves, destroy themselves for others, devote their lives to intangible dreams and delusion. I cannot understand. Incomprehensible ones, all of them.”

That Immortal one stared amusedly at Owl.

            “Perhaps you will be able to help me then? Do you know how to fix my clock?”

Owl examined the clock.

            “I know a lot of things, and how to fix this clock is one of them.”

So Owl stayed with that Immortal one the whole night, helping them fix their clock. And when it was finished that Immortal one say to Owl:

            “You’ve helped me a great deal, so I’ll return the favour. What is it that you wish? What do you seek?” 

Owl thought carefully.

            “There is only one thing that I seek. And that is knowledge. One day I will understand the world, but today I cannot understand its creatures. So if there’s one thing that I wish, it’s to understand what I don’t understand.”

That Immortal one peered deeply at Owl and nodded.

            “Alright, I will give you a gift. A special gift. It will help you comprehend these incomprehensible creatures. But in order to receive it, you must follow these instructions: A special human for a special gift. Seek out one in particular. One that is particularly puzzling. Follow them closely. Never leave their side. Do this long enough, and eventually, the very depths of their soul will be laid bare for you. Then this gift that lays dormant in your own, will be the bridge that connects you. Connects their knowledge to yours.”

And with some last parting words, that Immortal one left with the moon before the sun rose. 

So that Owl went on a journey. A journey to find a special human. A special human for their special gift. They found them deep in a barren land. The human was a poor one. A real poor one. That Owl watched as they were pecked at, jeered at, pushed down, ordered around, and locked away. Owl watched as they endured it all. Getting back up, brushing off the dust, always smiling, always alone, surrounded by enemies. And yet they never retaliated. Never broke. Kept smiling. And kept living. A particularly puzzling one. Under the cover of night Owl flew to that Poor one. And Owl say to that Poor one:

            “Are you being punished or here to punish?”

But that Poor one did not understand. That Poor one did not know Owl. They just looked at Owl in shock and awe. Staring at them with wonder. So Owl say to that Poor one:

            “Human you mystify me, you shall be my special one.”

Everyday, Owl accompanied that Poor one. Never leaving their side. And in turn, that Poor one cared for Owl, entertained Owl with games, cleaned Owl’s feathers, and giving Owl food, even at the cost of their own. That Owl continued to watch and observe that Poor one. Watched as their smiles became more dazzling. Watched, puzzled, as they lived life more joyously. Often, that Poor one would take Owl to a special place. A special place where the view of the sky was particularly wondrous. Once, that Poor one say to Owl:

            “I wonder what’s beyond the horizon. When my parents were alive, they would tell me these fantastical stories. Unbelievable tales about what they’ve seen outside. A land full of green plants that reach towards the sun. Enormous hills that touch the sky. Fluffy white stuff that’s cold to the touch. A puddle of water so big it’s impossible to see the other side. And so many creatures of all shapes and sizes. I want to see those sights. I want to see the world.”

After, once the moon rose into the sky. And that Poor one was half-asleep. They held Owl close, and softly whispered to them:

            “Before you came here, I used to be so sad. I wanted to leave. To see the beautiful world. To find a place where I belong. But now that you’re here with me, where I am isn’t so bad. I don’t need to see fantastical sights, or meet fantastical creatures. All I need is you little guy. As long as you’re here, then I am happy. I know, that with you is where I belong.”

One day, misfortune swept through that barren land. The people grew sad. The people grew mad. They searched for a solution. Searched for the problem. For something to blame. Someone to blame. An ill omen some said. A bringer of misfortune others said. They grabbed that Poor one, pecked at that Poor one, and left that Poor one on the ground. That Owl flew to that Poor one, observed them. But they didn’t get up again. Didn’t brush off the dust. Didn’t smile. Didn’t breathe. Owl looked closely. Looked deeply. For a long while. And eventually, that Poor one’s soul left. Left to begin anew. But before they left, Owl got a good look. An intimate look, at the depths of that Poor one’s soul. And in that moment, something deep in Owl’s soul responded. A bridge was built. A mirror was placed. Owl’s soul became a reflection. A reflection of that Poor one’s. That Owl grew arms. That Owl grew legs. But that Owl didn’t care. Owl wanted knowledge. Owl wanted to understand. And now. Owl understands loneliness. Owl understands dreams. Owl understands joy. Owl understands love. And that Owl understands grief. Knows grief. Feels grief. That Owl understands.

As if struck, Owl fell to their knees, face wet with tears. And they held that Poor one close to their heart. Held them for a long while.

Under the cover of night, Owl buried them in that special place under the wondrous sky.

            “I’m no longer Owl. But neither am I that Poor one. Neither I nor you. We are us. Together. And together we shall go to see, see what's beyond. I will bring you to see sights more beautiful than this lonely sky.”

CREDITS: legend author is Sleepy-Snake

It`s Closed Species
by Polis-adopts