In the misty morning fog

In the misty morning fog, a barn owl lay dead stretched across a log. It’s fate was sealed the night before. It did not go gentle, still it did not roar. It was a rock that did him in but first I must tell you how this began.

Three young boys from the nearest town set out one night for unhallowed ground. They ventured deep into the woods to a place locals named “Circle of No Good.” They sought to summon a beast from hell with the help of an old medicine man’s spell. A soul would be owed for this conjure to work. The medicine man said “kill the owl, it’s as old as dirt.” “Take the body to the circle and recite your dark prayer.” “Say it over and over until the beast appears.” “ When it arrives hand her the owl, do not look upon her eyes for she will scowl and growl.” “The beast has the power to slake your lusts.” “Tell her it was I with whom you trust.” “ Tell no one of these words of that we speak for the spell will not work and the conjure be weak.”

The boys agreed and set out on their trek with a spell in hand and a dead owl to collect. When they reached the owls tree it sat watching like a guard. One boy carried a rock as deadly as a petard. Two boys got the owls attention as the other threw the stone. Quiet was the night, you could hear it break bone. The great bird hit the ground without a single call. If the stone did not kill it, it would have died from the fall. They picked up the body and threw it in a sack, one of the boys slung it over his back.

They said “Soon we will have everything that we want.” Not considering for a moment the thing they’d just done. They reached the circle, placed the owl on a log and recited dark prayers till the ground filled with fog. The ether cracked open with snarls and howls and then the great beast just stepped right out. She said “welcome all welcome , how can I serve you? ”They said “we each have a wish!” The beast laughed “you’re all fools!” The boys cried “ we offer now the payment you seek.” The beast’s retort “I know not of what you speak.” They say “the barn owl’s soul is what we bring”. The beast’s reply “ why would I want such a thing?”

She said “I’ll tell you this so you may understand, that owl was the enemy of the medicine man.” “He needed it dead and you did the deed, now standing before me are souls one two and three.” “That medicine man owed me a debt.” “ Three young souls he wagered to bet.” “To his credit, he’s paid his due.” “Now I will have my fill of you. “ “Your hearts and your livers will taste divine.” “Your souls and my hunger are now intertwined.”

The boys tried to run but the beast was too quick. Her teeth tore through flesh her tongue licked her lips sipped. Their bodies laid about the woodland floor. Leaves scattered around and the wind did roar. Then the great beast stepped back to her space with a distended belly and smile on her face.

The medicine man then appeared in the woods. He asked the great beast “are we good?” “We are good”, said the beast as the ether faded from sight. She said “conjure me next week and we’ll make it a night.” “But next time no betting with souls you don’t have.” The medicine man teased “oh you loved it” and laughed. Later that day in the misty morning fog, the barn owl lay dead, stretched across a log.

The End

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