Night Eagle

Night Eagle

By Anthony Dunlap

An unseen paintbrush sweeps across the sky washing it in a series of watercolors. What was once a bright blue, slowly became a mix of pinks and oranges. Then all transitioned red, violet, ultramarine, and finally deep black. The mysterious artist finalized the masterpiece by poking a million holes into the canvas, then lighting and setting a cosmic candle behind it. The night had finally arrived and Luna in the sky had temporarily won her eternal battle with Solis.

For some creatures, night is a time to relax and recharge. And for others, it brings wakefulness. For the latter, the setting of the sun is like a refreshing breath of invigorating calmness, or alerted instinct. Two such creatures; a mouse and a raccoon wait in a forest clearing watching the bushes patiently.

After several minutes, the bushes rustle and a coyote emerges into the moonlight with a fish in its mouth. The coyote only needs to look the others in the eyes for them to understand each other. Animals need not tongues or lips to communicate like how humans do.

The raccoon steps forward, “I’m glad your mission was a success. I could smell the fish offering you hold, long before you arrived. Were there any issues getting ahold of it? Are we safe to proceed?”

“Yes. The fisherman and his family sleep. Luna has blessed us this night.”

The timid mouse joins in, “but how do you know this is going to work? What’s to stop us from being attacked, or even eaten?”

“I know it’s a risk.” Said the raccoon. “But we need answers. Many before were able to have their questions answered and allowed to walk away. This is why we must bring the offering. The one we seek lives just past those trees in that old barn there.”

The three turn to see a dark leaning structure silhouetted by the moon. A thin ribbon of blue light outlining it like an aura.

“Centuries ago, the natives who wear only skin when not dressed in feather or fur and walk on two legs called her the Night Eagle. Today they call her Owl. But for us, we refer to her only as Sapientiae.”

Coyote starts towards the old barn. “Come then, let us make haste.”

Approaching the doorway, the smell of bones and decay stops the three of them just short of the opening. The smell is an aroma to the raccoon making him hungry, but instead filling the mouse with fear and anxiety. Coyote was indifferent to the smell for he knew it was just the way of the world.

Beyond the doorway was only darkness. All except a single window where a feathered cocoon sat perched in the shape of a burial urn. Near the top of the cocoon, two yellow glowing lights slowly opened into the shapes of two half circles. They were the eyes of Sapientiae the owl, who now watched the new comers silently. The words that came next were hard to distinguish whether it was the owl speaking, or the wind blowing. It sounded ancient and wise.

“Have you brought me an offering?”

Gathering courage, coyote gently sets the fish on the ground just past the doorway.

“Then speak!”

“Great Sapientiae.” Said Raccoon. “We come to you seeking answers. We our losing our homes and don’t know what else to do or where to go. Sometimes flame will come and destroy what it can. Other times we run from great thundering sounds which shake the ground, only to return to find that all of the trees have disappeared. What is the cause of this, and where are we to go?”

“The all-creator is sometimes to blame for such things, who’s ultimate purpose and artwork is yet to be revealed. Luna and Solis in the sky are a part of the all-creator, yet in fits of jealousy want to rule above the earth and will often send their children as incarnations of lightning and fire to destroy or eat away at the land. But there is another cause that is to blame for most of your pain.”

“W-w-what could be more t-terrible than that?” Said Mouse as she shook with fright.

“It is the naked two-legged ones we call humans. They have a relationship with the land that is often referred as parasitic.”

“But what do you mean by that?” Said Coyote as he thought contemplatively what the wise owl was saying.

“Look there to those red and white fungus beneath that pine tree. The tree provides the mushroom with food, and in return the mushroom creates better ground for the tree to thrive. This is called symbiotic. They benefit from each other and live in harmony. In a parasitic relationship, one kills and destroys in order to absorb nutrients and resources from its host in order to thrive. Much like the humans are doing to our home.”

Confused, Racoon said, “That makes no sense. It is like a beaver chewing off a very tall branch it needs to stand on to live, and not fall.”

“Precisely. You wouldn’t understand it because it is a quality only inherent in humans that no other creature of the animal world possesses. It is something called greed. The human’s world is very different from ours. Even when they have all they could ever need; they will still try to take more. And so, they take our homes.”

“Is there any h-hope?” Asked mouse.

“There is little, but yes there is still hope. But that is not for us to decide. Only humans themselves can be made to see the error of their ways. For now you must take your families and find new homes in deeper forests and do all you can to protect that which you love.”

And with those final words, Sapientiae, swooped down with terrifying speed, grabbing the fish with razor talons and flew off towards the moon. The three watched her disappear with wonder. They watched in the same way the first men watched the fires they created. Magical and mysterious.