OOM: Inna Forest

[creator_raven]

Near the edge of the forest, almost-but-not-quite just past the lake, there is a tree.

It looks like all the other trees, really, the leafy ones, at any rate.

It's only distinguishing feature is the lump of black feathers perched rather precariously on the lowest branch.

It looks like the bird is sleeping.

This may be true.

Sometimes he pretends.

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[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

There's a smaller bird, on a higher branch.

He may or may not have been there all the time.

He also may or may not be breaking off twigs and dropping them on the Raven.

[creator_raven]

The raven is patient.

Really he is.

If just under two minutes of waiting counts as patience.

"I cannot think when you do that, I am fairly certain."

The voice is rough, almost sleepy.

There is also a hint of laughter.

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

The jaybird drops one more twig, since he already had it, then stops.

"Oh, you were thinking?"

[creator_raven]

"Of course."

The Raven sounds offended.

Mildly.

Really he was pondering. Pondering the effects of adding more sugar to a batch of cookies.

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

The jaybird isn't much one for sugar.

Possibly this would horrify Raven if he was told.

"I apologise, then." His voice is dry.

[creator_raven]

Raven snorts.

It's a funny sound, coming from a bird.

"And so you should. You would not have, perhaps, in times past. It is a shame."

His voice is faintly chiding.

The jaybird might be able to hear it, under all the laughter.

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

He can. He's perceptive like that.

"That I would apologise now, or wouldn't have then?"

[creator_raven]

"Neither, really, I do not think. I just like the sound of that phrase, perhaps."

Possibly.

Possibly there is no 'just' about it. But still.

Both.

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps." The jaybird doesn't sound convinced, though.

[creator_raven]

Raven caws a rough laugh.

"It has been some time, I think. It is still strange, a little. We are none of us who we were, and yet we are. It is fuzzy."

He hops off the branch, shifting as he goes.

"Not quite like a blanket, I do not think. Still."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

The jaybird follows, and is humanformed before he lands.

"It's at least sixty years", he agrees. "And we all changed, yes."

[creator_raven]

Raven beams.

"It is something to like, in a way."

He tilts his head, then, eyes bright.

"Sometimes."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes", Gray Jay agrees. "But not all change is good."

[creator_raven]

Raven just blinks at him.

"That is the point, yes."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"You missed a lot, cousin", Gray Jay tells him, not entirely irrelevantly.

[creator_raven]

Raven raises one eyebrow.

"Yes. But not everywhere. Things repeat, perhaps. So."

He shrugs, lightly.

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"The gods went to war. Except it was never a war at all."

[creator_raven]

Raven snorts.

"Gods are ridiculous things. I am not surprised, perhaps."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"Wodan had a son, did you know? He stopped it."

[creator_raven]

Raven blinks.

"His kind are often contrary. It is interesting, perhaps."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"He was brought to see the truth, with a little help. His father was playing the other gods for fools."

[creator_raven]

Raven laughs.

"It is not so difficult, in truth. I remember."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

Gray Jay looks amused, inasmuch as he ever does. "Loki had the new gods convinced he was one of them."

[creator_raven]

Raven snorts.

"New gods? It is a thing one may become, yes. If the old things are lost, or thrown away. He was good at that, perhaps."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"This was America, cousin. They have strange tastes in worship."