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.

Comments

[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."

[creator_raven]

Raven closes his eyes, and shakes his head.

"They do everywhere, at one time or another. I remember that, too."

He left in 1940 for a reason, after all.

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"Would you ever return?" The question is casual, at least outwardly.

[creator_raven]

Raven blinks.

"I have. It is not a permanent thing, I do not think."

He shrugs.

"Few things are. But I do not always remember."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

Gray Jay nods. "All things pass. Except the land, while the world exists."

[creator_raven]

"You would think that, yes."

Raven blinks.

His eyes are dark.

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

Gray Jay sighs. "Not many unspoiled places left, now."

[creator_raven]

Raven frowns.

"I do not understand what you mean, perhaps. Things always change. It is how the universe was made."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"You forget, cousin. I've only belonged to one world."

[creator_raven]

Raven tilts his head.

"The definition of unspoiled is a tricky thing. It makes judgements. I have never understood such, perhaps. So."

He shrugs.

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"Some call it progress, what's been done to the land. Not me."

He's just a little bitter, yes.

[creator_raven]

"Well, you are old, in your head. It shows, I think. This makes a difference."

[not-ho-chunk.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps. My nephew was killed, by modern sickness and modern technology, and Brother Bluejay stopped coming around. But I was tired even before that."

[creator_raven]

"Glitter helps, I think. So does laughing. I think your face might break. There are already fault lines in it, perhaps."

And Raven pokes one of Wisakedjak's wrinkles, very carefully.

"Do you see?"