Colony Link:Mini's Storkies
Prompt:
The colony had never had a death within its ranks before. It was too new, and the group was unsure of what to do. Back in the city they had left in their past death was never mentioned, almost ignored and any who died were simply taken by the relevant authorities.
It was suggested that they perhaps return their deceased to the city for this reason but it was quickly shot down.
Talo had always hated the city. It was the reason he had found them, the reason he had helped them. But it wasn't the reason the arcane storkatten had stayed for the months before his death.
He had found his daughters. Following in his footsteps and leaving behind safety and the mundane and restrictive society to learn magic. To return to the roots of storkatten culture and find a piece in nature rather than trying to cut it from their lives.
He had dreamed of it. Aspired to it. He had left his family for it.
And soon after finding them once more, teaching them what he had learnt, and finding them to be kindred spirits he had fallen.
It was the first death. And yet in a way, he had been gone for so long from his daughter's lives that in a way it was the second time he had died.
The problem was, that this time he really did need a funeral.
And luckily, his arcane daughter had an idea of how it should go. She had found historical texts of how the ancient storkatten had celebrated the ended lives of their fellows.
It would be perfect for Talo. Exactly what the storkatten would've supported and enjoyed. A culmination of history and what the colony was aspiring to be.
But Alviva wasn't mentally prepared to prepare the ceremony for her late father. It was too much. Too many opportunities lost.
But Aliviva was well-loved enough that the responsibility was quickly taken up. She was their historian, their knowledge keeper, their researcher.
Of course, the colony could organise her father's funeral for her.
It was the least they could do.
The ceremony started with Fire. A big bonfire summoned by fire storkies. Dead branches and other dying flora supplied by plant storkatten.
Cynder summoned a small smoulder settling among the decaying leaves. It had scattered out, smoking and fizzling under a light drizzle.
The first faze was failing.
They needed for Talos to become ash. To become a fiery dust that could then be further divided and shared among the other elements. It couldn't happen if a big and hot enough fire couldn't be built.
Cynder furrowed her eyes. She didn't want to let down Arifa. The arcane storkie had helped her so much and she had to return the favour.
She burned with determination and soon the wood and papers followed. A small inferno, perfect for the purpose, and yet it spread further and further.
Too large, too powerful, too furious and determined.
The fire was out of control.
It was lucky that Perpia was near, the water storkie hurriedly summoned any water that she could find. Reaching up higher into the atmosphere as even that only made the fire sizzle. A downpour cascaded down. Drenching all belong, and soaking the strokes and the and fire until only a wisp of smoke remained.
“Whoops.” Each storkie murmured simultaneously, staring at the mess they had made.
They decided to try again tomorrow. Perhaps with a little more help and supervision.
It went well, well enough at least. Sure someone else got a little burnt this time and the rains were almost called again. But the situation was under control. It was fine.
It was time for the second part of the ceremony.
Each of the elements would get a portion of Talo’s ashes.
The river would take some of the ashes to the sea. But the ashes swirled and almost sunk. The river turned against them and it took a fair bit of splashing and coaxing to get the ashes floating down the stream.
The ash returned to the plant and faunal easily enough. It would be placed at the roots of a mother tree. One of the largest and healthiest trees that helped support the forest’s ecosystem. An earth storkie digging as a plant guided them away from any important roots. It went well, with the only consequence being muddiness.
Oh and a kitten temporarily fell into the hole. Quickly rescued with only a small stone scrape, and dirty fur.
There was just one element left. Air.
But the colony didn't have any storkies who could deal with air magic. No one who could fly up above the canopy and release the ashes to be swept up by the wind to any corner they could want to settle. To the stars, the sea, further than any could imagine.
Perpia offered to climb the highest tree. She felt bad still about the rain she had caused the day before. She just wanted to help as all of them did.
She stared up at the foreboding tree trunk, filled with a little excitement mixed with apprehension. She loved climbing but she had never climbed so high before.
She leapt, clawing upwards, pulling her body higher and higher into the canopy. Passing countless branches and twigs. She heard birds chirping, and some swooped around her in their flightful glee. Perpia grinned to herself, feeling more energised. Her father always told her that birds happiness was a sign of good luck.
She climbed faster, so close to the top now. The branches were thinner, the trunk too. There was less moss on the bark and a breeze was picking up. Perpia felt the bark was thinner, didn't cling to her claws so much before she finally got to the crown of the tree.
Before her spread a brilliant view. A canopy of green of differing heights and shades. She gaped at it, her home looking so large and filled with possibilities. She could even see the Circle City from here, sparkling and golden.
Maybe one day her father would take her there, even if it wasn't as magical and free as what the colony liked. Even if it was worth leaving, and creating a new life. She glanced down at the bag at her side. The city couldn't be that great if it was worth dying to get away from.
The ash sailed through the air, gliding on currents that one day may feel the magic they deserved.
Perpias wasn't sure if her eyes stung from the beauty and tragedy of the life lost.
But soon enough it was time to climb down. Solemn now, the sun setting. The ceremony wrapping up.
Going down the tree was a lot harder than going up. It was scary looking down, but she had to keep checking where her paws could go. The sun flickered through the trees, blinding Perpia at times.
A paw slipped on a rotten piece of bark and Perpia desperately clung on with her other paws. Her heart thundering, blood rushing through her ears. The threat of falling terrifying. A violent burning in another paw and Perpia snatched it away with a cry. A wasp, spiteful and angry hovered for a moment, threatening more pain.
It didn't have the chance. Two paws down and too much pressure on the rest of the damp bark. There was a crack and then Perpia was plummeting into freefall.
She screamed. She couldnt help it. She was going to crash into the ground, and very likely die.
Purple fur collided with her midday. For a moment she thinks it is her Father, saving her and protecting her like always. But he hates heights, he doesnt have feathers. He cant fly.
Perpia is flying. No longer falling, held tight in the paws of a storkatten larger than herself. She looks up at their face to see more wings, more feathers. How mysterious. Her saviour.
“Thank you. Oh my magics thank you so so much.” Perpia babbled, the adrenaline crashing down and the realisation setting in even more f how much danger she had been in.
“It is fine.” The storkatten said. Her voice smooth and steady as they set upon the ground. Perpia felt her breath hitch at the sound of it. “I did not want to have to watch you fools stumble your way through another funeral so soon.”
“You were watching?” Perfia asked, now feeling a bit embarrassed. They meant well, they really did, but their magic wasnt the best, or the most controlled, and they hadn't really done it before and-
“It is what I do.”
“But we didn't see you.”
“Angels of death are not meant to be seen.”
“Angel of-” A wing movement and Perpia could see the storkies eyes for the first time. A dark grey, pupils as white as snow. They were beautiful eyes. Eyes of death apparently.
“Oh.”
They stared at each other a moment, silent. Only the sounds of the forest around them.
“I best take my leave.” The feathered storkatten stated, looking solumn. Her shoulders were slumped and she didn't seem surprised when Perpia called out. There was always questions. Wanting to know why she did what she did, what was after everything, the point. She didn't know. She couldn't help.
“Wait-” Perpia called out, her question on the tip of her tongue. So many questions, but not enough time. Not enough patience in the other storkie.
“Will I see you again? I dont even know the name of my saviour.”
“Oh.” The death storkie said quietly, this time being the one to be made speechless. “Perhaps. My name is Zel.”
“Zel…” Perpia beamed. “Thankyou Zel.”
“You are welcome, Perpia."
—-
The ceremony concluded with tears and final words deep within a cave close to the colonies main home. A likeness of Talos had been carved into the rock and now flowers and other displays of love lay in front of the carving.
Those closest to him had cried, shedding tears over the fact that there would be no new memories to form with him. That there would be no more teachings nor bad jokes.
But there was a bitter happiness too. He would go on to be what he had loved most. Reborn as the nature and magic threads of the universe itself. He would build new life, the grass, the birds, the deer. He would be the air that carried pollen and scent, that cooled and lifted. He would be the water that supplied life to the animals and the plants, that refreshed. He would be the stars that guide, the lightning that energised, the healing hand and the shadows that protected. He would be magic itself.
“He would've loved this funeral, even with the mistakes along the way.” Severine, Talo’s wife stated. Her muzzle was still stained with tears. Her daughters stood by her side. Comforting her.
“Especially with the misadventures,” Amola murmured, her voice soft. She sent a weak smile to each of the storkies who had made it possible. Who had given their best to give Talos the sending off he would've wanted. Scorched and muddy, a little beaten and bruised. But overall proud that it had mostly gone as planned.
—-
He was proud. It was a learning experience and if he had been for anything it was the increase in knowledge. He looked up at the storkie besides him- the angel of death who sheltered his ghostly form with a wing. She was stoic, yet somehow comforting. He had a feeling she would watch over his family, his colony for a while and it was reassuring beyond belief.
He was ready.
He was gone.
(1955)
