Oblations to the Tide

[Malocchio 983]

 

Two children stood in silence, observing the foam that grazed the murky, glacial surf, a biting wind gracing the air that surrounded them. Clenched between the slender, miniature digits of a youthful girl, one of claimed candidness as a normal fledgling held, was a healthy crow which squirmed in place. She gave a leftwards incline of her head, quietly assessing the boy at her rightmost side.

 

“We can’t keep Him waiting.”

 

With a placid bob of his head, the innominate, unspoken youth strides forward, swiftly retrieving the bird from the girl’s hands. The struggling creature made its intentions clear as it panicked in the child’s hold, flapping its wings over and over as if it could somehow escape. Most certainly, it couldn’t. Skulking forward, the duo of fascinated, genuinely pious children positioned themselves just before the waves that washed up upon dull, coarse sand, mumbling inaudible prayers to a particular idol.

 

“Tse ied munod tipicca ixal erecson.”  In agreement and affirmation, the boy dipped his head to the murmurs of his confidant whom still remained close at his side. Suddenly, her visage became engraved with a troubled, irked grimace, sifting a harsh glare onto the animal which truly wished to be freed. “Be quiet, bird. It is not nice to make so much noise when you visit the most beloved, lawful master of the coastal world. He will treat you well - if you do not disrespect His wishes.”  She gave a momentary pause as her index finger slithered outwards to stroke to feathered head of the frightened creature, seemingly attempting to comfort it - which wasn’t successful.

 

“I suppose we cannot keep Him waiting, yes. Tse mutsui douq illi tibad sibon tecidene.”

 

As if with purpose, the aforementioned boy kneels down beside the water that touched the frigid earth in a manner that visibly pleased and satisfied the pair of followers. Sagely, his companion slips a hand into her pocket to retrieve three intricate stones, varied runic markings engraved into each one alongside a several pieces of thin, hand-threaded rope. Masterfully, the girl ties the rope around each stone, bunching them together in a harsh way that surely gave a weighted feel. “Here. Remember that we must claim our reason for offering for this is a ternary charity and we do not wish to bemuse Him.”

 

Contemplating additional action onto the creature, two fledglings of unorthodox mindsets ambled but a step more to the line of tide. Their boots would be surrounded by frothing, mildly caliginous liquid of the chilling sea, an irregular grin engraved into each expression. In a closing fashion, the girl offers the weight created by a trio of rocks towards the bird’s captor who then tied the rope tightly ‘round its slim, minuscule limbs as securely as possible. Leaning towards the water, he meticulously tosses the animal into the darkened, cloudy expanse, each set of orbs observing the happenings from their distanced placement. “Now we pray.”

 

Skillfully, it was yet again time for the girl to claim her prayers in a foreign, eccentric tongue, the youth at her right side following along in a mindful fashion, eyes closing.

 

“Conadinda acceipius nisos dtibea obsnavretia te dimicus iullm redocun. Our thanks.”

 

“Tsetop iramitsea cis setnesba sumeligiv muut mutnevda robalotsærp te sumiloc sumcas. Our gift.”

 

“Eaorilg eerav merrat tnecumirric taescebrc sistrev suimabna mequier iuq tu sgamuor te. Our devotion.”

All the while, a helpless creature slowly sunk to the bottom of the foamy, verdigris ocean, flapping its wings in distress as the water engulfed its body and the voices of spiritual children filled the surrounding environment.

[Elad™ 560]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.