Campfire Sessions — 11aug26

I emerged from the bramble gate, crawling out on my hands and knees the soft loam giving way to my weight before springing back, erasing any sign of my passing. Thorns teased at my clothes, my skin while rending neither.

Part of me wished the thorns had taken more liberties with both fabric and flesh.

You survived, They said as I stood, brushing off decayed leaves and detritus from my palms and trousers. Excellent.

I looked up. They were high in the pines, forcing me to crane my neck in a way that would be uncomfortable quickly.

They showed me a small pity and fell, rather than flew, to the ground covered in rust-tinted needles and cones. It was shaded enough that the children were stunted, but the tough love would eventually prove to make them strong when one of the sentinels gave way to age or storms and a robust light would shine onto the ground. Then the race would begin to fill the void left in its passing.

Raven, said I, Should I be surprised that I might find you Outside?

That grating laugh. Well, I certainly wouldn’t be caught dead Inside. She says I’ll just leave shit all over the place and forbids it.

Would you? I asked. Leave shit all over the place, I mean.

Are you kidding? Why do you think I’m forbidden from going in?

I leave it at that. I don’t need details or explanations.

Hey, They say. We’ve got to powwow. Parley. Have a sit-down.

I am unsurprised. You get a sense for these things in the weald. I look around and see an old log with some solid parts still left to it and sit down in case there is bad news. But most times news is just news — neither good nor bad. It’s how we react to it that makes it seem otherwise. The moss complains a bit about the indignity of being sat upon, but decides the warmth is a nice tradeoff and only mutters after the first few seconds.

What’s on your mind?

Well, you see… Raven hesitates, which is not Their usual habit. They tend to blurt out whatever comes to mind and deal (or not) with any fallout afterwards.

Crow’stakingover. One word, followed by a sigh, if a Raven can sigh. Okaybye, They say and start flapping their wings to leave.

Wait a damn moment. You owe me a little more than that, I say. Your name is part of my name for going on around thirty-five years. You don’t just get to vomit out a partial sentence and fly off.

Wings settle down.

Fine, They say. It’s not difficult. Everyone got together and discussed matters. It was Stone’s idea that you should Crow now and he bullied everyone into agreeing with Him.

Everyone, that is, except for me. I make a peak with my forefingers.

Raven laughed again. As if your opinion matters.

Truth. It has far from mattered in these matters for a long time now.

Even the Old Ones?

Especially the Old Ones. Nearly as stubborn as Stone about it.

Any particular reason?

I wasn’t given one. It was just, “Okay, Raven. You’ve done enough, get Crow in there.”

Maybe because you shit all over her personal space and would do it again?

Eh, might be at that. But probably because Crow knows a thing or two that you need to know.

And you can’t teach me those?

I probably could, but it’s not like would I want to. If I knew what Stone meant by it.

I thought for a moment. Do you resent Their decision?

As if, Raven replied and took to wing. My teaching is wasted on you, They added as They disappeared into the treetops.

Uncertain what to do next, I gathered some deadfall, cleared the needles in a circle until there was mostly red dirt and built a campfire.

And then waited by the bramble gate to see what might happen next.