Stifling press of stale air, constricted passage of throat until faint the wheezing lift of choked breath. Caught within the fine strands of ill formed memory weary had they grown of recalling when last their slumber had progressed through the night without the displeasure of disturbance, ragged the quickened tempo of heart as mind surfaced from flimsy slumber. It may all have been but a quiet reprieve, a notion imparted upon pliable mind of youth touched with the crackling buzz of restless energy present only so mother grown exhausted may find momentary peace.

Unease curled about the dark expanse of mouth, gentle the settling of frown about it, downwards turned eyes. Gentle the flicker of memory arising forth with minimal clarity, caricature all he was reduced to bearing upon thin shoulders weight of unwanted world, sharp and cruel a grin bore upon blood streaked lips. They cared not to though punishment seemed it when up did attention lift, chilled the accumulated mass of moss, amongst it fine the earthen tones of feathers. Momentary did they indulge, reached forth until caught upon tips of claws one such, sweet the ringing call of once buried memory.

“Come on, mighty hunter, you’re not gonna let an osprey get the better of you, are ya?”

Suspended for but a moment, spiralling passage, fluttering within still air before once more did feather rest amongst the dying moss. Flicker of pale tongue drawn forth along surface of cracked, raw skin, ruined beneath the insistent press of teeth.

How long? For what extension of time might Dusk expect to feel upon slumped shoulders the heavy weight of grief laden vision, bear witness to the soft flicker of fragmented memory supplemented with the softness of dreams, see in others a light of joy before the sharpness of realization doused it for they were not the one sought. Within the accumulation of old moss claws sank and they cared not that it tore with the sharp jerk, minimal the clumps held simply deposited in a fashion that sent it flying, shedding bits and pieces as its trajectory sent it towards the center of the enclosed segment of land.

In time soon followed the rest as Dusk gathered it all and roughly removed it from the loose cluster of roots encircling a small parcel of land they occupied along side their sister and once he was amongst them, alight the wondrous joy of bright smile, lifted the dour spirits grown into a stone pressing into shrivelled, blackened heart. Anger twisted the darkness of soft features as Dusk emerged, cruel the lift of mouth though it seemed more a grimace painted their features, bubbling forth in closing throat a sob they struggled to withhold.