It’s a tainted web of red
spun with malice and molten silver.
It’s laced with pearls of dewdrops
and the souls of those consumed.
Her gentle dance resuming,
she hangs on a single thread.
Go now, for if she weaves again,
she’ll snag you…and you will be loved,
stuck in her tainted web of red.
“Wow, would ya look at that, Mouse?!” Robin exclaimed, amazement awakening in his eyes. Mouse stopped nibbling on his stolen corn bits and followed Robin’s gaze into the night sky. “The stars are out almost every night, Robin,” Mouse said, clearly unimpressed. “What’s so amazing about that?”
“You missed it, Mouse! You missed it!” Robin ruffled his orange and gray feathers. “It just shot across the sky, and it was big and bright! I’ve never seen anything like it! I wonder what it is.”
Suddenly, Robin and Mouse heard the crick of a tree branch above them. It was Owl, the wisest creature in the forest. Mouse was not afraid, for Owl was Robin’s friend and Mouse was also Robin’s friend.
“Greetings, young ones. Why are you about too late in the night?” Owl queried, cocking his head. Robin exclaimed, “Oh, Owl! You came at just the right time! You saw the sky bullet, right?”
“Sky bullet?”
“It just shot across the sky, and it was big and bright! I’ve never seen anything like it! Mouse missed it, the poor sap.”
“A shooting star is most likely what you saw,” said Owl.
“How do you know what it is called?” Mouse wondered.
“I can’t remember how many moons ago it was, but three two-leggers made a camp near my tree. I was looking up at the sky and saw what you are describing, Robin. Then, one of the campers said, ‘Did you see that shooting star? That’s the brightest one I’ve ever seen!’”
“I guess you can learn a lot from two-leggers,” said Mouse. “However, I don’t fancy going near them.”
“Same goes for me,” a second voice announced. Suddenly, Frog hopped out of the shrubs. “They get a bit too handsy.”
“Frog!” Mouse said, elated. “It’s been a while.”
“Hello, Mouse, Robin, Owl.” She turned her head to every one of her friends as she greeted them. “I overheard your conversation about this shooting star, was it?”
Robin nodded with enthusiasm.
Frog continued, “I wish we knew why they existed.”
“Me, too,” said Robin.
“Do you have at least a single clue, Owl?” Mouse jumped in.
Owl shook his head. “I do not, but as long as I get to see them, I’m perfectly content.”
Robin turned his head to Mouse and asked, “Do you wish you had seen it, Mouse?”
Mouse immediately shook his head and replied, “Your description was enough, plus, it’s just a bright sky bullet, which doesn’t sound impressive. The only thing I wish for is more corn.”
Frog shook her head. “Mouse,” she began, “food may be nice and definitely important, but you have to just stop those pink paws of yours and look around sometimes.”
“I agree,” chimed Owl. “The Earth has many beautiful things to behold.”
Mouse sighed. “Sure, whatever you say. Listen, I’m always on my feet all day, hiding from Fox or Snake. Good food is tricky to get, and have a hard time surviving, so I don’t have time to lollygag.”
“Listen, friend,” started Robin, “we’re just telling you to appreciate the wonders more.”
“And I do.”
“What wonders have you stopped by to experience?”
“Every day, I appreciate the sticks on the ground due to the oddly nice snapping sound they make.”
“Are you serious?” Asked Frog.
Robin looked quizzically at Mouse, his dearest friend. Even Owl, usually painted with a neutral expression, looked both disappointed and confused. Mouse frowned and said, “Listen, guys, you do you and I’ll do me. Anyway, it’s getting late, so I’m gonna head home. Goodnight, and hopefully, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
So, Mouse left his friends and skedaddled to his home, a hole in the side of a large mound. On his way, he passed the lake and saw Duck swimming near the shore. “Duck,” Mouse wondered, “what are you doing up?”
Duck turned his head towards Mouse and quacked in excitement. “Oy, Mouse! I’m just looking at the sky’s reflection on the water. It’s so beautiful and calming. Oh! Did you see the bright light that shot across the sky like a bullet?”
Mouse shook his head and replied, “No, but I heard from Owl that it’s called a shooting star. Seems everyone saw it but me, though I don’t really mind.”
“Well,” said Duck, “everybody has something they’re not intrigued about, I guess. Here, the shocking light made the lake gleam like the heavens were shining upon the surface. It’s the little things you have to appreciate.”
I’m glad you’ve been having fun, Duck. I’m gonna head home, so have a good night.” Mouse padded away as Duck yelled, “You rest well now, ya hear? I’ll see ya later!”
It’s the little things you have to appreciate. Duck’s words echoed in Mouse’s mind, as they were practically the same as Owl, Robin and Frog had told him. He had gotten home and snuggled next to the back wall of his den, covered in a candy wrapper he had once found on the forest floor.
Mouse had a hard time sleeping, so he sat right outside his den and thought about Duck, Robin, Owl and Frog’s words. Was the world really that amazing? Would he appreciate life more if he smelled the roses? Mouse just didn’t feel drowsy, so he decided to climb a small nearby tree without leaves in order to look at the sky. He had always enjoyed looking at the stars.
Suddenly, Mouse saw something bright in the high distance. It hurled itself with magical speed through the sky, and it shone like brilliant diamonds, lighting up the night. That looks like a shooting star! Mouse thought. Wow, Robin was right! They’re so beautiful! Mouse found himself lucky, as he had now seen what every other creature had.
“It’sss truly amazing, nature. Don’t you agree?” Mouse jumped at the sly voice behind him. Snake’s voice was easily recognizable. He trembled in fear as Snake came closer, her green and black scales moving smoothly across the tree branch. Mouse didn’t turn around due to the fate he was about to endure. He was shocked when the strike didn’t come.
“I’m not here to hurt you, little one.”
Mouse’s voice shook as he said, “W-w-why is that?”
“I’m jussst not in the mood.”
“That makes no s-s-sense.”
“ Why isss that?”
“You’re Snake. You’re always hungry.”
Snake slithered beside Mouse and gave him an odd, crooked smile. She asked, “Did I sssay I wasn’t eating you becaussse I’m not hungry? I only told you I’m not in the mood.”
Mouse could only answer, “Whaddya mean by ‘not in the mood?’”
Snake coiled her tail tightly around the branch and stood up taller. “That ssstar seemed like it wasss telling me otherwissse. I believe everyone ssshould enjoy something like that without having it ruined.”
“All of this because of a star?”
Snake nodded.
“Well,” said a confused Mouse, “thanks, Snake.”
“”You’re welcome, little one,” she replied.”I think it’sss your bedtime. Remove yourssself from my resssting place.”
Mouse only nodded and climbed down the tree. He headed to his home, content, but also wishing he had seen the first star. The sky bullet had even calmed Snake, and maybe Mouse would sit and appreciate what he had around him. It was all because of one bright light that split the night.
Burn in my demise.
Let blood flow on my altar,
a substance so sweet.
The skulls so white and sickly,
my daisies bloom through sockets.