The black birds flocked to the craggy rocks, scrabbling for purchase. Once they found spots that they could grip with their small talons, they froze and waited. They were harbingers and they had to be sure their message was seen.
The harbingers didn't even know if anyone still understood their omens, but they could only hope that they did. The greater their number, the greater problem that was on its way. One harbinger meant an individual misfortune. Sadly, this often meant an untimely death. When a harbinger had that message, they had to perch for a long time, because they had to be sure ill-fated person or one of their closest loved ones saw them.
Two harbingers meant a household of misfortune. Harm would befall them all directly and it's painful tendrils would snake out into the community. While the omen was darker, the harbingers were glad for the company on their perch. Warning unsuspecting people of doom wasn't an appealing or rewarding task. You may go unnoticed as, after all, harbingers looked just like little black birds. If a harbinger was noticed, they would witness the shock and fear flash onto the faces of their watchers, they would often be cursed at or shooed. But they would not move. Having a fellow harbinger to bear the duty was welcome.
Three harbingers meant ill would befall the whole community. These were some of the hardest omens to bring. The harbingers knew that all who saw them would be harmed. They could only hope that their warning would save a few or give them some thin layer of protection and warning.
The three who had come to the island chose their spot with care. The rocks were beside a well-traveled road to the commercial center of the community; they hoped many would see their dark feathers and unmoving silhouettes and think to raise the call. The road was also on the edge of the island, damp from the sea spray. They hoped this would give at least someone who still believed in harbingers a clue as to what was coming.
The harbingers knew a wild storm was beginning to brew, they had felt it in the air, had seen its path in their minds' eye, and had flown as quickly as the increasing gale would carry them. No one could change that the storm would come and would ravage the coast of this small island, crashing into the houses that enjoyed the majestic views of the open water, claiming the hulls of some of the boats, and toppling the few trees that there were. But, perhaps if the community were warned, most lives could be saved.
The first person who passed them by didn't even notice them. He was absorbed in the little screen he carried with him, hardly even noticing that he was walking in the middle of the road. He paid the three little birds no mind.
The harbingers knew to keep waiting.
The next people who passed were a mother and child. The mother was trying to walk briskly, while holding onto the child whose little wobbly legs would only go so quickly. She stared straight ahead, but the child pointed at the birds and said, "Birdies!" The mother glanced at her watch and then picked up the child so that they could be on their way.
The harbingers knew to keep waiting.
The next person to pass them by was clearly in no rush to get anywhere. She was looking about the island with a newcomer's wonder, snapping photos on her camera. She snapped a photo of the birds and went immediately to look at it. She looked back up at them and saw they hadn't moved. She waved her arms, but the harbingers didn't move. Her eyes got wide and she rushed into town.
The harbingers knew they had been heard.
(Prompt by Kimisha Cassidy)
The harbingers didn't even know if anyone still understood their omens, but they could only hope that they did. The greater their number, the greater problem that was on its way. One harbinger meant an individual misfortune. Sadly, this often meant an untimely death. When a harbinger had that message, they had to perch for a long time, because they had to be sure ill-fated person or one of their closest loved ones saw them.
Two harbingers meant a household of misfortune. Harm would befall them all directly and it's painful tendrils would snake out into the community. While the omen was darker, the harbingers were glad for the company on their perch. Warning unsuspecting people of doom wasn't an appealing or rewarding task. You may go unnoticed as, after all, harbingers looked just like little black birds. If a harbinger was noticed, they would witness the shock and fear flash onto the faces of their watchers, they would often be cursed at or shooed. But they would not move. Having a fellow harbinger to bear the duty was welcome.
Three harbingers meant ill would befall the whole community. These were some of the hardest omens to bring. The harbingers knew that all who saw them would be harmed. They could only hope that their warning would save a few or give them some thin layer of protection and warning.
The three who had come to the island chose their spot with care. The rocks were beside a well-traveled road to the commercial center of the community; they hoped many would see their dark feathers and unmoving silhouettes and think to raise the call. The road was also on the edge of the island, damp from the sea spray. They hoped this would give at least someone who still believed in harbingers a clue as to what was coming.
The harbingers knew a wild storm was beginning to brew, they had felt it in the air, had seen its path in their minds' eye, and had flown as quickly as the increasing gale would carry them. No one could change that the storm would come and would ravage the coast of this small island, crashing into the houses that enjoyed the majestic views of the open water, claiming the hulls of some of the boats, and toppling the few trees that there were. But, perhaps if the community were warned, most lives could be saved.
The first person who passed them by didn't even notice them. He was absorbed in the little screen he carried with him, hardly even noticing that he was walking in the middle of the road. He paid the three little birds no mind.
The harbingers knew to keep waiting.
The next people who passed were a mother and child. The mother was trying to walk briskly, while holding onto the child whose little wobbly legs would only go so quickly. She stared straight ahead, but the child pointed at the birds and said, "Birdies!" The mother glanced at her watch and then picked up the child so that they could be on their way.
The harbingers knew to keep waiting.
The next person to pass them by was clearly in no rush to get anywhere. She was looking about the island with a newcomer's wonder, snapping photos on her camera. She snapped a photo of the birds and went immediately to look at it. She looked back up at them and saw they hadn't moved. She waved her arms, but the harbingers didn't move. Her eyes got wide and she rushed into town.
The harbingers knew they had been heard.
(Prompt by Kimisha Cassidy)
Comments
Post a Comment