Eery Island

Audience for the Birds

   Like she does every evening, Emerald puts on her fur coat and ventures into the woods. She goes to the Kent Mansion, now long abandoned, a building with strong bones that still still proudly despite years of being deserted. Emerald walks into the living room and puts on the coat. The Black tongue weavers that remain see her, and they start to sing. They've been trained by the Kents, but they have been kept as captive birds for so long that they only knew one purpose and needed a human to sing to. Emerald listens patiently, though she admits that some days she does get a little bored. She had found photographs of the Kents hidden throughout the mansion. She ignored the ghosts, and they, realising she wasn't here to take anything, left her alone. The White Lady loved the birds in life, and she still did in Death, and she could not materialise sufficiently for the birds to sing to her. Emerald had named the birds; only three of the original brood remained. The next generation also performed, but never with much gusto or conviction. Perhaps they did not suffer the same punishments or receive the same rewards? The one with the proudest song was Felicia, whose notes are boisterous and echo in the halls, despite the smashed windows and the collapsing ceiling. Agatha is softer, but melodious, like a once proud singer who knows she cannot hit the same notes yet still exhibits control. Horace only acts as accompaniment, and knows when to interject himself. When they finish their performance, Emerald gets ready to leave. She turns around and sees a shadow jump away. She is not alone here. Calls out, wondering who followed her. But the figure does not reveal herself. - I know what you do here. - Do you? Now the birds stare, and they chirp, their tones unsure. Even the younger brood. - I have a catapult. I could shoot them. You wouldn't have to come back. - Why would I want that? Please don't. - What use are they? The voice is young, confident. - They're not even singing to you. - They are. - They sang for the Kents. - Does it matter? - They were servants to them. - If their life has a purpose then that is sufficient. There is the sound of footsteps retreating. Emerald calls out, but the speaker is gone. Emerald is left there, contemplating if the boy will finish his threat. The birds soar to the ceiling, watching her from a hole in the sky.