Rigor Mortis

The Grim Reaper

A Grim Reaper is a special kind of crow or raven. They are born to become a Grim Reaper. These black birds guide the souls of the dead to Yggdrasil. Yggdrasil, the tree of life. A soul can return as soon as it reaches the tree, but before they can reach the tree, they must know  how to reach her. Grim Reapers are the ones to tell them, only they know the way. They are the guides. Sometimes the Grim Reapers need to visit Yggdrasil too. Various reasons can make them visit Yggdrasil. These birds are the only living creatures to visit the tree.

Grim Reapers know when their time has come. When it is their turn to pass, Yggdrasil starts to warn them. They need to come to her and lay down at her roots. Yggdrasil will guide their souls into safety when a dying bird reaches her. These birds will not return, they will be forever at Yggdrasil.

It does not matter wether the parents are Grim Reapers or not. One in five million ravens and crows will become Grim Reapers. They will meet someone who teaches them the Ways. When they are ready to be on their own, they can feel a soul calling out. The only animals that don't need them, are insects and fish. The parts of the world where the crow and the raven don't live, have their own versions. Always a species of bird. And that bird can grow very old, untill Yggdrasil calls them.

Corax, a raven. A large black bird, like any raven. But he wasn't any raven. He was one of the Grim Reapers. And he was on his way to a fox that had died only moments ago. His wings gently stroke the air. His flight was calm, there was no hurry. It wouldn't take long before he would reach the body. In that time he started to think. He was becoming old. He had reached 900 years. 900 years of being the same raven. From egg to Grim Reaper. He had lived a long time, but he didn't feel old. He knew the oldest of Grim Reapers had reached 5021 years. That was a very very long time of living. He could imagine that it would become horrible to still be alive at that age. Corax only hoped Yggdrasil would call him a little sooner. He loved what he did, that was for sure, but it also had impact on him. Sometimes he would arrive early. A soul cried out to him, but the last heartbeat had not happened yet. He would arrive only to discover that this dead one was still alive. Would it be frightening to see a Grim Reaper arrive when you're not dead yet? Corax knew the answer very well; it depended. Young animals were often scared, while old ones could be even happy or relieved to see him.

Corax lost height, heading for the ground next to the dead fox. This one was already gone. He liked that better. It made things easier.

He folded his wings back to his side and looked at the situation. This fox was stuck in a trap. His neck was a terrible sight. It had not been the quickest death, but it had happened quite soon. About half an hour since he walked into it. Corax had seen worse.

The black bird walked towards the body. Like every Grim Reaper he had some Drawings. Green lines on his claws and one green line that spread over the length of his beak. Unique lines. The lines were these so called Drawings. They only appeared when a Grim Reaper started to guide a soul and they disappeared afterwards, making the bird look like any of his species.

Corax' eyes inspected the body for hints on how to treat this soul. Every soul had his own treatment. It remained a person after all.

When the raven had gathered enough information, he placed his left wing over the eyes of the dead fox. He whispered some words in a long lost language. Then he placed his right wing over one of the ears. Again there were a few words to be said. His black feathers gently stroke the fur when he removed his wings. A quick wing-stroke in front of the nose and mouth were the last of the basic treatments. Now Corax had to personalize the Dance of the Dead to the fox his preferences. Some basic stuff that would be found in any Dance of the Dead to hold all of the preferences together, and the unique bit.

The raven raised his wings only to bring them to the ground again very fast. That was his beginning. It wouldn't take longer then twenty seconds though. After that Dance of the Dead, there were only once again a few words in that long lost language and Corax flew off. Back into the woods after looking the soul of the fox in the eyes. The last words he had spoken to him in that language, was the way to Yggdrasil. Now their paths were parted after this short meeting.

This was actually what Corax did every day. He loved doing it, it was a beautiful job and it had to be done. He hadn't found love though, even after his 900 years of living. He didn't felt like he needed it yet, but he wouldn't mind it if it happened.

Corax and his thoughts were busy every single day of his long life. And it was far from ending. There would happen something to this raven that would change his life. And he knew that deep down inside. Something would happen. What was it? He had no idea, but he didn't run from it. It would happen anyway.

Corax gained height, flying over the tree tops waiting untill the next soul called out to him.