Iridian

19. OSSIS

.memory (fragment #18)

I blinked open my eyes to a wide open sky so blue and clear. Sunlight washed my face with gentle heat, the scent of crushed grass and sweet flowers filled my nostrils. A large bird screamed a loud cry as it swept overhead to perch in the trees nearby. I shifted my head to watch it as it shrugged its wings, its iridescent purple and blue feathers glinting with a metallic sheen in the sunlight.

The bird turned a steady, intelligent gaze over me, taking on a manner that mimicked curiosity. Then, perhaps lulled by my lack of motion, it winged in a little closer, gliding effortlessly on those brilliant purple wings.

Wait—purple wings?

I wasn't an ornithologist, but I was pretty sure there weren't any purple birds of prey—not one with such vivid colouring—unless this was a new species that had yet to be documented. This large fellow was certainly shaped like something of the hawk or falcon variety, but its feathers were none of the usually muted hues. Even its fierce gaze had a tinge of purple in the eyes, complementing the wickedly curved silver beak.

Something was off here. Where was I?

I sat up, shaking my head as I tried to remember. A stone pillar in the underground chamber... I was flung against it, yet my body seemed unscathed. I wiggled a toe to test the theory. No pain. Odd. Not only that, my clothes were clean—not a speck of dirt on the maroon fabric—though my shoes were still missing.

What was going on here? Was I dead for real this time? I imagine the afterlife could be like this, so peaceful and bright.

The sun filtered through the clouds to light up the little glade, washing the foliage in hues of gold and reds. There was an autumnal aspect to the trees, yet the tiny wild flowers peeking through the verdant grass had the tinge of spring. A small path led away from the clearing, and this is where I headed, under the watchful gaze of the purple bird.

The path brought me to a grove of the most unusual trees I'd ever seen. Their barks and leaves were made of a crystalline material that refracted light through the trunks, like a million tiny rainbows. Yet, the light did not hurt my eyes and when I touched the bark, it felt organic, and not the brittle smoothness I had expected.

I was still studying the strange trees when a soft humming reached my ears, coming from the direction of a tall clump of bushes. I paced over carefully, not wanting to startle the singer. That was when I noticed something even more unusual. As the singer's voice and rose and dipped with the song, the flowers on the bush changed hues, rippling from bright blues to the palest blush of pinks. The effect was hypnotic.

"Oh!" the singer said, suddenly noticing me standing to the side. The flowers immediately faded to a gloomy gray, as if he'd hit a flat note.

"Now look what you've made me do," he waved his arm at the flowers in consternation.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to startle you," I apologized. The singer was young, perhaps eighteen at the most. He was lanky, dressed in a long grey robe, crossed at the front and belted. The robe was split along the sides to reveal the white trousers beneath that stopped above a pair of moccasins. He had dark hair and startling violet eyes that stood in stark contrast against his olive skin. Those violet eyes were now appraising me curiously.

"I heard Sorku scream but didn't think anything of it. He sometimes screams just to hear his own voice ride on the wind." Even his voice was melodious.

"Sorku?"

"Sorku." The young man glanced at the branch above me. I followed his gaze to find the same purple bird I'd seen earlier, perched comfortably there watching me like before. It had followed me.