This is Bird.
Bird has been the faithful companion of úlanwa for as long as they can remember, and they have been tasked with something important: The continuation of the world they live in.
But Bird always has questions, questions that are difficult to answer due to the time constraint, and depending on how úlanwa is treated throughout the Cycle of Lúmë, which is time.
[[We start within the 1,287th cycle.->1,287th cycle]]The air was still, stale, Bird was settled amongst the massive roots that broke through dry and grey lands to rise high in the sky; desperately reaching for the nooks and crannies of the world for any life that might have survived the Aráta.
An event where the moon turned bloody and eyes split open in the sky to gaze upon the world inhabitants, rotting them from the inside out as they couldn’t comprehend such an eldritch concept.
Bird was foolish in thinking there was anyone but themselves and úlanwa, but hope was a flickering candle too stubborn to be blown out.
The heart in their chest raced like scattering mice, the ending of Lúmë - the ending of time - was nigh and they weren’t home with the tree, with úlanwa themselves. If they weren’t quick, they wouldn’t be able to do their job; their one sole duty in life: Make sure the existence of this land and its inhabitants live on, to start again.
Birds frantically flew off the root and took off to the center of the world, where the last bits of colour and life lingered; and would continue to do so until úlanwa took their final breath.
The sights went by, blurring into the same cold grey as it became hard to tell exactly what was what anymore; things didn’t really get to show a hint of colour right up until they came to the center of the world
The tree at the center, massive and awe inspiring, shudders with each breath it takes.
[[This is the day Úlanwa would rest->Final day 1]]“Bird, are you back?”
The bark seemed to creak out words as they settled on one of the branches, the bird chirped out a response, quick but a little out of breath: “I am here, Úlanwa, I am here.”
The tree seemed to smile, something that took a while for Bird to see due to the dying wood, all the features that they could find before blended into the greying bark, which caused them to frown.
“Things are coming to an end here,” Úlanwa’s voice was like rustling leaves, “Tell me, Bird, what did you think of this world?”
[["I thought it was kind."->Kind]]
[["I thought it was cold."->Cold]]
[["I don't know what to think."->idk]]“Mmm, that's good, it is always good when fables choose kindness,”
Bird grimaced at the lie, the world has been unforgiving, especially at the end times; but while Úlanwa slept they did not want nightmares to occur.
Do trees even dream?
Bird decided against testing it.
“Yes, you give the gift of life and magic and they use it well,” Bird further lied, “You can sleep well, knowing that this cycle was better than the last.”
“Sleep well I shall,” Úlanwa responded, “I am of this world and for this world, I live and breathe its every cycle and I will forever more. The magic I give them: of Life and death, of the sun and the moon, over space and time - I am glad to hear it used for good.
Bird’s watched as the colour began to drain, and flew off of the branch that they were occupying as it crackled and snapped under even their weight.
“Until we meet again, Bird.”
Bird watched as the great tree of Úlanwa ceased breathing, ceased having any and all colour; and eventually left them alone to complete their task: Finding the seed left behind and planting it elsewhere, so that they could slumber, so that the next cycle could begin.
[[Plant the Seed. Renew the Cycle.->Restart]]Bird disliked telling the truth to Úlanwa, but it was important to them that they knew; even if it caused the great tree discomfort.
“So they didn’t treat each other well?” Úlanwa asked, resulting in Bird shaking their head and then shuffle as the branches all moved with their sigh,
“I hoped that maybe this cycle would be good, that maybe… this world can be good.”
“There is always the next cycle,” Bird responded softly, moving to lay within their nest in the trees, “Next time, after you have rested, yeah? It's important that you do not linger here and allow life to continue.”
Úlanwa was quiet for some time before they hummed, “You’re right, you’re right, I cannot allow the work of the past to affect the work of the future, even if it’s something I don't remember: you will, right Bird?”
“Yes, I will, so you can sleep soundly, Úlanwa.”
And sleep soundly they did, as Bird flew from their nest which fell off when that part of the tree broke; unable to handle even the weight of a small bird.
It was time.
[[Plant the Seed. Renew the Cycle.->Restart]]“Why not?”
“Fablekind is both cruel and kind, it’s hard to say if they were one or the other,” Bird seemed to frown as they settled on the ground, looking up at the great tree in all of its glory; beautiful but greying as the time went on.
“Balanced… Right?” Úlanwa asked softly, but the silence that followed caused the trees to move as if sighing, “I see.”
“You gift them with life, with magic, and yet this is how they use it,” Bird huffed, wings shifting, “Why do you keep doing this? They don’t treat your gifts with kindness, they don’t treat themselves with kindness! This heart that you were given, this seed that was plucked from the stars themselves and granted to you… they don’t deserve it.”
“So why?”
Úlanwa didn’t respond, and Bird initially thought they weren’t going to get an answer as the colour faded away; but Úlanwa’s last words made them frown, it left them confused.
“Because I love them regardless,”
What a fool.
[[Plant the Seed. Renew the Cycle.->Restart]]
Bird scavenged through the remains of Úlanwa, flicking away branches and bark in order to finally find what they were looking for: the seed.
Taking it within their beak, they took off once more, not waiting to say goodbye to this Úlanwa as they knew they would be back; it was hard to care that way, but they were still lonely, so maybe… It wasn't that hard after all.
The next spot had already been picked by them long before this was ever to occur; Bird liked to plan ahead, to know exactly what was going to happen and where. They took the seed from lands that were hilly and bare of any trees and flew straight towards what was once a massive forest area; where more trees, very small compared to Úlanwa, lived for many, many years.
They flew into what was once a meadow, and flicked about the dirt until there was enough space to plant and cover the seed again, something they did promptly, with precision; they had done this too many times, they wouldn’t be able to count them all.
For a moment before they themselves began to rest, they thought about how this cycle went, how it began and how it ended, and how time and time again they were proven that the fables of this world didn’t deserve someone like Úlanwa, made of something beyond this world, never truly dying but simply resting; building up the energy to do this once again.
And even though the names and the deeds of those that came before would not be remembered by Úlanwa.
It was remembered by them, by Bird.
‘Maybe next time… I won't do this,’ they thought, finally settling beside the planted seed, ‘Maybe the cycle will stop with me, if they can’t show me that this is worth it.’
[[Do this again?->The beginning]]
[[Go back. Ask again. Choose different.->Final day 1]]