Problem-Solver veered down towards the peak
where it lived. She had never been to the secret place, but
she knew it like she knew the smell of the canyon after
rain, the air current that would lead her back to her nest,
and the curve of all of her children’s wings. She dropped
out of the current and plunged down to the crag outside of
the cave where it made its nest. Landing softly on the cool,
shaded rocks, she hopped gingerly towards the entrance of
the cave and laid the child’s heart in the dirt. It was small
and the blood around it was congealing, turning from
bright red to muddy brown. She hopped back immediately
after setting it forth, sitting at the edge of the crag. She
ruffled her feathers, not relishing the task of ensuring the
offering was accepted.
From the cave came the sound of shifting fur as it
crawled out through the oozing muck and into the light. A
dripping talon reached forth from the mouth of the cave
to retrieve the heart from the dust, pulling it back into the
wet darkness towards the diamond shaped head that would
swallow it whole. Problem-Solver waited on the crag, her
head low, ready to take off, hoping the Agreement would
be continued. The canyon had never been without an
Agreement, and Problem-Solver scratched at the dirt as
she heard another rock crash to the ground behind her.
She went through the ritual in her head and found no
faults, but the silence caused Problem-Solver to doubt
herself.
Peering into the darkness, Problem-Solver could
see a tongue flicker forth to lap at the blood on the tiny
heart. A low rattle came up from the depths of the cave
and Problem-Solver shrank into herself. Suddenly, the
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