The Eagle's Son

Eagle, Tengu, and Dragon watched their father as he created. They watched as made he Man in his own image. They watched, and became jealous.
Eagle spoke first. Form his perch atop The Almighty's head, he croaked, "Father, where do these things come from? Why do you pay such attention to it? So slow, forced to plod along your back like ants."
The Almighty picked Man from of the back of his arm and held him close to his great eye so that eagle might share in his beauty. "My son, they come from my dreams. How could I not pay attention to something so wonderful as my dreams come true?"
Eagle felt a chill ruffle his feathers. "I thought you gave me all the dreams. That was my gift wasn't it?"
The Almighty laughed, shaking the world. "I gave you some dreams. The dreams of the sky, the clouds, the sun. Dreams of the wind in your wings, the lands spread out below like a quilt. But these are not all the dreams there are. What of the dreams of rivers and waterfalls and The Fountain That Never Ends? What of the dreams of mountain peaks and rolling plains, and The Place Beyond The Place? What of the dreams of creation?"
"You cheated me!" Eagle screeched. "I was promised all the dreams!"
Man, still atop The Almighty's finger tip clapped his hands over his ears, curlinging away from the noise. The Almighty smiled sadly and placed him back where he'd found him. "Some day you shall have all the dreams, my child. For you shall be the one to bring the dreams to the others."
Eagle was silent for a time. "How do I do that?"
"My child," The Father said, sorrow fading from his smile, "Dream. And I will show you."
That night, Eagle dreamed. He dreamed of diving from the sky, swooping into the blank space where you go when you sleep. He dreamed of pulling aside the threads of darkness to find the light underneath. He dreamed of taking the light and twisting it into the wind that flows beneath your wings and lays the out the land below you like a quilt. When he woke the next morning to his father's beatific smile, Eagle knew what he had to do.
"Father, I need to share my dreams."

~~~

Man dreamed for the first time that night. He left the ground below and flew towards the sun to touch the clouds. Through the sky he soared, wind in his wings, the land laid out below. He looked to the right, and saw The Almighty, Tengu on his hip and Dragon twined around his legs. He looked to his left and saw Eagle flying beside him, black threads in his beak.
When he woke, Man praised The Almighty and Eagle in the same breath. He danced and sang and told everyone else about the amazing gift Eagle had given him. Soon everyone wanted to go to bed so that Eagle might visit them. The Almighty turned his gaze towards his first born son, "Isn't it wonderful to share?"
Eagle twisted the threads in his claws as he preened. "I can't wait to do it again."

~~~

It went that way for some time. Eagle came to the people as they slept, pushed aside the darkness and let in the sky. And everynight, they kept a little darkness for themselves, twisting it in their claws. Until one day, the darkness grew feathers.
The days passed, The Almighty taught Eagle new dreams. He taught him dreams of adulation, standing on the podium as the crowd chants your name. He taught him dreams of motion, running rapid along rivers, dancing wild under the starlight. He taught him dreams of love, the press of flesh against flesh and the mad ecstasy it brings. And Eagle shared them with Man who praised him along with his father. And Eagle's child grew.
Night came early one evening. Man drifted to sleep, eager to see what Eagle would share with him. That night he flew again, over the mountains, the wild river. But as he flew over his home he saw smoke. He came closer and saw everything he loved in flames. Screams pierced his ears as the roof of his home fell inward with a roar. The smoke reached high into the sky and choked him with the smell of burning flesh. Even as the smoke stung his eyes, he was forced to look down on his lover's face. He couldn't recognize it.
The wind left his wings. He plummeted. Wind and smoke tore at his face. He opened his mouth to scream but there was no sound. Just a ragged pain as he grew closer and closer to the wreckage below.
Man shot awake. Stars still shown in the sky. He was home, and it was whole. His lover slept besides him, unburnt. All of it had been a dream. Man began to weep.
The Almighty, who never sleeps, saw and was disturbed. He turned his eyes to Eagle. "My son, what dream did you give Man tonight?"
Eagle preened smugly atop his perched. "I gave Man exactly what he deserved tonight. Which is nothing."
"Then why is Man weeping like this?"
A bird with feathers black as night and eyes wide as the moon swooped silently through the air and perched besides his father. It spoke in a voice like the wind over the black mouth of a cave, "You are not the only one who can create, Grandfather. I showed Man what my father says he deserves."
The Almighty saw and knew what had happened. But he asked anyway, "Oh my child, what have you done?"
"Aren't you proud, Father?" Eagle screeched and spread his wings wide. "I've done exactly what you've done, and made Owl in my own image. Isn't it beautiful to see your dreams come true?"
"Not if you've made them from darkness, the veil of death that hides what comes next." Tears fell from His eyes, falling to the earth blow to become the ocean. "My son I will show you how to create something pure, something good. But first I must destroy this abomination."
He reached up to close a hand around Owl, but the creature of darkness was too quick, it flew through his fingertips and dove, laughter streaming behind him. Into Woman's head he went. She woke screaming and Owl flew into Boy's head. So it went. So long as someone slept, Owl could hide from The Almighty.
So be warned, as you lay your head down to sleep tonight. If you haven't down enough work, if you aren't near dead on your feet, if there's any chance you might dream, Owl might come to you. And if Owl should come, it will show you exactly what you deserve.

Date of Setting

Prehistory.

Related People

• The Almighty, El Todopoderoso