Siv's Dreams Awakened
"Sivria!" An owl hooted from a branch to a young spotted owl. "Siv!"
"What?" Came the reply, with a voice so sharp it seemed it could cut stone.
"You've been sulking for days, dear daughter. You need to get out and about."
"But Koriiana, I don't want to. I've lost everything I loved. My mate, my chicks, my best friend. Gone in an instant." Siv remembered that terrible day only a thousand times. Replaying again, and again.
It was bright and sunny, cold despite the warmth reflecting soft crystallized beams off the ice.
"Siv! Come on!" Her best friend, Tania had called, spinning in one of the warm drafts dotting the cliffs.
"Yeah Siv, come on!" Siv's playful mate, Lystic had hooted to her in his soft voice.
"Mum! Please come play with us!" Her two, sweet young chicks that had only recently learned to fly.
Yes, she remembered it all so well. A tear rolled down her face. Little Petal, sweet Petal, and Marina. Young Marina. She was truly too young to die, so soon….
Siv had replied cheerfully, "I'm coming!" Unaware of the danger to come.
Then, the hags came. "We've found them!" The attack was fierce, and sudden. An explosion of black feathers, mixed with those of many spotted owls, and chick's down.
There was a series of shrieks, and a wailing sob. More feathers. And then, the only owls she ever felt closer to then her parents, was gone.
Gone. Forever.
Siv turned away from her mother, and took off, sobbing. "I can't bear it anymore! Glaux, why don't you just kill me?" She cried, and landed in an ice cave.
"Lystic, Tania. Petal. Marina. Come back…." Siv murmured as she fell asleep.
"Siv. Siv, love. Open your eyes." An echoing hoot whispered into Siv's ear slits.
"W-w-what?" Siv mumbled blearily, and opened her eyes to stare into her deceased mate Lystic's warm eyes.
"Come back with me to the living world, Lystic. Come back with me." Siv hooted sadly as Lystic folded Siv into his wings.
"I can't. I only can visit you because I truly believe this is fate, and I need to comfort you."
"But…. but, I need you in life Lystic. I am nothing without you." Siv whispered.
"See your beloved," Lystic murmured, and gestured to three other owls appearing out of the mist.
"Tania! Petal! Marina!" Siv cried, rushing forward.
"Siv, I can not tell you enough how much you mean to me." Tania murmured sorrowfully, giving her best friend a quick preen then stepping back.
"Mum, when I was gone, I missed you so much!" Siv's young chicks hooted in unison, their eyes filling with tears.
"My family, there are no words I can say for you coming to me." Siv whispered, remembering that this was a dream.
As Tania, Petal, Marina, and Lystic turned away, he stopped, and came back to Siv.
"Siv, my love. You, were my joy. Believe, Siv, for your dreams will be awakened."