Messenger of Death
For most people, an anima will inhabit their body to stop them from dying, but Cooro's is different. Spoilers. Cooro's POV
I fly high above the small Sailand town where Husky and Nana have lived since their anima disappeared. The sun is warm on my black feathers as I circle higher and higher, laughing at the freedom of flight.
"WHEEE!" I swoop up, somersaulting in midair. I'll catch a cloud, and give it to Nana as a present, she'll like that…
Don't fly too high. The quiet, sad voice says in my mind. It isn't a boy or a girl, it's not even human, but I've known it since I was born. This wise, guiding voice is the closest to a mother, or father, that I have ever known. It is my anima.
"You always say that, why?"
If you fly too high, you won't be able to come back.
"Oh, well I have to visit Husky and Nana first. Help me catch a cloud."
You won't be able to. I frown, and reach out to grab a wisp of fluffy whiteness in front of me. It looks so soft, and sweet…
"Oh!" I lurch forwards as my fingers pass straight through the cloud, like mist. "That's not fair!"
All birds know that clouds are just sky-mist. Just like our wings know how to find the warm winds to the sky, or the cool winds that drag us down.
"I don't like them, it makes flying hard work."
Yes. I sigh, and begin to drift gently down, spiralling closer in lazy circles. I like being lazy, but going faster is more fun.
Cooro… Ignoring the caution, I fold my wings and pull my goggles over my eyes as I begin to plummet towards the ground, faster and faster. Much faster than I had ever dived before.
"WHEEEEEEEE!" This is even more fun than going up!
Cooro, stop. It sounds urgent
"What?" I ask, instinctively flaring my wings. The sudden pressure nearly makes me scream as my wings seem to get squashed in from all sides at once. I begin to tumble towards the ground, barely managing to slow my fall.
Crow's wings aren't' meant for dives like this. It's the last thing I hear before I crash through the thatched roof.
*
"Cooro!" I look up as I hear Nana's voice, unable to believe my ears. She has her hair tied up in a bun, with pins and threaded needles sticking out of it haphazardly. She must have been working.
"Hey Nana! Sorry about your roof, I was going to fast. Where's Husky?"
"He's probably just on his way back now. He was visiting his mother, but I had a dress to finish, so he promised to bring me some pink-and-yellow satin instead, I'm going to make a skirt with it!" Nana smiled happily for a second, but looked serious again when she looked back at me.
"Are you feeling okay? You crashed pretty hard…" I look at her in surprise, I feel absolutely fine…well, maybe a little bit tired after flying all the way from the Kim-un-kur mountains, where I visited Senri. Oh yeah!
"Senri gave me something to give you for your birthday, Nana."
"Really? Ooh…what is it?"
I pull out the little parcel with a hand that doesn't seem to be quite working properly. Oh well, I'm probably just a little dizzy after crashing. Nana opens it, and squeals with delight, exactly like she did when she first started travelling with Husky, Senri and me, six years ago.
"It's so pretty!" She says, holding up the pair of earrings for me to see. They match the necklace that Senri and Husky had made for her, years ago, when Husky had felt bad for telling her that she didn't suit precious jewels.
"I could never have worn earrings before, because they would affect my anima, but now-" she stopped, looking slightly sad, and glanced at the black markings on my shoulders. She and Husky had stopped travelling with us, soon after their anima disappeared. Senri had also gone home after that, to be a Kim-un-kur tribesman properly. And I'd been left alone. I flew almost constantly now, from village to the mountains and back again. But each time it felt a little further, and each time, even when I finally reached my destination, it felt less like the home that I'd always known when we'd all been together. I smile, happy to see Nana happy, and put the thought out of my mind.
"They're really pretty, Nana. Do you have any apples?"
"Yes, of course. I'll get one."
"Thanks Nana." I try to sit up, but my body won't seem to do what I tell it to. I stop trying before Nana realises, I don't want her to worry.
Just wait until Husky comes home…
I frown slightly, wondering what it means.
"I was going to give you a cloud, but I couldn't catch it." I say, grinning at her.
"If Husky heard you say that, he'd whack you with his Cooro Punishing stick." She says, handing me the apple, just as there's a knock on the door.
"What happened to the roof!!" Nana turns and runs to the door, letting in an angry looking Husky.
"Cooro fell through it."
"What?"
"Hey Husky!" I say, waving from the bed. "I'm sorry about the roof, I was going a little too fast." I smile, but it doesn't seem right. There's almost none of the family feeling left. A strange, metallic taste fills my mouth, it's hot and salty. I ignore it.
Cooro… the voice has a strange tone to it, almost sad, but not quite regretful…peaceful.
"Are you okay, Cooro?"
"Fine. But it's time for me to go. I have a long way to go before it's night time." I smile at Husky, and sit up. A strange sensation washes over me, like I've moved slightly…away…the strange taste disappears, and so does the funny feeling in my body. I spread my wings and fly, straight upwards.
Are you ready now?
"Yes. No-one needs me anymore."
I fly further and further upwards, higher than I've ever been, except once. Straight towards the sun.
That time…
"I needed me. I wasn't ready to follow all the way."
Do you want to meet her?
"Of course."
The light of the sun spreads out and blinds me as I fly even higher. I see a silhouette, black against the light of the sun. Her arms are wide to meet me. Around me is the flapping of black wings, as crows fly up to join me, flying in time with me, like last time. Only this time, I wouldn't turn back…
Far below, Husky and stare at Cooro's body in horror, as the rosy cheeks and warm smile pale and cool.
"No…" whispers Nana, tears spilling over her eyes. Husky doesn't say anything, just stands, silently staring at Cooro's still form.
He doesn't believe it. It can't possibly be true. He seemed fine, until he said that he was going. A small trickle of blood spills from his mouth. Husky wipes it away automatically, his brain seems to have stopped sending messages, all he can see is Cooro's smiling face, holding out a hand to him, all those years ago, and saying 'Come with me!' But this time, Cooro had gone alone.
Somehow, even though the bright afternoon sunlight is still spilling through the roof, the day suddenly seems much darker…
For most people, an anima will inhabit their body to stop them from dying, to save their life. My anima is different. My anima was not to help me find happiness in life; it was to guide me home, to my mother's arms…to my death.
That is the duty of the black-winged messengers.
END
I don't know if this turned out quite right…I might change it later.
Anyway, I hope you liked it, even if it is kinda sad, and Cooro's OC. ~Ratpigeon.