Time passed in the desert, and seasons passed with it, bringing the mating season and the promise of a future for Houka and her kind. Houka became infatuated with a handsome strong young male by the name of Kaijin, who in time became her mate, for she herself was among the strongest and most beautiful females in the entire desert. Then, the time came for her to build her first nest in preparation for her egg laying and the beginning of her new life as a mother. But tragedy struck and Kaijin was struck dead by a wildcat while searching for prey to feed his mate and material to build their nest.
Houka was overcome with grief, but she knew that she couldn’t fall victim to it, for if she did not manage to feed herself and build a nest all her own, her un-laid eggs, her dead mates only legacy would not survive. Determinedly, she finished the nest that she and her mate had started, but the effort left her weak and hungry. With the added weight of the forming eggs in her belly, she was no longer as fit, and her skills more dulled than they had been before, preying on the rodents that were few and far between would be difficult, nearly impossible in her condition.
Still, Houka set out, desperate for a way to feed herself, scouring the desert for any source of life or vitality. It was then that she came across the Magistream that was still young in the desert. Day by day the stream pushed further across the barren landscape, fascinating all its inhabitants with the tiny eggs of creatures they did not know, nor understand. Also, no creature dared feed or drink from what the stream offered, for the sun, ruler of the desert and all those in it had declared it sacred. Houka though, was desperate, and the eggs floating helplessly in the stream promised too easy a meal to pass up, without hesitation, she swooped down, plucked one of the tiny eggs from the water and perched in a tree to devour it.
Now the sun, who saw all in the domain that he ruled from his perch in the sky above turned and spoke angrily to Houka, “Houka, why have you disobeyed my decree and taken from the stream I have declared sacred�
Houka trembled before the son and bowed her head, “forgive me your highness, for my mate has died and I sought only to feed myself, so that I may have the strength to bear my eggs soonâ€Â.
The sun was displeased, but showed mercy to Houka, “you are forgiven this time, but be sure to heed my decree from now onâ€Â.
Houka nodded eagerly and thanked the sun for his understanding before flying back to her nest, her belly filled and her mind clearer for the time being. Her eggs grey closer to the time for laying though, and in time the young hawk grew hungry again and more unfit to feed herself. She could think of nothing else but the stream that provided an easy meal, she dared not disobey the sun again, but she also knew that just one more meal would hold her over until her eggs were laid and she was fit and skilled once more. She made up her mind that she would visit the stream once more to feed, but not during the day, she would travel by night instead, when the suns mate, the moon took his watch in the sky. There was one night a month, when the moon seemed to abandon her post, leaving the desert in complete darkness; this would be the night she would visit the stream.
Houka flew swiftly when the time came, plucked another egg from the stream, and ate it quickly, thinking that the sun would be none the wiser of her deed. Though unknown to her, the moon had seen it all. The clouds covered her from view once a month, but that did not cover her view of the desert. She was always watching, and she saw what Houka had done she was appalled and hurried quickly to tell the sun
The next day, the sun sought out Houka. He was furious and the whole desert could feel the heat of his anger beating down on them. “Houka!†he called, “I showed you mercy, and you repay me by ignoring my word again? Did you think you could hide what you did from me?â€Â
Houka's eyes widened and she shook uncontrollably, “p-please, I beg you your highness, this was the last time, I was thinking only of my eggsâ€Â.
“And what of my eggs?†the sun demanded, “the ones under my care that you keep eating from the Magistream? What makes them any less special than your own?â€Â
Houka tried to come up with an answer, but no words came to her in the face of the suns fury, and when she provided no answer, the sun struck her down in a pillar of fire. The young hawk screeched and fell to the ground in a mass of burning feathers, desperately, she crawled towards the Magistream, the only water nearby and her only hope for salvation from the suns flames. But the suns fire was everlasting, and even as she submerged herself in the stream, Houka continued to burn.
Her cries were drowned out as she burned and sank to the bottom of the Magistream, but the fire that consumed her still continued to burn, and slowly brightly colored eggs that were engulfed in flame floated to the surface of the Magistream. “I have spared your eggs Houka†the sun called, “for I cannot blame you for doing all in your power to ensure their well-being, but they will forever be contained to the Magistream, as payment for the eggs you have taken from meâ€Â.
Houka’s ashes are to this very day scattered throughout the Magistream, and her descendants are the phoenix eggs plucked from its waters, birds that will forever be blessed with the swiftness and grace of the hawk, yet cursed by the fury of the suns everlasting fire.
What do ya think?
