Last Night I Dreamt I Was An Ostrich Again

“Upper Earth bird--sticks its head in the ground--probably wondering why we’re trapped here. No wonder last night I dreamt I was an ostrich again.” Ayletha leaned against the rough cavern wall, arms cradling the heavy bundle as she waited for the acolyte to arrange bunting.

 “Or maybe it’s these ridiculous feathered butts.” Ayletha wriggled in the half-skirt the priestess insisted they wear. “Ostriches have long necks and legs and fluffy butts.”

 Her companion finished, and Ayletha hefted the mottled, crimson oval into the alcove. “They lay huge eggs like this.” She rotated it and gave it a pat. “If the priestess fancies herself the Phoenix, rebirthing from ashes, what does she need with an egg?”

 The acolyte grunted. “Don’t ask.”

 A thunderous crunch startled them, and the egg cracked open. Ayletha jumped as a reptilian head emerged. The baby monster cried, spewing flames, launched itself at her, and wrapped tiny wings around her neck.

 As it nuzzled Ayletha’s chin, a tall woman, dressed head-to-toe in a feathered robe, stalked into the cavern, shouting, “Give it to me!”

 Panicked, Ayletha pried the creature free to present to the Phoenix. It screeched, engulfing the priestess in gouts of flame before flying back to Ayletha.

 They gaped in horror as the feathered woman screamed and flapped and burned to ash, all within a heartbeat. They waited, but nothing emerged from the glowing embers.

 “Guess she wasn’t a phoenix, after all.” Ayletha cradled the winged creature. “And this is certainly no ostrich.”

Photo by John Rocha