[Drabbles] Zodiac Solos

[Dizzy_Kat]

The Twins (May 22 - June 21): The birds are out and curious despite the cold.

Neither Nor never really cared for the cold of winter but then they didn't care much for the intense heat of summer either. Still, as they curled in the warm, dry shelter of a hollowed tree's trunk they couldn't help but smile at the intense peeping of a cluster of finches outside in the brisk air.

They laid as still as possible, the glow of their green eyes dimmed by lowered lids and watched. The only movement they made was hidden well within the trunk of the tree. Neither's slender tail curled and uncurled on itself unconsciously. The only time the appendage was still was when they were sleeping or it was curled around something Neither wanted to keep a grasp on.

The finches hopped among the delicate branches of some low bushes, their orange beaks flashing in the mornings sun as they chattered at each other and occasionally fluttered to the ground to pick at the dried twigs and leaves. What they were looking for Neither couldn't say for sure. They doubted there would be any sort of edible material there, but then what did they know of birds eating habits? For all Neither new the tiny creatures were building nests in preparation for spring or playing a game or just socializing. Really Neither realized they knew absolutely nothing of finches habits. All they knew is they made a lot of noise (which Neither found the bright peeps to be delightful) and they traveled in huge flocks of tiny little fluffy bodies.

A creak of a branch above and the flock rose as one and took off, their shrill cries growing quieter as they fled to safety. Neither curled deeper into their own 'nest'. It was still too cold to venture out today.

((294 words. Claiming Ticket Point))  

[Dizzy_Kat]

The Firefly (January 21 - February 19): Repeating the same line of a poem over and over, unsure how it ends.

Was it a poem or had it been a song? Neither Nor woke with a frown and a half-remembered melody. They eyed their surroundings warily, remembering the last time they woke with a poem in their mind (they hadn't actually been awake that time had they? Neither couldn't remember now). There was a distinct impression of music and a strong sense of having heard it before but Neither couldn't remember when or where.

They stood and shook themselves vigorously, fighting to reclaim the fleeting details in their dream. It had been bright at the beginning but it had dimmed... going grey and beginning to darken further when they were startled awake... There! Better than the last/ whether sweet or sour that had been the turning point. Better than the last... Neither stretched and shook their head again. Something had been good but had gone sour.

Maybe it hadn't been a song, Neither had only added music to the odd rhythm. They could almost hum it but the remainder of the words danced just out of their consciousness. Whether sweet or sour. Sweet or sour... was it in reference to food? It almost felt as if it was. If so then what a plain thing to be troubled about! There must have been a metaphor in there. Neither couldn't believe they'd have such a meaningless dream leave them feeling this strongly.

Better than the last/Whether sweet or sour It just didn't make sense. If they could just remember what came before or after that one line! Neither made a noise of disgust. At the very least, the dream had given them an appetite this morning.

(277 Words. Claiming Ticket Point)  

[Dizzy_Kat]

The Three Horn (June 22 - July 22): A great lake in the heart of the swamp is frozen over -- except at its very center.

It looked like an eye. The frozen ring laying beneath a thin sheet of perfectly white snow, only a couple bird prints and what might have been a foxbun's tracks marking it's crisp surface. Deep in the middle, visible from a low hill around the lake's perimiter was the dark blue 'pupil', a circular hole where the lake hadn't yet given in to winter's grasp. It's surface rippled in the slight breeze reflecting the light of the morning's sun as it came over the tree line.

Some might have found the sight and thoughts that it invoked creepy or unsettling. Not so much Neither Nor as they watched, musing. It was oddly comforting, standing in the presence of the enormous eye. It was like the MotherFather was right there, watching over their children and their needs even now in the midst of winter.

Idly, Neither Nor wondered what the MotherFather saw through their icy gaze. Did they daydream as some of their children did? Or were they even awake? Was the MotherFather watching Neither Nor now? The kimeti's tail curled around the thin bare trunk of a tree behind them, feeling the texture of the bark rub comfortingly along it's sensitive length. Neither sent a silent prayer of gratitude. Yes it was cold, something Neither rarely agreed well with, but the cold would pass eventually and spring would come. The cycle would continue and even in this darkest of seasons the MotherFather was here, caring for the kin of the swamps.

(251 words. Claiming Ticket point)