Whispers -- murmurs of hope and longing and want -- trickle like static.
The crane drops a single white petal. Beady eyes watch it fall. Purity. Perfection. Its feathers ruffle and it flies.
A mouse offers a petal of jade. Joy. Health. Luck. The twitch of whiskers and it bounds off.
Twin songbirds add pink and purple blossoms. Youth. Innocence. Wishes.
A snake comes -- slithers through the flower buds until they are ruffled -- and goes. A stain of blood threads through dirt and silk.
The bones of a foal no longer warm fall into the collection.
Words chant -- torture and love flare -- insistent.
"Come, my little one. My sweet magnolia blossom."
Petals scatter from the tiny bundle. Scant trails of lifeblood drip. But the bones are gone altogether.