Jackal's Descent Through The Library.

Annoyance was riddled across Jackal’s face, talk of the ‘feather’ that had fallen all the way  down to burrowgatory had made its rounds rather quickly. Her cold green eyes stared at the very few books Mercy had laid out for her to look over all they had. It turns out, there were not very many books on ‘birds.’ One she had found was talking about a bird called the “Phoenix.”

Phoenix’s were birds once known in ancient times as an “immortal bird” that regenerates or is otherwise reborn by their own ashes once they end up getting killed. She thought it was pretty interesting that once they do die, though, they basically combust into flames and then they get  reborn. It made her wonder if it was the same bird or maybe a different one came in its place. Once done reading about the phoenix, she went to another book about birds, maybe she could find one less..fierce. She didn’t think this feather was from a phoenix, seeing that there wasn’t a menacing bird flying around. 

The next book that Jackal’s hands landed on was one just titled “The Pet Caladrius”. The Caladrius turned out to be an all white bird, with no black on it. The story told upon the worn pages seemed to be about a king’s bird who could stay with sickly people, and could take that sickness unto themselves. Once the bird flew close to the sun, it would not only take the sickness from the person but also heal themselves once more. It is said that they fly close to the sun and the sun burns the sickness off of them.  It was later written in the book that many people believe the bird just to be a ‘dove’ or even a ‘heron’. Which was far less interesting to read or think about, Jackal thought. Seeing as the bird depicted, the Caladrius, is said to decide if the sick person would live or die just by either looking at them, or looking away. 

A sigh left her lips as she brushed her black shaggy hair away from her face “This just..all of this is so confusing. The phoenix, the Caladrius, dove, and herons..All of this just doesn’t make any sense…” it made her think back about what Hutch said, about the new Imp, what was it..Avia? Yes! According to the books, the imp Avia that Hutch had found looked most similar to a dove, or pigeon? At least what she could make of the shadowy figure. Her eyes narrowed as her fingers brushed past book after book until finally she landed on one more book.

A frown went across her face as she scanned the pages for anything on doves, or even pigeons before her eyes landed on it. ‘Dove.’ Her fingers trailed across the page, tilting her head to the side with a quirk of an eyebrow. In this tale, it seemed the white dove resembled love and peace. If there was a war or an argument/dispute they would bring a white dove to resemble that they wanted to end whatever bickerings they had with each other. In other meanings of the book, it seemed white doves also were to resemble freedom. When you release a white dove, it means that part of your life that weighed you down would no longer. Such as, moving away from an abusive or toxic household, you would release a white dove to resemble you letting go, or being free of that trauma.

Jackal closed up the book and cleared her throat, She thought this was enough for today. She slowly stood up from her chair and thanked the librarian, thanking them politely before walking out and to her home. Was she perhaps like a white dove? Nonsense. All this reading and nonsense had her all worked up, it was time for home. She had learned plenty today and was ready to talk about it whenever asked for her findings when necessary, so for now she would rest and wait for further instruction.