"The Fish Who Would Swim In The Sky" or "Moss's History"

"My history is much like a fable. For you who wish to hear it I forewarn that it may not be suitable for those with innocent minds. Sadly, as any history, a tragedy can only happen before we end up in this peaceful place unless it is where we were conceived. Those with delicate ears and delicate minds should understand that it is time for them to leave, for I wish to begin..."

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"There is a place where one can see the entire expanse of blue sky peeking through the trees, much like the area above the Pond here. The clouds are fluffy and light, ever manicured by the rake of a gardener into gentle lines. It was as if claws gently passed through the clouds to form beautiful swirling patterns. In fact, a large portion of these paths and swirls were created by the gardener. His name was Tasnim, and he was a God.

Tasnim's garden expanded far and wide in all directions. He gently raked the clouds as one would rake the sand in a bonsai garden. He tended to all of the plants on the ground, growing magnificent trees that bore delectable fruits and fragrant flowers. No soul that visited Tasnim's garden ever went hungry, nor did any creature that lived there ever fall into want. There was plenty to eat and even a vast pond that was many times greater in size than our own here in The Forest. It was crystal clear, as if its inhabitants were swimming in air. The only way one could tell that there was even water is by sound and by touch, or by waiting for Tasmin to feed the inhabitants from the seeds of his own fruit-bearing trees.

Now, the inhabitants of the pond were much like those beautiful fish in our own. Two exceptions were that they were much more intelligent and excessively larger in size. Each fish was as long as a yearling tree is tall, maybe even greater. To find a better example: Each of the Koi in the pond was as long as three forest-born deer standing nose-to-tail.

I was one of these Koi. Generally I was a mite smaller than the others. If it suits you to see my largest scales, go and ask Verve to show you. I traded them to her for my acorn earpiece here. I digress.

Now, each time Tasmin fed the Koi, great ripples would be created as each broke the surface to gulp down those wonderful seeds. Every time I broke the surface, well, I always wanted to do so again. Every once in awhile I would even spring from the pond just to feel the pleasant air against my skin. I loved the feeling of wind in place of water. All of the fish around me preferred the life under the water, where they felt calm and safe. It is generally well-known that fish prefer to be in their natural element, you all know well. They never asked me why I wanted this.

Tasnim came again to feed us. That day he set himself beside the pond upon a ornate pillow to watch his charges swim and frolic in the crystal-clear water. I joined him after awhile, as it took me long to build the courage to ask the God for a favor. Our conversation was similar to how the Twins would speak:

"Great Tasnim? I would ask you something, if you are willing to give me an answer."

Alright, so it was a little more formal than what you are used to. But I repeat the conversation verbatum.

"Ah. The Koi that Leaps! It would be a pleasure to me to hear a question from my most playful."

"I would request to swim in the sky, Tasnim. I would help you in your cloud garden, to keep each ripple perfect. Would you accept my request, Great Feeder of Us?"

Tasnim grew quiet. His beautiful golden eyes were contemplative. There we both stayed for the longest of times, or so it seems when one is waiting. Finally the Great God spoke to me.

"Koi that Leaps, I would feel very happy to grant your request, if only it were in my power. I cannot make you to breathe air, nor can I make you buoyant enough to float among the birds in the sky. Would you that I create something reminiscent of the clouds to release in the water so that you may play among them yet?"

Of course I found myself disappointed. Whom we believed to be a God that could do all was merely a talented man in an Eden. I apologized for my disappointing him and swam back into the depths of the pond. For many days I lay there and contemplated my fate of ever-swimming in circles around the crystal-clear pond.

On the seventh day, it must have been, I came to the surface to watch the clouds roll gently by. It was then that the largest Heron came to the water's edge to sift for smaller fishes. I told him of my plight and he agreed to help me to swim in the sky at least once. With the help of some fronds from a nearby wide-leaf'ed fern, we made a sling and the large Heron held it for me to swim into.

He took off into the sky.

The clouds rushed by me as the ground fell out beneath, leaving me breathless. I wiggled a little to feel the wind along my scales, the mist of the clouds tickling them gently and making me feel so free! It is a similar feeling to being a dove or a crow, mind you, though we did not have the magic to turn into one of those creatures in the Garden of Tasnim. I again digress, it seems.

I nearly had finished my flight, brief as it were, before I could not hold my breath any longer. With the last of my air I begged the Heron to bring me back to the water. He obliged, but as he wheeled about...

Pardon me. It might be difficult for me to go on. Let me catch my thoughts a moment..."

As the Heron wheeled, Moss slipped from the frond-sling. He fell to the ground below with a sickening thud. That day Moss put his selfish desires above his own safety and the Heron's mental state. He regrets the most that the Heron would never smile due to his guilt for taking the fish from the water. Moss regrets losing his paradise to his own wishes. Much like the story of Adam and Eve in the Christian Bible, he is not allowed to return to the garden in another life. Instead, his creator sent him here to live among the Twin Gods' children. Tesnim felt sorry for Moss, and sent him to this peaceful place. The dangers of The Endless Forest remind him that he should always think and be cautious, and to never deny his trepidations a place in his mind. He hopes to never deny the final gift Tesnim could give him: A new life in a peaceful place.