StarfrostedFox
Scrawl Banditta
Lord Zee
SkyeOfStars
Vec
corneredbliss
LaserGunPewPew
EliteCommanderKirron
This purpose was easier than Kirron had imagined. From the top of a mountain on the eastern edge of his continent, he had a commanding view of distant changes to the landscape. Already, his siblings had been drawn to his whim-borne landmass and they had certainly made something of it. He could not even see all they had wrought; there was undoubtedly more surprises beyond the horizon, over the top of Shengshi's barrier mountain range.
He stepped his way down the slopes. It was easier than making his way up from the other direction; haphazardly following the flows of Fengshui Fuyou out to their ultimate destination had brought Kirron back to the fjord-like inlets and streams of the east coast by sheer coincidence. His boat had been dashed against the earth in a white-water portion, though it was no matter to him.
Kirron's walking and leaping brought him to an oddly green meadow. A hodgepodge of trees jutted out of silky grasses that sprung in clumps from freshly ground soil. Laced through the wind was the sound of beautiful noises. Noises that were perhaps too discordant in their abundance to be called songs, but Kirron was drawn to the source all the same. He stopped and rested his fists on his hips at what he found: Flocks of squat, curved-beaked little birds, flying here and there or otherwise waddling about the ground scratching for seeds.
"Little mortal things! Who are you?!" Kirron asked with a fascinated grin.
The birds took flight. Most calmed back to the ground, but a number approached and circled the god. "We are gemstone gardeners, stranger!"
"'Gemstone gardners.' What a mouthful. What are you doing here?"
"We are gardening, stranger! We spread the plants you see. Our mother Azura told us to!"
"Hah! Sounds good to me. Keep at it!" Kirron raise his arms and every bird felt a knocking in their little chests. Their happy songs quickly grew to excitement as they flew and sowed with renewed vigor. Kirron laughed his big bellowing laugh.
Kirron walked amongst the energised parrots like new friends. "My name is Kirron, I am the god of blood. It's been a while since I've been on this rock, so what can all you tell me about what I've missed?"
The news was easily relayed from the gossiping network of birds. All the happenings on the land were big and lasting, from fights between gods, to mountains raised and a giant clad in iron wandering about. Kirron could not be happier enjoying the tales from the simple creatures. While their lives were comparatively mundane to the scope of godhood, their objective gave them a refreshing passion.
But there was one anomaly that caught Kirron's eye. One of the gardeners -- a bulkier one with jet black feathers wandered around with a sadness, like it had lost something. It fluttered up to a low branch and let out a sigh.
Kirron clomped his heavy feet up to the tiny creature fast enough to startle its crest up.
"Why aren't you flying with the others, little gardener? You sick or something?"
"Oh!" The bird shrank in fear. "Uh, excuse me, god of blood. I'm not sick. I just don't much feel like flying right now."
Kirron knelt down to the onyx bird's eye level. "Why?" he demanded.
The bird glanced this way and that. "It's...embarrassing, god of blood. I cannot sing like the others, and my feathers are not as pretty when I dance. They're like a shadow with just a flash of red in my tail. I may as well not be there at all."
"So, what? You're afraid of a little performance?"
"It is a matter that I do not think I can perform at all, Kirron." The bird was not sure Kirron's triangular teeth were improving its anxiety.
"And what do you do all day, gardener?" Kirron asked.
"Um...I do this!" The bird spread its wings, bent down, and tore a large clump of wood from the branch below with such ease that it seemed rotten. But the wood was green and fresh. "Wood, stone, I cut it to pieces so more can grow!"
Kirron grinned a knowing grin.
The bird grabbed the clump of wood from its beak with one foot. "What is making you smile, Kirron?"
"I do that all the time, little bird. Watch." Kirron picked up a large stone from beside him, placed it between his teeth, and chomped down. Shards of stone flew in all directions. Kirron swallowed down what stayed in his mouth and pointed at the bird. "I still get all the attention I want. You've seen how I sing, right?"
The bird, suddenly fascinated, leant forward curiously. "You sing? But you only speak really loud."
"Have you tried talking really loud? Do it now." Kirron beckoned the bird. "Let me hear it! Shout as loud as you can!"
The bird spread its wings. "Squee..."
"Louder!"
"Areeee!"
"More! Put your throat into it."
The bird lifted its crest and let out a wheezing "ARAAAAAAAGH!"
All the other birds stopped their songs for a moment to look and smile at their black-feathered friend.
The little bird swelled up with pride and stuck its head out again. "ARAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" It shouted so loud its cheeks flushed a bright red.
Kirron threw back his head and laughed triumph. "That's better! Now go! Dance with your strength! Sing with your voice! And teach your friends what you learnt here today!"
"At once, Kirron! Thank you so much!" The bird leapt and took off to tell his friends.
The other birds looked with wonder at their friend the onyx cockatoo as he flew, marvelling at the new streaks of red colouring it in just the right way.