(This was part of Ende's feathered serpent contest.)
Pale eyes glanced nervously at the small gathering of foals and adults sitting in a half-hazard circle about her. A lump was collecting in her throat and a fine sheen of sweat was collecting under the hair of her hide. Taking a deep breath, the brown doe offered a slim smile to her audience and nodded at them. "A-are we ready?" The tone with which she asked had a feel of uncertainty that left a lingering sense that the doe wasn't really ready herself. Still, she closed her eyes and letting the calm before the story fill her as she began-
"It is said that all we know came from a seed. From many seeds. One seed each grew our lands- the Kimeti swamp, the Kiokote grasslands, the Acha dunes, and all of the lands for kin to flourish and grow. For each type of kin a seed flourished into the sacs of our first ancestors. Indeed there was even a seed each from which all other animals, those which we call our pets and companions, grew. The wind carried those seeds to their destinations where they settled into the skin of creation and grew as we see the trees do now. We see and know of their growth. We live them and feel them and they nourish all. This story is not about those seeds. This is a tale about the seed that didn't land. I am to tell you of the greedy cloud that swallowed up a stray seed and what grew within its belly-
One of the seeds was gobbled up by a passing cloud that had become jealous of the love and attention we on the ground received from the Swampmother. In one big glup the seed was left to settle within the belly of the angry fluff where it did what it was meant to do. It grew. From inside of the cloud the seedling grew and as it grew the cloud became sick. Desperate to rid itself of the ill-thought out meal it sought out the Motherfather for help. Searching far and wide he came across a turtle alone on a mountain peak. He knew that of all the animals the turtle was the wisest and most generous for they live for so very long, so he plead with the turtle for help. The turtle opened it's eyes slowly and spoke to the cloud: "Why not rain and wash the seed out?" Seeing nothing wrong with the idea, the cloud tried it. He pushed and he puffed and he rained down onto the mountain and into the streams. Still the seed remained more healthy from the nourishing waters.
Angry the cloud returned to the turtle who replied: "Why don't you heat the seed out? Warm yourself in the sun's rays." Heeding the turtle's advice the cloud warmed itself in the sun. The glimmering light only warmed the leaves of the growing plant. Even more angry than before the cloud returned to the turtle who now wore a quiet smile on it's face. Before the cloud could demand an explanation the turtle nodded slowly at the rolling sound of thunder coming from the violent cloud who was now gray and swollen with rage. "Why do you not simply scare the seed out with your loud, loud, thunder?" With that advice, the turtle smiled wider and retreated into his shell where the cloud was unable to reach him.
Unable to hold his frustrations and violence in any longer the cloud erupted with thunder and lightning. As his storm raged he grew in size. The cloud grew and grew and grew until suddenly-
Pop!
But it wasn't a seed that came out. Or a plant grown from a seed. In place of the plant that had been growing from the cloud's belly there was a long sinuous creature with a body made of glistening scales and a mouth filled with sharp teeth; and as the tale began, so does it end.
With a gulp.
The large serpent gathered the cloud into his mouth and swallowed. As the sky fluff filled the snake's stomach it sprouted large, feathery, wings on its back and was gifted flight. To this day the feathered serpents live and hide on the distant mountain tops feeding on the clouds that gave them life. There they shall remain."
Opening her eyes, Reticent Smiles pushed herself to her feet. Her story finished she backed away from the group and stuttered out a rushed and quiet "t-t-t-thank you." Then she fled.
