The Missing Sun

Sun was missing - no one had seen her in many weeks. Gone were the warm fingers of the late summer days that caressed away Night's chill. Instead, Night's hand held the day in his chill fingers. Now only jealous Moon gave light to Earth and her peoples.

It was under Moon's light that they gathered, the peoples who needed Sun's attention again. They were cold. They were sad.

"What takes Sun from us?" lamented Fox and swished her tail.

"Who takes Sun from us?" cried Deer and rattled his antlers.

"Why does she not remember us?" sighed Bison and stomped his foot.

The looked at each other. They looked at the sky.

"We have to do something!" they decided and looked at Hawk.

He unfurled his wings as their gazes struck him and cocked his head. "Why me?"

There was a pause, then answers tumbled out, tripping over each other: "You can fly!" "High in the sky!" "Above the clouds!"

Hawk sighed and hid his head under a wing. "Sun does not like me though!"

"You worry too much," accused Bison, shaking his great head in dissappointment.

"Don't be afraid," implored Deer, flashing his tail in agitation.

"Sun likes you just fine," reassured Fox, tucking her tail in worry.

"You are the only one who can do it," they all implored.

Hawk unhid his head and looked as his friends. "I will do it," he murmured. "I will so that Bison will have waves of grass to thunder across. So that Fox will have twilit fields to hunt in. So that Deer will have strong saplings to rub his antlers on."

And with that he unfurled his strong wings and took to the sky. Up and up and up he flew. Above Earth who waited for Sun's warmth. Through Night's cold fingers that tried to stop him. Past Moon's jealous gaze. Finally he could see Sun at last. She was faint and far. Hawk's wings scooping at the thin air. His breast ached.

"Sun! Sun!" he screeched.

Sun looked over her shoulder at him. Her eyes were sad, but Hawk felt her warm. His feathers seemed to catch more wind and at last he reached her.

"I wondered if you would be the one to come." But it seemed by 'wondered' she'd meant 'hoped.'

"I was afraid," Hawk admitted. "I was worried for the distance." But it seemed by 'the distance' he meant 'my heart.'

Sun turned around and her warmth caressed Hawk.

"Come back to us. Night's fingers are greedy. The grasses and trees need you. Earth grows chill. My friends are cold."

Sun looked at Hawk and arched one of her eyebrows.

Hawk hid his head.

"But what of Hawk?" she asked.

"Hawk longs for the caress of your rays on his wings. Hawk wants to feel the warm air lift him into the sky."

Sun smiled and responded: "And Sun wants to warm your wings. Sun wants to carry you above the fields."

And Sun warmed air and wings and let Hawk guide her back.

"You brought her back!" And Bison thundered off into the plain.

"I told you not to be afraid!" And Deer bounded off into the forest.

"I knew she liked you just fine!" And Fox's tail swished and she vanished into the field.

Hawk smiled at his friends' happiness and flew into the sky Sun had warmed for him.