After several trips to the firepit and back, an unusual texture to the bare branches of the bushes that marked her path made her pause in midstep and take a closer look. High up in the branches, about five feet off the ground, were two garter snakes, intricately entwined with one another, motionless. They appeared to be watching all the action going on at the firepit, ten feet away.
Flame was flabbergasted, never having seen snakes nest in trees in this manner, and ran to get her camera.
"This is a polaroid moment!" She thought to herself.
After snapping a few photos, ("No one will ever believe this!" she kept saying to herself) Flame put away the camera and continued to set up the yard for the ritual. Carved pumpkins were placed out in the soon to be darkened yard at each of the quarters, to guard and beckon the directions. The altar was dressed with the tools that would be needed. Wood was stacked off to the side, and kindling was laid in with care.
More trips caused the contents of the picnic table to grow, when suddenly another nearby bush caught her eye. Three more snakes were in this one! A gain, two were balled up in the forked branches, several feet off the ground, and another snake was stretched out along another branch in the same bush. Flame circled the bush in wonder at such a sight as snakes nesting in her bushes. Again, they seemed to be watching the action.
When her friends and family arrived for ritual that night, she did not mention the snakes at first, not knowing who might be bothered by it. The snakes remained in the bushes watching the entire evening, although it was too dark to see them clearly. Some who were there saw them, and wondered, and marveled at the site. When the ritual was over, the food was eaten, and all guests had left, the snakes remained. Flame bid them good night.
The next day, when Flame returned to the firepit to put things away for the season, they were gone.
~Flame RavenHawk
January 14, 2004