The sun played hide and seek behind the clouds as the gentle wind brushed the tall grasses like torrents of rain on an abandoned lot.

Sitting high in the branches of a cypress tree the raven watched, almost bemused by an owl watching with unblinking eyes up at him from below.

"what do you look at old owl" rattled the raven, almost in a hiss.

The owl just continued to stare upward at raven, non blinking and unshaken by the sinister threat, albeit a masked one.

"what do you look at owl, do I amuse you? Are you daft?" the raven crowed.

The owl simply gave one slow blink and gave a sigh. "raven, do you see nothing but anger from up so high in your cypress haven? Do you not know love?"

"LOVE?!!" spat raven vehemently, "i know my share of love" he cawled and raked at his limb nervously. "love comes on wings swift and deadly, like the hawk finds a rodent" Then hopped down a few limbs to sit closer to the owl. "What do you know of love owl!" he challeneged menacingly.

The owl did not seem bothered by the ravens harsh words but more relieved to hear the accusatory tones. He simply hooted and said softly "i know that love is nothing that comes like a hawk but is soft like a breeze". He got a far away look for a brief moment, then as an afterthought, "to love is to risk it all", owl added in melancholy tones.

Raven, with his wings so black they appeared blue, laughed a dry rattling laughter. "love will never find me owl, I will hide always, like I hide from the hawk" then he flew off to the high branches of the crypress tree. and nestled close to its trunk as if his words would bring his death swooping out of the air at any moment.

The owl only smiled and quietly said "love finds us all raven"

The raven, up high, catching the owls words on the breeze thought darkly "yes...love finds us all".

From far off there was an ear peircing call, high pitched and sharp as a blade. Then silence once again...

to be continued...