Rebirth

"11:45," said grandpa Mitri as he looked away from his watch. "Another millennium is about to end." Grandpa Mitri asked permission from his son to take his four-year-old grandson, Arvin, to the mountains and watch the fireworks from up there. "Its much more peaceful out here ain’t it champ, wonder why your parents did not come along."

Grandpa Mitri looked around at the darkness that surrounded them. Never thought that I’d live to see the end of this millennium but I’m sure glad that I’m still here to witness it.

"Grampa…look…fire," said a terrified Arvin as he pointed to his left.

Grandpa Mitri clutched Arvin’s hand and held him close, confusion crept over him. It’s too early for the fireworks to begin, he thought. Grandpa Mitri took a step forward and decided he wanted to find out whatever it was that was scaring his grandchild. As they drew closer, he was able to make out an outline of a burning oak tree.

"That’s odd," he told himself. "I think I smell spice."

"Spice?" Arvin mimicked his grandfather.

The aroma grew stronger as they got nearer to the tree. Suddenly a loud cry was heard from one of the tree’s burning branches. All the hair on grandpa Mitri’s back stood up. What was that? The sound continued for a few minutes then died down again. Grandpa Mitri took another step forward. There it is again! He thought as he held Arvin’s hand tightly.

The cry was something he had never heard before. It was like a song, a sweet song and the whole world seemed to stand still when it was sung yet the song denoted pain, great pain. Grandpa Mitri shivered, how can such a beautiful song depict so much pain?

"Grampa…look…eagle," said Arvin as he hugged his grandpa tightly.

Grandpa Mitri placed his hand on his forehead to shelter his eyes from the bright light the tree emitted and focused on the figure his grandson pointed at.

"It is a bird! No wait…" said grandpa Mitri as he stared in awe at the eagle like bird with a golden mane and brilliant plumage of gold, sable and red. "It’s the Enforcer!"

* * *

The Enforcer, right hand of the chief god Joven, giant slayer, represented the might of the heavens, the eyes of the gods. Symbol for justice, loved and respected by all, all except Levi, son of Joven.

"How can you trust a bird father? A bird!" Levi asked in rage. "I am your son, I should be your right hand!"

"That bird is the Enforcer. You are my eldest son, Levi, and you will soon be the chief god, is that not enough?"

No it’s not father! Everybody makes mistakes, even the Enforcer, and when that time comes, I’ll be waiting! Levi flashed a mischievous grin. I’ll be waiting.

* * *

"Mommy, look a birdy!"

"Hector! Stay away from that" Diana quickly pulled her eight-year-old son away upon seeing the bird with gold and red plumage that lay motionless on the ground. "That…that is the Enforcer."

"You mean was the Enforcer," Hector’s brother, Icarus, quickly added.

"Poor thing, he never did recover from the death of Joven’s daughter, Alona, during one of the giants assault. I heard he was the one assigned to protect her, blamed himself from the tragedy and exiled himself from their realm," said Diana.

"Serves them right! I don’t see the reason why he should be upset like that, when one of us dies nobody notices but when one of the gods dies, everybody’s talking about it. That is pathetic! They don’t care what happens to us, why should we care what happens to them?"