135 – Crismus Greetings
Feb 102012
“Are you alright?”
Nektara didn’t know what she was. She had been in the dark awaiting illumination when the floor dropped out from under her. But rather than fall, she just hung there in the nothingness, allowing that sick feeling in her stomach to linger and grow, until finally her whole body felt numb.
“What are you thinking?”
Nektara blinked. She was not hanging in darkness, but rather in the study of the owl she respected more than anyone in the world. Rather than seated behind his desk as she had always imagined he would be when she met him, the venerable bird stood not four paws before her, eying her closely for her reaction. He had just broken the news to her: She would not be going to the Academy.
“Nothing,” she answered in a dull voice.
Crismus’ bushy eyebrows rose, “Is that so? If I were in your place, I imagine there’d be a million things running through my mind.”
There was one thing, a question she was thinking harder than anything else, “Why?”
“The most natural question,” Crismus admitted.
Emboldened by his response, she continued, “Why did the Academy reject my application? Was it that bad?”
Crismus replied simply but evenly, “I never submitted your application to the Academy.”
“What?” A flicker of anger shone through Nektara’s eyes. She felt betrayed. “Why not?” What reason could Crismus possibly have to justify such an action? It was unthinkable!
The old owl did not flinch. This was the reaction he had expected and he was ready for it. “It is not what I see for you,” he replied.
Nektara was still angry, but she was also curious, “What do you mean? What is it that you see, exactly?”
Crismus stared unblinkingly at her. It was the same look he had given to the young fox whose hopes he had also had to dash earlier. “I see a storm brewing.” He permitted himself a wry moment, “And it is not the fury rising within your breast, if that is what you are thinking. Dark times are coming to Pelaria and I see you at the centre.”
The bear was taken aback by the revelation. “At the centre? Me? I swear I’ve never had a dark thought in my head! I couldn’t possibly be involved with what you see!”
Crismus smiled wanly, “As to the former, I have my doubts. As to the latter…” he paused for a moment, “…it is what I see.”
The sick feeling returned as Nektara asked, “So that’s why you withheld my application? Because I’m a bad fur?”
Crismus shook his head, “Dear Six no, child. It’s quite the opposite in fact.”
Nektara was confused, “But you said…”
Crismus interrupted her, “I said you would be at the centre of the dark times. However, I never said you would be the cause. You will have your part to play, as will the young companion who arrived with you.”
Her young companion? “Todrick?”
The old bird smoothed the feathers beneath his chin, making it seem as though he were trying to remember, when in fact he knew precisely the fox’s name. “I believe that was his name, yes.”
Nektara grew hopeful. She had only known the young fox for a short time, but there was something comforting about him. If they were in this together, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad! “You told Todrick to return to Verdant. Is that where I should go too? To meet up with him?”
Crismus shrugged his shoulders, “Your path may lead you to Verdant, but I should very much doubt that you will meet up with the fox there. I suspect he will be gone by the time you arrive.”
This was maddening. Why wouldn’t he just give her a straight answer? “So all you can tell me is that I’m going to be involved in some very bad things and that I’m going to have to face them alone?!”
“You put words in my beak, young bear,” Crismus replied calmly, “I never said you would face your destiny alone.”
That was something. “Okay, so I won’t be alone, but bad times are in my future. Isn’t there anything else you can tell me? Where I should go maybe?”
Crismus sighed, “Would that I could, young fur. But while I see many things, I do not see all things. I do not see your path, only the destination.”
“If you don’t know what path I’ll take, why are you so sure that it doesn’t involve me going to the Academy?” Nektara asked glumly.
The old bird smiled sadly, “A valid question. I do not know…” He drew himself up to his full height, which was not quite as tall as his guest, “…but I suspect. The dark times are coming and you will be needed out in the field. It is there that you will do me the most good, not with your nose buried in a book.”
“Then I’ll be working for you?” Nektara’s voice cracked. Working for Crismus was something she could take solace in, even if it was at the cost of her dreams.
“In a manner of speaking, yes,” the old bird allowed. “I have ever been an agent of good for Pelaria. Those who work for the cause, work with me.”
Nektara felt a little better, but not much. She had so many more questions to ask the old bird, but she didn’t think it was likely that she would get any answers…not any that she would find satisfactory at any rate.
“So that’s it, then?” she asked Crismus.
“Almost…” The owl circled around his desk and opened one of its drawers. From it, he withdrew a parchment which he then handed to Nektara. “I think you should have this. It’s the letter of recommendation I would have given to the Academy in your name had I not seen other things in your future.”
Nektara looked down at the parchment. Tears of sorrow mixed with joy rolled down her furry cheeks as she read the words. Crismus thought she was good enough. It couldn’t make up for the disappointment she felt knowing that she would never go to the Academy, but it was the next best thing.
“Thank you.”
Crismus shook his head again, “It is I who should be thanking you, young fur. You have taken this better than I could have imagined. Better than I would have in your paws,” he added. “But then I should have suspected. It’s there in your application. You are a bear of duty. I hope that our paths will cross many times more.” Sadly, he knew that they would not, but he could not bring himself to tell the young bear. She had received enough bad news for one day. Today, he could allow himself to enjoy her company for a little while longer.
Feb 032012
Nektara sat alone in the antechamber to Crismus’ domain. Todrick had left hours ago. The old owl had taken one look at the fox and pronounced that it was too soon for his visit and had sent him back to Verdant. Todrick had seemed disappointed, but Crismus told him there were others the fox needed to meet before the owl could answer his questions. They would be waiting for him back home. When the fox tried to ask who they were or how Crismus knew all this, the owl had turned away.
Nektara had heard that the Great Owl could be enigmatic. Furs rarely got a straight answer to their questions when they came to consult him. But sooner rather than later they all came to learn the truth within his riddled words. It’s why they continued to flock to him even though frustration was sure to be the result.
She was sorry to see Todrick go. He’d been a wonderful travel companion. He’d listened with rapt attention to everything she’d had to say. As far back as he could remember he’d lived in Verdant and her stories of the outside world, as modest as they were, fascinated him.
It seemed unusual to her that a fox would be from the City in the Treetops. Todrick himself had been at a loss to explain how it came to pass. He was an orphan with no memory of his family so there was no one he could turn to for answers. He’d hoped that Crismus might be able to help him, but the owl had turned him away.
Nektara missed his company now. After Todrick had been dismissed, she’d tried to introduce herself to the Great Owl. But Crismus had seemingly ignored her and turned back into his domain, leaving her quite alone to wait his leisure.
She was getting nervous again. She held her flute in her paws. She was hesitant to play it here. What if her playing disturbed Crismus and he dismissed her as he had Todrick? Well, maybe just a little tune. If she blew softly, maybe the Great Owl wouldn’t even notice! She took a chance and played.
“You are quite talented…” the aged voice said to her when the oursa had blown the final note.
Nektara nearly jumped out of her fur! Crismus was standing next to her and she hadn’t even noticed! How long had he been there? Was he angry to have been kept waiting? Had she blown her chance?
The old owl seemed to sense her anxiety and at once put her at ease, “Don’t worry, everything is as it should be. I’d been waiting for some time for you to start playing so I could come to greet you.”
Nektara blinked, “Excuse me, sir? I don’t understand.”
The owl shook his head, “There are no sirs, here. Just a tired old Crismus.”
“If you’re tired, I can come back another time….” Nektara offered.
Crismus smiled, “Nonsense. I tire with the weight of my years and that’s unlikely to change with a simple night’s sleep. Besides, you’ve waited long enough for what I have to say.”
Nektara was not convinced, “Are you sure? I really don’t mind! I have my sleeping roll with me, I can just sleep outside and wait until you’re feeling more refreshed.”
The Great Owl again shook his head, “It is time! If you would be so kind as to follow me.” He started to turn.
Nektara nodded, “Of course!” She was ready to follow the old owl anywhere. He was leading her to her destiny…
Dec 282011
Dec 282011
From the journal of Ardebast Raconteur :
The avian generally do not have a reputation for wisdom. There are exceptions of course, the most notable being Crismus the Owl. It is the common consensus that he is the wisest being in all of Pelaria. In addition to his great wisdom, he has also at times demonstrated a limited soothsaying ability. For these reasons, furs, scales and avian are willing to flock from all over Pelaria to his roost in northern Verdant to seek his counsel. Crismus’ knowledge of the future is far from absolute. Things normally come to him as feelings rather than visions. He is understandably reticent to provide any details unless he is certain of them. This will often make it hard to get a straight answer from him. I have heard him on more than one occasion say that while he may know your destination, it does not mean he knows which path you’ll take to get there.
In addition to providing advice to those who visit him, Crismus also serves as a member of the admissions council for the Academy. In fact, it was a much younger Crismus who signed my acceptance letter way back when. I have always therefore felt a special connection with the wise owl. I frequented him often in those school days, sometimes for advice, but more often just to discuss with him. Even now, I like to stop by just to talk and he always seems happy to see me. I think he appreciates having someone visit him who isn’t seeking his help.
Crismus does not readily speak of his past, though I’ve managed to glean bits and pieces from our conversations together over the years, such as the facts that he was born in Verdant and that has no surviving relatives. Also, although I am not positive, I believe he was a world traveller in his early days, much as I am now. He knows too much of the world to have been cooped up in Verdant his whole life. As for how long he travelled, or what convinced him to settle back down in Verdant, I have no idea however. It is my hope that someday he may open up to me. It would be fascinating to chronicle his life before he dies.
Carja’s Notes:
Considering his timely introduction in the Funnies, you might think that I created and named Crismus specifically for use at Christmastime. You would be wrong however. As I was brainstorming ideas for Age of Animus, I decided to use one of those classic tropes for stories involving anthropomorphic animals, namely that I would have a wise old owl that everybody comes to for advice. The name I gave him was Crismus (pronounced Criz-mus). I quickly realized that it was a possible homonym for Christmas, and I even debated whether I should change the name or not (obviously I chose not to).
Crismus first appears in Nektara’s introductory story, written in August 2011, pretty much as I originally envisioned him, a cryptic, old wise bird.
Then we skip ahead a few months to late November, when I’m wondering if I’m going to do anything for Christmas in the Funnies. I felt that there was no logical context for the characters to be celebrating Christmas and I didn’t want to go the Star Wars Christmas Special route and have them celebrate “Life Day” or something like that. It’s then that I decided to embrace the sound-alike nature of Crismus’ name and just have the animals get together to celebrate his birthday.