Agreed that Merrasir would come for him
Next morning, sure to hide the farming tools
Khazemil set his jaw, despondent, grim
And wound back to his home amid the fools
All bound by those supposed ancient rules
"Oh Khazemil, without me, what to eat?"
The vague internal voice did not repeat
That night the lightbulb's sickly yellow haze
Found praise from Khazemil, a longing word
"Return! I miss the perfect golden blaze!"
For in its death, beyond the circle stirred
A rising sound, a murmuring absurd
The rumbling of wind on shattered walls
The eyes, the empty eyes and waterfalls
"I wished for different visions, now I see
Obsidian and blood so far away!
The mask! In crying blood it speaks to me;
A fox's mask, then death to disobey?
What eidolon rokhem—I pray to prey?"
Enveloped in the swelling, formless noise
Blood contours of the mask held counterpoise
Quite suddenly, a rush from just behind
A jarring crack, his hindpaws shook and slipped
Collapsing through constructions in his mind
The fox saw fleeting scenes, a charnel crypt
Before the stones, ink, blood, and bones were ripped
He heard a step, he shot up from his nest
The dog was there to rouse him from his rest
"We must forsake the village, Khazemil."
"The punishment is never to return!"
"Your fear is not misplaced, but even still—"
"The ancient spirits wander there and yearn—"
"Stop. Khazemil, the field has to burn."
The fox looked at his friend, whose jaw was set
And felt his neck-fur rising at the threat
But Merrasir was ready, moving back
Between the fox and scythe he stood in place
"Get dressed, and make yourself a travel-pack.
We must maintain a fast and steady pace,
For I expect an unrelenting chase."
With that, the dog swept out and took a breath
For he had seen the selfsame eyes of death
"No, Khazemil! Without me, what to eat?"
"Be quiet, lying voice, the day has come."
"What spirits would you foolishly deplete?
Your everything, young fox, tradition from
The ancients carries quite a heavy sum."
"How could I see such truth from on my knees,
When I have never gone beyond the trees?"
❦