A Midnight Affair

   It was well beyond the realm of midnight and I was at my wit's end. I sat in the crotch of a particularly large tree, leaves ebony daggers in the slim moonlight, gnarled beyond belief. My discussions all throughout the day had left me drained and angry. My compatriots and fellows (how damned I am to call them so! Humans!) all left me with more questions and no answers, a labyrinth of riddles that made my brain boil and ache. Too many viewpoints, too many shades of grey, too little black and white. Had no one a definite opinion on humanity? A simple question; are humans inherently good or evil? begins a long winded debate where the parties involved are merely trying to get their assertions heard.
    Here, I was alone and cold, free from the debacles of humanity. The grass was cool and slightly damp to my fingers, legs stretched outwards, head tilted up to the stars, partially obscured by the canopy of the tree. I watched the bark of it, so shiny in the starlight, for what felt like hours until I realized I was not alone. Along the length of the tree crept a small spider, suspended on small sterling thread. I rose up my hand, fingers splayed wide, and took up the creature, gently!, in my palm.
    "I would very much like to be put down," it huffed in protest as I brought my hand up to my eyes.
    "Maybe you can help me," I gently suggested.
    "And why would I do that? After being manhandled?"
    "Because," I offered. "I will let you go about your way if you answer one question."
    The spider's eyes flickered with an inner flame and it crossed one leg over another.
    "One question. Let's here it."
    I smiled and nodded. "Tell me, little one, do you feel that humans are naturally good or evil?"
    The spider sat motionless, staring at me with it's numerous eyes. What it was considering, if anything, I could not tell. I only sat and watched as the spider watched me in turn, mandibles rubbing together as a hand rubs a chin.
     "Humans being good or evil? I say they are evil." replied the spider.
     I perked up greatly at this. "Oh? And why do you say that."
    "You promised only one question."
    "I apologize, I - "
    "Humans destroy the forests, hunt animals to indulge in luxuries, rather than need, and exterminate my brethren. And they paint us as the repulsive ones! Hah!"
    "I see. Well, thank you," I said as I placed the spider back on the tree.
    It lingered there before pointing with one of it's arms, the spindly tip a crooked and hairy silhouette in the dark.
    "Ah, there is a friend. Ask him if you found my answer unhelpful."
    And with that, the spider was gone, back up in the uppermost reaches of the trees boughs. But I looked where he pointed and watched the grass sway in something's path. Not before long I saw it, a long, dull brown snake, winding it's way up to me. I moved onto my feet, bent over and took the creature up in my hands. It curled around my wrist, vivid red tongue flicking in and out, head raised. It's eyes, like a cat's, stared into my own.
    "Your friend - the spider - said maybe you can help me."
    "The spider says many at thing. To match those legs of his, no doubt," the snake hissed. "But I can help you how?"
     "Just a question,"
     "Humans are too curious." the snake's head bobbed and shook lightly. "But nevertheless, ask."
     "Do you think, snake, that humans are good or evil?"
     The snake's head was tossed back and it let out a laugh. It's eyes bespoke of glee and, possibly, acrimony - I could never tell. It stayed silent for a moment.
      "You are serious?" it questioned.
      "Quite so,"
      "Evil." was the laconic reply.
      "Why?"
      "Too curious, for one," said the snake, voice dripping acid. "And befall temptation easily. Was it a human that took the apple? I believe so."
       I agreed and placed the snake back on the ground. She curled between my feet a moment and shook her head.
       "The opinions of a snake and spider may not mean much. But I know of another who may help."
       She pointed with her head to the uppermost branches of the tree, where a pair of eyes have been watching the whole exchange. I was discomforted because I had not seen them before; the creature had been so still and silent, like a shadow amidst the darkness of night, that it went undetected by me until now. Had it heard everything?
       "Ask the raven. He is wise in the ways of the world and men. He will give you the answer you seek."
       And with that, the snake had slithered away into the sea of grass, glimmering with studs of dew in the moonlight, leaving me and the silent, watchful bird alone in the darkness beneath the tree. The raven regarded me solemnly and I, too, did regard him in a similar fashion. But the silence was agonizing and so I spoke first.
       "Master raven," I beseeched. "Will you answer a question?"
       "You will ask regardless, I think," said the raven. "Pose your question, human."
       "Thank you. Tell me, do you believe humans to be naturally good or evil?"
       The raven shifted on his perch and then hopped to another branch. His eyes never left me the whole time and it made my skin raise bumps. The hairs on the back of my neck rose and a sudden chill shot down my spine.
       "As the spider said, humans destroy nature - the home from whence they sprang - and slaughter animals for no need mercilessly. As quoth the snake, humans are too curious and, as such, befell temptation. They desecrated the garden by eating the apple and, so, were cast out to become the miserable creatures they are today. But does that make them evil?" the raven asked.
       "I would say so, yes," I volunteered in hope of getting approval.... but the raven was silent.
       "That," it finally spoke. "Is why humans are naturally evil."
      And with that, it flapped it's wings and began to took flight. I started to panic. So close to an answer and yet so far! I couldn't let him escape! I reached up and grasped one of his talons, holding him in place.
      "Why? What makes us evil?" I implored.
      "Humans, so quick to judge, to anger, to resort to brutality. You've proven that to me."
      I was struck dumbfounded and so let him go. I watched him become a dark blot against the white moon before disappearing. I watched, wide eyed and then returned to the crotch of the tree.

Reviews

[Pi Cee]

Isn't it so odd... To have truth lashed in your face in the most simplest terms.