Day One Jar-ed finds the tree

Jared always explored just a bit further than most other ravens. He looked at things obsessively. What was over here? Over there? Look at that spot, wait, there's lunch?

It just came natural, he had been lucky to have a father that had trained him well on how to look for prey.

These days his scanning had become so expert that he didn't need to eat every target he saw. He had lots of free time to think about the best way to do things. He thought about how he could find a mate, a spot to nest, how to protect a nest, how to never be surprised by a predator. He tried some of the ideas he came up with. Most of them worked.

And, without any explicit focus on it, his hunting skills improved even further, to the point that Jared didn't need to think about it any more, at all.

Knowing he could kill and eat at will, and trusting this skill set in himself had major positive benefits in how he could enjoy the world around him. He was never bothered much by the social dominance chatter from others, and others soon found little in him to belittle or mock.

Quite simply, Jar-ed knew abundance, and respect from others for his complete ability to handle all social challenges gracefully. Jar-ed, being extra cautious, made sure to constantly practice his scanning and hunting skills a bit, so the abundance feeling could always be trusted within himself.

Grace and ruthlessness became ideals that mattered to Jar-ed, they were complimentary attitudes and practicing the balance between them and when to do what became very important to him. To pay attention. To figure out exactly what it took to be a top raven. To eat well, at will, and woo well, at will. Jar-ed knew he was on a good path, and his personal inquiry on how to get better was worthy, and continuing it was all that was required.

Jared belonged to a flock of adolescents, male and female, 150 of them. The flock was overwhelmingly young ones, unattached, perhaps unrefined, along with a few older vagrants that had hopes, still, of grasping towards the path to making it.

Yesterday, the flock had decided (as it did) that easy food at its last spot was meager and had led to unnecessary unrest within the flock.

So the ravens, following the flock signal, and took off and traveled at first light for several hours. It wandered west those many many miles to the edge of the pine trees that had suddenly became much more prevalent on the landscape below and around them. It was a very stark change in scenery, the pine trees stretching up, and frankly, dominating the grass land from which they emerged and that appeared in very small open patches to the flying flock. Almost all of the pine trees were thin, with a few that had managed to claim a larger plot of land to set somewhat deeper roots and therefore could afford to have its trunk be larger in diameter and its branches spread out a bit wider than most of the other trees.

How does a flock decide to stop? No one knew, and no one asked more than once, after the blank stare from the raven they had dared ask landed. The flock stopped, and in truth there were plenty of trees for perches and things were just fine. It all depended on the food.

Jar-ed, as he did, explored around right away.

Over there was a pathway that the wolves had made, that corresponded to what little light managed to reach ground through that small gap in trees, might as well follow it... what's this? A clearing? What? In the middle of all of this?

A massive clearing at least 1/2 mile long appeared just over a ridge that had provided just enough cover for the flock to not see it.

There was a tree across the way that stood out, alone, in the middle of the clearing. It was rare to see such a round tree around here, Jar-ed thought. And what was that big branch at the top of it?

No birds were around. No one. Jar-ed covered the distance seemingly in an instant and sat at the very tip top of the branch appendage. He waited and watched. Who else was here? No need to hide now, he wanted any neighbors to see him and show themselves in return.

Time passed. No one appeared, bird or ground creature.

Why?

It was so beautiful here. He waited.

He decided to hop inside the tree.

He could only hop three or four steps before he stopped in amazement.

For he was standing on a robust branch that was part of the top of a spidery network of robust tree branches, all emanating from that amazing tree trunk. Spots everywhere, just waiting for ravens to perch on them and nuzzle each other! Lots of spots! Everywhere! Comfy! Reasonable!

Light dots streaming from the sky. Tiny brown spots on the big green leaves, big leaves which made handy walls for private conversations. And there were also small, beautifully designed compact leaves, adorned with geometric patterns and glowing with life. Those leaves made everything better to look at, influencing the whole scene with artistic pleasure.

Jar-ed began hopping at a leisurely pace, and just kept going throughout the whole tree, wanting to see everything, how it all looked and felt. He danced at times, he did a bit of wing flapping and hopping, he cawed into the air, and generally had himself the best time a raven could have and be alone.

He hopped back up to the tip top of the extended branch. If there was going to be any visitors, now would be the time.

Sure enough, he saw a male raven a good ways away.

Jar-ed thought, just be yourself and think you don't need to fight. He's far enough away. Jar-ed looked for the glint in the other raven's eye and met it with his own gaze, and connected.

Nothing happened afterwards. No movement at all. No tension, but no movement to leave the scene either.

Jar-ed dived back down into the tree. Whatever more fun he could have, he was up for it. He would deal with that dude if he needed to, but he doubted he would need to. Why encourage hostilities?

He hopped only 4 times. This spot here, in front, near the top and the branch. That's where he imagined living. Why not? Why not now?

And with that, he took off back to the gaggle. Now was the time to test his credibility with others. It was only five minutes away, which was more than enough time to think of who to approach and what to say to them.

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Jar-ed saw a candidate right away, and he allowed himself only one circle of the area to gather whatever feelings and thoughts might help, and he touched down next to Frait.

J: Frait I'm Jar-ed

F: Yes you are.

J: There's a tree. I need you to see it. It's amazing.

F: A tree.

Jar-ed paused. This was the moment. No need to wreck it with extra intensity, or any other weird emotion.

J: It's so beautiful the flock needs to know. I'm formally asking you to follow me to witness what I've found.

Frait turned to get his best view of Jar-ed. A healthy, bigger than you first think specimen was all he saw. So.

F: Do you want one more?

Jar-ed relaxed something he didn't know was tense, and nodded affirmatively.

J: Perhaps you could recommend someone...

Frait could, and did, and it went well.

Jar-ed couldn't have hoped for any better outcome, and he faced Frait and his comrade, took a moment to bark...

J: Gentlemen, we should be there in 10 minutes...

...and leapt into the air. The others followed.

----

After the obvious became obvious to the other two as well, and all of them had enjoyed the tree to their satiation, Jar-ed landed next to Frait.

J: Next up is talking to others.

Frait(nodding): I'll back you up. This is amazing.

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Jar-ed took the lead again back to the flock, and landed next to a triad.

J: A tree! A tree! A tree! It's beautiful!

The birds hopped away from the commotion. Jar-ed tried to follow them to no avail.

F: Wait a moment or two before you start squawking!

Jar-ed paused to consider Frait's words, and conceded the point. He took off again and landed next to a few others. He waited for Frait to land, and stayed silent for a good five seconds.

But then, loudly enough to be overheard, he started exclaiming to Frait:

J: That tree! The tree! That tree! It's amazing! Amazing! That tree!

...and again:

J: That tree! The tree! That tree! It's amazing! Amazing! That tree!

Sure enough, another raven came up.

Other raven: What tree?

J: Do you want to see? Frait has seen it!

F: I have. And this is a formal testifying to you.

The other raven reacted with his neck moving to express his surprise.

OR: You are seconding this raven's story?

F: I am. It's an amazing tree.

OR: Really? Ok...

Jar-ed and Frait stayed still.

OR: Let's go see!

The other raven gestured to his 3 companions. A quartet in total, intrigued!

Jar-ed nudged Frait!

The four hopped up to them.

Jared asked: "Ready?"

Feeling their silent assent, Jar-ed did not hesitate, and jumped. The others were off milliseconds later.