Ten for a bird, you must not miss...

The sun was up and it was a beautiful day.  As Hewy was strolling through the countryside, he noticed the small signs that indicated the locals were preparing for the day which falls midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.   Soon it will be May 1st and Beltane celebrations would begin, not just in the Shadows' Realm but also for the townsfolk in the Village on the Wall.  

​The celebration honors spring at its peak and the coming summer but also gives everyone a terrific reason to be outside after the long winter months.  Singing, dancing, and Maypoles will be everywhere.  Then, of course, there will be the big bonfire when it starts to get dark where stories and more singing occurs.

"And I don't have any new music written still," he mused to himself.  "What good is a master musician without a song?"  This was not the first time he told himself this and it probably won't be the last.  Seeing a tree stump, Hewy decided to sit for a while and work on the latest tune that was stumbling through his head.  He used the word 'stumbling' because the tune was still jumping from here to there and usually falling flat.

​As he worked on the tune, he pulled out his drumsticks and started tapping them on the stump.  A magpie bird that had been sitting in a tree looked down on him when he started thumping on the stump, but realizing he did not have any food to share, promptly began to ignore him.

Lost in his creative thoughts, Hewy did not notice the even larger blue bird approaching up behind him. "Ahem... Hi Hewy," the blue bird said as it cleared his throat to get Hewy's attention.  Startled, Hewy turned and finally noticed Nemmer watching him tap on the tree.  "Oh, hi Nemmer.  What brings you out this fine day?" 

​"I hate to disturb you Hewy, but have you happened to see anything peculiar or hear of any rumors of something strange being seen in the forest lately?" asked Nemmer.  (If you remember, when we last saw Nemmer he was still searching for  the Wish Dragon, Hungry.)

"No I haven't heard of nor seen anything out of the ordinary recently," replied Hewy, "other than your CAT."  Nemmer replied as he stomped his foot, "It's not my CAT!  If it wasn't for the stupid Petal Post from the Sleeping Sisters, I could be back at my cottage practicing my archery instead of looking for Hungry."

Petal Post and Sleeping Sisters - now that sounded like an interesting story Hewy thought. "You're hungry? I will help you find something to eat while you tell me all about it," Hewy offered Nemmer.  Now Nemmer was one to never turn down a meal when offered even though he knew that Hewy had misunderstood him.  But he was really too hungry to care.

"It's a deal.  Put away those drumsticks of yours and lets go see if we find some real ones to eat," Nemmer answered hungrily.

As they walked off to find lunch,  Nemmer could hear Hewy humming a song.  "What's that your humming," he asked.

"Oh, it's a little something that I heard the other day and seeing you reminded me of the little tune.  It goes something like this."

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret,
Never to be told.
Eight for a wish,
Nine for a kiss,
Ten for a bird,
You must not miss.

Nemmer started chuckling causing Hewy to ask what was so funny.  "Well, of course I have to be the tenth bird that you shouldn't miss!" replied Nemmer.  "There seems to be a prophecy hidden in your song, Hewy.  What do you think?"  

​As Hewy and Nemmer walked off discussing the hidden meaning to the song, the magpie that had been sitting in the tree flew off to report to the Sleeping Sisters.