Fire crackles in the middle of the camp, huddled bodies circling the dancing flames. It was a tiny group, the one they called family. Mother Jasmine, Father Henry. The pair were blessed with 3 kids, Anthony, Isabella, and little Hank.

To round out the family was Henry’s mother, Victoria. All members of the family huddled the fire, warming their bare palms and heating the hides that had been washed. Hank, wrapped to the nose in furs had his eyes upward, fixed on a tree near the flame.

“What has your attention, boy?” Henry questioned, the harsh syllables of the native tongue grating to the ear. Hank only pointed at the top of the tree.

“That bird is just staring at me.” The boy of no more than seven responded.

Victoria, from Hank’s right side followed his view, and a small exhale escaped her, a frown creasing her eyes.

Henry’s eyesight traveled the same route from the mirrored angle, sitting across from the grandma and grandson, and quickly he snapped his gaze to his mother. She only nodded in response.

“I fear he’s not looking at YOU, my love.” Victoria said, patting at the thigh of the boy. Questions lined the boys forehead in the form of wrinkles as he scrunched his nose.

“How do you know?”

“Ah… when you’re older little one, you’ll understand. And one day, your very own crow will come for you. Tonight, mine has found me.”

Henry poked the fire with a stick, a mood clearly soured.

“When a person is born son,” He starts. “A crow is born alongside him. For the entirety of the pairs life, the crow will search for its human counterpart. Both lives cease, when the match is found.”

Victoria, at the withered age of 88 pointed a crooked finger at the bird.

“Took mine a while but alas, I’ve been paired.”

The frigid air had little effect on the mood compared to the new visitor, and the remainder of the night was spent In silence. Only Hank was unsure of entirely what was happening, the boy was wise beyond his years to know Grandma V was sad. The family embraced in a long hug, and parted to their tents for the night.

A bird call sliced through the darkness of sleep, and Victoria opened her eyes. She frowned, and stood up slowly. This was it? The great beyond was the same dingy camp they’d inhabited for the last couple weeks. She cursed, and exited the tent, finding Henry warming some fresh rabbit on the spit. He nearly collapsed upon making eye contact.

“M-mom? I was going to prepare the grave tonight you’re… you’re alive? Were you denied the Great Beyond where you… you’re alive?” He repeated, frowning confusion at his mother.

“My boy I’m unsure what has happened… I feel very much the same. But that can’t be last night, the crow found me last night?”

Victoria and Henry took one extra breath to look for each other, and then dashed towards Hank’s tent.