Visions in the Fog

Raven went to visit Petrel, it had been a long time since they’d seen each other. Raven once stole all of Petrel’s water from his natural spring where Petrel lived. Petrel retaliated by using his Fog hat to lock Raven in a dense fog. It was so disorienting that Raven was lost and could not find his way out for many days.

So, Raven went back to Petrel. He fooled Petrel by smearing Dog feces on Petrel’s behind as they slept through the night. Upon waking Raven told Petrel that he’s soiled himself in the middle of the night. Petrel flew away to clean himself up. While Petrel was away Raven spied the Fog hat, took it and left Petrel’s home.

Raven came upon a building and asked out loud, what is this place? A Flicker told Raven that this was an institution. What’s that, Raven asked. The Flicker told Raven of a time when they would send the Indian children there to try and convert them and make them white. Those who didn’t succeed perished or were killed and then buried in this meadow. Raven was confused because he saw no grave sites. Flicker said that was on purpose so that no one would know.

Raven suddenly felt the souls of all the children crying out and telling him of their story. Raven felt so sad that he vowed to avenge them. He placed the Fog Hat in the meadow where all the children were buried and imbued it with spirit and power. Now all who pass by the meadow are imbued with a haze of sorrow.

Eventually someone investigated the site and found the remains of all the children. And now the people know what happened there.

- Preston Singletary