What colorful, evocative writing, @penderis. You create a strong mood in this story, and rather arresting characters in the old man and the crow. I don't really know what the orbs are, but the story is carried on the imagery, and the sense that something mystical is happening. A very enjoyable piece! I spend most of my Hive time in The Ink Well community, but I'm also trying to regularly venture out to find fiction being published outside of our community too!