I told the stars about you, Caribou.

Spring had sprung in all far flung corners of the world. All four corners that had all four seasons that is. The lands of ice remained as cold, and the deserts scorched from times of old, but there in the garden of bonsai and blossom, a grand tea house stood still, golden but forgotten.

In between realms there lays a lot that is lost, in places untold, filled with spirits and ghosts. And this particular house was a place of refuge for those, a place to sit and drink tea, and decide the next place to go.

The tea master of the house, was the wisest of rats. He was royalty after all, under a dynasty of cats. They kept him as a familiar for his wisdom was vast, but in the regal cats eyes, he’d always be second class, but not to his visitors! That came for his exceptional tea, souls from realms within realms, that wished to see more clearly.

The tea master was named Hiroshi, and his favourite guest was due soon, as the creatures of the garden gathered to see the caribou. The Flying Caribou was indeed a grand sight to behold, and his majestic merchant ship looked just as legend told, as he descended from the clouds, onto the water down below, his expression warm and proud, to share all you could ever know.

“Hiroshi! My dear tea master, I’ve been waiting to talk to you, to sit in your golden splendour, to taste a wistful brew” the caribou smiled his moosy smile, and sat down with his dear friend. “I’ll settle in for a little while, until you can tell me how my story ends..”

He picked up the finest tea cup, made from delicate gold and bone, and took a thirsty sip into the unknown.

He handed his tea cup to Hiroshi, who looked down at the unfurled leaves. “Don’t listen to the voice who’s only aim is to deceive!” the rat warned with greatest haste, as he poured another cup for the caribou to taste.

The caribou sipped lightly, and then deeper as the tea felt right.

“I told the stars about you caribou, as I looked up into the night. I saw this tea formation coming, as the stars aligned for you, your soul is soon returning, it’s coming back to you.”

“Is that the one I listen to?” asked the curious caribou.

“You’ll know what to do…” said the rat, as they sat and sipped more tea.

Fin.