why the raven

In the dream, an elephant chased a bumblebee, and it galloped in a way that elephants cannot. Across the grassland to the far horizon, until even the elephant disappeared. The sky swirled pink and blue as the sun set, slowly. But then school was starting and they were late.

Jaq woke slowly like a sun rises, but with less glowing, perhaps. Their head was still in the clouds, though their eyes were resting on their dogs. The brown dog snored. Her name was Rocks, and she was barrel-chested, wasp-waisted, face-smashed, and about the size of a small pony. The black dog, Boo, was daintily curled against Rock's back. She could have been that pony's foal. She was all legs and lean; her face came to a delicate taper and her body had spotty white points. Her dirty socks, Jaq thought. But what Jaq said, was "do I really have to do this again?" Boo peered at Jaq.

"Guess I do."

They got up, let the dogs out into the yard, prepped breakfast for everyone but themself, and applied their warpaint.