Tarot
1. Fool
He steadies himself after his leap through the worlds. Standing firmly on the earth, he takes a deep breath enjoying the smell of the wet grass rushing to greet him.
How wonderful, this world! How wonderful the green push of life through the soles of his feet and into the place where his heart would be – if he had one.
He laughs, electricity crackling to the horizon. Far off, the others respond with a deep-throated roll of thunder which catches the edge of the world and sets it trembling.
It has begun.
Streaks of dawn turn his eyes to pearl. He blinks, momentarily forgetting everything in the crazy dance of light against dark, life against shadow. He sighs, wipes down his black, high-collared coat and reaches for the top hat that fell from his head as he landed, unusually for him, somewhat askew.
He brushes it off and gently sets the blue-backed scarab beetle that journeyed with him, on a stalk of high grass. He looks to the tumultuous sky, and running a soft-gloved hand through disheveled dark hair he smiles a smile to conquer the world.
Pulling his hat down on his head, he feels a sudden urge to dance. To kick up his heels as he’s seen them do at small gatherings where emotions run high and spirits run low. But he doesn’t dance, not yet. Maybe when he reaches the town and finds a tavern or a pub or a bar or whatever it is they call their watering holes. He never has a problem finding his way to a watering hole. He can sniff them out like a dog to a bone, a bear to honey, a Reading to the Reader.
The raven arrives, his black feathered familiar and friend. She perches on top of his hat. “Come,” she seems to say. “Your Reader awaits. You must find and woo her well.”
“Always!” the Fool replies as they set to walking. He knows the purpose of his fine form here. He’s made to be irresistible. His own free spirit bound up in a raw beauty that humans have forgotten. He knows the power of laughter and the pull of the mystery he exudes.
He also knows he is late and for this Reading, at least, he doesn’t have time to lose.