Meandering along the riverbanks of Ethecorra’s forests, if you keep a steady watch and stay quiet, you may find the Duskrain Heron.
A tall, elegant wader known for his deep, blue-grey plumage. Despite his ordinary appearance though, he is not just any bird.
It’s said that his plumage darkens just before rainfall, and the deeper the colour, the heavier the storm to come. If you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him, then this is when you’re most likely to see him, or so the legend goes. He’s drawn to the rivers by an instinct to hunt, just before the first drop falls.
The Duskrain Heron, however, prefers the light of the moon over the light of the sun. Nocturnal by nature, he waits patiently at misty riverbanks for his prey to wander too close. Few have seen him without a storm, for his dark plumage blends in exceptionally well with the soft shadows of night. Those who do catch glimpses of him rarely see him clearly, but many have heard his haunting cry echo across the waters.
Legend says that the Duskrain Heron once had a pale, lightly coloured plumage. He wandered by the light of the sun, but when the first great storm struck the earth the rain overwhelmed him, burying him beneath the muddy riverbank. For days, he lay beneath the mud and water. When he rose at last, his feathers were no longer pale.
Fish that once swam close now saw his silhouette clearly, fleeing in the sunlight.
His prey no longer came near.
And so, one evening, he waited until the light was fading and the water no longer reflecting a bright blue sky, before he tried something new. He waited until dusk before beginning his hunt.
And beneath the light of the almost new moon, he found his first full meal since he had risen from the mud.
~ Nerien.