The sprawling green land was glorious from high up in the sky. Between the fluffy clouds the sun bathed everything below in warm light, and the snowy mountain tops glittered. I could just about see the blue rivers on the land weaving like branches all the way to the oceans. I never got bored of seeing it all.

Most of my time was spent diving around giant clouds bursting with water or soaring higher and higher until the land below became smaller than my beak, and other lands far away of green and brown came into view. I hadn’t ever flown that far before, a deep pull kept me to the same patch of skies. It was lonely sometimes, but I didn’t mind, as the lands beneath me were fascinating. I knew little about them, and ever so often I’d fly closer to try and glean more knowledge. However, the lives of suzaku weren’t easy. The great vermillion bird of the skies, wings spreading wide, so much that we could block sunlight if we flew high enough. But flying low, was a different matter. Even the youngest suzaku were too big to fly low to the lands.

In the past it had been attempted, a brave suzaku had circled lower until the tips of his wings brushed against tree-filled mountain tops, setting them ablaze, and in return he’d frightened the beings down there. The sun god herself, Amaterasu, had intervened, banishing him back up where we belonged. She’d bestowed two things before she left, to sate his curiosity. The beings below were called humans, the same form which she took, and our role was to protect them with our great wings. Up here we kept the skies clear, and only shared it with the gods residing in their sky castle.

I’d been told the story as a small suzaku and it’d always stayed with me. And now, it was all I could think about. Every time I flew I found myself edging closer to the lands to catch a peek of something new. I wanted to see them too, the humans, living down there between the land trees.

The other suzaku had noted my attempts at getting closer, following me in secret. I’d thought I’d been alone all this time until they summoned me to the great sky tree.

Not far from the god’s sky castle spread the biggest tree in the skies; bare branches spread wide, their leaves had dropped centuries ago. I’d landed down on the rocky expanse it clung to, looking up at the elders. Four of them perched on the thick branches, their wings now too old to carry them far.

“You know the rules, we cannot stray too close to the lands. You’re a being of fire, you remember what happened in our past.” The oldest suzaku spoke firmly, there was no ignoring his words. His red feathers now grew white from age, and none of us knew exactly how old he was. “You cannot get close to them. We are not like them. Stay up here where we belong.”

But that was precisely the point. I knew what we were, I knew all the other birds in the sky, from the cranes to the sparrows, but I didn’t know anything about the humans.

I’d flown away disheartened, trying to ignore the pull in my mind to go searching once again. Instead of flying lower, I kept on to the furthest reaches I’d ever been. Further than the last sky tree, where the oceans spread out far. And now this is where I stayed, alone, watching below as the lands changed. Trees grew greener as seasons passed until the snow blanketed the land again. It fell from the thick clouds around me, plummeting down on the humans.

  Now the warm sun drowned itself in the seas of the world once more, bringing darkness to the sky. It would return again soon enough, birthing from the waters anew. In the meantime, I planned to go in search of the closest sky tree. The sun’s power was weaker during this season, and I couldn’t fly as long without resting; when day broke the rays would boost my energy so I could fly again.

Other suzaku had flown south to chase after heat but I preferred the cold of the winter. I loved the chill along my feathers, the biting iciness threatening to seize my muscles and send me downwards. Some days, it was almost tempted to let happen.

In the darkness, the bright moon shone a cold light. It was higher up in the sky than I’d ever flown, but many had tried to reach it. Every suzaku who tried had failed, giving in to exhaustion long before they got close. Some had even died to the folly, their lifeless bodies dropping out of the sky. Now the elders forbid it because of danger, and fear the gods would return to punish us.

  “Suzaku.”

A deep voice called in the air, riding along a zephyr of wind. I scanned around for the source, but in the vast open night sky I was alone. Even the clouds had vanished.

“Suzaku.”

I flapped my wings harder, panic rising. Was there a hidden suzaku out there? Suddenly the moonlight brightened, white light blinding, forcing me to close my eyes. I relied on wind currents against my feathers to keep me afloat. It wouldn’t keep me safe for long; I had to see again.

Eventually, the light seemed to dim behind my eyelids, so I tried cracking them open. The moon and its light had returned to normal. I opened my eyes fully and paused. Now in the skies, bathed in moonlight, hovered a strange wingless figure. His black body merged with the night, only illuminated by the moon. Was this a god, one with the same form as humans? I stared incredulously as next to him grew a sky tree from nothing, dark branches spreading out wide and leafless.

Definitely a god.

What had I done wrong?

“Perch here,” the creature said in the same voice that rode the wind before. “I want to talk to you.”

Now I had a decision. I knew better than to trust strange creatures, especially ones which appeared in the sky, but… if he was a god, I couldn’t ignore him.

I knew the other suzaku would be furious; they’d scold me again and again for not flying away, however, curiosity got the better of me. I circled the newly formed sky tree before slowing my wing beats and approaching. The branches were wide enough for me to land and tuck my wings snug against my body. Almost too perfect. Sky trees always grew wild and made nesting difficult.

“Who are you?” I demanded. “What are you? What is this place?”

“My name is Tsukuyomi, god of the moon.” The deep voice called to me. “I reside in its light. The form I take is human, as I have many people who I guide down on the lands of Yamato. I made this tree so that we may speak, if you’ll allow me.”

Tsukuyomi floated up and joined me on the sky tree, choosing a smaller branch. I could see him better now, his face was flat and round like the moon, and his black body was covered in grey patterns, and even sparkled at the edges. It was amazing that unlike suzaku, he had no wings! I wanted to just reach out and peck at where his feathers should be, seeing what actually was there. I almost did until I met his eyes which were small and black, but pierced their way through me. From them, I could sense no animosity, so I relaxed a little.

“Great suzaku of the skies, protector of the lands beneath, of Yamato. I’ve watched you all for so long, watched how my sister scolded your curiosity and love for below. Yes, suzaku are large, filling the skies with your wings, but that shouldn’t stop you from exploring what is dear to your hearts. How can you protect what you don’t know? It’s only natural that you want to know more.”

“It’s safer up here,” I parroted the elders. “We can’t hurt or frighten the humans.”

“This may be true, or just my sister’s words. But even gods can be wrong. Great suzaku, gods have many gifts, powers over nature. I can change the moon as I see fit, I can create what I wish, and… I could help you. Do you want to go and see the humans? Without the issues you worry about. That’s not outside of my powers.”

“Help me?” I mulled over his words. I couldn’t deny that I still wanted to get closer to the humans, to learn more, but would I have to forsake my form now? It was all I knew…

Tsukuyomi moved closer and reached out to my deep red feathers, touching them lightly. I froze. How dare he touch me, a suzaku? We ruled the sky! In anger, I pecked him! My beak tapped against his chest, pushing him away. And yet, he didn’t move. He kept his connection, and from his touch came a warmth that spread around my body. A warmth that soothed my muscles, my insides, my mind. I wanted to fear him, fear what was happening to me, but a calmness washed over me.

“Here. Take this mere fraction of my power. Use it however you wish, whether that is going to visit Yamato or even making yourself immortal, whatever you desire. A gift to atone for my sister’s punishment.”

“Immortality?” I ruffled my feathers at him. “There is very little up here that can hurt me! Only age will take my life, eventually. You know this.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not.” He let go of me and floated again until his eyes met mine. “There are many gods, and not all of them have your best interests in mind. Nor mine.”

“And what do you get from this?” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “Such a gift is never given lightly.”

“An alliance. I need protection, and who better to ask than the great sky protectors themselves. I offer you enough power to make many smaller choices, or a big one. That is your choice. Whatever you choose, I ask you help me when I need it, come when I call, and help me in the fight against my enemies. I will do the same for you. Call for me, and I’ll answer if I can.” I stared at him. “Don’t worry,” he added quickly. “I won’t be asking you for anything too big. I hoped suzaku could watch out for threats against me, against humans on Yamato.”

I’d never fought for anything before, how was I supposed to help a god?

“I… I’m used to being alone, I don’t know how to do what you need.” I glanced downwards at Yamato. He was offering all that I wanted.
“All you need to do is watch for now. I’ll explain more in time,” his voice soothed. “Wouldn’t you rather go see them, the humans?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then go see them. And find me once you have an answer,” Tsukuyomi said, nodding his head. “Or once you have used your gift.”

I froze as Tsukuyomi’s power pulsed through my veins. I could feel it, a great strength aching to be used. It wouldn’t take much to just reach for it and choose.
I looked down towards the green land below – Yamato, he’d called it. If I was a smaller bird I could flit around undetected, free to explore as I wished. A sparrow, that’s what I’d be. I wouldn’t dare changing into a human myself, the thought terrified me.

Pausing, I asked gently, “but what if I don’t like it? I won’t be able to change back.”

“Let me,” he said, reaching for me once more. “What do you want?”

“To be a sparrow.”

I want to see the humans.

One thought and the world changed. The branches of the sky tree now grew wider and climbed higher; the chill air which I normally loved along my wings now cut deep. I turned my head to look at myself and my red feathers were now a dappled brown. I was, indeed, a sparrow.

Tsukuyomi reached out to me once more, lifting me into his warm not-feathered appendage. I touched it with my now short beak. It certainly wasn’t a wing. In fact it was soft, softer even than the fluffy feathers that lined my belly.

“You’ll freeze at these heights like that.” Tsukuyomi said, his voice warm. “Up here is not suitable for a sparrow at all, even here in my hand. Let me help.”

He took his other not-wing-hand and brought them together, covering me in darkness.

This is help? I can’t escape! You tricked me!

I pecked at anything my beak touched, flapping my wings wildly trying to escape. Again and again I looked for any escape, trying to find even the smallest gap until I eventually stopped in an exhausted mess. I should have listened to the other suzaku. It was my fault for being too curious.

Tsukuyomi’s power still flowed through my body, however. I could feel it coursing around my veins. Should I use it to return to my true body? Was that a trick too?
Slowly, the darkness lifted and I shot into the air, beating my wings furiously. Away from my prison, I escaped into warm air that had lifted me up and up. I didn’t recognise anything. The clear sky was gone, as was Tsukuyomi. Now the sun rose and I was surrounded by so many strange shapes and smells and—

I crashed along the ground with a hard thump. I wasn’t used to such different wings. Quickly righting myself, I jumped up and looked around. My beloved skies were now up higher than I’d ever seen them. Am I…?

Once I’d calmed enough, I looked around again, now realising I must be down on Yamato. Tsukuyomi hadn’t lied at all. I was a fool.

But I was here! Down where the humans lived. There was so much to see, to smell, to hear, all of it was overloading my senses. There were trees down here too, full of leaves like new sky trees. And somewhere other birds called to one another, singing unrecognisable words. On the ground, crawling beings made their way through stalks of green. Another bird shot down from a tree, pecking at one of the crawling creatures, gulping it down its narrow beak.

Why would they do that? Did beings attack much more down here? I flew up into a tree for safety, just in case. The branches were as sturdy as sky trees, although were much straighter than the twisting ones in the sky. From here I could see more of them, as far as I could see. Perhaps this is where the sky trees came from? We certainly didn’t have this many, and more of them crumbled to nothing all the time.

I watched out for any birds coming close, not knowing if any were safe to be around. Now I was so much smaller, any of them could grab me. Was it foolish to turn into a sparrow? What if I came all this way just to be snatched away by claws and—

I really needed to find the humans, perhaps they could offer me protection. Though where they lived, I didn’t know; I didn’t see any here in the trees… I should have asked before leaving. Though, Tsukuyomi should still help me now, if he could hear me calling. Time to try.

“Tsukuyomi,” I called into the air. “Where are the humans?”

Silence.

I ruffled my feathers in annoyance. How was I supposed to navigate this strange world? He hadn’t told me anything about it.

  A gust of wind rattled the branches. An eddy called to me, called to the power flowing through me. Tsukuyomi had heard me after all. Cautiously trusting him, I opened my wings and flew with the wind, letting it direct me somewhere new. It wound between trunks, until finally breaking into a clearing. I chirped with excitement; there were humans here! Flapping my wings, I broke away from the gust and perched on a pile of stone. I could see them closer now.

They were just like Tsukuyomi in form, they too didn’t have wings or a beak, but were able to move across the ground fine without them. Could they speak like Tsukuyomi too? Or did they sing and call just like birds?