Part 2 | The Badger

Evening.  Approaches now
The sun’s golden hour
Glows bright.  I arrive
A foreign beach
For one finds little serenity on these shores
A Vibrant pulse fills the salty atmosphere 
Life.  Energy.  Haven for creative souls
Youthful Souls.  Lost souls
A coastal metropolis.  Travellers. Sportsman
Surfers and vagabonds.  Congregating
Sprawled out along the boardwalk
A boardwalk spanning long.  Parallels the sea
Lined with artisans.  Pungent herbal perfumes in the air
Performance.  Music.  Art.  Graffiti
Clashing.  Congested
Eclectic sensory overload  
Venice Beach

Walking.  Light Fades.  Walking onward
A great bowl in the sand.  Oblong shape
Rail at the perimeter.  Curved pits in hollowed out cement
Basking.  In the glow of a dying sun
Birthed by locals.  A community staple
Yes.  This burrow of stone.  Home of the Badger
The Venice Skatepark

Waiting.  Night falling.  Crowds vacate
Wheels on cement.  Whipping.  Buzzing. One
One skater remains.  A young woman
Arms riddled with tattoos.  Fearless
Whirling with a great speed.  She soars
Graceful.  For a moment
Wheel catches.  Board flies
Barreling forward.  She falls
Crash
Arm bleeding.  Bone exposed.  She stands with grace
Proud.  Poised

I rush.  Down into the pit
For I know.  Without use of her arm
She’s trapped. Alone.  At the bottom of the bowl
With blood soaked shirt.  I lift her out
A nod.  A smile.  She walks away

Crackle.  Rock splits at the base of the bowl 
Her blood. Sinking.  Caving below
Crumbling in.  A small hole.  Forms in the concrete
Then.  Claws of black emerge.  Sharp as daggers
Clanking loudly on the stone floor
Black snout levitating.  Furred head appears
Striped.  Black and white
A glowing mammal.  Rustling out
Short-legged.  Shaking rubble from his coat

He speaks

“Young one.  I know why you’ve come
You wish to leave your seductive prison behind
Yes.  You’ve lost yourself in pity
In turn.  You’ve dishonored my brothers and sisters
Protectors of this land
Yet.  You aided my wounded child. Only moments ago
For that.  I remain in your debt
I will grant you what you seek.  My permission to embark on Poseidon’s quest
But hear me.  Be mindful.  Be vigilant
Use not the culture you carry with you. Young one
Learn from the new cultures you encounter
Respect the land on which you walk
Now.  Go north.  Along the shore
Find my sister.  Long and coiling
Nestled on her rustic bed.  Planked
Stretching out into the sea
Go now. Young one
Go and awaken The Serpent”