The Golden Bird

She did not remember this place, yet she knew where she was going. Her path already sewn across the barren earth, she wandered purposefully yet she barely knew why. The ground was hot and rugged, and the scarlet rucksack on her bag weighed heavy on her young shoulders. The air though, tasted of storms. Great clouds rumbled towards her as she reached the tree, its bare branches reaching for her as if to embrace her. Far up in its highest reaches nestled several small bundles of twigs, laboriously gathered and woven together by a careful soul. As she gazed up in wonder at the highest nest, her rain coloured eyes glowed, the golden light from within reflecting off them. As she watched the nest began to shiver, but the girl was not surprised, this was supposed to happen. This was why she was here. The small twigs began to unravel as the nest shuddered and the beautiful, gleaming egg began to roll slowly down. The girl worked quickly, she knew she had a little time before it would reach the ground but there was much to prepare. She took from her bag a small woven cloth, a wooden button and a safety pin. What could she do with this? There had to be something else. Her small face became peaceful, her eyes closed to the glinting light of the falling egg, trying to remember what she had never been taught. Before her stood a wizened old woman, she was smiling and in her palm was a tiny drop of liquid gold. The winking gold was shifting, flowing into a shape, a small bird, no bigger than a pearl. The woman turned, her back to the girl who calmly waited, when she turned back again the bird was gone, but in its place was a beautiful net of golden thread. The girl opened her eyes, she unlaced her left shoe and bought out the carefully folded net. She opened it and spread it over her open palm, just as the old lady had done, then she crossed her legs on the scorching ground under the tree and closed her eyes. Her face became peaceful once again and the edges of the net began to twitch, then float until they were hovering above the small upturned hand. Then she waited.

Creative writing prompt from: http://creativewritingink.co.uk/writing-exercises/
Thank you - if you've read this far! Comments would be very much appreciated