contaeoro | a bit of audio/action.

a bit of audio/action.

[audio]
[There is not a lot to the audio from Maiza today. Nobody is talking, but there is definitely something there, and that something is definitely attacking the journal. It hits it, sharply, then shoves it across -- judging from the sound of leaves and dirt dislodged by the moving journal -- the forest floor. It's followed by the rustle of wings close by the book, and some more scratching as the journal moves again.

The wings make noise again, although this time it sounds like it's flying. Clumsily so, one might note. The entry ends with the sound of wind blowing past and a loud thud as the journal hits the forest floor. Whatever bird was carrying Maiza's journal, it couldn't keep its grip.]

[action later on #1; the fountain]
[A couple hours after the entry, there is a brown owl sitting on the fountain in the village. He looks exhausted as he slumps on the journal he's got with him and hoots miserably at whoever passes by. Sometimes he spreads out his wings and rustles it to try to get attention, especially at people who Maiza Avaro may recognize. He's hungry. He's tired. Please help.]

[action #2; community house 7, floor 5 room 23]
[It's later in the afternoon, closer to evening, when an owl smacks into the window. It might have looked like it was trying to headbutt its way through the glass, but it's hard to tell. It disappears for a minute and returns to the window again, flying a little less steadily and now with a journal clasped in its talons. It stays at the window hoping someone will open it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No ideas?

[That's what he assumes the lack of activity means, or at least something like it.

He leans against the wall, wrapping up the leftover food.]

Well... It's a nice enough day out. Do you just wanna hang around outside, take a walk? I mean, I'll walk, you can ride.

[That sounds like a great plan. Maiza won't be the one to say no to a friendly invitation from his good friend, so he hoots cheerfully and flaps a wing gently at Firo, brushing against his face.]

[Firo laughs and holds out his arm so Maiza can adjust his perch however will be most comfortable. Now that he has it all wrapped up, he tucks the meat under his other arm and straightens up.]

We can go out by that river in the woods, there's a bridge down from here a little ways. That all right with you?

[Firo finds the nature everywhere somewhat intimidating, but it's nice to look at. So long as they're close to civilization.]

[That's perfectly all right with Maiza, who hoots again and hops a little on Firo's shoulder. Despite having lived in New York for years now, Maiza's hometown was a small city that meshed well with the hills and the sea. This is not the sea, but it's somewhat nostalgic to him. And the river sounds nice anyway.]

[Firo starts walking down the street at a leisurely pace. That should make it easier for Maiza to balance and they're in no hurry anyway.]

It's weird how quiet it gets out there, but it's kinda nice. I've got a friend who lives around there--"over the river and through the woods," just like the poem.

[Hoot?

It sounds like "who?" enough right?]

[It's getting easier for Firo to understand Maiza, or at least to guess what he's saying.]

Grune. I don't know if you've met her yet--tall, greenish hair? Her house has some huge garden all around it.

[It's not a name he's heard before. He hoots again and turns to face the direction Firo's walking to indicate his interest. A garden sounds impressive!]

I think it goes in her house, too. If we walk by I can point it out to you--she wouldn't mind someone takin' a look.

[He responds cheerily to the suggestion and hops a little bit more forward on Firo's shoulder. As exhausting as charades can be, Firo's doing a really good job -- or being really patient about -- conversing with him.]

[Firo's happy to be spending time with Maiza; if communication takes extra effort, then so be it. He owes it to his friend.]

We can't go too far in, though. I've heard about some pretty weird stuff bein' in the woods. Like that giant wolf thing.

[Now the hoot is lower, more confused. A little apprehensive. A wolf? He's not sure he would like to risk running into that, either. He's currently tastier-looking than usual.]

[Firo shrugs with the shoulder Maiza isn't using as a perch.]

I don't know a whole lot about it, but apparently she liked guardin' the forest or whatever. But I haven't heard a whole lot about it lately, so maybe she went home?

[He tilts his head to one side thoughtfully.]

Or somethin' in there took her out...

[That doesn't sound too reassuring either. Are we really going in there then, Firo? You're getting a lot of worried-sounding hoots from your friend here.]

[He's annoyed with himself for bringing it up--now he's a bit worried too.]

But we'll be fine! We won't be goin' in too far, so it should be safe...

...Are you still okay with this?

[A slow, low hoot. Firo can be reckless and hotheaded sometimes, but Maiza knows that Firo of all people wouldn't do something to put his Family in danger. If Firo says it should be safe, he has no real problems.

Just be careful.

He hoots again!]

[Firo wouldn't be inclined to race off into the deep and dangerous part of the forest if he were by himself--he got that out of his system in the muddle of his first week in Luceti--much less when he has Maiza with him. As far as he knows, nothing bad has ever happened to someone by the bridge. He has no intention of going any farther than that.

He smiles at Maiza and continues walking at a faster clip.]

Thanks. I'll make sure we're far away from anything that'd try to snack on us.

[He's never had to recover from being eaten before, and he doesn't want to try it out even if past experiences and theory both show that he would be able to return from it eventually. With a hoot, he lets Firo continue walking as he makes sure he doesn't fall off.]

[Seeking to lighten the mood that he ruined, Firo adds:]

Maybe instead we'll find some other owls for you. Think you'd be able to talk to 'em?

[Other owls, huh. It would be interesting to be able to talk to them, if such a thing were actually possible. What did birds talk about anyway? But it doesn't seem like a bad idea, so Maiza hoots once again. It's worth a try!]

[Firo turns onto a smaller path, one nearer to the trees that should lead to the bridge.]

What do owls even talk about, huh?

[He's absolutely sure Maiza is a great deal more interesting in conversation than your average owl.]

[Well, it does help to be able to talk. That might help with being interesting, doesn't it? If Firo's curious what owls talk about -- if Maiza's still-human mind can understand owls in the first place -- he guesses that would make an interesting topic of conversation later. Hoot?]

[Sorry, Maiza, Firo's not sure exactly what that means. And he's already thinking of something else.]

Maybe they can show you how to fly!

[Firo seems more excited about this Maizabird incident than Maiza himself is! He's started to get worried that Firo wants him to go on all these adventures so he takes a moment to pull him back into reality by digging his talons into Firo's shoulders. Calm down buddy.]

[The talons do a pretty good job of jolting Firo out of his excited daydreams. He winces and glances at Maiza, startled.]

What? You don't wanna?

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