The Art of Breaking and Entering [Elem Bree]

[Ndale Soromund]

Season of Winter, Day 21, 511AV Watching the birds fly Ndale felt a fleeting bit of something she couldn’t place, was it longing? Envy? It probably didn’t even matter in the end but her curiosity was piqued. Using the sudden breeze she slid off her perch and fluttered to the ground, letting loose a loud screech in the process. Less windy days always put her in a good temperament, as did a good chase. She expected that following the birds would tell her what exactly it was she felt and if nothing else it would give her a chance to see more of Zeltiva rather than be confined to the docks or the University. Eyes locked on her current target, she scurried through the light spattering of trees and towards the more into town. She hadn’t yet realized though that the tiny birds were only becoming smaller, turning into something akin to day stars. It wasn’t until she was chasing nothing but the shadows in the sky that she stopped, still not sure what the feeling was, though she categorized her knew one as something along the lines of disappointment and frustration. She would have to invest in a notebook to write these things down. Finally taking in her surroundings Ndale came to the slow realization that she wasn’t exactly sure where she was nor how to get back to her previous location. Looking around she found the streets here were a spatter of cottages, if she wasn’t mistaken hers was somewhere here…or on the other side of the city. She did not have to urge to walk all the way back to her own cottage, she only wished to catalog her new experience and maybe take a quick nap, running, even in animal form was not her forte. She could change forms and ask for directions but public nudity was frowned upon apparently and so her only other logical option was to find clothes to borrow along with some paper. Coming to her decision she peeked into each of the windows, not bothering to look inconspicuous she moseyed along, stopping her and there peck at the bits of things she found littering the street. She was actually very absorbed in attempting to get out a small piece of dropped fish she nearly walked straight into the cottage wall. It looked similar to any other but it was obviously empty, no noise or light coming from the inside. Cocking her head curiously she butted against the door and waited…and waited before deeming in uninhabited. Her next problem was opening the door. She tried her beak but it didn’t work and only succeeded in her making slamming her head into the door. Frowning she noted all the windows were locked and pushing it would obviously do nothing until you turned the handle… Ah! Now she could see it. Fanning out her wings she gave a small push, swinging her body inwards so it gripped the handle. Twisting it slightly her body finally arched toward the ground and she fell in a painful and ungraceful heap, only her quick snapping shut of her wings stopped her from breaking one. Of course, that would not stop the bruising that would undoubtedly follow. Righting herself and pushing inside the room Ndale gave it a quick look over before shutting the door behind her. It was a little dim but the light from the windows allowed her enough light to begin her exploration.

[Elem Bree]

The lecture was incredibly droll. Of course, Elem took his studies seriously and all, but bureaucracy was just boring. Supply requisitions, the proper way to hold a quill, penmanship. All important to the University and the many people who studied and lived there. Especially since so many apparently came from everywhere but Zeltiva. It was the life one accepted residing in a port. It did make the man wonder about other languages and learning them, however. Not understanding the patient is a problem before problems could be assessed at all.

Thankfully, the lecture and lab was over before too long. He stepped out of the hall, the bonesnapper greeting him with a firm slap to the face. Pulling his cloak up once he entered the streets, he paused, his feet unsure of which way to go. The dormitory and its bunks sounded lovely, the Library and the languages therein would suffice, but soon he chose to visit his cottage to rotate his plants. While he had been grateful for the bed and board at the University, juggling his time was becoming a more challenging act each day. His burgeoning indoor herb garden took more constant work than he had time for most days. Today would be different.

Approaching the nondescript cottage, all appeared well. He walked up and entered, leaving the door open for light and a bit of fresh air, albeit frigid. The melodies of herbal scents and greenery met his nose, causing him to smile spontaneously. He walked to the wall to his left, unlatching the window and opening it, the draft picking up and lowering the temperature too quickly. He turned on his heel to close the door, not wanting to shock the plants. The plants were fine compared to the shock the young man received when he saw a long white tail of feathers in the corner of the room. Crouching down on his haunches and squinting into the semi-darkness, he said, " What on Mizahar? How did you get in here?"

[Ndale Soromund]

“What on Mizahar? How did you get in here?" She heard the door open, the voice and then froze, her head cocking to stare up at the person that entered. Her first instinct was to run up to the intruder and attack, now in her human form she may have ignored this urge, barely. But in her animal form there was much less debate and she struck out, scrambling forwards to peck and kick at the humans legs. She only managed one swipe though and it missed largely, her body falling into the wall, she had injured herself a bit more than she thought when opening the door. A loud squeal escaping her beak as she once more push on her abused body but that did not stop her from darting around like a chicken without its head. This human would take her into that one place where they took people who did things like this! Strangely enough she couldn’t remember what it was caused and that gave her momentary pause as well as the fact that he did not know what she was. Her abrupt stop sent her careening again though, straight into the human’s legs with an indignant squawk. Straightening herself for the second time in five chimes Ndale scurried back to her original corner and waited to see what the human would do. She vaguely contemplated changing back but it wasn’t in the forefront of her mind, she was still in mild panic mode and now everything hurt worse than it had a few moments ago. Jerking agitatedly she spread her wings and attempted to fly up a ways but only succeeded in making herself thump into something for a fourth time. Why did the human have to come home so quickly? Tilting her head up she once more eyed the human, her eye slightly accusing, as if it was his fault she had careened into everything and broken into his house.

[Elem Bree]

Elem's eyes grew to small saucers when the bird flew at him. Sort of flew, more threw its body and beak at him. He scrambled backward, avoiding the pecks that were slicing the air near him. Where the petch had this thing come from? All the windows were latched, the door shut. If he had enough time to do anything but avoid the unwieldy whirlwind in white, he surely would have. Each miss and subsequent thumping squawk made him cringe, his empathy winning over the urge to swat or kick.

He looked over at the door, his hands out in front of him. "Whoa..whoa there. I'm not going to hurt you." He tried to use a calm, soothing voice. "Why in Laviku's name am I talking to this bird?", he added, though under his breath. While he was concerned for its well being, there were two other important items to consider. One, how in the world did it get in here? It was a valid and nagging quandary. Two, and probably more importantly, was its large, fan like tail. His eyes scanned over the rows of pots, budding herbs in each. He couldn't afford to replace them if they were shattered by the clumsy creature.

His hands were out in front, palms out. "Please don't trash my cottage, bird. I am a poor student and i can't afford to replace things in here." He slowly tried to ease toward the door. Hopefully he could get the door open and get the bird out without too much damage.

[Ndale Soromund]

She was half attempted to run at him again but her early fail held her back, a little, her body seemed to have ideas of its own. Moving forward to attack then halting abruptly as her body caught up with her mind. "Whoa..whoa there. I'm not going to hurt you." There was an even tone in his voice, it caught her ears just as the second phrase did “Why in Laviku's name am I talking to this bird?" Why indeed. Her answer was three short chirps, coming out in quick rapid bursts as if scolding him before she tottered to the side again, everything was sore. No matter what else she tried to think of doing her mind jerked back to the spikes of pain. Maybe she had broken something? “Please don't trash my cottage, bird. I am a poor student and I can't afford to replace things in here.” But she could see him out of her peripherals edging toward the door and gave out an angry warning howl. Daring him to try anything funning. He sounded like he was not going to but his actions worked against him. Waiting a few moments to make sure her threat was acknowledged Ndale tottered in very wobbly manner towards the small cot in the room, bumping into things here and there. The battered peahen could not even remember what she originally came there for her sights set on the cot with the other attempted to lock onto the human. Fanning herself out was awkward in the small room, she was barely noting it but she ignored the young man’s earlier plead not to break anything and flapped up haphazardly swaying violently and flapping in four quick downswings. It was all it took to reach his bed and the moment she landed on it she felt an immense sense of comfort, it was almost like her own cot or of a comfy tree roost. It may not have been the softest bed but she had no doubt it was softer than settling on the floor. Right herself properly she yet again turned to face the human man, this time a softer chirp left her, she felt chatty with all the panic. Closing one eye lazily the other watched the human, if he moved again like before she would most likely have no choice but to fight but for now she no longer deemed him a threat.

[Elem Bree]

The move for the door was a bad one. But why? The bird made a definite noise as if it didn't want him near the door. Was this a bird at all? His mind tried to cover any myths he had heard or tales of the Gods that might apply in the situation. Something was very strange about this bird. He felt as if it was understanding him somehow, though there was definitely some kind of miscommunication going on. "Okay, okay. No door. It's cold is all and it will take a long time to get it warmed up in here again." All he could do was shrug and shake his head. It seemed so silly to talk to a bird but ludicrous to negotiate.

Stepping toward the window he had opened, he reached and shut it, somewhat stifling the cross breeze that had been formed before he knew he wasn't alone. He braced the pots on the shelf at the window as the bird started its wobbling ramble, this time toward his bed. This made his eyebrow rise in complete astonishment. It bumped into his table, sorted seed samples spilling and mixing together. It was a minor annoyance and he was definitely more interested in seeing what it did next.

Elem held his breath slightly as the bird spread its wings and flapped lazily into the air above his bed, landing squarely on it and nestling in. It was very strange to the medical student. Once it seemed to be settled, he watched one eye close and the bird seemed to relax slightly. A softer, less aggressive chirp came from its beak. "So we're friends now? Okay. I am Elem Bree, a medical student." The entire scenario was strange enough now that Elem felt he might as well just treat the bird as if it were a humanoid guest, over for tea. Too bad he had no tea. "Since we seem to be on the right foot now, are you alright? Did you hurt yourself bouncing all over the room?" He absentmindedly picked dead shoots off of some sage plants as he waited....for the bird's response?

[Ndale Soromund]

"Okay, okay. No door. It's cold is all and it will take a long time to get it warmed up in here again." Of course no door, she wasn’t about to leave, the humans cot was much too comfy. And he was right about the cold, she could do with the winds of Zeltiva any day, letting loose a huff she ruffled her feathers and sank further into the bed. "So we're friends now? Okay. I am Elem Bree, a medical student." Her other eyes had been closing until he spoke up both snapping open to lock on his face curiously, he was speaking to her? Most humans simply tried to pet her or shoo her while the miniature ones simply tried to strangle her with their scrawny arms. Listening to him sounded pleasant to her ears and so she conceded his started with another, softer chirp and began to preen herself, nipping at the little bugs hiding beneath her feathers. Strange how they were in her feather and yet she rarely found them in her clothes. "Since we seem to be on the right foot now, are you alright? Did you hurt yourself bouncing all over the room?" She watched him carefully at his question, humans were tricky, they said one thing and meant another, he could be trying to get her out of his house but she would not be leaving without a fit and few quick pecks to the head. But as she watched him gather the around the table, collecting odd looking plants she decided he meant it but she had no desire to change and tell him the problem instead she spread her wings slowly and not with much pain, giving a pitiful squeal as she rested them on the bed. Tilting her head to catch this ‘Elem Brees’ eye with her own ruby one she pointed her beak to both wings before letting loose another cry. If the he did not understand what she meant he was not worth communicating with and she did not want to have actually move any more than she had already.

[Elem Bree]

The ivory bird seemed quite satisfied in Elem's bed. Picking out some oregano leaves from the pots, he worked on moving the pots on the floor to the shelf and vice versa, allowing them all equal parts sunlight. He kept the leaves in his palm as he watched the display the creature gave when asked if it had hurt itself. Wings stretched and the beak seemed to point to them. It was now clear that this was no ordinary animal, so it made things easier for him to understand.

His pace slow, his tone still even, he approached the bird. His palms were open before him, the left full of oregano leaves. Very slowly, very cautiously, he let them tumble from his hand on the cot before the bird. He brushed his hands together, the plant bits on them falling to the floor.

"That is oregano. It will help ease any inflammation in your muscles. If you would allow me to come closer, I would be happy to inspect your wings for damage. I don't think it is all that different. Muscles are muscles, right?"

He recalled ,in his first brushes with anatomy, in the books he had read from the library, drawings and sketches of avian skeletons and musculature in the wing. It wasn't his field of expertise, but he felt he could at the very least assess any obvious damage or bruising.

"So, what do you think? Might I have a look?"

[Ndale Soromund]

Though she had been the one to imply that he should move forward the moment he did the muscles in her neck tightened slightly and her eyes narrowed of their own accord, the urge to bite him overriding the human common sense. She held back though, barely. Remembering he was not trying to hurt her and it was technically not his fault she had a klutz out, didn’t mean she couldn’t blame him. "That is oregano. It will help ease any inflammation in your muscles. If you would allow me to come closer, I would be happy to inspect your wings for damage. I don't think it is all that different. Muscles are muscles, right?" She watched his hands carefully, the shadows of flakes drifting down, if she wasn’t mistaken oregano was green…ish. She was also sure she had read somewhere that it was an herb for foods, not healing and she eyed him skeptically, a derisive chirp slipping out. Other than her small chirp she made no noise or movement as he inched forward, it was one thing to let someone near her in her human skin while injured and another entirely in a form that was much more delicate. Without a thought he could push down and snap both her wings, she had seen humans do crueler things and she herself had her fair share of instances where she was either the giver or receiver of such pain. But this Elem seemed kind. While he mocked himself for speaking to her it was not in a scornful manner but more...surprised. Then again her character judgement was sorely lacking at times. "So, what do you think? Might I have a look?" Deciding it was worth the risk Ndale nodded her head in acquisition and closed her eyes once more, content to leave herself in the hands of Elem and otherwise nod off for a few moments. Leaving behind her more human worries in favor of trusting him to heal her.

[Elem Bree]

All seemed well. Elem took several soft steps toward the bed, watching the bird for any signs of disturbance. It appeared that it had acquiesced to the idea of being looked at. Was it nodding off even? Taking a deep breath, he sat himself next to it, his hands coming in contact wit the soft feathers on its back. He lightly probed beneath the down to find the delicate skin beneath, slowly tracing toward the joint of the wing.

His face was twisting and turning slightly, confusion clearly the king at the moment. This was an absolute first. How would he know if he found a sore spot without getting pecked to pieces? It was entirely possible that he would not be able to avoid some injury, but until that moment came, he was being as methodical and slow as possible. Clearly enough, there was no blood of any sort. Also, the wings had been spread in a full and eloquent fashion, staving off the thoughts of a broken wing. It would probably just be tenderness from bumps. A bruise would be impossible to see, at least for someone completely ignorant of birds. Elem wasn't even sure what kind of bird it was, now in his capable hands and dozing.

The clearest point at the moment was that perhaps the worst injury received to his intruder was a case of frazzled nerves. His own weren't completely solid, but the quiet and the slow sound of the bird's breathing helped. He removed his hands from the wings but left his left hand on its back, slowly petting and reassuring it. After a few moments of this and satisfied with the situation, he slowly braced himself and stood from the bed, returning to the plants. The process of pulling dead shoots and leaves would take a little while.