Snippet #1408044

“Ulva?” She called again, seeing the woman pass her window, leaning against it leisurely, as the new little creature slept upon her shoulder. It stirred, opening its small black eyes at her, tweeting harmlessly and watched her with the an intensity she had not felt for a good long while. Slowly it stood while she watched, straining her neck somewhat and pattered down her arm, its small feet tickling her skin. She wondered if the little thing had lived here for a while, she supposed so, since something like it she had never seen in the whole world. He father would have dearly loved the little bird, it’s miniscule hands so nimble and it’s little face so full of character. It moved nimbly over to it’s nest as she watched and she laughed as it ducked in briefly, before starting to tug the thing over to her, it’s tiny body struggling with the obviously heavy creation. As she looked closer, she noticed that it was not made of twigs as she had first thought, but threads intricately bound together. What an odd little bird it surely was, it started twittering away to her and she soon got the picture, this goes in your back nest, her bag. It rather was looking like she had made a friend and she nodded, slinging her backpack from one shoulder and picking up the heavy little nest. The creature clambered quickly back onto her shoulder as she started to climb out of the window.

“Now where has Ulva gone to little friend?” She asked, more to ask anyone than expecting a reply. Tilting its head it twittered away at her, its shrill voice somehow calming in her ear. “No, I didn’t think you knew. Shall we go find her?” She tilted her head at the little creature and it tilted its own in reply. Nodding to herself she set off at a gentle jog, Ulva had moved pretty quickly when she had gone past, she wondered how far she had gone. Her feet sank noisily into the leaf matter, but it was soft and did not hurt her feet, so she was grateful. When she came to a small brook, trickling almost silver in the light, she leapt high, causing her passenger to peep, her hands finding a strong branch easily and swung over the water. The path was high and covered in brown dust from the earth, she ran along it, her head high as she attempted to find her friend. She paused, around the edges of the ruin, hands swinging up to reach a tree, climbing higher to see better. The little bird chattered away the whole time.

“Ulva, where are you?” She called out into the woods “Are you ok?” She was sure she was close to the other woman, but she couldn’t see her. She was worried, the other girl didn’t seem the type to run off without telling anyone, she had her head on strait. She shook her hands, this tree was hot, it’s branches almost burning her skin, yet beneath her feet it was fine. She looked down at them puzzles, she hadn’t been climbing nearly enough for her hands to burn this much. The little bird came down from her shoulder and settled in her cupped hands like they were the most comfortable place on earth. For a moment she thought she saw an echo of red flicker at her fingertips, like flames surrounding the small creature. It seemed unfazed and she quickly dismissed it as the sun talking, she had been out in the sun a lot today. It’s little beak pecked at her fingertips, as though checking it was safe, then snuggled down into her warm palms. She sat for quite some time, watching the bird as the wind blew through the trees past her, hissing softly against her skin and tossing about her tied hair. The sweet smell of flowers filled the air and she guessed their was a clearing near by, or had she travelled so far as to be near the house again, she didn’t know really. Her breath was shallow and for the first time, she wondered what she had gotten herself into, where was she really?

***************************************************************

Jinan stood quickly, hearing someone enter the bottom of the tower he lazed in, his ears flattening back against his skull. It was too soon for any of them to be found, though he supposed the boy might not see him yet, they hadn’t really been exposed to the ruins for long. He slunk back into the darkest part of the structure, where he was least likely to be seen. His long tail coiled around the edge of the room, it’s supple tip twitching in a shaft of light. He had to admit he was nervous to meet one of the new people, watching them was fine, but he had been alone for so long and other than the other guardians and Thomas, it was likely to stay that way. He put a push into his aura, making him more visible and slowly moved out of the shadows as the sound of feet came closer. His hair glittered like gold in the sun and he stood high on four feet, tail swirling up a plume of dust that shimmered in the air. The footsteps were close now, sending a shiver down his spine, his hairs standing up lightly all over his body, though in an unthreatening manner.

“Hello.” He spoke softly as the man burst through the empty doorway, proceeding to the window without so much as glancing around the room. His fur bristled, he was nervous and had never in truth conversed with a modern human, rather than one who understood his world a little more. He creped closer on all fours, the pads of his feet making no sound as his tail lifted off the ground, gaining him a little extra balance. He knew that it was likely the man would see him even this first time, as the Ruin’s had chosen him and for that he would be special, a little more in tune he supposed, though it might not quite be that way. He looked over the clothes he wore, smart, very smart, though a little dishevelled around the edges. If one of the ‘coudre des oiseaux’ had seen his torn buttons they would have been in heaven, but he hadn’t seen one of the four legged birds in 300 years, he supposed they had all gone when the last of the humans had died.

“Please excuse me, but are you ok?” He asked noting the heavy breathing of the man before him, still slightly perplexed as to why he hadn’t noticed Jinan “Can I help you guest of Thomas and these ruins?” He asked, reaching out to the side of the building, pulling himself up onto just the two feet, like the humans stood, his 3 meter long tail wrapping around some of the old bricks, doing little to support him but much to comfort him. He wobbled slightly on two legs, his body more designed for all four, though it was quite possible for him to walk on just the two as he often did while guarding the gates. He reached out his spare forepaw, touching the mans shoulder and looking at him with his deep aqua eyes, bent down t the mans own height. He took a deep breath, scenting him and wondered how he would react.