Snippet #1988245

Garrett Flint

A flutter of wings on the windowsill pulled Flint from his thoughts, and his book. The creature's hoot reached his ears, but Flint didn't turn his head, knowing exactly what was there, and what it wanted.

"Get outta here, Teek. No amount of hoot-hooting will get you anything tonight, featherbag."

There was a moment of silence. Flint returned to reading, only to find that he had forgotten where on the page he had been. Funny how distractions did that. Now, where was he...ah yes! "I've got to fly more missions," Nately insisted lamely with a crooked smile. "Otherwise they'll send me home." ... "So?" ... "I don't want to go home until I can take her back with me." ... "She means that much to you?" Nately nodded dejectedly. "I might never--

Hoot, hoot.

"Really?" Flint said aloud, turning to look at the owl perched on the windowsill. Teek ruffled his dark brown feathers and peered down at his owner with big, bulging amber eyes. Flint and Teek hadn't gotten along so well at first, and they still didn't appear to, but now they just gave each other shit as their way of showing affection. It was a sort of mutual understanding between man and owl.

"That's what I thought," Flint said when the owl remained quiet. Now... "I might never see her again." ... "Then get yourself grounded," Yossarian urged. "You've finished your missions and you don't need the flight pay. Why don't you ask for Chief White Halfoat's job, if you can stand working for Captain Black?" Nately shook his head, his cheeks darkening with shy and--

Hoot, hoot.

"Okay, that's it. Get down here, featherbag." Flint kicked the chair his feet had been resting on, and rose to his feet, slapping the book closed. As he approached the windowsill, Teek took off into the air, floating around the common room, hoot-hooting to his heart's content. Flint stared up at him with an amused look.

"Oh hoh, you think you're so high and mighty now, you just wait until I get my broomstick and join you up there. I fly circles around you, and you know it!"

Teek just hooted tauntingly in response, before slowly drifting down to where Flint stood in the center of the common room. Flint knew this trick. Teek had pulled it a few times before. He'd let him win this time. It would be entertaining. The amber-eyed owl fluttered down, flapping his wings to steady himself, before coming to a perch directly atop Flint's head, gently digging his talons into his hair for purchase. Flint raised his eyebrows, and looked up with his eyes, though of course he couldn't see the owl. He hooted contentedly. Flint couldn't think of a better way to introduce himself to everyone for his sixth year.

"Shall we?" he asked Teek, dropping off his book with his things before heading out, making sure to keep his head level, and to duck through any doorways. It was interesting that the owl could pick him up so easily through simply annoying him. They appeared to bicker, when in reality they had a tighter bond than most people and their pets.

Flint had been heading down the stairs, thinking of what he would say to the various he people he could possibly meet. It didn't really matter what he said...he had an owl on his head. However, he wished he had thought of something clever to say when he passed the entrance to the Cervus common room, and nearly bumped into Summer Turner. Although, had he thought of something clever, he likely would have forgotten it. Summer had that effect on him.

"Oh, hey Summer," he said with a stupid boyish grin on his face. Teek peered down at the girl with a critical eye from atop Flint's head, but gave her a pleasant hoot in greeting.