flocktogether | the birds' realm

Not a leader. Birds rarely follow a single individual.

You could call me the wisest, the most practical, the most... worldly. You would not be wrong.

Practical. Good.

[getting her feet back under her, a little.]

What do you want? What do you need? I'm no idiot, you wouldn't accept anyone's offer if it wasn't in your favor, and anything worth asking for has a steep price for the desperate.

My offer is simple. Grant us your power or your protection. The owl says it can't be both, so one or the other. Something powerful. Something to give us the strength to survive against the enemies arranged against us.

I don't care about wishes. The only victory I give a shit about is survival. I'll do just about anything to guarantee that.

[ The shrike surveys her for a moment longer. ]

Survival is a thing we all strive for.

[ The birds look at each other, and the owl speaks again. ]

Now, to the matter of business.

Should you hypothetically want power, well... you must understand we birds are not creatures of brute force. At least, not the ones that fly, such as us. Those of us who are predators-- we are so because of our speed, our precision, our specially adapted wings and eyes and talons that allow us to kill quickly and swiftly. I hate to admit it, but we are fragile creatures-- we are not made to stand and fight. Despite this, from our very beginnings my kind and my predatory cousins have instilled fear in the hearts of many creatures, young or old.

This is what we can offer you. We can offer an... adaptation. We can give you the power to create a similar fear, an instinctive fear, in those who would oppose you.

To be feared ... would certainly be appreciated. [which, from the way she says it, makes it clear she approves this option wholeheartedly. probably a little sadistically, in fact. but -]

And what of your protection?

[ The owl begins to speak, but the shrike starts louder, to silence him. ]

The Owl mentioned that we are not built for one-on-one combat. True, in fact, that we will take flight over fight any day, except to protect our hatchlings and maybe our mates.

Should you choose protection, in my opinion the wiser of the two decisions, you shall be able to cloak your home in a portrait of feathers. You can rest easy, you can hide until it is safe. Such is the way of all creatures, even the most arrogant, the most hostile of us. One must... "know when to quit", you might say.

And nothing will be able to touch us behind this cloak? Nothing at all.

Those are very generous offers you've made ... what's the catch? What are you asking from Cardinal in return?

[ --All at once, the birds start up in a racket, talking over each other(with the conure and macaw the loudest, of course). The owl releases a piercing screech to silence them. Or, well, quiet them down enough so that the shrike can continue. ]

Quiet! Quiet!

What we would like-- that is the owl's decision, as the only one who truly wishes to be involved with you... strange, two-legged things.

[ The owl ruffles his feathers, pleased, and stares at Lace. ]

Why, information, of course. You would gather information from the other teams or whatever specific persons I might wish. But you were oh so upset about it the last time...

I have no love for the sort of creature who'd kill me simply because they couldn't remember my name. I'm not going to lower myself to beg them for scraps.

But ... [her mouth twists, a bit.] Like I said! I'd do just about anything to survive. [smiling slowly, as if a thought has occurred to her ...] If my teammates agree, we'll be sure to let you know. You do need to hear it from all of us, don't you?

That's right. It must be unanimous.

We'll be waiting.

the birds' realm

Re: day 68, afternoon.

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