Chapter 19: Bird Hunt

  The weather was warm, and soft morning light slipped gently through the windows. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, glowing as they passed through the sunbeams. The room smelled of crushed herbs and the sharp tang of medicine—comforting, yet slightly bitter.

  Aspen lay quietly on his bed, his gaze fixed on the world outside.

  “Today’s weather is beautiful…” he murmured.

  “It’s a pity I still can’t go out.”

  A quiet sigh escaped his lips.

  “Good morning, Mr. Aren.”

  Nurse Diana stepped inside, balancing a small tray filled with medicine bottles and folded cloth. Her steps were light, practiced.

  Aspen turned his head and smiled.

  “Good morning, Miss Diana. I hope your day goes well.”

  She laughed softly.

  “Oh my! You’re very polite for your age.”

  She placed the tray on the small table beside his bed, her smile warm and genuine.

  “Here. Take this, and rest a little longer.”

  Aspen nodded obediently. Once she left, he swallowed the medicine, grimacing faintly at the taste.

  “I wonder if they caught a bird or not…” he muttered.

  Just then—

  BANG!

  The door slammed open.

  Ryl and Dior barged in, hair messy, clothes splattered with mud, twigs sticking out of their hair like accidental decorations.

  Aspen stared.

  “…What happened to you both?!”

  Ryl groaned dramatically and collapsed against the wall.

  “We still didn’t catch any birds… This is impossible!”

  “I was close,” Dior muttered, brushing dirt off his sleeve.

  “Until this idiot interrupted.”

  “ interrupted?!” Ryl barked.

  “No bird wanted to come near you because your scary poker face looked like you were planning to roast them alive!”

  “I’m not scary,” Dior replied calmly.

  “I’m approachable.”

  Both Aspen and Ryl froze.

  The door creaked open again.

  “Aren, I didn’t catch anything either…” Ellie entered, shoulders slumped.

  “Why is everyone silent?”

  “I don’t know,” Dior answered flatly.

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  Ryl sighed deeply.

  “Fine. I’ll try again this evening.”

  He yawned, flopped onto another bed, and fell asleep within seconds—snoring loudly.

  “That was… fast,” Aspen blinked.

  “He’s really a lazy one,” Dior commented.

  “You’re right,” Ellie nodded seriously.

  _ _ _

  A Week Later…

  “Thank you for taking care of me!”

  Aspen bowed politely to the nurses as he stepped outside, finally free to move again.

  “Today I’ll definitely catch one!” Ryl declared, puffing out his chest.

  “You’ve been saying that for a week,” Dior muttered.

  “And you’re the same!! You haven’t caught a single insect!”

  “It’s about birds, not insects.”

  “I MEANT YOU’RE INCAPABLE, YOU MORON!!”

  “Stop, both of you,” Aspen snapped.

  “We’ll try our best today. Let’s split up here.”

  The four went their separate ways.

  Aspen exhaled slowly.

  “They’ve been trying for a whole week… I wonder how long it’ll take me.”

  Cheep—cheep!!

  A faint cry echoed through the trees.

  “…That was a bird.”

  Aspen followed the sound, pushed aside some bushes, and found a tiny sparrow trembling on the ground. One wing was bent awkwardly.

  Cheep—cheep!!

  Its round eyes were filled with pain.

  “Oh, you poor thing.” Aspen gently lifted it.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”

  He brought a healing potion to its beak. The sparrow drank eagerly, and within seconds its wings straightened.

  It chirped happily and fluttered around him.

  “I’m also happy for you,” Aspen said softly, smiling.

  “Alright, it’s time to go. Be careful.”

  He turned and walked away.

  “It’s still too small to keep…”

  Tip… tip…

  Something followed.

  Aspen turned.

  The sparrow stood there.

  It chirped again, hopping closer.

  “Huh? No, your home is in the trees,” Aspen said gently, waving it away.

  Tip… tip…

  It jumped onto his head.

  “…Do you want to come with me?”

  Cheep!

  Aspen laughed quietly.

  “Alright. If that’s what you want.”

  “Let’s name you… something simple and cute…”

  He thought for a moment.

  “Yes! It will be Flick.”

  The sparrow fluttered joyfully.

  _ _ _

  Elsewhere…

  “NOOOOO!!” Ryl sprinted through the forest, dodging branches as screeched behind him.

  “DON’T FOLLOW ME!!! I’M NOT RICH ENOUGH TO FEED YOUUUU!!! I’M BROKEEEE!!!”

  KREEE—AR!!

  It was a massive eagle. It swooped lower, its shadow swallowing him whole.

  “I SAID I’M POOR!! EVEN HUNGRY!!” Ryl yelled, tripping over a root and rolling down a slope.

  He scrambled back up—only to find the eagle perched on a rock, staring at him… patiently.

  “…Why are you looking at me like that?” he whispered.

  The eagle tilted its head.

  “Oh no. No no no—DON’T EXPECT ANYTHING FROM ME!!”

  _ _ _

  Dior stood silently below a towering tree, staring at several birds perched high above.

  They met his gaze.

  Instantly, they shivered—then scattered in panic, wings flapping wildly.

  He sighed.

  “…It’s useless down here,” he muttered. “They always leave.”

  He crouched, then—

  WOOSH!

  Dior leapt effortlessly onto a thick branch, barely making a sound.

  From there, he noticed a small hollow in the trunk.

  “…A nest?” he murmured.

  He carefully slid his hand inside and pulled something out.

  _ _ _

  “WAIT!! COME BACK!!” Ellie cried, chasing a bird through the bushes.

  “Please don’t gooo!! I have to impress Aren!!”

  The bird screeched in terror, flapping wildly.

  “I’ll take good care of you! I’ll feed you! I’ll—HEY, DON’T SCREAM LIKE THAT!!”

  She lunged.

  Missed.

  The bird flew higher.

  _ _ _

  After sometime…

  Ryl staggered back into the clearing, panting, sweat-soaked, with the huge eagle perched smugly on his shoulder, feathers puffed proudly.

  “…Someone help,” he croaked.

  Dior arrived next, holding the round-headed owl calmly in his arms.

  Ellie followed, chest puffed out in pride—while her bird clung to her fingers with a look that screamed hostage.

  Aspen blinked as Flick landed gently on his head.

  The eagle screeched loudly.

  Aspen flinched.

  “Ryl, you actually tamed an eagle!”

  He nudged him.

  “WHO SAID I TAMED IT?!” Ryl screamed.

  “IT CHASED ME LIKE HELL!!”

  “But why?” Aspen asked.

  “BECAUSE I FED IT MY SPARE SAUSAGE AS I THOUGHT IT WAS HUNGRY!! ONLY ONE!!”

  Ryl pointed accusingly at the eagle.

  “AND NOW IT THINKS I’M ITS MOTHER!!”

  “It’s ugly,” Dior commented flatly.

  “THEN WHAT ABOUT YOUR BIRD?!” Ryl yelled, pointing at the owl.

  “IT HAS THE SAME POKER FACE AS YOU!!”

  “But it’s smarter than your scary eagle.”

  “SHUT UP!!”

  The owl blinked slowly, as if judging them both.

  Aspen sighed—then something poked him as he turned.

  Ellie stood before him, holding her trembling bird like a sacred treasure.

  “Aren! Isn’t it cute like me?!” she beamed.

  “I named it Squall!”

  The bird let out a weak chirp of despair.

  “Y-yes, it’s cute!” Aspen smiled awkwardly.

  “And yours?” Ellie asked, peering at his head.

  “This is Flick.”

  “Awww, that’s adorable!”

  Flick puffed his chest and chirped proudly.

  Ryl smirked.

  “And I named my bird Bolt!” He pointed at the eagle. “Cool, right?!”

  “Yes,” Dior said. “Stupid like you.”

  Ryl glared.

  “And what about you? I KNOW you didn’t name yours! You suck at naming.”

  “Who told you that?” Dior replied. “I chose a name.”

  “Oh really? Then it must be stupid.”

  Everyone leaned closer.

  “Ball Head.”

  "........"

  Silence.

  Then—

  “HAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

  Ryl doubled over, clutching his stomach.

  “BALL HEAD?! YOU CALL THAT A NAME?!!”

  Aspen tried to stay serious.

  Failed.

  Ellie snorted.

  Dior’s ears turned red.

  “It—it was a joke. I haven’t named it yet.”

  “It’s fine,” Aspen said gently.

  “Take your time.”

  The owl hooted softly.

  Ryl suddenly pumped his fist.

  “NOW IT’S TIME TO SHOW THAT NASTY-BLUE-BIRD MY BOLT!!”

  “It’s gonna be freaked out!! WAHAHAHA!!”

  The eagle screeched triumphantly.

  Everyone shook their heads.

  *****

  Chapter 20: First Mission