Testing Pandora

Interlude (3)

"I...guess you could call it that. But not if it stops you from being you. See, I have to learn as much as I can because it's the only way to really make this work." She tucked her long legs against her chest in an almost brood-like position. "The Alliance isn't always so good at letting people be themselves. I think that needs to change. That they need to loosen up their rules. If this world joins us, well, maybe I'll prove to them that I'm right."

"I see!" he exclaimed. "You ask for compromise on Rain's behalf because you care about her well-being!"

Even with the heat of the torches and the thick air of the night, he detected the warmth on her cheeks. Apparently all 'humans' did this cheek-heating thing, and Xandri did it a lot.

"No one should be forced into being someone they're not," she said softly.

Anything he might have said then would've been lost in the clacking of beaks, as Rain and Sunlight ended their match on a magnificent draw. Sunlight stood tall and proud, the end of her staff at Rain's throat. Rain crouched, but not in submission. She balanced elegantly on one foot, while the toes of the other clutched her staff, the end of which was planted against Sunlight's belly. Beside him Xandri straightened and slapped her palms together over and over, the sound snapping alongside the crack of beaks. It was, she had explained to him, a similar form of approval.

Lined up behind them, her fellow humans also made this motion. Many Kills turned his head and clacked his beak at them, pleased by their appreciation.

"Well done, Sunlight," he said, as she stepped out of the sparring ring. The torchlight made her yellow feathers glow golden. "A top-notch fight, as I expected. Though it would've been even better if you'd won."

"Oh, sorry, great leader," Sunlight said, flicking her crest at him. "Next time I will aim to please you, I'm sure."

She stalked away. He'd only meant to tease her, just a little, but clearly she wasn't in the mood. Truth to tell, she often wasn't, not with him. Even though he'd had nothing to do with it—and wasn't exactly thrilled with it himself—she had never forgiven him for their parents' attempts to have them betrothed. Still, she was a good hunter and when they were out in the field, she listened to orders and worked as part of a team. He admired her dedication to her role.

Next to him, Xandri made a small, strangled sound. He turned to look at her, to find those strange tufts of fur above her eyes had risen towards her head fur.

"What?"

The one called Diver made a similar sound. "Many, my fine, feathered fellow, you need to work on your technique."

"My technique? But you have yet to see me spar."

Xandri made that noise again, and buried her head in her arms. Strange, jumpy tremors ran through her body. Alarmed, Many Kills glanced at her companions, but none of them seemed worried about her current state. Strange creatures, these humans. They looked so much like the tiny tree dwellers that lived here—though much less hairy—and yet, they were nothing like them. He didn't know what to make of it.

A whistle, three sharp notes, a long note, and two very short ones, caught his attention. It wouldn't translate to his companions, as it was in no way meant to be words, but he knew its meaning well: He was being summoned. He rose, giving himself a shake from head to toe that rattled his feathers.

"Please, excuse me," he said. "I've been summoned."

"Aw. The next match is about to start," Xandri said, the shaking having stopped.

"Stay and enjoy it. We will talk more later."

The whistle came again, which told him this was urgent. He ducked from firelight to shadows and darted toward the hunting troop that had called for them. Their leader, Wind In The Leaves, waited with little patience, her crest raised all the way to hostile and her toes clawing at the branch beneath her. Wind did not care for these newcomers one bit.

"We have trouble," she said, without preamble. "The monkeys."

It took him a moment to realize what she meant. "The humans? But they have been here all day."

"These ones, maybe. There are more. You must come with us."

"More? But there aren't supposed to be—"

Wind snapped her beak at him. Annoyed at last, Many Kills raised his crest to full and snapped his beak mere centimeters from hers, reminding her just who was in charge here. Once she backed down, he started to whistled for the rest of his troop. He could not believe Xandri had lied. The other humans, perhaps, but not her. Whatever Wind thought she had found, he would witness with his own eyes. Only then would he decide.