A tale of Humans and Hybrids

Chapter 7

When was the last time Techno had slept for more than 3 hours? Probably when he fell asleep on that clearing with the river. But even then he had been sore and moody, because sleeping like that meant that it was uncomfortable and cold.

He had no idea for how long he had slept this time, but he had never felt better. He was warm and comfy, the blankets and pillows chasing any cold air away that managed to enter through the open window. His body was more relaxed than it had ever been, no sore limbs or aching scars and wounds that bothered him.

He could get used to waking up like this...

The smell of something delicious managed to coax him out of his warm bed and down the stairs. Happy whistles and chirps came from the small kitchen area where the winged hybrid, Phil, was apparently making breakfast. Some crows were hopping around and trilled happily whenever their hybrid friend gave them a small piece of the meat he was working with.

It almost seemed too peaceful to be true. To have such a calm morning, no fear of being attacked, no hunters that could jump out from any corner. Living like this must be nice. But if it's so save and peaceful in here... why would Phil leave and risk his life out in the woods filled with hunters? Guess that's one more question added to the pile.

"Morning." Phil turned and chirped, grinning as he waved and pointed at the table. Techno followed the simple order and sat down at the small table. A paper laid there, neat handwriting filling the page.

Phil can write English? And he called these creatures animals and monsters...

"Good morning mate!
I didn't want to wake you up, you looked like you could really need all the sleep you can get. Since I can't do this verbally, I'll just say it here.
Thank you for freeing me when you did. I really thought I was done for. But I'm curious... Why did you do it? You risked getting thrown out of your flock for me, even though you don't know me. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy you did, but I do feel bad that you don't have a home anymore because of me."

Techno looked up from the paper, watching as Phil divided the meal onto two wooden plates, wings fluttering as he and some crows chatted about Prime knows what. Right... that's a good question. Why did he do it? Does he even know that himself?

Phil turned and sat down at the table, placing both plates on the wooden surface. He smiled at Techno again and handed him a spoon. The human took it from clawed hands and watched as they picked up the other spoon. Something so fucking human. He chirped and pointed at the paper, obviously wanting an answer to his question.

"Right... I... I don't really know why I did it. Before I saw your face I was dead set on killing you and claiming the reward. But when I saw you... your face... and just how human you looked... it just did something to me. I always thought of you as monsters and disgusting creatures, mutations that shouldn't exist. But when I saw you and now the other hybrids that live here, it just makes me question everything I was taught and believed in. You're intelligent, probably even more than most humans I have met."

He stared down at his plate, pushing the food around with his spoon. "When you stared at me, scared and fully aware about what was happening... I just couldn't do it. I tried... but couldn't." Phil watched the human closely, noticing every tiny change in his body language. He can see how genuine he is about his answer and yet how unsure and confused he was about the whole situation.

The bird took the piece of paper and started to write something on the back. Techno watched the feather move over the white surface, still in awe at the fact that he could write at all.

"I think I understand. I can only imagine what you humans learn about us since childhood. The winners write history, after all.
If it makes you feel better, I believe that you are a nice person and that you genuinely changed from your hunter ways to the point where we don't have to worry about you killing us. So don't worry about having to prove yourself in any way to me, okay?
I'm sure the others will get there too, they just need some time. We all lost our families or mates to hunters, so trusting one of them will be difficult for them all.
Scott and I are different cases... probably just because of how old we are. We've seen nice humans before, even though they are really rare."

Techno read over the notes and nodded. Of course the hybrids won't trust him, he knows that already. "Don't worry. I don't take it personally. I can understand why they hate me, at least for now." Phil chirped and patted his arm, trying to comfort the other a bit. Techno smiled and pushed the paper back over to the bird hybrid. "What do you mean by old? You look young. Your thirties at most. And Scott looked even younger." It almost sounded like he laughed as he took the paper and began to write again.

"Awww thank you. I keep myself in good shape. But jokes aside, both Scott and I are a couple centuries with me being a few older than him. We're... not exactly normal hybrids. Since I know you will be asking, I'll just answer right away. Scott is a Starborn, the only one of his kind as to right now. Starborns naturally have a huge lifespan, just like real stars. If what I've read and Scott told me is correct, then there are never more than two or three Starborns alive at the same time. So he's really special, but also really powerful.

As for me, I am an Elytrian. Not a bird, sorry to disappoint you. The only reason I act like one is because I've spent all my life with my 'lovely' murder of crows and their behavior and language kind of rubbed off on me. I'm also the only one of my kind, or at least I have never met another one. I don't know why I don't age... I only know that my species' origins lay in the End and that we were a small and rare group to begin with. Maybe I have the same lifespan as Scott, but I don't know for sure."

"Wow... centuries. That's possible?" Phil nodded and happily sipped on a mug of what he assumed was tea. "That's a long time to be alive... but it kind of explains why you are so good at avoiding hunters most of the time. Must be all that life experience." The bird nodded again and went back to eating his food. Techno had so many more questions about the different species and this place in general, but he kept them in for now. He doesn't want to seem suspicious, as if he was gathering information for someone.

Instead, he began eating as well, humming in delight after the first bite. Prime, it has been so long since he last had a proper meal.