Yogscast/Hat Films One Shots

Making Friends (Eric the Ostrich)

I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just celebrated my first birthday, Trott giving me the ability to fly. It was so exhilarating, feeling the wind beneath my wings. Once we had landed back in my pen I felt tired but happy, knowing that this would make me more useful. I secretly hoped that this would make me more popular with Alsmiffy. He was a strange green man that I couldn’t wrap my wings around. He is a massive troll, but I can see the kindness in his eyes bringing me to see the potential of a friend in him. He didn’t seem to like me though, through all of Trott’s attempts as well as mine. He actually hit me at one point, after I got my new armour. It wasn’t hard, and it didn’t hurt, but before I had the chance to respond to it Trott had already started to take me away.

“I can’t fucking believe him. Are you okay Eric?” Trott asked, worry lining his voice. I responded with the only way I could, a honk.

“Earh”

“Earh back buddy.” Trott smiled, stroking my neck. He hopped off of me putting me back into my fenced space, feeding me a pork chop while doing so. He smiles one last time before he turns around walking into the marble building behind him. He brought me in there once, but I got stuck and he had to knock the wall down to get me out. Ross was angry that Trott knocked down the building, and Alsmiffy looked worried, although he tried to hide it. Trott was panicking, and he didn’t try to cover it up as he franticly ripped the walls down. Since then I haven’t been near the building. I walk over to the water pit in the corner of my enclosure when I feel a hand on my neck. I twist around and to my surprise I see Alsmiffy.

“Earh.” He begins to pet me, with a warm look on his face.

“Trott didn’t take your armour and saddle off.” He observed. I make a small noise noticing that too.

“Here, lets take that off before it hurts.” Alsmiffy begins to empty the side chests hanging off my torso, empting them into a near by chest he just placed.  He removes the side chests, bringing the armour with him. He puts them on the chest, as they are not able to fit inside the single block. He goes to remove my saddle, but I back away.

“Earh.” I shout, forcing Alsmiffy to cover his ears. He looks at me confused, and I walk towards him, nuzzling him with my beak. He doesn’t seem to understand, so I honk again, quieter this time as not to alert Trottimus, who will surely kill Smith for what I want him to do. I push Smith again, nudging him towards the saddle.

“Do you want me to ride you? Is that it?” I excitedly honk again, symbolising ‘Yes!’. He nods with a slight giggle as he hops on, with little to no effort, making me believe he has done this before. He gets comfortable and grabs onto the rains. “I am ready.” He says, and I can hear the grin on his face as the excitement seeps through his voice.

“Earh.” I shoot off into the blue sky above, trying not to go to fast in case Smith falls off. I am rewarded with a laugh from behind me as I zoom off towards the forest located to the east of the marble tower. I slow down over the forest as we near a large tree, which somehow migrated from the twilight forest. I gently land on a branch, giving enough room for Alsmiffy to comfortably roam around. He jumps off, landing safely on the branch. He walks over the edge, grabbing a hold of a sturdy branch growing off the one we were currently on, leaning over, viewing the world from the high point. I was nervous, in case the smaller branch broke, leaving Smith to fall to his death from the high height.

“Earh.” I said quietly, in order not to surprise the green man, but enough to get his attention. He looked back at me, his eyes soft with friendship, the kind of look I saw him give Ross or Trott. He carefully walked back over to me, stroking my neck and torso.

“It’s okay Eric, I am okay. I won’t fall, I will be careful. Promise.” His face was warm and sincere, leading me to believe him. I wish I didn’t. He goes to lean back over the edge, him grabbing the smaller branch before leaning over. His foot slips off the edge, gravity pulling his body down. His hand was still grabbing the branch, but I could see his knuckles turn white with strain; his arms start shaking. His body gives out on him, as Alsmiffy starts falling the long distance to his death. Without thinking I jump down after him, slicing through the air to catch him. But with all my attempts I couldn’t catch up. He falls, landing hard against the grassy ground, going red with pain. I lose all feeling in my body as my wings stop working and I too plummet to the ground. I land with few life hearts left. I lie there, unmoving as I hear yelling nearby. I look around, and I don’t know where I am. I go to get up but my body disobeys me, sending me to the cold ground again. I look up to where Alsmiffy’s body is, tears in my small, beady eyes.

“Earh?” I quietly honk, the tears starting to run down my face, following the same moment Smithy did, falling and splatting on the ground, slowly disappearing forever. I feel pain as my body strains, knowing I am on few hearts. Before I pass out one thought runs through my mind: Am I going to die from the fall, or the heart break from losing a friend.