The Bird and the Garden 3: The Final Adventure

Chapter 28: Preparation for War

Hello! As you guys know by now, I like going into depth with my characters, typically using real-life issues that can be related to. The Yin developing anger issues as his life gets more stressful, the Vao suffering depression, Verde burying her emotions due to her past, Sasha wearing a fake smile, and many more. The reasons some of these mental illnesses occur is usually fantasy, such as the First Vao developing schizophrenia because an eldritch force forces him into cannibalism, but they are still very real struggles people face.

Towards the end of this chapter, a character starts to go through something that happens more than I really want to think about, since I prefer happier thoughts. Consider this a trigger warning of sorts, for all the people who didn't have very good fathers, like me.

You've probably noticed that Pip struggles to really get the Third Vao's attention. Yeah, Pip is dealing with a feeling of abandonment and that his father doesn't love him the same way as he loves his sisters. Feeling left out, or just ignored completely. This ties deeply into Pip's character; feeling unwanted. It also ties into the plot, like most mental illnesses I write typically do.

If things were different, and Vao took the egg with him when he and Verde left for the Wilds, things would be different. I'm not sabotaging characters here for the sake of development. Vao does care for Pip, but does not know how to express it properly due to missing most of Pip's life. I just want to say that before people think he outright doesn't like Pip.

He's still an asshole for this, but he isn't a complete piece of shit. I took this into account for fathers who feel similar, like mine. My father didn't really know how to raise me because of the PTSD he has from being in the military, and was physically and emotionally abusive. I didn't learn until I was eighteen that he really was trying, and he wished he did better. That's what Vao will be going through.

However, Vao didn't take the egg. So yes, Pip is going to suffer, like all the characters will. This time, with an issue that will hit very close to home with many people.

For all those people who like Pip and his cheerful demeanor, I'm sorry. But this is a Minty story; it gets dark.

There will also be Yin struggling to get people to trust him - another problem a lot of people face. The past is unchangeable, and follows people. We'll see him trying to earn the trust of his nieces, but not completely getting it.

We also go more in depth with Pock and her backstory, the reason she wants war with the Church despite the fact that the Goblin City is more peaceful, like the Secret City is.

...

The next day had been quiet. Vao didn't speak a word to Yin the entire time. Not that the healer was bothered by this; he was starting to feel on edge constantly. Knowing that both Verde and Vao were scheming ways to kill him had gotten into his head, filling him with a ceaseless sense of dread. He felt someone pat his shoulder gently, turning to look into the turquoise eyes of Salem.

"... Are you okay, Yin? You're really tense..."

"I'm... Fine. Yeah. Just fine," Yin lied. Salem looked worried.

"If something is bothering you, you can always talk to me," she offered. Yin shook his head. "No thanks... I'm fine."

Ozpin sighed, staring at the darkening sky through the trees. Night was falling. Turning around, he held his hand out to bring everyone to a halt. "Tomorrow, we'll reach the edge of the forest and travel to the Goblin City. For now, let's just rest. Sasha, did you eat all our rations?"

The elf glared at him. "I'm still growing!"

Tim shivered, looking up at the two hundred and ten centimeter giant. "That's... A really scary thought..."