A man is hidden in a peculiar forest untouched by humans, where the animals and plant-life thrive. He keeps a watchful eye to make sure the peace isn't disturbed when one day, a young woman is found venturing his world. He is unsure what to make of...
—————————————————— ____________________________________ Your POV: ____________________________________
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
____________________________________
Soft feathers brushed against my lips and cheek as I moved my head a little, tickling the skin and waking me up from probably the best sleep I've ever had in my life. I had no complaints, though. I felt pretty rested, but I don't think I'll be opening my eyes just yet. I'm much too comfortable.
'Bless that man for giving me his cloak. It's so much better than sleeping in the dirt.' I breathed in deeply, catching a whiff of the crisp, morning air, and smiled as my fingers traveled lethargically across the feathers, adoring the feeling of them under my palms. Owen is just as soft as this. It's what made his hugs so comforting, I suppose, and those wings of his are like great, big weighted blankets. It was all too easy imagining him holding onto me right now. Maybe I should feel embarrassed for thinking that way, but sleepy brain will have it's sleepy thoughts. So long as they bring me peace, I don't mind.
"So nice," I mutter, steadily falling back to sleep when something slowly slithered up my back, pushing up my shirt just a bit as whatever it was moved to the center of my spine. I swear, my heart sunk to my stomach as my eyes snapped open to reveal that it was not, in fact, Owens cloak I was sleeping on top of; rather, it was a chest full of feathers belonging to Owen himself.
'Oh fuck!' Mortified, I dared to look up at his face, preparing to hear a taunting laugh from the bird man, but all was silent as relief washed over me. He was asleep, peacefully, might I add. His lips had parted somewhat, releasing steady breaths, which I'm surprised weren't strained due to having most of my weight on his chest. I was not entirely on him. My legs touched the ground, which was padded by the actual cloak of feathers I could've sworn I was sleeping on. Any hope of getting off of him was thwarted by the fact that his talons held onto me securely, one across my lower back, while the other clutched my shirt between the shoulder blades. How I got into this position is a question I'd like answered because I know for certain that I didn't... Oh, wait.
Perhaps there was one moment when my head had lulled onto his shoulder as I was fading from the late night hour. That might explain it. He's so kind that maybe he just didn't want to disturb me and stayed here the whole night? I suppose I could wake him and ask him to let go, but I know he was likely awake while I slept. I've seen him drowsy before, so I'd rather he get some kind of sleep. It isn't so bad if he allowed it, I guess. My hand moved a bit hesitantly, weaving more into his chest feathers as my other brushed some hairs away from his forehead, resulting in a soft trill from his throat though he was still unconscious. It was such an adorable sound, I couldn't help but smile as I laid my head back down.
I've never met anyone so caring. Back at home, it seemed like everybody just wanted to look out for themselves without a care of what anybody else felt. Owen has shown me more kindness in the short span of me being here than my entire life. How upsetting is that? He understands me. More than that, he wants me to succeed in something I want to do. He is always truthful and straightforward. It's more than what I could ever expect out of anybody, so maybe it isn't so crazy that he's started to make me feel so warm inside? Is this what it's like to have a crush on somebody? I wouldn't really know. I was always too busy for silly crushes in the past. My focus always had to be on the future, never the present. If there was nothing to gain, there was no purpose. That was the life I was trapped in. I bet my mom has even secretly planned an arranged marriage for me so that she could control that aspect of my life too. I wouldn't put it past her.
Well, in my present, I want to stay right here, like this forever. I close my eyes, just listening to his heartbeat, not realizing that my company had now opened his.
What woke Owen was the movement of his feathers as Y/N had adjusted her head to go back to sleep, bringing his attention downwards. Through tired eyes, he watched her relax her body against him and smiled before squeezing her tighter. Y/N held her breath as his neck curved to nestle his face to the top of her head, cuddling the woman as if she were a teddy bear. The action caused her face to burn as she hid her smile, wondering if Owen was so affectionate because he felt the same or if it was because he felt so close to her and had been so lonely? Perhaps both. She was too shy to ask, though.
The creature leaned back his head again to return to sleep, knowing he'd need his rest for later when he left to fulfill the human's request. It would be quite a journey, even with his fast wings. Coming to this conclusion as well, Y/N didn't want to bother him, though he had finally woken up. A part of her wished to ask him to take her with, but at the same time, she didn't know how dangerous the village might be if it's full of creatures, as he said. Perhaps they wouldn't be so welcoming of a human? Yeah, it'd be safer just to stay.
"Owen?"
"Yes, Y/N?" He mutters, half-asleep.
"How come I haven't seen another creature like you around here?"
"The portals are close by. They know that if they linger too long in my territory, I'll drive them out of it, unless they have a good reason. Besides, we are in an area far from where most of them tend to live. It's just how it is." Humming, the human frowns. Yet another reason as to why he was lonely. His work required him to keep others away. How terrible.
"I'm glad I make you happy, Owen." His eyes blinked open in response to the woman raising her head and moving upwards across his body, hovering above his face. The sight of her so close caused his chest feathers to rise as he stared into her eyes, hanging onto her every word. "I'm so glad I met you and that I make you feel less alone." The man smiles warmly, resulting in her smiling back, and for a moment, her eyes had fallen to his lips, but she shied away again, moving back down to hide against his chest as he chuckled.
