To Feel Your Feathers

An Abrupt Awakening

The arrow whistled in the air as it soared towards its target. The mountain deer collapsed and I jumped up in excitement over my successful blow.

"And that's how it's done!" Jack applauded me, recognizing my talent to be able to swiftly take out the prey. I adjusted my satchel and attached my bow back to its quiver. "I must say, I was a little skeptical of your tactic to wait around and use your bow instead of just going in with my spear, but I can't deny the effectiveness of your plan!" Jack praised me as the four of us walked up to the second deer we hunted for the day.

"I'm just glad your idea took it out so quickly. I'd hate to see another deer suffer so much after what Leo did." Lily murmured, still a little shaken up by the man's way of hunting.

"Hey! Hunting isn't just for the meal, it's a sport too ya know!" Leo huffed, adjusting his grip on the deer he was carrying.

"Yeah, but there's a difference between hunting for sport and chasing the deer around like a crazed beast before going in for the kill." Jack pointed out. "It's almost like you enjoy watching the fear and terror in a helpless creature's eyes." I muttered under my breath. Unfortunately, Leo heard me and angrily let out a snort.

Hunting wasn't really something harpies of our status did, but considering the fact that we were still a couple of months short of receiving our proper titles and roles, we took it as an opportunity to grow closer as the newest heirs of the Crow's Nest. It was also a great way to sharpen one's skills right before the upcoming Festival in a few days.

A rumble could be heard coming from up above. The gray clouds that were covering up the day's beautiful blue sky were reminding us to head back soon. It was a good thing I made that shot, as thanks to Leo's antics, we would have only returned back home with a single body to feast from.

"Humans hunt in a very similar way, and here I thought you liked the humans, Autumn." Leo snickered at his own remark, knowing this would egg me on.

I rolled my eyes at him and trecked on to find one more deer to bring back from the hunt. "Humans do a lot of things I dislike, doesn't mean I like all of the things they do." I snapped back at him. I lowered my voice as another deer came into my sight. I hid in a bush, easing myself closer to the animal as I readied my bow. "I don't like everything harpies do, doesn't mean I dislike my own people."

Leo made a noise of shock at my words, causing the deer to flee. "And here I thought you were a woman of our people! Yet here you are, going the same route as that Marlin guy." Jack and Lily sensed the tension growing thick, huddling closer to each other.

I huffed in annoyance. Leo had just scared away another meal and this conversation was really starting to tick me off. "I am a woman of the harpies! That's why I think it would be smart to have trade routes and negotiate with the humans!!"

Jack, Lily, and Leo's heads all whipped around to stare at me as if my fangs were falling out. My lips creased into a frown as I continued. "We have trade routes and relations with the Gnomes, Satyrs, and even Mermaids! I'm just saying, if we got humans on our side, things could be beneficial for both parties!"

The deer on Leo's shoulders bounced as his whole body shook in laughter. His broad shoulders and yellow feathers ruffled up as his chest rose and fell. Jack and Lily sensed the instability in Leo's laughter, things were going south and fast. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lily and Jack inching away from the two of us.

"Listen here little miss lion's tail, humans are dangerous creatures. Trying to talk and reason with them is the best way to get yourself killed." He had straightened himself out now and had jabbed a claw right in the center of my chest, "Just because we're a part of the Crow's Nest doesn't make us invincible to the twisted mind and habits of humans. We kicked that old man Marlin out for how sick his mind became after only a few days of human interaction."