Monster Project

22.Harpy

Dion rested in the andron, sun shining brightly from the outside. Rays of sunshine leaked in from open windows as the temperature warmed the usually cool room.
It was the perfect opportunity for a nap, however, he was startled from his dozed state by loud screeching at the closed door.
Dion got up albeit a tad bit grumpy, and opened the door to see a small harpy gazing up at him.
"Eulalia!" He squatted down, extending his arm to which Eulalia gladly climbed until she rested on his shoulder.
"And where have you been?" With his opposite hand he reached up, softly stroking her breast.
Eulalia cooed, bowing her head to rub against his knuckles.
Dion sighed. "Of course. Are you hungry? I'm absolutely ravenous."
She seemed to understand this phrase, and as a response she fluffed her feathers, letting out a muted squawk. Dion smiled as he casually strolled to the kitchen with her resting comfortably on his shoulder.
Upon arriving, he placed her softly on the table and went on to rummage through untidy cabinets and barrels. Dion's terrible mood made a reappearance as he made the (constant) discovery that most of his non-perishables were chewed through and already decaying.
Her head perked and followed Dion's form as he paced through the kitchen furiously.
"These damned pests!" He slammed his hands onto the table, grabbing the edge until both wrists and palms visibly turned white. At this alarming sight, Eulalia untucked her wings and flew a few feet into the air, shrieking at Dion for startling her.
Looking up at her, he took a deep breath and released his vice-like grip from the table.
"I'm sorry, Eulalia. It's just these... these damned rats! They even got the figs! I guess we should ready for another trip to the market." She settled on the table again, feeling just as irritated as Dion.
"I don't want to go either, but if we want to eat, we must make the journey. On the way I guess we can stop at one of the street vendors for two sausage-"
Happy crows left Eulalia as she flapped around the kitchen in excitement.

It was a few weeks after the incident, and to Dion's surprise, it looked as if the insufferable rodents had relinquished and ceased picking at his food. It stopped almost immediately and Dion wondered if it was by the hand of a god...
But as a trade off, he had lost his favourite leather satchel, the one Kleitos had gifted him. Oh well, it was a small price to pay for getting rid of such persistent pests.
It was mid-afternoon, and Dion had just returned from an elongated bath, retreating to his quarters to dress, then finally to the kitchen to make a healthy lunch consisting of bread, dried apples, olives, and goat.
As he was retrieving the dried apples from his (now) sorted cabinet, Eulalia soared in from the opened door, dropping Dion's favourite leather satchel onto the table. She landed next to the bag, cawing until he would look at what she had brought in.
"Eulalia! Wait a moment, please!"
He turned in a huff, eyes widening when he caught sight of the satchel.
Dion ran over to inspect the bag, only to discover it was heavier than normal.
It was nearly three pounds heavier.
He lifted the cover to witness a ghastly sight.
It was a pile of dead mice, all in various stages of decomposition.
"Eulalia... Was this you?"
She let out a cheery screech.
"You killed all of them?"
Eulalia outstretched her wings, letting out a bellowing squawk as if to make her point.
Dion was speechless, but thankful regardless.
As he stood focused on the satchel, she snuck over to the counter and began to gobble up his lunch. Nothing disturbed him until he was knocked out of his reverie by a shattering plate.
Dion supposed she could get away just this once.

A/N: I'm back, baby! After a month of sheer nothing, woo-hoo!