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...
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The chirping of warblers acted as a morning alarm and broke Y/N out of her dreams that fled from memory the moment her sleepy eyes opened. With a yawn, she sat up, her back not feeling as sore as she was used to due to the cushioning of Owen's cloak which had been wrapped around her form throughout the night. When she looked around for the birdlike man, however, she found him missing from the cave which had disappointed her just slightly. Y/N lingers in her resting spot, recalling last night how the Owl King had held and comforted her. She had never broken down like that in front of anybody before, so naturally, she felt a little embarrassed about how she behaved.
Perhaps, it was a good thing he was not there when she woke? At least, that's what she assumed. Had she peeked outside and up at the nearest tree, she would've found him there, watching with keen eyes, mask on his face and surrounded by a few small owls. They slept on the branches around him, while he remained awake, also reminiscing the night. Y/N had fallen asleep not long after they had finished the rabbit, guts and all, leaving nothing but bones and fur.
He felt pity for the poor creature. She held so much pain that she had attempted to hide for as long as she could hold out but, in the end, confessed all that brought her misery. He saw now why she felt like she had to run away. He had felt freedom all his life and could not possibly imagine such a thing. Groaning, the girl gets to her feet and dusts off before bending down to pick up the male's cloak. She folds it neatly before setting it down and grabbing a small stone to mark the wall.
She was coming on eleven days now, and after confiding in Owen, she felt more confident than ever about staying as long as possible. She wasn't going to cave in, and she wasn't going to let nature get the better of her. It's time to wise up and learn how to hunt her own food, and that's exactly what she wants to accomplish today. She would even settle on a newt or frog if she must. With a smile on her lips, Y/N steps outside of the cave momentarily and looks down at the collection of rocks she had set out yesterday and find all the divots filled with fresh rainwater from the storm last night.
It may not be the best method for catching water, but it was helpful nonetheless. She couldn't exactly fashion a proper bowl or jug with the materials she has. One by one, they're carefully brought inside and set down, save for one, which she takes a sip out of to hydrate. Before stepping away to her stash of fruit, which are kept wrapped up in her white scarf in a hidden crevice. She picks a few berries out of her rations and pops them into her mouth. As she eats, the young woman wonders if she should wait for Owen to return or if he'd even be returning to the cave today. Surely, he would have to retrieve his cloak, right? As the thought crossed her mind, Y/N looked down at the feathery cloak.
'I might as well wear it while he's away. If he wants it back, he could easily find me.' Glad to have the extra warmth on hand, she dons the heavy piece of clothing, which weighs down on her shoulders, before picking up what she might need for today: two stone knives and a sharpened stick. She reminds herself to stick to the hunting rules set by the owl-man — not to kill something that would disrupt the balance — and decides to give fishing another shot. So, she sets out, armed and ready for the new day, and gazes up at the sky to find it partially cloudy.
This was pretty good, considering the usual, dreary mornings. Following close behind like a shadow was her watcher who moved through the branches of trees fluidly. She payed no mind to the rustling leaves as she trudged through mud and bugs, scratching at a mosquito bite or two that she had gotten the night prior. She wished she had something to relieve the annoying itch but had no choice but to wait for them to heal on their own. Once at the stream, she unloaded her things before waiting by the bank on top of a fallen tree with her wooden spear in hand.
Many branches had fallen due to the storm, and it seemed not even the trees were spared. She waited there a while before moving further down the log, which stuck out over a portion of the water. Again, she sat for about half an hour and could feel the sun beating on her skin as it shone through the clouds. She was sure to cover up using the cloak, but all she could do to protect her face was to turn away from the sun.
Some fish swam by, albeit small ones that were hardly worth catching, and she was starting to lose hope when a group of rainbow trout appeared below. Gasping, she readied herself, but was careful not to move too suddenly, as not to scare the fish. She carefully watched them swim and took in account the refraction of light before striking. The first was a miss and sent the creatures away, but she quickly took a second shot before they were out of reach, and to her utter disbelief, she had caught one. It flopped frantically on the spear and nearly slipped off, but she swiftly pulled it near and gripped its tail tight before moving back to land where she then jumped around and danced in victory, laughing with excitement.
"I did it! I did it! I actually caught a fish!" she shouted, making Owen laugh softly from his spot in the tree as he drew his knees to his chest. He watched her fondly as he folded up his arms and rested his chin on them. His eyelids drooped tiredly, but he could not stop watching her. He simply couldn't bring himself to look away, yet he couldn't figure out the reason why. Feeling confident now, Y/N removed her boots and socks before rolling up her pants to enter the water for more. Meanwhile, a small, black owl perches on a branch slightly above Owen's head and hoots before bending down to tug at a strand of his brown hair. Attention diverted, he smiles at the bird and pets its head with a gentle finger before looking back at the human as she eagerly waited for more fish.
"She's quite silly, don't you think?" He asks the owl with a smile on his lips. The animal coos, and he nods his head in agreement, having understood what they had said.
"Yes, that too. It'll be lonely when she leaves." At that, he sighed, and the sun was once again covered by fluffy, white clouds that cast a shadow over the forest below. The owl hoots again, causing his head to perk as his eyes widen. He faces the bird with a scolding stare.
"No, I couldn't! What a terrible suggestion. 'Keep her here'. That wouldn't be right." Huffing, Owen peers back down at the girl who catches yet another fish.
"Hell yeah! I'm eating good tonight!" Her comment brings back out a proud smile as he mutters more words.
"Besides, this is her journey to prove herself. I can't be selfish. Perhaps she'll visit me? That'd be nice." With a final hoot, the small owl flies off, and the man heaves a sigh before leaning back and stretching out his long legs along the branch.
'It's truly a shame that Y/N can't stay,' he thought. Owen found enjoyment in her company, but she was not so apt at living in the wilderness as he. She would reach her limit eventually, but he would ensure she could hold out for a good while. He didn't want her to go back to feeling miserable. It is a horrid feeling to have.
He wants her to succeed, but at the same time, he also doesn't want to baby her. She's obviously knowledgeable about her surroundings, so he didn't want her to feel like the only reason she was doing so well was because of his help. That absolutely wasn't the case. He gave her assistance, sure, but she would've eventually had a handle on things with a little more exploration, even if he wasn't present. Really, the only thing he did that he thought was noteworthy was setting up protection around her camp; although, she seemed to like his company as well. With a light trill, his claws tightened on the branch as his chest warmed. By midday, Y/N called it quits and brought her kill back to the cave with a pep in her step, but Owen remained by the stream and closed his eyes with a content sigh.
"I hope you stay for a long time, Y/N. I have been lonely for too long."
