No place like home

NPLH part: 8 (14-16) "A friend"

I had no idea what they were talking about, I got here by accident, and didn't want anything. I just wanted to go home. " I think you're mistaken, I don't WANT anything." I felt my tone of voice get louder and my eyebrows crease. I took a few breaths before speaking again, to calm myself down. "Look, I live in a cabin nearby. I was bird watching in the forest, but when I tried to return, everything changed. It all looked rearranged. Then I saw a bird and followed it down a trail, and found some strange stump with a crystal on it. I touched it, and now i'm here. That's ALL, I assure you that I mean no harm", I tucked the loose strands of hair, that were on my face, behind my ear, and I began to slightly rubbed my forehead. All this nonsense was giving me a headache. The elder seemed horrified, she raised her fist and shouted right at me "AND YOU TOUCHED IT!?" her facial expression scared me, I felt another chill run down my spine. "I didn't mean too, my hand moved on it's own!"I tried so hard not to shout, but she was starting to really scare me. I think she noticed that I was worried, because she hesitantly rested her hands and took a deep breath. "That was hermit magic. They hypnotize their prey and kill them, I don't know how you survived".

All I remember was falling, and being woken up by a chickadee. Had that bird saved me? If so, I want to thank it. "I was woken up by a chickadee chick, I never saw anything else other than him", I tried to reassure her by saying this, but I think it made her worry more. "That bird is in danger, we must find it." I completely agreed with her for the first time, and we both left to find the bird, she must've taken my reassurance to heart, because she left the guard at the table. On the way, she explained to me the birds of the forest, and their purposes. She seemed rather happy to explain it all to me, but kept her composure quite well "The Cardinals are our royalty, they must be protected at all costs. Our bluebirds protect them, they each have their own guards assigned to them, and the chickadee's are our lookouts, they stand by each cardinal nest, looking for any danger". It seemed that my observations were actually correct, this was a little kingdom after all.

We had finally found the chick, and it looked to have a broken wing, because it was laying on it's side, twitching. I quickly ran towards it, and extended it's wing, examining it. The tip of the wing was broken, this stops the top muscles from moving the feathers into steering, It can no longer fly. Yet the poor chick seemed rather happy to see me, despite its wing, and tried to flap once again, only to hurt itself more. "He's taken a liking to you, that's rather rare." the elder herself looked a little impressed saying this, as was I, for I had almost completely forgotten the fact that she speaks to them. "How are we going to get it to safety?" I asked, not really knowing how we were going to push, or carry this big bird. "I will call a back up bluebird, while we wait, let's put a leaf under him" it looked like she had done this many times before, because unlike me, she wasn't at all worried. Soon the bluebird arrived, and took the stem from the leaf to pull the chick toward the village. " I feel really bad. That chick saved me, and I don't even know how to take care of him." Even though I had only mumbled these words to myself, I think Aletheia heard me, " you know, until we find a way for you to return home, we can teach you how to care for them. Maybe even how to defend yourself." to be honest, I thought she was mocking me, but something in her expression made it genuine. " please, I would be happy to learn from you." I don't think my face has ever done this, smile that is, but it was a rather warm feeling inside.