Elegant Stitch peered through the kitchen window, clutching the curtain as she watched the guards outside mill about the barn, their armor glittering in the sunlight as two more figures appeared. The first was dressed in gilded armor, just as the rest of the soldiers
were- the second was approaching the house, his grey t-shirt and flannel overcoat flapping in the mild breeze. She closed the curtain, releasing it as she turned to the small thing sitting beneath the kitchen table, appearing to make herself as small as possible, all while munching on a bagel she'd given her. The hatchling had yet to say a word, save for a small 'thank you' when she'd handed her the bread. The screen door opened, creaking as the the door behind it opened.
"Is everything settled out there?" she asked.
"Should be," Heavy Lift responded, closing the door behind him "we just finished putting the thing in the barn, doctor's taking a look at it now"
"Him" a small voice squeaked from under the table.
Heavy glanced around the house, confused.
He was about to question the voice, when he spied Elizabeth.
He stared at her for a short while, before shaking his head, turning to leave the room.
"Heavy?" Stitch asked, following her husband.
She took a glance back at the girl, still seated under the table, wide-eyed.
"Heavy, what's wrong?" she asked, both of them entering the living room.
"I can handle the...the thing, him- whatever, out in the barn-" he said.
"What're you getting at?"
"Ellie, it looks too normal"
"'It' is a she, Heavy," she responded, rolling her eyes "and what are you on about?"
"It sounds crazy, I know-"
"Just spit it out" she urged.
"Something like that," he nodded to the kitchen "seems too sweet an inoccent, I mean- look at how small it is, compared to the size of the thing out in the barn"
"I...don't think I follow..."
"Do you think if she wasn't important, that great bird out there wouldn't be protecting her? It killed one of the town guard, and injured another, for Emperor's sakes!"
"I...know, but..."
She was at a loss for words, going over the information in her head.
"What? We should just let it get away with murder?"
"No...but...couldn't we just...let them be for the time being? At least until the hatchling's father recovers?"
"Why would we want to do that? Honestly, you're beginning to sound just like Shift..."
"Oh stop it, she's not that bad"
"Are you kidding?! Crazy idiot brought all of Danny's toys to life! I couldn't walk right for a week! Damn toy soldiers..."
A small snicker found its way to their ears, traveling from the kitchen.
Stitch turned, and saw a small head of black hair spying on them, no doubt the source of the laughter they'd heard not moments before.
A small blush wound its way onto Heavy's features, the feathers on his face tinged red.
"I just don't know what I should feel, okay?" he said, quieter.
"Just watch this, okay?" she said, turning back to the small girl.
"What are you..."
Stitch crouched down, and looked directly at the human girl, curiosity and confusion blending together on her features.
"It's alright sweetie," Stitch said sweetly, opening her arms to show she meant no harm "could you please come here a moment?"
She shook her head shyly, ducking back behind the wall dividing the kitchen and the living room.
'Well, she'll come around when she's ready, I suppose' Stitch thought to herself, standing.
"See H? She's more afraid of us than you are of her"
"I'm not afraid of her," he defended "I just...haven't...gotten used...to her yet!"
"Uh-huh" Stitch replied, totally convinced.
"What? I haven't!"
Elizabeth strained to hear the conversation the two griffons were having, her small ears picking up some, but not all of what they were talking about. Songbird was mentioned, along with what he did to the guard.
'They wouldn't really take him away, would they?' she wondered fearfully.
She stood, and carefully crawled to the arch leading to the next room. Standing quietly, she hid as she heard with clarity what the two were discussing.
"-would we want to do that? Honestly, you're beginning to sound just like Shift..." the male said.
"Oh stop it, she's not that bad" the female responded.
"Are you kidding?! Crazy idiot brought all of Danny's toys to life! I couldn't walk right for a week! Damn toy soldiers..." he cried.
She giggled, despite herself, and peeked out from her hiding spot, watching the two griffons as they talked.
She jumped as the the female turned around, staring directly at her. She quickly shrank, attempting to hide herself as their gazes fell upon her.
"I just don't know what I should feel, okay?" he said, barely audible.
'He's afraid of me?' she thought, growing more confused by the second.
"Just watch this, okay?"
"What are you..."
The female turned around, facing her once more, and crouched, her arms open.
'She wants a hug?' she wondered, watching the female in timid wonder.
"It's alright sweetie," she said, arms still open "could you please come here a moment?"
Elizabeth shook her head quickly, and ducked behind the wall, as if to hide herself from the griffons.
"See H? She's more afraid of us than you are of her"
'I'm not afraid...' she pouted.
"I'm not afraid of her," the male said, sounding offended "I just...haven't...gotten used...to her yet!"
"Uh-huh" the female replied flatly.
She imagined she was crossing her arms.
"What? I haven't!" the male shouted.
'I guess I'm the same way...' she thought, taking a chance and peeking out from behind the archway.
She jumped once more as a rapid succession of knocks were made on the front door. Scrambling back into the kitchen, she dove under the table, hiding behind one of the four chairs sitting around it.
The male answered the door, pulling it open as a griffon dressed in a white coat with a red cross on the breast stood in the doorway.
"How is he?" the female asked.
"I've...er...I admit I've had my fair share of strange cases..."
"Get on with it"
"Well, the patient is stable for now, he's still unconscious," the doctor said "but...I'd suggest you hire a craftsman if you want to help him recover"
"What?" the female asked.
"The patient doesn't seem to be organic, at least on the outside- I can't properly diagnose him"
'He can't help Songbird?' she thought 'There must be something he can do!'
"I see...thank you, really..." the male said.
The doctor nodded, and turned, walking away from the farm house, and toward the dissipating group of soldiers and onlookers.
He closed the door, then turned to face the interior of the house.
"Well...now what?"
She really had no clue.
Songbird's eyes flickered to life, yellow dimly illuminating the dark space encasing him. A loud groan escaped him as he shifted, his protective armor thumping against the ground as he thrashed. His vision was still blurred, as if someone had placed pinwheels in front of his eyes, and had them spin continuously. He became confused, his brain just now booting up and gaining awareness of his surroundings. Screeching, he felt straw beneath his hands as they blindly grasped for something in range. He found nothing however, and lay still, exhausted as memories flooded his mind.
'Elizabeth...falling...no...'
No...no! It wasn't true! He didn't lose her...he didn't! He...he just...
He did...he did, and he didn't want to face the truth, lest his mind burn, leaving nothing more than a shell of his former self. He ached, everywhere- every single part of his body sluggish and heavy as he lay in the darkness, his mind whirling in confusion, anger, rage, and sorrow.
He was supposed to protect her...and now...she...
Painfully, he folded his wings on himself, wanting nothing more than to lay there until death took him. He deserved it...she was gone...
Elizabeth jumped as another knock came at the door, this one more meager.
The female crossed the room, opening it to reveal a soldier clad in silver armor, the very same one that helped her patch up Songbird. Quick Wit, if she wasn't mistaken.
"Afternoon ma'am," he said, removing his helmet.
"Wit, you don't need to be so formal when you aren't on business," the female chastised, leaving the door open as she turned "come on in, you want any coffee?"
"No, thank you" he replied politely.
"Suit yourself" she responded.
Wit spied Elizabeth rustle beneath the table. She heard soft sound of his paws moving against the flooring, and held her breath, waiting for something to happen. It did- in the form of the griffon peering beneath the table, staring her directly in the eyes.
"Hello again" he said simply.
"H-hi..." she squeaked.
"You don't need to be afraid around me" he reassured, holding out a claw.
She refused it, and shied away, not taking her eyes off the griffon.
He sighed, and adjusted himself.
"Listen...I'm sorry about what happened outside of town..."
"You almost killed him..." she said quietly, refusing to meet his gaze.
He winced.
"I..."
"He didn't even do anything!" she said, her voice growing louder.
"I..."
"He attacked you because you kidnapped me!" she shouted, her voice growing hoarse as tears began streaming down her face.
"I...I know that now..." he said quietly, his gaze falling to the floor "..and...I'm sorry...my friend got killed because we made a rash decision..."
'That still doesn't mean I'll forgive you...' she thought.
"For what it's worth...I- I just...I acted, all of us did, we weren't thinking, and-"
"No, you weren't..."
"I'll...uh...come and visit when I can...y'know, to make sure both of you are alright..."
"Thanks" she said, no warmth in her voice.
"I'll just...let myself out..."
The kitchen door closed, and she was left alone in the kitchen.