319 Unexpected Guests
As expected of one of her abilities, she heard one speak, âSo you mean sheâs meant to be in this room?â
âYes, she is in this room. I can tell. I can smell one of the blessed wolves just by being in the same place as them,â the other cooed, sounding feminine unlike the other.
âWhat... Our kind doesnât have any significant sense of smell. Stop lying,â the male argued.
âWe do too. Just because you spent your entire time last week getting pelted by the rain doesnât make the rest of us unable to detect scents like you?â the female countered.
âHey, I was scouting for water nymphs. They could have just been pouring rain over our nest,â the male replied.
âYeah yeah yeah, and look what that got you?â
âMight I ask why you chose my balcony to be the place for your argument?â the girl called out from her spot on the bed.
âOh my God, you werenât kidding. She is the one...â the pigeons flapped into the room and landed on the bed beside her, âAnd now Iâm in the kingâs chambers. Hey, Darla, do you have one of those things the humans carry around when they are having fun?â
âYou mean cameras, Finn,â the female replied, standing still as she watched the male walk about the bed in an odd rhythm that wasnât meant for pigeons.
.....
âYeah yeah, one of those. I would like to pose beside this rare beauty here and all go âChilling with the Luna'â the pigeon exclaimed, hopping over till he was too close to Katieâs face for comfort. The Luna sneezed, getting a rich scent of rain from the pigeon.
âYour partner wasnât joking. You smell of rain,â the girl exclaimed, sitting up to avoid the pigeonâs feathers.
âWell, Iâll be... It felt like Iâd been imagining it earlier, but you really do understand our speech. And you speak just like your kind should,â the two birds on her bed shocked her, even more, when she turned to see that they were bowing to her. It felt like a practised pose but splendidly executed, nonetheless.
âYou can stop that now. I was only getting used to hearing animals talk. Seeing them bowing is another thing entirely,â the girl sighed, âIs there a specific reason the two of you came here?â
Katie lay down on the bed a little further from the male pigeon in hopes of avoiding sneezing once more, âYes, we did. Well, weâve been stalking you and weâve noticed youâre very sad,â Darla spoke up, completely skipping over the ton of creepiness in her phrasing.
âWhat does that have to do with anything?â Katie asked.
âWell, we want to cheer you up. Is there anything you would like us to do for you, your majesty? We could put on a show or bring you nuts to feast on,â the male pigeon picked up excitedly.
Katie turned to the cart filled with breakfast foods, âIâm quite full, thank you. And Iâm also just fine. If one of you could get me a way to return my powers to the way they are supposed to be, that would be much appreciated,â the girl said, drawing a tight smile.
As expected, âThatâs not something we can do, unfortunately.â
âI figured. I canât find any other way for you to help me then,â the girl cut Darla off and turned her attention to the ceiling above.
The birds went quiet for a bit as the girl stared at the ceiling, âWell, we didnât come with giving up in mind. So, we shall cheer you up even if it means we drag the smile out of you.â
âWhat could a couple of birds do?â the girl asked, missing the insult behind her words.
âIâll ignore the obvious implication of what you have just said. As an apology, I would ask that you follow us, your majesty,â Darla said, anger radiating through her words.
Katie found the spectacle rather amusing, but complied, âIf it will make you happy.â The proud method of speaking she had to adopt when she was talking to animals clashed with her current mood in ways she didnât want to think about...
Katie wasnât feeling particularly proud of herself at the moment...
Ignoring the strain it took to keep up the facade, she followed the birds as they fluttered to the balcony. The female flew out to the forest while the other stayed behind, âWhatâs she going to do?â
âSheâs gone to call for backup. We chose this time to come because there is no one below. If it came to it, sneaking you out would be no problem,â Finn answered in a chipper tone.
The Luna sighed and waited with her eyes closed. Just when she was about to ask how they would be sneaking out, the rhythmic beating sound of massive wing beats reached her ears.
The girlâs eyes snapped open and turned to the balcony. Approaching her balcony were two giant eagles with the pigeon that had flown away moments ago leading them. The scene almost looked like it had been plucked out from a movie.
âWhatâs all this?â she asked.
âThis is your way out of here,â Darla replied, staying in the air. The two eagles set their massive talons on the railing and took the time to bow to the girl.
âI donât quite under...â
âOh, youâre quite slow on the uptake. Put out your arms and these two will carry you from here,â the pigeon spoke hurriedly. Katie couldnât believe her ears. She thought to herself, wondering whether it was safe for her to follow through with what this pigeon was telling her.
She had no idea where they would be taking her and without her power to detect ill will, she couldnât decipher the intentions behind these creaturesâ actions.
âBelieve in them, Katie. Creatures of the wild have never needed to lie. They do what they feel like doing, not like humans do and just as I will. When I get my next opportunity to... to kiss Cole,â was all the girl heard from her sleeping wolf before Ashley went silent once more.
âWait, what...â Katie turned red.