The Aviary

Flora couldn't stop herself from screaming as she ducked and lifted her arms to guard her head. What in the mother's name was that creature? That sure as hell didn't look like any natural animal Flora had ever seen. Had she read about such a bird? It was the size of a small child and was hovering over Prince Andrei's arm patiently before he whistled. Upon hearing the whistle from the prince, the bird landed on the prince's bent arm. The fact that he could bear the weight of such a thing was impressive enough, but it seemed as if he were in full control of the bird. Prince Andrei gently shuffled the feathers around its neck, the bird bending its head into his hand. The act was tender, as if the bird was the prince's favorite pet.

Placing her hands at her side, Flora began to calm down and examine the bird with a scrupulous look. The thing was larger than any bird she ever saw, even with the traveling circus that had visited the castle with their collection of animals. However, it did look similar to a hawk, if a hawk was four times bigger. The creature had a sturdy beak and fierce talons that despite their presumable ability to maim, where gently wrapped on the princes bicep. The bird was a radiant shade of scarlet, and when it turned towards the light, it looked as if it were ablaze. If Flora hadn't known they weren't real, she could have thought that before her was a living, breathing phoenix.

"Scared princess?" Prince Andrei drawled, his self-assured smirk back on his face. He absolutely saw Flora flinch when the bird flew down. "Don't worry, he won't bite unless I ask him to."

Flora grimaced, imagining the amount of damage that bird could do, and knowing the prince, it wasn't unlikely that he would sick it on someone. Trying to make light of her discomfort, she said, "it looks... friendly." She hid her face from Prince Andrei, taking the opportunity to look around the room. There were rows upon rows of stalls, many of them occupied by similar birds to the prince's. Each had it's own little nook to nest in and sleep, a comfortable place for them to reside. The bottom level of the nests hosted nooks with wire grates over the opening. Where it was level with Flora, there were many shelves lined with equipment and food barrels. This must have been an aviary that housed working birds for the palace. Usually, she would expect any birds kept in a palace to be messenger birds, but these birds were too full-bodied and powerful to be simply messengers.

Looking back towards the prince, Flora saw that he had moved to one of the equipment shelves and was now feeding his bird something. The way that he interacted with the bird seemed strange. Prince Andrei was warm towards his pet, but she knew that as soon as he turned toward her his icy personality would be back. Something clicked in Flora as she realized why the prince had been headed to the back tower. There were no people back here, only birds. Hesitantly she inched toward them as she mused, "your companion?"

A wide, wicked smile grew on the prince as he also made a realization. "Yes, what else would it be?" Prince Andrei whistled, and the bird flew off of him and up into one of the nests toward the top of the aviary. "Were you expecting something else princess?" He scratched his chin, pretending to be in deep thought even though his smirk was still present. "Maybe a woman?"

"I," Flora stammered, "I never said that." Her face heated at the embarrassment of her misunderstanding. She didn't want the prince thinking she was some kind of clingy woman. Him figuring out her line of thought only made her feel even more immature. Flora braced herself for Prince Andrei to mock her like he usually did.

The prince walked up to her, his jovial attitude muted. "Like I've said before princess, we are engaged in name only." He strode past her to the other side of the aviary, leaving her to stew in her own shame.

A word flashed across Flora's mind as she heard a rustle from the prince's direction. "Koffee?" She turned over to face him, noticing him reaching up towards one of the lower nests, but pausing as she had spoken. Flora looked down, not having intended to speak. She just said the word without even thinking.

"How," the prince started narrowing his eyes at her, "how did you know her name?" He reached back up and let another bird hop onto his hand and then gently lowered her down. This bird was much smaller than the other and had a ruddy brown coloring. She looked as if she had been through a lot. Prince Andrei looked at the bird as she chirped at him and then lowered her to the ground. The bird hopped over towards Flora and looked at her strangely as if she were sentient.

Not knowing how to respond to the situation, Flora just asked, "uh, so your highness has another bird." The bird bowed its head toward Flora. She didn't know what else to do besides nod her head back. How was she in a position in life that she was treating a bird like a person?

Prince Andrei scratched his neck in disbelief. "She is also my companion, and her name is Koffee." He walked over to one of the food barrels, getting a scoop of dried meat for her. When he returned, he dumped it into a cloth pouch on the floor for her to eat out of. "I suppose it isn't that surprising that you could hear her with your spiritual abilities."

"Pardon your highness?"

He didn't look at Flora, but instead kept his gaze down towards Koffee as he answered, "these birds are not just normal animals, but actually sacred creatures." Prince Andrei crouched down next to Koffee and pushed some of the food closer to her. "We call them phoenixes, even though they don't possess the abilities of the myth. Some of the phoenixes will form bonds with people and can communicate basic language with their companion." He rose up from his crouch, giving Flora a disgruntled look as he examined her face. "I have no idea why she would want to communicate with you."

Koffee had finished pecking at her food when and had looked back at Flora. Should she say something out loud? Maybe she should try using speech through her mind? This situation was all too weird for Flora. "Uh... hello Koffee, my name is Flora." Even with the prince's poor attitude towards her, Flora was still trying to get closer to the prince. Her ego was telling her to leave, but she had never seen Prince Andrei so caring towards anyone or anything before. Maybe she could use the bird as a way in. Koffee just continued to stare in response to Flora's introduction. "Maybe she just wanted to say hello?"

"That doesn't really sound like her," the prince quipped. Did he realize he was talking about a bird? Flora had heard of parrots that could say words, but they were still animals. "You probably just overheard her mind or something." His voice was dry as if he were irritated that she had listened in on a private conversation. The prince bent down, putting a flat palm in front of the bird as an offering. She happily jumped onto his hand and walked up onto his shoulder as he stood.

It was odd, Flora thought. Why wouldn't she just fly up like the other bird. As Koffee shifted on Prince Andrei's shoulder, she saw. Koffee had a limp wing like she had injured it in the past. "Can she not fly your highness?" Why keep a bird in an aviary that couldn't fly?

Letting out a sullen sound, Koffee laid her head atop of the prince's. Bothered that Flora would ask such a question, he responded, "no, she can't. Koffee was injured as a chick and could never learn." Prince Andrei sounded as if he were referring to a family member instead of a mere pet.

Flora tilted her head slightly as she took the pair in. The prince was obviously extremely protective over the bird. "I must say your highness, I'm a little surprised that you take such good care of her like that."

"And why is that?" the prince snapped, the bird on his shoulder getting spooked by the sudden outburst.

This was much more entertaining than before. Who would have known that the sarcastic and brutish prince would have such a soft spot for an animal? Flora was going to take full advantage of her position. "Who would have thought that the stoic Prince Andrei could love another as much as himself?" She was feeling extra petty after her talk with the prince on the way up to the tower, but for now, Flora was going to act like the mild little princess that was still optimistic. "It seems that I have misjudged you your highness."

Prince Andrei grunted back at her as he returned Koffee to her perch on the other side of the aviary. He gave her a small scratch on her neck and placed a small knotted rope next to her. "I will be back later, and we can go on our walk after..." Although he was addressing his bird, the prince looked back at Flora. "we are done here."

Fine, let it be that way. Flora had already expended enough energy today squabbling with that prick. He wanted her to leave, and she was happy to oblige. "I'll leave you two then your highness." The comfort of her bedroom was beckoning her as she told him, "it was wonderful meeting Koffee, but I should be on my way now, good day."