forum Are You An Angel..? / OxO / closed! Pm if interested!

Started August 06, 2020 by @ElderGodSwimwithGamers group

tune

Rowan nodded a bit and accepted the food from Matthew. "Thanks, Matthew. What're you going to look for?" He asked.

"Berries, flowers, plants. Maybe eggs if I find them?" Matthew shrugged just slightly.

"Alright… sounds good to me. I don't know anything about foraging, so… um… I guess I'll leave that to you?"

"Okay!" Matthew smiled a bit, setting off. He wasn't gone for too long, coming back with his findings. Mushrooms, some wild onions, a few berries, and eggs. He looked quite pleased with himself.

"Are you sure the momma bird won't be missing those too badly?" Rowan asked nervously. He'd already finished his bread and cheese by now.

Matthew was quiet a moment.
"She might be a bit upset," Matthew said softly. "But all know the rule of nature." He looked up a bit.
"But if you want me to put them back, I could try. But the mother would probably reject them."

Rowan sighed and fidgeted with his hands. "I… I dunno… are you sure she would reject them? None of them are broken, right? How developed are they?" He asked.

"It's the scent on them," Matthew explained. "The mother will be able to tell I touched them. It's like when a chick falls from the nest. The best thing to do is leave them alone, the mother will care for them unless you touch them. And they're probably developed far alone… And no, none of them are broken." Matthew gently set the three eggs down for Rowan to see.

Rowan ever so gently took the eggs into his hands and held them close, examining them. "W-We can't kill them… they're just little bird babies. Isn't there anything we can do for them?" He asked nervously.

Matthew thought a moment. He knew where this was going now…
"I could make a nest for them," he started quietly. "And… If they're to survive, we'd have to bring them with us. Taking care of babies, no matter what they are, is a big job, Rowan," he added at the end. "Can you handle it, even with my help?"

Rowan nodded, holding the bird eggs close to himself. "Yeah, I can handle it… they're just birds, after all. How hard could it be? I guess we'll be carrying them in the nest?"

Matthew nodded.
"It'll be like the ones in the village. It'll keep the eggs safe and warm while we travel." Matthew sat down again, letting out a soft sigh.
"Do you know what they'll need to eat?"

"Mm… well, most birds eat berries and grain and worms and bugs, I think. I don't see why these ones would be any different… do you think they'll hatch soon?" He asked.

"They'll probably hatch in a day or two." Matthew let out a faint hum. "I'll get started on making the nest." Matthew stood, going out to gather smaller twigs and mud. He even used some of his own hair, which was soft and similar to down feathers with their properties.

"Okay!" Rowan looked back down at the eggs and gently brushed their shells with his thumb. "I'm gonna take care of you even if your momma won't anymore…"

Matthew finally came back. He held the nest in one hand, letting it hang from the string attached to it.
"Here, this'll be good for them." He held the nest out to Rowan, holding the bottom now to keep it stable as Rowan put the eggs in.

"Okay…" Rowan hesitated before ever so carefully resting the eggs in the nest. "You're sure they'll be okay in here while we're on the horse?" He asked.

"They'll be perfectly safe," Matthew promised. "Do you want to hold them, or should I?"

"Um… I can hold them. What's the best way for to… uh… do that?" Rowan asked, holding his hands or to take the nest from Matthew.

"While we're riding, you should hold it like this." Matthew carefully set the nest in Rowan's hands.
"Think you can handle it?"

Rowan nodded a bit, holding the nest carefully as he'd been instructed. "Should we go ahead and head out?

"Yes, that would probably be a good idea." Matthew set about picking up the camp, packing the food away and putting the fire out.

Rowan got to his feet and headed over to stand beside the horse. He looked down at the eggs with a soft smile. Soon, three little birds would hatch out of them, and he could take care of them.

Matthew came over as well, humming a bit. He helped Rowan up, being extra gentle because of the eggs. He came up as well, urging the horse up.
"How you doing?"

"I'm okay…" Rowan still stuck very close to Matthew when they were on the horse, but he mostly kept his focus on the eggs to make sure they were doing okay.