Alright 2 hours left to Christmas day and I have enough of a chapter to post for a gift~ Merry Christmas everybody!
In the other room Al bubbled with uneasiness. Ivan had been trying to soothe him but with little success. He sat in the taller man's lap thinking.
Getting Ro to calm down over this was going to be tough... She really seemed upset.. She didn't like him anymore did she? It was still hard to figure out just why she hated eagles... And she didn't seem to be talking anytime soon..
It was rather late now and Al was still worn, his eyes drooped sleepily. Matt had rushed off at the sound of slamming doors. Worry seeped over his link, affirming the bad mood. Clouds gathered outside as Al's mood dropped.
Matt came back into the room, tugging Gil with him.
*Mattie..?*
*She hit dad...* Anger started bubbling in him.
*..She probably had a reason..*
*He stopped her from leaving before they talked things over.*
*...* Al laid his head down.
Ivan coddled him, looking to someone for an explanation
"Ro ran off upstairs.." Gil said.
"Why is everyone so upset?"
"She didn't seem all that happy.. Slapped eyebrows."
He frowned softly, glancing to Matt.
"She wouldn't talk."
"Things do not go well then," he hummed, standing with Al. "Perhaps I will try talking with her myself."
The bird woke up a bit at being lifted. He had nearly fallen asleep again.
"Come," Ivan petted the bird tenderly. "Let us put you to bed."
Al snuggles in his arms again. He took him up and gently settled him back in rhe nest, kissing his head. "There..."
Al chirps softly settling in sleepily. Ivan slipped off to confront the fae.
What had upset her so much? She refused to respond to anyone, so it was all guesswork. Was it the fact he was a bird?
If you thought about it though, it was partially her fault he got stuck.. He ran off because she was upset at him.. It was all her fault. If she just stopped being so moody...
But he also caused himself too much stress before hand if he wasn't sick he might not be stuck..
She still didn't help... And she was constantly moody...
Al sighs closing his eyes. She was so hard to keep happy..
Maybe it'd be better if they let her go... Where to was the problem..
The night drifts on and Al drifts off. Clouds growing angry outside but this time it wasn't an overprotective aunt. Ro curled up in her bed, burrowing down as she settled down to watch the sky.
It wasn't until hours later that Al was woken again by the storm. Ivan had dozed off beside the nest. The chicks shuffled uneasily, unsettled by the storm.
Al's feathers puffed to their fullest. Damn! For once he had those expensive as hell headphones within reach and he couldn't even use them!
Ivan slept on peacefully, despite the terrified cheeping in the nest. Al tried his best to push his own fears aside and sooth them. They huddled close to him, all five chicks jostling to get close and avoid egg fragments.
Wait five?! When did the other two hatch?! They were still damp and shivering... Couldn't have been more than an hour ago... He rounded them under his belly to keep warm. Good thing dry feathers were great insulation.
The storm raged on outside, five tiny hearts hammering away against his chest. His own wasn't much better.. He glanced to Ivan and the cubs. They slept peacefully, snuggled into each other.
After Ivan had taken them over Al had put his full focus on the eggs. He hasn't noticed how much bigger they had gotten.. Koda was still the runt though. Still, he was a healthy size and no longer under threat of starving. Matt's injured cub was still a little precarious.
Al sat with his brood trembling softly, he didn't think there would be much sleep for them tonight.. The two new chicks needed to eat... They were so small compared to the rest...
He hated to wake up Matt when he was so tired earlier though.. But the chicks... And Matt was the only one he could communicate with right now...
He really had no choice.. *Matt? Mattie wake up!*
*What's wrong?!* Matt snapped awake in the other room, panic bubbling at Al's urgent tone.
*Well the storm for one.. But the last two just hatched! I need help!*
*Shit...* Matt jumped out of bed, rushing diwn to Al's room.
Al glanced up to the door still shivering softly.
Matt swept over, hushing him gently. *It's okay...*
*They're scared Matt..*
*I know, but you need to calm down or they won't settle either...*
Al whines trying to push away the noises. Matt rested their heads together, filling his mind with gentle song.
It slowly worked. Al's tremors eased and the tension faded. The chicks calmed with him, feeding off Al's comforting vibes. Al blinks sleepily.
*There... Just rest...*
*Hmnn.*
Matt lay with them, too tired to drag humself back to him own room. They all soon drift off again. The night rolled on, storm slowly ebbing.
The twins slept in, exhausted. They finally woke to five hungry chicks crying out for food. Al stood up groggily, nudging them. They cried harder, the newbies desperately needing food.
*Matt..*
*Sleepin...*
Al sighs glancing to the door. It was shut tight... Ivan and the cubs were gone, so he had to wake Matt...
He hopped over running his beak through Matt's hair. Matt grumbled, reluctant to wake.
*Don't make me shit on you..*
*What the fuck, bro?!* Matt pulled himself up quickly, still half asleep but conscious enough to feel repulsed.
Well he had to go anyway.. *Food.. Please..?*
It took a second to process, but he was soon out to fetch meat. They needed to clean the nest too, egg fragments along with fresh droppings littered the towels. Al flutters into the bathroom for a moment to take care of himself.
He and Matt came back to the room at exactly the same time, the latter with food for the birds.
Al hopped back up in place glancing to him. *Any sign of Ro..?*
*She hasn't been downstairs yet. Arthur thinks she'll sulk today...*
He sighs and went about feeding the hungry beaks.
As soon as little bellies were full, the room grew so much calmer. Al laid down again tiredly. Matt set about changing the nest, settling the brood in clean towels Al settled in on the bed beside them.
*So I guess the last two hatched in the storm...?*
*Yeah, good thing I woke up then.*
Matt nodded grimly. Left alone, they might have died of fright...
*If you want to go back to sleep I'm fine for now. Just could you open the window?*
*I'm awake and Gil needs help with the cubs...* he shrugged, opening the window as asked.
*Alright then.*
He flashed him a smile and slipped off downstairs. Al settled in again enjoying the breeze.
It was nice and mild after last nights storm, refreshing. It was also quiet and lonely in here. He was too awake to go back to sleep now. He could ask Matt to send someone up...? Not that he could talk, but...
No.. He shouldn't bother them..
...But it was so lonely...
He glanced to the door. Matt had left it open for him...
...The chicks would be fine for a while right? Parents left to hunt all the time and it's not like anything in here would attack them. He jumps down trotting through the hall. He nearly got trampled by a hoarde of bunnies on the way out. He squawked backing into the wall to avoid them. They thundered passed, knocking over a potted plant on their way.
Jez.. It was dangerous down here..
Arthur's rabbits were such a handful... Matt's cubs were ambling about the den and the lounge was claimed by kittens. It was hectic... But where were the men?! Scattered about trying to keep track of the young.
No company there then.. Everyone was going to be busy with their offspring...
He passed Ro's room pausing to look. It was dark and silent, door still shut... Al sighs softly. Should he bother her...?
He stepped over lightly and lay on the ground, attempting to see under the door. It honestly looked like her room was empty... She was probably sulking in her bed...
Hmm.. Al went back to his room and went to the window. His chicks were still settled in the nest so no worries there... A gentle breeze invited him out. He jumped out and climbed the warm thermals up above the house.
As he swung around the house, one thing became clear - Ro's window was open and the plants that climbed passed her windows looked distinctly ruffled...
Crap.. *Matt I'm goin out!*
*Where, why and and how long?* he only asked so he knew if he needed ro tend the chicks.
*Just took a quick loop around the house, Ro's not sulking, she pulled a Rupunzel.*
Alarm swept through Matt and he droppedthe dish he was holding. *She did what?! When?!*
*No clue..*
*Get hunting. If you don't find her in an hour, tell me.*
*On it.* he turns heading to the woods.
There was no breeze, no scent to catch, no glimpse of red in the trees... He circles around creating a perimeter path around the house. No matter how far he went, there was still nothing... Absolutely nothing...
Damn.. He headed back.
Matt was in Al's room with the nest when he returned. He looked up expectantly.
*Can't find hide nor hair..*
*Fuck...* Matt got up, going straight to Ro's door. Al trotted after him.
Matt tried the door only to find it locked. Frustration won and he barged it in. Her room was empty, clothes gone and a few brown feathers on the floor...
*Not good.. If she's still got those wings out people will start poking..*
*I'm more concerned about the fact that she could be anywhere right now!* Matt snapped, worry taking over. *The floor's wet, so she must have taken off before or during that storm, she could be hurt! What if she crashed?!*
He knew better than to argue when he was like this.. *I went all around maybe she's further out?*
*She had a ten hour head start Alfred! She could be in Cuba by now!*
This wasn't helping.. Matt was already pacing, trying not to hyperventilate.
*Matt.. You need to chill.. You're gonna pass out..*
He couldn't hear, a wall of panic shielding his mind. Al flaps in front of him and screeched. He jolted back in shock, tripping back onto the bed.
*Can you hear me now?*
*Y-yeah...* he swallowed shakily.
*Just calm down a little ok?*
*But what if she-*
*Matt! Breathe!*
Matt took a deep breath, falling back against the bed. Shaking hands covered his face. *Sorry...*
Al jumped up next to him. *You're fine. Just calm down and let's think. Where would she go?*
*Nowhere. Al, we're all she has... She doesn't have anywhere to go...*
*...*
*She ran away...*
Al walks over laying on his chest. Matt rolled onto his side, just hugging him gently. *I wish you were bigger right now...*
*I'm sorry.. She left cause of me..*
*I kept forgetting she lived with us...* Matt whispered shamefully. *Things kept happening and she was so quiet...*
*Me too..*
Matt pulled back with a sigh, guilty eyes threatening to overflow. *We need to tell the others...*
Al rubbed against his arm comfortingly. He smiled sadly, petting his head before going down to the others. Al trotted behind.
Matt made it to the bottom of the stairs before he had to sit down and try to collect himself. She was gone and hell if he even knew where to look for her... Al nuzzled up to him, worried himself.
*What're we gonna do Al...?*
*I don't know..* The rain would have erased any trail they could follow..
Matt grit his teeth as frustrated tears dripped through his fingers.
*...You think Artie could see her?*
*I don't know...* His head was turning into a mess of anger and grief. Everything he thought of lead to a deadend...
*Matt listen to me. You know how a lot of witches you see on tv have that one spell to spy on people? What if that's a real thing? Even if there's not he'd probably know something that could help.*
*Just... Please leave me alone for a minute...* Matt's voice was soft, small. *I need a minute to get my head straight...*
Al sighs moving away. Matt stayed hunched on the bottom step, shoulders shaking thoughts racing. Al watched him for a minute before wandering off.
He met Arthur on his way to the kitchen, the Brit ladden with squirming bunnies. It would have been funny if he wasn't so sad at the moment.
Arthur seemed to pick up on the sorrow and offered him an arm. "I'd ask what's up, but you can't tell me anyway..."
Al latched on pointing a wing towards the stairs. Arthur nodded softly, setting his rabbits free before heading through. He spotted Matt on the bottom step and went over instantly, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Al snuggles up against him again. Matt just leaned in, clinging to Arthur until he calmed down.
It took a good while, even then the twins still felt down.
"There, there," Arthur smiled softly, gently wiping up the moisture on Matt's cheeks. "Now... Whats gotten you two all worked up, hmm?"
*Come on bro..*
"Ro ran away... In the middle of the storm last night, she flew off... Al looked a few miles around the house but nothing...
Arthur's eyes widened for a moment before he pulled Matt up into the lounge and quickly told everyone else. Al stuck close to Matt, the others grew concerned.
"We need to look for her properly, think where she might go," Arthur thought out loud, still holding Matt. "Any ideas?"
"Does she know were town is?"
"Possibly, but would she go there?"
Francis shrugs.
"She might have gone back to my place..." Matt suddenly realized.
*That's a long way if you're not a nation or with one... Could she even remember the route?*
*I'm not sure, Al, but after last night, I'd argue she's upset enough to try...*
*It's our best bet right now..*
*We can't just uproot everyone though...*
*Ya gotta at least ask bro.*
Matt sighed internally before suggesting it to the rest of the group.
"Worth a shot.."
"What else do we have to try?"
"Yeah, but who goes?"
*I want to.*
"Al and I'll go," Matt stepped up. He had to go...
"I shall stay and watch your cubs, Matvey."
Al leaned over rubbing against Ivan. Matt gave him a grateful smile.
"Gilbert, why don't you go too?" Arthur suggested. "She trusts you and you spent a lot of time with her... She might listen to you..."
"Alright, I'm for it."
"Good. You'd better get moving if you're going to catch her."
They gathered up and headed off.