I pass out almost instantly, drifting through dreamless sleep, until a loud noise suddenly tears me awake. Scrambling to kick off the blankets, I look everywhere around the room, trying to figure out where the sound is coming from. It's a insistent sort of scratching, making me cringe each time it passes over glass-

(Glass!)

"The window. But I'm upstairs, what could be-"

Gulping down a pinicked breath, I slip out of the bed and inch my way towards the curtains, cringing every time there's another angry scratch.

(It's just the wind knocking a branch around or something. What else could be up here?)

I steel myself with that thought and yank back the curtain, only to come face-to-face with a giant bird, its talons swiping against the window. When it sees me, there's a feral screech, the bird slamming into the glass like it's going to break through.

"Oh my god, oh my god … Go away!"

It doesn't respond to my scream except to hammer at the window again, and I yank the curtains shut, dashing past the bed and out of the room.

(It's just like the capybara! What's with the animals in this place!?)

"I just need to get some help."

I run down the hall to the room next to mine, pulling the door open and rousing the sleeping lump under the sheets. When August sits up, I take a surprised jump back, getting a full view of his bare chest before the sheets slip even lower. Frantically putting a hand over my eyes, I stammer a quick apology.

"You're not Regina." I say.

"Nn, wha … She's … on the other side."

"Sorry!"

He grunts something incomprehensible back at me while falling back against the pillows, and I scramble out of August's bedroom to find Regina's. I open the door a little more quietly, but she stirs the second I come in, brushing hair back out of her face and blinking slowly.

"Emma? What time is it?" She asks me.

"Late, but this bird just attacked my window and I think it's going to break it-"

"Slow down. What are you talking about?"

(Okay, deep breaths.)

"There's a giant bird trying to break into my room. I can't sleep with it scratching at the glass."

"The windows are locked, aren't they? It can't just fly in."

"N-no, but it's super loud and freaked me out."

Concern flickers across Regina's face before she rubs the last of the sleep from her eyes, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm just tired of cute animals trying to kill me. Can I stay in here with you?"

"…"

"It's a REALLY big bird. And I don't think it's going to give up any time soon."

(Which is super creepy. What did I do to piss it off?)

I'm not sure if it's what I said or the dedicated puppy eyes I direct Regina's way, but after a long moment of silence, she moves from the center of the bed to the left side, leaving plenty of room on the other half.

"Get in. I'd like to be asleep again before sunrise."

Holding in a cheer, I climb onto the bed and slip under the covers. Regina immediately turns over, eyes closing before the only thing I can see is her back. Within moments, her breath falls into an even rhythm, but the realization that we're in bed together makes it that much harder for me to fall asleep.

(I wish I could read her better. Or find some sign that I'm not barking up the wrong tree.)