Chapter 22

Phil apparently was very fast for an old man. He hadn't even used his wings to catch Quackity and keep the him from escaping the property. Had even jumped the fence without touching it, which was crazy, wasn't age suppose to slow you down or something? Quackity had to do the walk of shame with Wilbur snickering at the door, and Techno looking like he just proved a point, whatever that was. So here Quackity sat, once again in the nest with Phil's big black wings wrapped around him, after pulling Techno's spare, red, soaking wet and ice covered cloak from his shoulders, rambling about how Quackity wasn't use to the cold and that his wings could get frostbite if not careful, something about them not having the muscle mass and feathers needed for the cold. And while Quackity was upset about losing his freedom, the bird in his head sang with happiness, and urging him to answer whenever Phil chirped at him. Those chirps sending a wave of calm through him that he didn't even want to fight, when he was brought back to the nest.

Techno and Wilbur were both still not allowed in and apparently Phil was upset Techno wouldn't let him go search for Quackity, hence why the two were not in the room at the moment, but sitting in the hallway outside the door, watching as Phil preened Quackity's feathers.

"So, Tommy should be back in a few day but I want to go ahead and start flight training on the ground." Phil was saying, talking out what they had to do, which was a lot but consider Quackity didn't feel he had much of a choice he was barely listening, especially with his instincts just having him melt at Phil's touch, where he was leaning against the man. "Wilbur are you listening to me? And get out of the nest, you still banned." Phil said, with hiss at the end.

"I am. I know, but…. It looks like you drugged him." Wilbur answered, scooting back so he wasn't in the room.. Quackity could see between a few of Phil's feathers where his head was resting against the older avains collarbone. Wilbur was staring at him, with a calculated look.

"Its his instincts, mate. Tommy does the same thing." Phil chuckled. Quackity hummed, at the sound, his instinct happy that someone in the flock was happy and that he had made him happy.

"No, Tommy gets that look and shakes out of it just as fast. Even you don't stay down for this long." Wilbur corrected, eyes flicking to Phil.

And that was a bit confusing. Was Quackity not suppose to feel all floaty and happy while having his wings preened or by having another avain hug up to him?

"This is what I was trying to tell you, mate. He was raised human. Has been human. His wings came in so late he doesn't know how to control his instincts. However, the more he goes down, the quicker he'll learn to come back. Tommy learned fast how to come back from him so not get lost in his instincts, but its going to be a while before Quacktiy learns. That why," Phil explained, a hand coming to tilt Quackity's head up so they were looking at each other eye to eye. His instincts singing at having Phil's attention on him. "He's got to re-imprint on me. Which I think is going swimmingly, thanks to the results of Techno's unexpected experiment." Phil chirped, and Quackiy sent a little smile his way. That chirp meant Phil was pleased with him. "Already starting to learn what the chirps mean, aren't you?" Phil asked with a knowing smile. Making a twittering sound at Quackity that had him smiling, up at Phil. Phil was very pleased with him.

"Eh, either way I got him out of the house. He was getting antsy, Phil. He's a soldier. Soldiers can't stay still for too long. Got the house to myself for a bit at least." Techno huffed by the door.

"Don't think I didn't notice him wearing one of your capes, Techno. You're not fooling anyone." Wilbur teased. In which Techno shoved at him, pushing him from the doorway.

Phil laughed at the two's antics, wings curling a little tighter around Quackity. Driving him deeper down where his instincts were practically purring at how warm and safe he felt in Phil's arms. Made it easier to make that part of his brain that wanted to push away to be quiet and to enjoy the wing hug.

(Crows)

Brian scratched at the ground, having made himself bigger that the others in the flock with to make the process go faster, sometimes digging his beak into the dirt to toss it to the side too. They had all of Phil's ingredients. Had found things that seemed to have belonged to the new fledgling and now they just needed this last thing. This was the grave of Schlatt, according to Phil's list, they needed to bring back the fourth and fifth ribs of the dead man. The ones that were the closest to the heart.

'This is hard work!'

'This is a little spooky.'

'Hey get over here and dig!'

'Are we sure this guy is dead when we find him?'

'I don't want to touch a dead body!'

'Its a buffet though!'

'Worm and maggots, yum!'

'Yuck!'

'Juicy!'

'Ew!'

'Yum!'

'Barf!'

'You're just spoiled on human food!'

'Excuse you but I like cake over bugs!'

'Oh, oh, I love nuggets!'

'Pasta!'

'Now I'm hungry!'

'Stop talking about food!'

The crows all chattered as they worked. They were all ready to get back and deliver the stuff they had collected. Working hard to make Phil happy and the new fledgling. Brian's talon's dug deep into the dirt and scratched along a hard polished wood. 'Found it!.' He declared, shushing his chattering flock as he finished clearing the dirt.

A few of his smaller crows jumping away as the casket became uncovered, but coming back closer, once they felt brave enough again. Of course they left it to Brian to pry the casket open, while he was still a giant. It was when the casket open did a few jump back letting out startled screeches.

'Its all bones!'

'That doesn't look like Schlatt!'

'Skeleton archer! Run!'

'Its dead!'

'It smells!'

'My nose, wants me to break it!'

They complained, calming down again as again his brave ones, jumped down into the open grave. Poking their head into the casket and pulling out whatever shiny trinkets that caught their eyes. While a few of his more anatomy smart ones, helped him locate the bones that were needed. Clawed talons digging and ripping at the already dingy and half bug eaten burial clothes to help expose the bones more. A couple of the crows already jumping up and down on the needed ribs to try and get them to fall away from the rest of the skeletal remains.

'Here!'

'Fifth and fourth on the left!'

'I found a fat maggot! Yummy!'

'Ew! Spit that out!'

'Too late!'

'Bones stuck tight!'

'Not heavy enough!'

'Gotta break them?

'I don't think they can be used if broken!'

They contemplated, as more crows came to bounce on the rib bones to get them to move.

'Move.' Brian ordered, bending down and working the tip of his beak between the bones and began twisting until he heard a very prominent 'crack' sound, and the rib in his beak moved. He pulled upward, bringing the rib bone with him. However, because he was larger than the skeleton he had wedge his beak into, the skeleton came up with him, throwing into a sitting position, and scared the flock around him, especially the ones that had stay in the casket. They all came flying from the open grave screaming, except for one that had been caught by in the rib cage, by slipping into the gap of the bones when the skeleton had sat up.

'ITS ALIVE!'

'EVERY CROW FOR THEMSELVES!'

'SCATTER!'

'RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!'

'ITS GOT ME! HELP! HELP!'

'SAVE YOURSELF!'

'I TOLD YOU THIS WAS SPOOKY!'

Were the screeched screams from his little crows, that after flying around frantically, all decided to perch and hide on his back, where they knew they blended perfectly into his black feathers. A few managing to shimmy themselves under his large wings where they were completely hidden.

The crow trapped in the rib cage, had taken to laying on its side with their eyes closed, while whimpering and crying, after hitting its head on a few bones when it tried to flee. 'I don't want to go back to the void! I just got here! Brain, save me! I'm too young to go back!'

Brian waited a few minutes before helping, hoping the crow would calm down enough to see the gap in the ribs now that one was missing, when it became obvious the crow trapped in the rib cage wasn't going to calm down and open their eyes, he shook the rest of his flock off his back and out from under his wings, and dropped the bone in his beak, to grab and pulled the second rib they needed, from the now sitting skeleton. It was when he snapped the other rib from the now sitting skeleton of Schlatt did the trap crow noticed and fly out hurriedly, stopping only to peck the skeleton in the head, as a slight revenge before joining the rest of the flock, that were already gathering their stuff they had gathered for Phil and the new fledgling.

'I wasn't scared!'

'Yeah keep telling yourself that!'

'Are we going to put Schlatt's bones back or….leave it?'

'Leave it!'

'Put it back!'

'Burn it!'

'I don't care!'

'Can we just go?'

'I'm sick of the graveyard now!'

Brian huffed, holding back his amusement at the flocks chatter over what they should do with the remains of Schlatt, and so to just end the conversation so they could keep making their way him, stepped on the bones to force them back into a laying position and closing the lid to the casket, finished with scrapping the loose dirt back over top of the grave. For added measure a few of his crow came with stick and twigs, while chatting about making it harder for him to dig himself out, should he come back from the dead. After that was taken care of Brian let himself go back to his normal size before leading his flock home.

(Quackity)

He was preening Phil's wings again. Although if you asked him Phil's wings didn't need any preening, but the man insisted that whenever Quackity wanted to be preened. He had to verbally asked for it now, and then after help Phil preen. And Quackity didn't like asking for help, to show that he liked the preening. But he couldn't stand his wings itching or pinching anymore, so whenever he woke up he and Phil preened. Something about the process of fixing the wings, just seemed to hypnotize the bird in his brain. Phil still continue to chirp at him despite him not responding back, but the crow hybrid seemed happy enough when Quackity would snap his head toward him, praising him when he did. Something about he was learning. Whatever that meant.

Pretending to be an avain seemed to be easier than he thought it would be. All he had to do was sit in the nest and show Phil, that he wanted to do avain things. This included the preening, the wing exercises and apparently cuddling. Although, whenever he did let himself participate in Phil's expectation to be an avain, he also found it hard to try and pull away. Which was not okay. It seemed by participating, his – those instincts that he had buried would take over, rendering him to where he forgot that all this was suppose to be pretend.

"Phil!" Wilbur called, coming to stand in the door way of the nest room. Techno and Wilbur still weren't allowed in but the crow still dropped things that smelled like them in the nest. "Tommy sent a message." At the mention of Tommy, Phil gently pulled his wing back that Quackity was working on stood up. That irked Quackity a bit, more than it should have really. He wasn't done with that wing.

"Everything okay?" Phil asked, his tone hinted with worry.

"I mean yeah, but the little gremlin ender-pearled himself into a ravine and can't get out now." Wilbur reported, nonchalantly, leaning on the doors frame. Eyes locking onto Quackity before going back to Phil. "Apparently he ran out of ender-pearls. Techno suggested it'd be easier if you flew down to get him." Wilbur said.

"We can't leave Quackity by himself yet." Phil mumbled. "Maybe Techno, and the crows…" He considered.

Quackity decided not to say anything. Playing the good fledgling was starting to earn him brownie points with Phil. So he just sat there, keeping his eyes on Wilbur, and when a little crow who he suspected was Rangers settles in front of him, he began to pet the bird to keep himself from paying attention to the fact that Phil was talking about leaving the nest for Tommy. Was going to leave him with Technoblade.

"Actually I think Techno is going to go with you. So, I'll stay behind." Wilbur said with a smile.

Quackity glared at Wilbur and looked over to Phil to gauge his reaction and was pleased to see Phil looking hesitant at Wilbur's suggestion. "I don't know, mate." Phil hummed.

"Come on Phil, you got let the kids spend time together at some point. I can be good. Promise." Wilbur said, putting on a very believable pleading pouty face.

Phil's once again looked thoughtful. "You do have a point." He murmured, eyes flicking to Quackity. Seeing that Phil was now gauging him, Quackity made sure to grit his teeth and shake his head. This cause Phil to frown, as he looked back to Wilbur. "Fine. But I better come back to find 'both' of you," Phil said, making sure to level both Wilbur and Quackity with a stern look. "Alive and well. Quackity," He said, sharp blue eyes on Quackity, causing wing to shuffle nervously as he continue to pet Ranger, now knowing that Phil was actually leave him and Wilbur alone. "Stay in the nest. Wilbur." His eyes snapped to Wilbur, who tilted his head, smile disappearing at Phil's stern tone. "Stay out of the nest."

"Sure." Wilbur nodded.

"I mean it Will." Phil said, walking forward, mantled up and feathers fluffing, where the two stood face to face.

"Dad, come on. Let me prove myself." Wilbur murmured, face turning less pouty and more pleading.

Quackity knew Wilbur had won, when Phil's wings smoothed back down and his shoulders relaxed. "Okay." He nodded, looking back one more time to Quackity with sending a reassuring chirp his way that had Quackity's instinct come up and as he choked on something in his throat. Seeming satisfied, Phil left.

Wilbur stayed by the door, only stepping away from it to let Phil pass by and leaning to watch down the stairs until they both heard the front door shut. Wilbur seemed to wait only for a few minutes before turning back to the nest. "Just you and me now, former Vice President." Wilbur said with a vicious smile. "How about we talk." He said, sitting himself on the floor kriss-cross style.

"Go to hell!" Quackity snarled, his wings lifting in the same manner as Phil's did.

"Been there. Done that." Wilbur said, with a roll of his eyes. "I rather think what going on here is more fun. Speaking of, your little friend." Wilbur smiled, eyes moving to look at Ranger who Quackity was still petting. The little crow was staring at Wilbur, with a tilted head.

"We're not friends." Quackity denied and stopped petting Ranger. Wilbur was going to try to get to him by going after the little crow.

"So, you wouldn't mind if the little crow continue to not wear this then?" Wilbur smirked, pulling the ribbon that Ranger had once wore out of his pocket.

Ranger upon seeing its ribbon screeched a short sound that sounded pleased, as it fluttered over onto Wilbur's knee and began pulling at the ribbon that he dangled between his fingers. Quackity inched himself up to where he was subtly balanced on the balls of his feet and fingers, his wings spread out for balance.

"Aww, look at you." Wilbur cooed, with a giggle. "You do care about the little crow." He looked down at Ranger. "You see that display right. He does care about you. Now that's just delightful!" He looked back to Quackity, with another vicious smile. "Isn't it Quackity?"

Quackitylet his eyes break contact with Wilbur to the little crow still tugging at the ribbon that Wilbur still held. He shift a bit ready to pounce Wilbur. Phil's order be damned. Besides Wilbur was asking for Quackity to hit him anyway.

"Oh, don't worry. I won't hurt your little emotional support animal." Wilbur chuckled, eye narrowing as his smile widened. "Brian and Phil would be angry if I did. What about you though Quackity? Would you be angry? How close have you gotten?" He asked, as he brought his other hand up to pet Ranger's back. Smoothing down feathers that were starting ruffle.

Quackity hissed at that, but refused to answer.

Ranger had stopped tugging at the ribbon to watch Wilbur's hand that was petting them. While Wilbur seemed to feed off Quackity's anger and frustration in the nest. However their stare down was broken by a boot that not so much as kicked, but pushed Wilbur out of the doorway. Sending the man flying from view, and dropping the ribbon that Ranger immediately caught and brought back to Quackity, strutting in a circle proud of themselves.

"Move, Wilbur." Techno grunted, coming into view. Holding his red cape with the white fox fur in his hands. "Here." He said, tossing the cape into the nest. "Its clean and dry." He informed, as the cloak fell into the nest a bit on top of Quackity's back. Smelling strongly like Techno.

"Ow! Techno, I thought you went with Phil!" Wilbur groan, coming back into the doorway.

"Phil put me in charge." Techno said, with a smirked.

"No fair! I'm the oldest!" Wilbur said, sounding offended.

"Too bad. Its my house anyway. And Phil doesn't trust you. Plus, we all know I'm the favorite, anyway." Techno countered, with evil sounding chuckle as he walked away.

"You are not!" Wilbur shouted, chasing after, apparently forgetting about Quackity and Ranger in the nest.

Which was just fine for Quackity, he didn't like the tension that came with Wilbur. He slowly relaxed and pulled Techno's red cape off his back and placed it back where he had originally had, had it before he had taken it out of the nest. He didn't even think about it when he did it, too focus on sweeping and arm out with his wing to move Ranger who was still strutting happily with its ribbon in its beak. "Come here." He said, grabbing the crow with both hand to place the bird on a nearby pillow and took the ribbon from it.

Ranger squawked indignantly at him.

"Be quiet. I'm putting this back on you. You're easier to spot with it. And it makes you look better." Quackity huffed, tying the ribbon back into a bow on the cows neck. When he leaned back to check his work Ranger was looking at him and making happy twittering sounds. "This doesn't mean I like you or anything." He reminded. "I just want to find you easier. You all look identical."

Ranger just kept twittering, hopping around happily and doing some happy little bird shimmy when it danced around in a circle. Finishing with jumping to Quackity's should and nuzzling close.

Quackity didn't feel like shooing the little crow away, with Ranger back he wasn't as lonely in the nest anymore. Plus, the crow was more tolerable than anyone else in this place anyway. "Whatever." He huffed, leaving the little crow to twittering on his shoulder.

(Crows)

Brian and his flock arrived to Phil's house before the Phil was even there, but it seemed that the Crow Father had the room that was mostly for potion making open for them. A fire already going under a big cauldron and brewing station ready for use. Potion bottles out and lined up, along with a few empty ones. Netherwart, that was growing against the wall, along with other mushrooms and plants. Phil had most of the stuff set up and ready to go, including an old grimoire that held incantations and potions recipes that were ranging from very new to very old, including stuff from the End. Phil had the book already sitting on a lectern. And Brian mentally checked off the items from the recipe that he and the flock had went to collect. The rest, Phil was going to have to bring. But this potion would take days to complete, so patience was the key here.

'Potion making I like it!'

'I suck at potion making'

'Stop flying around the cauldron!

'Make me!'

'Should we pick the netherwart for him?'

'Yes!'

'No!'

'Its works better fresh!'

'Magic making!

'So excited!'

'Can we deliver the Fledgling stuff now!'

'No, Crow Father wants to look first!'

They chattered as they began placing their burdens on the table. Considering his potion was something that tool time, they wanted to make sure they could prep Phil as much as possible.

Brian started jumping up on the fireplace bellow to help keep the temperature high to the water in the cauldron continue to boil, a few extra crows coming to help. All jumping up with the help of their wings to help them. Once the crows on the bellow where working at the same pace he went to a miniature little guillotine Phil had made, for them a long time ago so they could help him chop ingredients. Designed so a few crows could land on the top handle that held the blade, making it slide down and chop whatever was on the wooden board below, which at this moment held young mandrake. The crows had learned a long, long time ago that the miniature guillotines were not meant to be used on each other and that playing chicken with it, meant ten more years before their rebirth. So, they all were very careful when using it, and they hand to be flying for more than two years to go near it.

'This is so fun!'

'I love making magic!'

'Its like cooking!'

'Can't wait to show the fledgling his stuff!'

'Crow Father is going to be so pleased.'

'So we just prepping or…?'

'Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble!'

'We don't have the thumbs to finished this potion!'

'Its complicated anyway!'

'Where's does Crow Father keep the wormwood!'

'I found the lavender!'

'Witches butter! Its in the kitchen!'

'Feathers? What's the feathers for? And who's feathers?'

'Dadz can worry about that!'

'I'm a little worried about that!'

'Not my feathers!'

'It doesn't say crow! It just says feathers!'

'Does he even have star dust?'

Brian seeing that a large majority of the flock was around the old book landed in the middle of them to shoo them away. The grimoire was very old and they didn't need to have any accidents near it.

All heads turned when Phil finally stepped into the house. "Oh good, you're back." He greeted, shaking the snow off his wings, as he entered the room. "Good we can get started."

'DADZA!' They all cheered.

"Now let's see what you all found." He smiled, walking over to where they had laid the stuff they found of Quackity's.

(Quackity)

Quackity was in a stare down. Tommy was back in the nest standing over Quackity who was sitting with Ranger perched on his head, messing with his hair. He hadn't really been doing anything other than sitting there, after Techno and Wilbur had left him alone upstairs. So when Tommy came bounding up the stairs and to the room it was abrupt and in a flurry of golden fluffy feathers.

"Get the fuck out of my nest!" Tommy shouted, fluffy wings mantled up and fists balled.

Quackity didn't feel the need to stand with Tommy, he could take the kid. The one thing about Tommy that Quackity was sure of, was that he was nothing like Techno or Wilbur. Being just a kid; a teenager, he didn't have the skills or experience that Techno and Wilbur had. Granted the kid tried and had the stubbornness of a mule, but that was easy to deal with. To make it simple Quackity didn't see Tommy as a threat, just an annoyance.

An annoyance that refused to stay down. To call it quits.

An annoyance that was now standing in the nest with his shoes on, and tracking dirt in it.

An annoyance that Phil would choose over him. Not that he would care of course.

"Hello, Tommy." He greeted, making sure to lounge back and make himself look very relaxed in the mounds of blankets, pillows, and clothes. His instincts for some reason wanting to show Tommy that this nest was his.

TBC

A/N: Hm, I wonder what Phil is up too? And what the crows found?