~Bird songs~

by Ola

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A/N~ all right, here we go again. Legolas and the other elves make their appearance. I hope the suspense didn't kill you too much, and that I didn't loose too much of you. Please review this story. I apologize for the shortness of all the chapters, but those are good moments to stop, and anyway, I will be updating very often.=)

The disclaimer is always the same.

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Part 2~

~A month later~

            I beamed as I put the final touch to my little "house." It was a simple structure with four walls and a low roof, just big enough to let me sleep and cook in. I haven't yet insulated it against icy autumn drafts, but it was late spring, the weather was beautiful, and I didn't really feel like doing that at the moment. For now it was enough to shelter me against the occasional thunderstorm. In the month since I arrives, I acquainted myself with "my" little valley and began looking for that bird. I had some ideas as to how to go about doing that, but it would be quit long and uninteresting to tell you that just now. Half an hour later, I was off, walking under dark green pines, parallel to the river, and toward the end of the valley. A small pack gently bumped against my back with every step I took. I had with me some food, the basic hiking necessities, a notebook, and a book on birds, as well as bird seeds and binoculars. From the short report I had available from the trappers' account, I knew that the bird lives somewhere near the pass between "my" valley and the next. Since spring was the matting season and by now there would probably be several more of the mysterious birds, I was to camp for a few days near the location previously mentioned and listen for the bird. This may sound idiotic and a waste of time, but what would you do in such a case? And I could always come back next year to continue my research. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

            A warm wind blew in my face and I inhaled the musty scent of the woods. Soon, I arrived at my destination and proceeded to strategically place little piles of bird seeds on the ground and in tree branches. Then I sat down and listened. The best way to "open you ears" is to relax, while not falling asleep. You might remember that I mentioned being here a month already, and wonder if I had only just started to do my research now. I would truthfully tell you that I had already "combed" two areas, albeit unsuccessfully. I had also gone through my "bird book" as my friends called it, trying to identify characteristics common to birds of this area. Here is what I came up with: brownish in color, living in high trees (and nesting there in early spring), probably having 1 to 2 offspring, size unknown but most likely small…and a few others. When night fell, I had not heard the bird's warble, but I had glimpsed a small brown shape flitting from branch to branch. It had been high up in the top most part of the tree, and I did not get the opportunity to discover if it was the bird; two more brown birds were common to this area.

            Next morning before the sun rose, I comfortably installed myself on a wide branch of a tree next to the one I had seen the bird in. back against the rough bark, legs hanging down, each on one side of the branch, and binoculars in hand, I stood watch. About an hour later, a stray movement caught my attention. It was that little brown bird again! Yea! But now I could calmly observe it. I drew a quick sketch of it, then another, much more detailed drawing. I also wrote down any other information concerning the bird that came to mind. Unfortunately, it did not make any noise, but I had the strong suspicion that its nest was up there, although I couldn't see it. Its offspring were surely hatched by now, but not yet able to fly. The perfect time to observe the parents. A short time later, it flew off. I took the opportunity to dig into the small bag that I had taken up with me into the tree and hung on another branch, and take out a bite to eat. Then I again waited for the bird, as it had most probably taken off to search some food for itself. The sun was now half way to its zenith, and the wind had died down to the barest hint of a breeze. It would be a warm day. I wasn't tired, but the peaceful surroundings lulled me into a semi-trance, and I committed the grave error of closing my eyes, promising myself that it was only for a minute.

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            I dreamt that I was hearing someone's voice. It sounded like chiming bells, but I had no idea what it meant. I have never come across such a strange sounding language. That is probably why I kept my eyes closed, still thinking myself in dreamland, unaware of my surroundings. That is, until I felt something cold and hard touching my arm. Then I opened my eyes…and came face to face with a gleaming arrow tip, pointed straight in between my eyes. I gasped trying to get some saliva back into my dry mouth, and started backing up, completely forgetting that I was sitting in a tree. I remembered that crucial fact only when I felt myself falling. I was so surprised that I didn't even scream. Nor did it occur to me to grab onto something to slow my fall. Not that it would have made much difference, but it was worth a try. All too quickly, the ground rushed up to meet me. Pain flared up all over my body, and I sank into the blissful embrace of darkness.

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