Su had decided to work late again the following evening, waiting for reports that the thief had returned, but it was past midnight and still the captain had not shown up, to complain or else deposit a foxcrow on her desk once again. She rubbed at her eyes, exhausted and in need of proper sleep when something flew into her window with a loud bang, rattling the glass and making her jump out of her chair.
Blinking her drowsiness away, she strode to the window and lifted the catch to open it, confident she could take on any attacker as she peered out into the darkness of the closed dome. A small ruffle in the darkness swooped down, crashing into her and knocking her backwards. She fell heavily on the floor, catching herself on her hands. The patch of darkness was now a rumpled feathery heap on the carpet under the window. It shook itself as it slowly got up, pawing at its head.
"If you don't want a headache, don't fly into things so fast. Especially glass. And me." She added, feeling slightly resentful due to the grazes on the heels of her hands.
The foxcrow tossed its head with a small snort and flew back towards Su, landing in her lap and looking at her expectantly as it kneaded her stomach. She noticed as she gazed back that the fur below the shining green eyes was silvering, leaving only a small round dot of black fur beneath one eye. Absentmindedly she reached up a hand and went to stroke the still dark fur between its large, pointed ears but it flattened against her, arching its back, and fluffing out its feathers to make it look twice the size.
Su's lips twitched. "Very fearsome. But you'll have to let me get up if you want food."
She winced as the foxcrow launched itself into the air, its talons sharp even through her robes. It landed awkwardly on her desk, sending papers flying and knocking things over with its bushy tail. Could a foxcrow smile? Certainly the dropping of the jaw and displaying of its teeth seemed an expression of joy as it leapt after her papers, tearing at them with its paws and teeth.
"Stop that!"
The foxcrow froze and then sprang up, beating its wings to hover in the air, the downdraft causing the now shredded bits of paper to scatter across the floor. There was no mistaking the gleeful expression on its face, its tongue hanging out as it panted with the effort of remaining airborne.
She'd had too many battles of wills over the years to be foolish enough to fight this one directly. She looked away sharply and stalked towards the office door although she barely made it past the coffee table when she felt something clinging to the back of her robe and was nearly deafened by loud angry cawing in her ear.
"Well, if you want food, then behave." She spoke rather than shouted but projected her voice, so it spoke over the caws.
The growl was discontented but defeated and she looked down when she heard a thud and saw the foxcrow glowering mutely up at her. It let out a single commanding bark and then fell silent again.
"Yes. Food. You will stay here." Su pointed a finger at it. "I don't think I can trust you near the stores yet, but I will return with some."
She returned with a platter, laden with cold meat but also sweet fruits and berries she thought it might like, placing it on the low coffee table and wondering where the foxcrow had disappeared to. Surely it wouldn't have left before eating the promised food. She went to close the window against the night chill and heard a strange snuffling sound coming from the large metal bin by her desk that, she noticed, was no longer in the tall shape it had been, but now a wide bowl.
She stared down at the foxcrow, happily snuggled amongst the screwed-up papers.
"Well, I suppose that solves the problem of where you sleep tonight." She laughed.