Hilda was at the restaurant, she did not find the food names appealing so she just let her mother chose for her. They ended up with steak, Johanna didn't care a lot because it was not just to eat, it was to try and change the girl's mind.
-So, what are you thinking of the city so far?
-Can't say I like it.
-Look, I know this is a VERY strange situation for you but things get better.
-Aham.
Hilda was clearly NOT willing to listen, she was as stubborn as her mother and that was the main cause of tension, both sides were equally persistent and would not give up. Johanna could at least realize that she did something wrong but Hilda was convinced she was right.
For the girl, her mother was just being mean without reason, for her this bird parade was nonsense, she came there against her will and the best thing she got to entertain herself were magic books that she could not even use.
On a way, her frustration was completely understandable…
Raven was also bored but the difference was that he was used to that, at least this time he had a house to stay inside, which was really useful. The most annoying inconvenience was the owner being around and he could get past that, the parade was after tomorrow and then back to his usual life.
He sometimes wondered if he was too spoiled, I mean, no other thunderbird ever had this kind of interaction with a human, they were a very isolated race with nests hundreds of kilometers apart from cities to avoid being seen. They have been avoiding discovery for years and he sometimes felt he just… kind of ruined this. No one on his family ever knew about the bird parade, he lived alone so no one suspected his sudden disapearence.
It surprised even him how far he have come…
But right now, he was stuck acting like a normal bird which was at least mildly annoying, years ago he would not care but after having a taste of a more human lifestyle, acting like a bird was beginning to get on his nerves.
The owner entered the room with two bowls in hand.
-Johanna asked me to feed you two, but I didn't knew what a…how are you called? Deerfox? Eats, so I hope dog food and water suffice.-he put the bowls on the floor and looked at Raven- About you, I am not sure about what to give you. I don't have any bird food on hand so I'll get some at the store.
He closed the window and the door, leaving the room while Twig approached the bowl with food, the other one had water.
-He really expect me to eat bird food? Or to drink from a bowl?
-What's the problem? You did that before meeting Hilda.
-Yeah but… ah... I think a single glass of water won't be that suspicious.
-Raven, may I remind you that if he discovers years of disuse will be destroyed in an instant?
-But…ah, fine.
The bird took the bowl and slowly drank from it, like a much wider mug, he could not help but feel kind of uncomfortable.
Meanwhile Hilda and her mother were finishing to eat, Johanna planned a whole tour across the city, she wanted the girl to at least be OK with the moving idea, because she knew that it was impossible to fully convince her.
-Hilda, I have been thinking, we could go around the city, maybe visit the school, the statue…
-Me and Raven already have plans.
-Oh, do you?
-Yeah.
-Hilda, you are making this unnecessarily hard.
-…
They finished and after paying the bill they left the building, Hilda still not saying a single word. She did have any actual plans with Raven but she would come up with any excuse. She really wanted to go back to the library, it was by far the most interesting place she went to so far.
Even if she could not use them it was still fun, maybe she could talk with Kaisa about letting her use a spell or two, but she could not do that with her mother… like most other things.
She loved her mother but sometimes it just felt like she was holding her back. And now she had to elaborate another plan because Johanna insisted in spending time with her. This "vacation" was going to be more frustrating than what she initially tought.