Snow. Lately a constant companion of a yellow bird. Soon there would be a big party in their village. In his honor and that of his bride. A wedding will take place and actually he had always wanted that. To find someone to spend the rest of his days with. Someone who understood him and saw through his little mistakes.
Yes, there was a bird by his side now and he could say he liked her. Somehow. Conversely, she seemed to feel more, even if it wasn't really shown. But the marriage was her idea, so she had to feel more for him. Although he thought of such a festival before, but the reason wasn't quite noble. Because he came from a simple home and by his special property, namely to be the fastest bird far and wide, he also managed to encumber with debts. Especially at this time of year, he often slipped away and accidentally destroyed jars or similar fragile things. He, who bore the name Chuck since birth, didn't have it easy. Speed and impatience just didn't go well together.
It happened a few months ago. There came new birds from outside to their village. Among them was a lady in lilac plumage. At first she didn't look very nice, but very wealthy. Or at least her strange uncle and cousin were.
To begin with he just wanted to ask if he could borrow some money to pay his debts. Of course he would have promised to pay everything back or work it off. Because he wanted to make a good impression, he invited the strangers into his house, but first he checked with his special talent, whether the strangers had weapons or the like. After all, he wasn't quite as good-faith as some thought.
Anyway, everything changed. When his guests entered his home, they talked in good humor about his facility and how long the building already existed. They were probably interested because he owned the tallest house in the counter. He inherited this from his parents. Oh yes, they had unfortunately gone too early and he had no siblings.
Thus, he had at least a pleasant conversation with the relatives of his wife. Her name is Gale and she didn't speak much that afternoon. Her uncle, who introduced himself as Leonard, said she was just a little bit shy. He could understand that at the beginning, because he was also a very magnificent catch. However, after some time she didn't start to open up to him and he doubted that she was just shy. She was also able to chat freely with other birds. He watched this several times. But the conversations never looked very friendly. Or was he just imagining it? Finally, he never went closer to eavesdropping on his fiancée. After all, he still knew what manners are.
Nevertheless, they met again and again after that one day. Ross, her strange cousin ran around the village making unusual records. So far, he didn't question what the three birds did. Even if he had a feeling that something was wrong here.
On the other wing, he himself wasn't completely honest, because he didn't even confide his fiancé his money worries. He simply didn't find the right moment for it. He also wants to be alone with Gale for a longer time. Maybe then she would finally overcome her shyness or rather repellent manner. If he was unlucky, some of his past liaisons gossiped about him with his future wife. Probably that's why she played the cool lady until the wedding, so she was on the safe side and he couldn't get away before. He didn't even want to be intimate with her. He didn't even thought of kisser her or just holding her wing.
Some from their village envied him for such a beauty of a woman. Yes, she looked really nice. Nevertheless, unfortunately, it didn't really click in his heart. Probably the whole thing would be easier done then. But he can't force himself to love anyone, even if the outside and the environment seemed so enticing. He tried to comfort himself with the fact that after the ceremony he finally gets rid of the furious mob who stood in front of his house almost every day and wants money.
The night came slowly, but the yellow bird still didn't find what it was looking for. His fiancee wants to have some roses and that in the middle of winter. Once he meets Gale alone and she sends him to find flowers in the snow. It was probably the nervousness before the wedding. Although she wasn't particularly upset and busy with planning, but he could also be wrong. He never paid any attention to details such as gestures and looks. He was ashamed of that as well, but he promised to become a good husband to her. At least he will do his utmost to make her happy. And with this plant, which was allegedly also found under the white powder, he could make a start. Red roses. He didn't even think she liked classic romance. One of the many details he should still learn about her.
After a short breather he ran on. But it didn't seem to matter where he was looking with his shovel, he found everything, just not what he wanted. Even the golden clock of the master joiner reappeared. For sure he will get a small sum for that. The old owl already missed the thing for an eternity. It was a mystery to him how it got out of here into the woods, when he supposedly never left the village.
But that shouldn't be his concern, because he gradually got other problems. The path he had been running a few moments ago had suddenly been lost. Only cold snow under him. He quickly tried to move back, but his path disappeared. When the white flakes from above began to thicken, he should have put an end to today. But there were only a few days until marriage, and he didn't want to change the mind of his future wife because he didn't get a few trifles like flowers.
Maybe he should be a real man, go home and tell her everything. That he had no feelings for her, but just wanted to marry her for the money. If he was lucky, she was happy about the news. It could be that Gale's uncle would only force her to a wedding because she was of marriageable age. In the worst case he broke her heart and there was another bird in the village who was mad at him.
Slowly, he should know exactly what he wants to do, because not only his legs were cold. Even though the snow made the ground very bright, with no moon or stars, he wouldn't see anything in the dark. Besides, the falling white stuff made it hard for him to be able to look straight ahead. He was a bit panicked because he had never got lost in the woods.
Now he was more consciously running in circles to find some clue. There just had to be something else than trees and snow. From the beginning, he should have moved this search to tomorrow. Or at least ask if there were ever hardy roses around here. Just to run on it has always been its strength and its weak point, as in such situations. His body wouldn't be able to do that for much longer, and the cold was slowly bringing on hunger.
Was there a light? Quickly Chuck looked closer, but it disappeared again. As fast as he could, he ran in the direction. It shone and he was glad he had not imagined anything. But where did this glow come from in the dark? As he fixed his eyes on the light, he didn't see that he was running directly onto a fence. Thus, the coming was inevitable.
"Ouch! Who builds a fence in the middle of the forest?" He wanted to continue to rant, but when he saw that he was standing in front of a huge gloomy estate, he fell silent first. At least until he remembered that he probably doesn't have to freeze to death now. So he hurriedly sought the entrance, only then to determine that it was closed.
"Hello? Is there someone? If I climb over the fence now, I don't want to break in or something. I'm just looking for protection from the weather and.. um, were the tips on top of the fence really necessary?" But the yellow bird overcame that fast and already trembling moved to the front door. He knocked because he doesn't want to scare anyone. When no one opened, he stepped in on his own, than he could hardly stand it outside. He just managed to close the heavy door again and then locked it. So that the wind didn't hit it, should it change direction. After that he shook off the snow. He couldn't see much here, because it was now night and in this building it was pitch dark.
You could really put matches and candles in the lobby, he thought, feeling his way along the wall. Of course he stumbled upon a few things that weren't really helpful at that moment.
"Sorry, but to make it clear again, I really wasn't breaking in here..Ouch!" And again he was stuck with his feet somewhere.
"As soon as I see something, I also like to clean up." But it remained dark and quiet where he was. So had in the visibility conditions continue to search for a place to sleep. It will not bother him so much if he couldn't eat for one evening. The main thing was that he had a roof over his head for one night. As luck would have it, he quickly found a couch with a blanket and a pillow. Everything was a bit dusty, but he got it with knocking and his speed already.
It seemed lonely and unsocial here, but even though he didn't see or hear anyone yet, a feeling told him anyway that he wasn't alone here. Chuck tried to ignore it and close his eyes when he finally lay his head on the pillow.
The next thing he knew wasn't the daylight that was supposed to wake him, but he smelled delicious food. His stomach growled, but his head also told him it could be dangerous to fill his stomach here. But when he finally dared to open his eyes to see his host, nobody stood there. Irritated, he sat up, because he could have sworn, he just heard someone else. Besides, there wasn't very far away a table with delicious food. Someone had to have prepared it and brought it here. Such things don't happen by themselves.
"Um, thanks for the bed and breakfast, of course. But whoever lives here, you don't want to show yourself? A face to face conversation would be better. And I prefer it much more." The last sentence, the yellow bird whispered more to himself, because if he saw the owner of the house, he knew immediately whether he was in danger or not. On the other wing, which culprit lets you stay overnight and then brings you something to eat on the bed. Couch in this case, but still strange. Maybe an unsightly hermit bird lives here and just wanted him to disappear quickly again. I can fulfill that wish, Chuck thought and stretched extensively, then made to start the breakfast.
Quickly saturated, he also realized that he had not eaten so well in a long time. In society it would have been even better, but now he couldn't change it. In the future he could certainly eat more often with his wife and their friends. At least the couples out there always pretended that they were rarely alone in such a relationship.
Before he ran, he thanked his host for everything. Even if he didn't see anyone, he didn't want to play the rude guest. He had almost reached the gate when he looked around again. If that had not done so, he would have missed the beautiful view from the estate. Yesterday evening he couldn't watch much, so he probably didn't see either side of the gate open. And he climbed over the fence like a burglar.
Rooted, Chuck just stood there and couldn't stop wondering. It wasn't that there were no nice houses nearby or anything, but what was in front of him felt like something special. Of course it seemed a bit neglected, because the master of the house, who had his reasons not to show, didn't come to terms with the work alone.
Thoughtfully, the yellow bird ran back and forth in front of the gate that brought him outside. On the one wing, he should hurry back because he had to do other things at home. On the other, he also wanted to do something here to be thankful for the overnight stay and the food.
He shook his head and wondered why he wanted to waste time. Finally, nothing was required and so he should just disappear. Today, even the sun was shining, so finding his village was an easy task.
But just at the moment when he finally wanted to leave, something dazzled him and he closed his eyes for a moment. Blinking and protecting his eyes with a wing, he tried to see what reflected the sun's rays. It was a window that belonged to a conservatory. Surely he was standing around too long in this place, because the daylight was now falling on this little glass shed. Therefore, he decided to finally take the legs in his feathered hand to leave the property.
But right between the two doors, he got a flashy idea. Conservatories house flowers and other greens during the cold season. Chuck knew it was stupid to check if there were roses in there too. The owner hardly cared for the house, why should he take the time to care for such plants in winter?
Despite his own thoughts, he found himself quickly outside the flower house and still opened the glass door to take a look. He entered as if he were timid, dropped the door back into the lock and walked inside. There were so many beautiful specimens of plants here, but his eyes were captured by the roses from the beginning. The red of the flowers seemed to shine properly, because he recognized it right from the entrance. Wrestling with himself, he walked around the bush, which apparently got the best place here. It was presented almost like a trophy. There were so many flowers on it, maybe it wouldn't attract attention if he took a single one for his bride.
"Don't do that!" He suddenly heard a small voice, but as he turned around, there was no one there. Again he shook his head, for that was surely only his conscience. Finally, he wasn't educated to steal. But if his parents were still there, he wouldn't have to leave at night in the winter to find a flower.
As soon as he had broken off the chosen flower, he hurried to the exit, to finally get away from here. Strangely, the door from the conservatory jammed, because no matter what he did, it remained locked.
"Oh no! Why didn't you just leave? Now the Lord is surely angry." Again, the voice sounded and slowly it came to him a feeling that the better solution would have been to leave this place earlier. Everything suddenly became darker, but the sun was still shining outside. The wooden floor beneath him creaked almost desperately, announcing to him that something heavy and big was moving in his direction. Chuck got strangely cold, but he thought it was pleasantly warm in here.
"I offered you a night bed and brought you something to eat. But that wasn't enough for you, so you also wanted to steal from me." This voice sounded somber and scary, but still the yellow bird saw no one. His knees trembled a bit, but he should try to explain the whole thing.
"I..I would have come back to.." A bawling made him quickly shut up again.
"Liar! You wanted to take the rose with you and then just leave like a thief." The something came closer and he could already see a big shadow on the floor. There was definitely no bird here who wanted to be a hermit. Packed with fear, he tried to hide somewhere, but it was in vain. A moment later, he was already touched on a wing and lifted. He knew that this monster had captured him, yet he stared stubbornly at the wall, not wanting to look at it. But that changed when he was easily turned around and couldn't help but face the beast. He didn't find another description for the horror of what he had to behold. It was huge. Five times, no, at least six times his size. If not bigger. But this brown-black coat didn't let him judge that well. His eyes were embers red-colored and looked through him with their piercing stare. The claws held him tight, that there was no escape. He hasn't had such fear for a long time, but still he doesn't want to die like this. That's why he started to plead for his life.
"Please, don't eat me! I.. I do everything to pay for the rose. Surely there is something here for me to do..." His speech stopped as the monster opened its mouth. However, he didn't understand a word, if something else was answered. When he saw the sharp and partially blood-colored teeth, which could probably tear him with ease, he lost consciousness.