And again a loud sneeze sounded in the fireplace room. Chuck was taken out of his wet clothes again, but this time he would not complain because he was now wrapped in soft blankets in front of the fire. He also made noises from time to time because he had caught something outside because of the cold there. The master of the house, who lingered behind him in the shade, was also affected. He did not know how long they had been here, but he didn't really want to move or say anything. If his beak were putting him in danger now, he wouldn't even have the strength to run away. A quick glance outside told him that the blizzard wouldn't come to an end soon.
Gradually he wondered if he was declared dead in his village. Then it will be a spring wedding. He somehow hoped his bride wouldn't have looked for anyone else. Here he quickly learned that there are far worse destinies. The yellow bird didn't know if it was a fever dream, but it was still a nightmare. First there was a nice wedding and he got rid of all his debts. His life was finally as he had imagined, but the company he longed for stayed away. He got fewer and fewer birds to see. Yes, even his happy-looking bride sought excuses so she wouldn't have to see him anymore. For days he was alone in the extinct village until he happened to look in a mirror. He woke up with a shock because he himself looked like the monster behind him. This dream was scary and instructive. Chuck didn't want to look like that, but didn't want anyone to live like that. He wouldn't get around it and had to try to talk to the monster... No, to talk normally to the big thing. If he didn't make it angry, then a conversation between them would have to work.
Heavy steps brought him out of his thoughts. The door opened and only now did some magical creatures jump in. He had completely forgotten this before. Probably the landlord wanted to spend a moment alone with him. Probably not. He just wanted to rest in the warm room and guard him. He admitted that this had enough reasons for doing so.
"Everything alright?" Inquired the candle, which jumped closer to him. He was followed by three blue toys.
"I'm ok. Maybe I got a little cold but otherwise I'm fit." His gaze shifted to Round.
"What's with you little guy? I thought you were going to be a snowball." He was joking with the round thing. But that could have happened.
"The cold outside doesn't really hurt us." Gave the toy in response and bounced back and forth in front of him. Probably to convince it was alright.
"I'm not going to hack you out of the ice if you're frozen to something out there." Of course, the dish had to voice his opinion. But the ranting was almost ignored by him when he noticed that someone else was missing. The bird then remembered that Stellar couldn't switch places by herself. But before they stormed outside, her music box was here in the fireplace room. Or was he wrong?
"That could have ended really badly this time. You were really lucky." Then he heard the singer talking at the entrance. This was carried with hot tea and biscuits on a tray straight in his direction. He glanced fleetingly at the master of the house to check his mood. But he had pulled his robe down so deeply that he couldn't see anything of the face. He also realized that the bigger one was trying to not look in his direction. The tray was placed on the side table next to the chair. Chuck was sitting on the carpet not far from the flickering fire.
"Drink a little warm tea and eat something. Then you feel better too." Added the figure from the box. Certainly because he was staring at the drink. He reluctantly peeled off the blankets, but then did it. Suddenly the singer shook her head and the others made also frightful movements.
"What are you doing, you idiot?!" Sweets thought he was whispering, but they heard him all over the room. The bird was aware of what the others thought and heard also a brief low grunt. That shocked them even more. After all he just climbed into the lord's chair without asking. Probably nobody dared to do that before. He also didn't intend to sit on it.
"There were quite a lot of leaves and pine needles on it. So, now that was all." He turned around his own axis again to check everything again.
"Yes, everything is clean. Now it shouldn't be so uncomfortable sitting down." There was no answer and he thought the others were holding their breath. Carefully, he looked over the armrest of the chair. Yes, the bigger something was still here in the room. The yellow jumped from the piece of furniture threw the dry stuff, which probably got stuck in the fur outside, into the flames. He cleared his throat again. It can be that he was too quiet before because of the coming cold. This time his own body and the weather would me him be imprisoned here longer. Hold on tight, because which prison served tea and biscuits.
"Come over here and sit closer to the fire. Your body is bigger and certainly needs more heat. I also promise not to bite." He hoped the little joke was not too much. But then he heard the other being get up and come slowly over. He looked again at the fire and sat down again in his bundle of blankets. A little nervous, he stared for a while, because the distance between him and the chair wasn't as big as he assumed before. A light clink was heard that came closer and closer. He looked away and saw that the taller one handed him the tray. Anyway, it was carefully put down next to him. A large bowl was missing.
Oh, of course, Chuck thought, his host drank his tea from it. A normal cup would certainly not be enough for him. Nor would it be able to hold these with the big paws.
"Thanks." He said, thinking for a moment before saying more.
"Not just for the tea. But for helping me. I'm really sorry about the rose. I wanted to bring it as a gift for my fiancée. On the other wing, you shouldn't have scared me like that and locked me up." Then an annoyed gasp was heard.
"You don't just steal flowers from others and can get away with it with impunity." That sounded a bit snotty.
"I would have paid for it right away if the weather outside wasn't so stormy." The yellow one gave back in the same tone and turned to face the other. He was right when he got angry, he forgot to hide. The cowl was still up, but certainly not for long.
"You wanted to run away when you saw the first chance!" Then he heard. He strode out of the blankets with clenched wings.
"Because you're pretty good at convincing anyone that they are in mortal danger near you!" He looked up with wings at his hips.
"You get very fast without help in mortal danger. Either with your feet or with your beak." Chuck took a breath and pointed with a feathery finger already at the larger one, but then he found nothing more on this subject. Because it was true. His beak sometimes brought him more trouble than his feet.
"Still, there is no reason you should just abandon someone in the woods. First you bring me into the warm and.."
"Be quiet! I wanted to drop you off the edge of the village, you chattermouth!" That really made the yellow bird silent. Perhaps the taller one lost the orientation in the snow and didn't find the village for that reason. He decided to ask Stellar of that blackout thing later, because he didn't know if the host really wanted to talk about it.
Only then did he realize that the other one was holding his head with his wrapped paw. The blood on the bandage looked dry. It seemed to have stuck to the fur.
"Has anyone looked at that yet?" He changed the subject, because the wound should be treated better.
"I wanted to look at it, but I'm too small." The singer finally intervened again. She seemed relieved, certainly because the situation didn't escalate this time.
"Just let me.." When the wound was kept inadvertently in the light, he stopped thinking and jumped on the armrest of the chair.
"Hey what's that supposed to be?" The big something grumbled uneasily, but Chuck was already pulling on the bandage. That made the monster growl louder. Certainly because it was in pain.
"That must .. Achoo.." With that the bird landed in the lap of the bigger one. The fur was really very cuddly, but he resisted sitting down. His cold body certainly just wanted a warm spot. He shook it off quickly and wanted to see again after the injured paw, but then the landlord stood up to shake him off.
"Go back to the fireplace!" That didn't sound like a request, but the feathered one wouldn't give up now.
"Don't be so stubborn! Something like that can ignite badly and then your arm will fall off."
"Oh no! You don't want that." Dolls said loud and the other blue toys began to intervene, because they didn't want the thing heard come true.
"You have to let him have a look!" Added Round hopping, so that he sounded more convincing.
"What do you want to do with only one arm? Please, let the doctor take a look." Pleaded Cracker and all three looked wide-eyed at the master.
"Well, I'm not.." But the bird was interrupted by the candle.
"And what if it doesn't just stay with one part of the body? Please Lord, let the doctor take a look." Again Chuck tried to explain that he didn't pursue a medical career, but it didn't really work.
"First of all, this guy isn't a doctor, they are not that stupid." Thanks Sweets, the yellow one thought and finally wanted to take his chance.
"Second, you should really consider it for your own good to have the injury assessed." Another grumble followed. A soft laugh followed by the singer.
"Since you have probably been overruled." The bird looked up waiting for the still obscured face. Honestly, the longer you looked, the more the scary factor sank. Of course he was still scared, but it was no longer like the day he arrived here. There was a growl and the master of the house stamped to the door.
"All against one. That's not fair." He heard it before the bigger one went out.
"You wanted to do that, so move!" For a moment, Chuck was shocked that it was so easily given in. He should probably be glad about it. So he ran, but took the music box with him. Although he didn't really want to use Stellar as a shield, but she could help him if the bigger one became angry again. His life was no longer in danger, but when such a giant being becomes loud, his brain still signaled that he should run from it.
The bird silently followed the other into the bathroom. When the monster saw the singer over his shoulder, it took her from him with the uninjured paw and put her down on a cupboard in the hall.
"Hey, don't leave me here! I also know a lot about wounds." The figure was ignored and the yellow one was pushed into the bathroom. The door was closed. He swallowed and wondered if it was really a good idea to play doctor for an oversized patient here.
"She shouldn't see that." It came more relaxed from the other, which made him think that the bigger one knew how bad his wound looked.
"Why did you let it come to that?" Chuck inquired indignantly, as the dirty bandage was finally gone and he saw the swollen and encrusted spot on the side of the paw. The injury had actually ignited. Quickly he let water in the bathtub, because he wouldn't be able to wash all this off. He looked around, but there was nothing more than towels and other body cleaning utensils. Hurriedly he strode to the door, there were already a curios Ashes and the others. But instead of letting them in, he gave everyone a task he needed for treatment. Even the candy bowl did its job almost without words.
He then closed the door again so he could clean the paw in peace. After the dried blood could be soaked and washed off, he noticed that the injury itself is not as big as previously thought. But the fur stuck even after a few moments in the warm water still persistent at this point. At this point it was also the most swollen. Maybe there was a foreign really small object under the skin.
"How did that happen?" Chuck could have asked that earlier.
"Chopping wood." More didn't come in response from the other. Finally he looked away from the wound and into the eyes of the taller one, because he didn't move his head away fast enough. They were really brown and not red or whatever he saw when he wanted to take the rose. Was he imagining it or was it the light? He shook his head slightly, that was not important now.
"Did you caught your paw in something?"
"Is that important?"
"Um, yes. If you got a splinter and it's still in there somewhere, it would explain a bit why that looks that way." There was just a puff on his announcement. A knock at the door let his gaze wander to it. The bird got in the things they brought, but said that the others still had to wait outside.
"With the pair of scissors, I now cut off a little fur so that I can see better what I do. In addition, the wound also heals better later, if there's nothing sticking to it." Explained Chuck and a nod should probably give the consent to his action. Carefully, he put on the scissors. The more hair fell into the water, the uglier the injury seemed. It probably hurt a lot, because he heard over and over again how the behemoth pulled air through his clenched teeth.
"Should I get another bottle of wine? I hope there are some left after the thing in the cellar."
"Why do you need... shhhh..wine..now? To disinfect...it?" Oh yes, when the monster spoke, the yellow noticed even more that it hurt a lot.
"That benumbs you a little.. well from inside."
"I don't need it!" He heard growling, but he jumped down from the edge of the tub and handed a towel to the big one from the other side.
"You can bite on it." But of course the injured guy remained stubborn and didn't want to accept that. Thus, he took advantage of his speed, pressed on the wound a bit and stuffed the cloth in the monster's mouth, as this just wanted to be louder because of the pain. Then he tore hurriedly away the fur where it was sticking to the wound and the sight was really not pretty, but he tried to overcome everything and washed the escaping blood and pus as carefully as possible. When Chuck saw only open but clean meat, he quickly saw the culprit. It was really a piece of wood. It was so tiny that even he had difficulty recognizing that.
"As I thought. A splinter. But we have that thing in no time." He pulled it out with the forceps, which were also brought. A very loud roar echoed through the property, but the paw in his wings just jerked briefly, but wasn't torn away. Something emerged from the wound again, which the bird quickly cleaned and then jumped back to the door. He would almost have landed in the bathtub by a sneeze, he quickly caught himself on the other's arm.
"He's still alive." It came a little shocked from the bowl when he opens the bathroom door again.
"Can you bring me some more boiling water?" But the master of the house opened the door completely and walked himself towards the kitchen.
"I can still walk." He said a little hoarse with a towel around the injury.
"Now wait a minute! What if there are more splinters?" Chuck simply left the magical objects, which were a little astonished, and followed the larger one. Arrived in the kitchen, the bird noticed that a large pot was still standing on the stove. The bigger one opened the lid.
"It should be warm enough. Please tell me, you don't want to tip it over this." The yellow one knew the wound was meant, yet he couldn't help but notice that the pot was big enough for him. He shook the memory of being eaten off, once again.
"No. I just need a little of it in a glass or a jar. Then you have to put the injured spot on it and then.. That could hurt again." Warned the smaller one, as what was said is done fast. But more as a little blood didn't leave the wound. At the right moment, the others arrived with clean bandages. Although they all kept a respectful distance from the bigger one, suddenly the grim face didn't bother Chuck. He was so concentrated before that he didn't even flinch when the roar started. Now he wanted to pat the wound dry, but the monster did it himself.
"At least let me put on the bandage properly." At his speech, the bigger one actually rolled his eyes and snorted annoyed. Still he got the paw in his face.
"If you must do it." His opponent grumbled, but he didn't let that dissuade him.
"See? It's done." Chuck explained, glancing at his work again. Now everything didn't look as dramatic as before with all the blood. He wanted to add something, but a sneeze brought him away from it.
"I put on new tea again." Explained the big something and if he had not looked up, then he would have missed the relieved facial features. Somehow it felt good that he could help the other one.
"And you make him go back to the fireplace!" Only then did the monster's powerful voice return, causing the others to move.
"You heard what the Lord said!" Of course, Sweets was the first to push him out of the kitchen.
"The fire will warm you up, too." The candle probably said, because he was walking around unclothed all the time. He usually did that only at home, but it did not seem to matter so much to him before. So he followed the others back into the fireplace room.
"That was really nice and brave of you to help our master." Halfway to the bathroom, he also met Dolls. He didn't find it so brave now, but then he thought again of the sight of the other one. If you saw him for the first time, he would be brave in his eyes. But the monster never really wanted to do anything to him, as he didn't need to show any timidity.
"Did everything go well?" Inquired the figure of the music box when he finally arrived at this. He just nodded and as he took her in his wings, the candy bowl also stopped complaining that they had chosen the wrong hall. On the way to the fireplace room, they also collected a very tired Round. Cracker was already sleeping soundly in the blankets in front of the fire. The bird placed Stellar on the side table, took a thick blanket and wrapped all three toys in it, but placed it two paces farther away from the burning wood. Because two of them can catch fire pretty fast if they are so close. But he wanted the kids, he just thought it after the behavior, not teach now.
"Warm enough?" He wanted to know, but Dolls could only yawn tiredly and nod slightly, before he fell asleep. Sweets stared at him silently, until he got what the dish wanted.
"Come here, you." The bird said a little mischievous and also wrapped the bowl in a blanket, you could only see the face. That looked a little offended, but then closed his eyes as it was put beside the toys. Chuck wanted to turn to Ashes, but that already fell asleep.
"He always sleeps like this." The singer answered him his unanswered question. He looked again at the door and hopped on the chair. First, because he wanted to talk quietly with her, not to wake the others and secondly, he also wants to eat biscuits. His now cold tea tasted great anyway.
"There wasn't really anything interesting in the room." Somehow he had to use every opportunity to exchange information.
"Ashes have already told me everything. This with the pictures of the birds just makes no sense." The figure knew immediately what he meant and the feathered began to ponder again.
"What do you mean, where they all disappeared?" He inquired.
"You're probably wondering if he has something to do with the disappearance." He nodded in confirmation. But at the same time, he could no longer really believe that the landlord had kidnapped or even killed these red birds. If something like that would come to him easy, Chuck wouldn't sit in front of a warm fireplace and eat delicious cookies. This had probably baked the monster itself. Or maybe the magic objects?
"I don't think he would do that." He heard it from his side. The bird thought he should jump off the chair again, but it was really cozy at this place. Blinking, he looked at the fire. He really wanted to put forward further theses and develop ideas with Stellar, as he continued here. Actually, he should think about how to get away. But with a cold, he would have to postpone anyway. But his body was getting heavier, so even his sneezing didn't help him to stay awake.
"I'm just... just a short moment.." A little nap did not bother anyone. Satisfied, he snuggled into the blanket, which was abruptly laid on top of him. Chuck didn't remember having one in his wings before, but that wasn't so important either now.