"Have you found anything by now?" Leonard wanted to know again that day. The violet bird said no, even though she didn't think her opposide would like it.
"If you told us exactly where to look, we might be more successful." Said the lady with a wing at the hip, but looked at the smaller companion now, who came up here puffing.
"I.. It's..nothing..there.." Ross breathed heavily and threw himself on the floor. Gale could understand that, because she was slowly out of breath too, but she didn't run here. Nor she hurried to come up here in a hurry. Chuck's house was the only one in this village of this height, and thus well usable as an observation tower.
"It can not be that hard to find a villa in the woods!" With that, the biggest one in the round kicked angrily at a small table. To the only woman here, it was always impressive how quickly their companions could transform something in a mess. Well the owner of the house had been gone for almost a month, yet it looked like a mess that had prevailed for some time longer.
"It is winter. What do you expect to find among the masses of snow? There is a path in the forest and we ran it up. But there was no stupid villa. How do you even think that there is such a thing in the forest?" Slowly, she was also tired of the thing. The residents certainly thought that she was looking for her fiancé in the woods and asked her to stop so that she wouldn't get lost and freeze to death too. Not a nice thought if the yellow guy really died out there because of her. Nevertheless, she liked the idea she wasn't to blame, because the guy seemed to be a smart bird. He should have known that there were no roses at this time of the year. And yet he immediately ran away. Secretly she had to wonder if another bird would have done the same. Uneasily she remembered when they were kids and she got a paper flower. It smelt of nothing and didn't seem to be special to others either. Back then, Gale said the thing is quite nice in a low tone and yet the flower stood in her room for almost a month.
"Maybe he used a trick before he bit the dust." Leonard probably only talked to himself, but she understood everything very well. The idea that her companions had been here once before came back to her mind.
"Or maybe this villa doesn't exist anymore." She added with her wings crossed.
"Such a big building couldn't just have been swallowed up by the ground. It has to be in that direction." She was roughly pushed to a telescope. The bird bit back a remark and looked through it.
"You look in the wrong way. This is the path to the mountain. The forest is still on this side." After she gave that out annoyed, repositioned the device and looked through it again. Suddenly she actually saw something in the bushes. It was barely visible, but there was smoke rising between the trees. The wind abruptly changed its mind and nothing was recognized. At that moment, she was also pushed aside so the guy who commanded her around could see through it too.
"Ah, now everything looks better." She heard and rolled her eyes behind him.
"Today we'll probably not find anything in the blizzard." Added Gale, hoping it was enough of a hint that she wanted her peace now.
"Maybe tomorrow morning the wind dropped." Ross tried to calm his boss, who just wanted to say something to him. The smaller one certainly had no desire to go out there again. Leonard snorted contemptuously and yet he let it fall. He probably just realized that they were both his only servants here. Without them he would have to do everything himself and he was reluctant to do that. Nevertheless, the bigger one marched out again and ordered the other to clean up here. Surely he went away because the food went out on him again. At least now came a little silence.
Of course, Gale didn't just get her well-deserved rest, because Ross suddenly started humming as he swung the broom. At first she didn't care. She made herself comfortable on a chair. But then she noticed that the other also began to sing. Was not the first time and his voice wasn't the best, but what else should he do to pass the time? At least he didn't get on her nerves, so she tried to ignore it.
We were both running through life, strong and full of confidence
the whole world belonged to us, a park was our existence
Of everything only the best, full aim high
Of everything only the best, it went alright by
And then I woke up, with the back on the wall
I did so much wrong, our park it was burned all.
Of everything only the best, it was like yesterday.
Of everything only the best, it's all away
Help me, I fall more and more down
help me, don't you see I'm drowning on my own
help me, you so much love left, give me your wing and save me.
I don't know what it was, our ways went apart there
I thought I could handle it on my own and don't need you here
Everything that glitters, I wanted it in my way
and what was really counting, I gambled away
Looking for only the best, I hurt myself somehow
Because you were the best, I know that now.
Something dripped on the ground and she blinked upwards, wondering why the roof was leaking and because it was so warm in here, the snow was melting.
"Maybe I should sing another song, if that makes you sad." Ross gave it out a little sheepishly and only then did she realize that she was crying. Shocked, she looked at her wings on which more and more drops fell. Her vision blurred again and again. Why didn't it stop? Because that stupid song reminded her of someone? Definitely not. She didn't need anyone.
Suddenly she realized how the other in the room carefully patted her wing. First she wanted to tell him that he shouldn't touch her, but the little one just wanted to be nice. Actually, he was the only one who treated her like that. She sniffed and tried to regain control, but she couldn't, than her thoughts simply didn't leave the pink bird.
"Stella." She whimpered softly, burying her face in her wings. No matter what she talked about all the time, she missed her friend very much. Irrelevant how many years have passed, she wanted to see her again and hear her beautiful voice. In such situations, she would have sung her an encouraging song. She seldom felt feelings of sadness or grief with her. But she was no longer here in the village and it was as if every sign of life of the pink bird had been erased. She was becoming aware of the cruel truth, that she would never see Stella again.
A sneeze made the yellow bird look up from his book. He looked at the singer with surprise, clearly the sound came from it.
"Shall I close the door?" He asked.
"We can't catch a cold or anything like that." Still, she didn't look like she could explain it, because that was the first time something like this happened.
"Maybe someone is thinking of you." Chuck added and didn't even want to know about it anymore, because in the last time he just got more questions than answers. It was in this place that he feels more and more confused. Because unlike the magical objects, he caught a bad cold, because he was out in the snow on the water. As a result, he didn't really get along for a few days. Although everyone talked to him when he was awake to ask if he needed something or just to keep him busy. That sounded normal, well, his little friends were now normal here. What it was not that this huge monster looked after him. And that in a very caring way. Between fever dreams, he already noticed how he was carried from the bed to the fireplace and vice versa. And he got how it was bringing some tasty food to him and how he was bathed so that his temperature went down.
It occurred to him that the landlord was actually nice. So hard shell, soft core. Ok, the shell had to be a very thick layer, but he had only been on his feet again for three days and he was seeing more and more of the soft core. Of course, the bigger one continued to act as if he were a nuisance, but still he could talk to him. His fear disappeared more and more with the curiosity to find out more.
"Hm, who would do that?" That got Chuck out of his thoughts again. Strange that the Stellar sounded a little sad at the statement, but he didn't want to poke around there either.
"Do you do that?" She asked a little teasingly to change the subject quickly.
"Hey, as you know, I'm already in someones wings." Still, he didn't long for or worry about his fiancée. Maybe she had left the village again. Strange that made him feel more relief than discomfort. Somehow, Gale had earned someone to marry her because she was loved, not because of other stupid reasons. He probably only needed a near-death experience to become clear in the head again.
"Dinner is ready soon." The feathered one heard that from the door when Sweets announced it. He hastily put a bookmark in the book that he was reading. He found it exciting, but he also wanted to get some answers from the owner of the house.
So he had to spend more or less time with this. Which was not so easy, because locking itself up was probably a hobby of the bigger one. Literally, he locked himself in his room, in the kitchen or in the winter garden. Chuck felt a bit like he was the monster. So he tiptoed more to the kitchen, because he wanted to make the other one to dine with him. Carefully, he watched the action in the room, because the door was a bit open. The three toys hopped excitedly behind their master, while Ashes looked as if he didn't quite know what to do.
"Can't you say he should stay here forever?" Pleaded Cracker tried to catch the gaze of the taller one. But this ignored the toys while the meal was being served.
"Yes, please. You can not let him go just because the snow will melt in the spring." Dolls added and tried to get to the table as quickly as possible. Round was already jumping up and down on it.
"We have more fun with him here. Without him, it gets boring again. Please, please, please. You also must like him, otherwise.."
"Be quiet! How do you get the stupid idea that I would like him? Ah, because I took care of him?! That means nothing. You are still children and do not know what you are talking about. Go to bed!"
"But we.." But no rewording was allowed. The bigger one grabbed the toys and strode to the door. In panic Chuck tried to hide in the hallway quickly, because it certainly wouldn't be good if he overheard conversations.
"Put them to bed, Sweets!" The dish that arrived just now did what was ordered. The three blue objects hopped away, though reluctantly.
"And now to you." With that, the bird was pulled out of its hiding place by the collar. He looked apologetically at his counterpart. However, this didn't pay any attention to him and only seated him in the kitchen before he returned to the door.
"Wait, I wanted to ask.." And the door slammed shut.
"..if you want to eat with me." The yellow ended his sentence now only for himself. Sullen, he stared briefly at the door. It would be useless to go after the bigger one if that had this mood.
"I probably shouldn't have told them when you go back." Ashes hopped a little ashamed beside his chair and he helped him up onto the table.
"It's not your fault. But how do you know he lets me go again?" Than so far, he still has not had to do penal work for the rose. In addition, he got the feeling that he only had to stay here because the snow didn't let up outside.
"I have heard our lord and Stellar speak. He will maybe not even wait until spring to let you go again." The candle also explained that a bit sad.
"Well, I'm still here." Chuck announced, otherwise he didn't really know what to say. On the one wing he wanted to go home, but on the other he wanted to know more about the place here. In addition, it was probably suicide now to compete the way to the village. He didn't even know when exactly day and night began, as dark as it was sometimes all the time. But his host had to know, because this made the meals afterwards. Of course, there were clocks here and the most noticeable one was the big clock in the lobby, yet sometimes he couldn't tell if it was four o'clock in the morning or afternoon. Surely because of his long sleep when he was ill.
His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened again. He ate quickly, because he didn't even touch his food. The big something put a brown bottle on the table and poured something into a tiny glass. Chuck was already impressed with the way the other one did with those huge paws.
"Medicine." As if that was enough explanation, the glass was placed close to him. It smelled disgusting.
"Wait." The bird just hoped that enough moments had just passed, that the host was in a better mood.
"It is not poisonous. I've also poured it into you in the last few days and you're still alive." That solved the mystery of why he sometimes had such a strange taste in his beak after waking up.
"That's not it. Not really. I drink it after the meal. But are you not hungry?" He stopped just before speaking in rage again.
"I've already eaten." Came the brief answer and the door opened again.
"Please wait. This is your home. Do you want to stay out of my way the whole time I have to be here? Are you not a bit curious and want to talk to me? I really want to talk to you. I could.." This time he interrupted himself, because the bigger one turned around to him again.
"When this is about your freedom, you can go when you want. But I advise you to wait until the snow subsides a bit." Just so it was explained almost monotonous and it turned around again. It pleased the yellow one that he wasn't really a prisoner anymore, but before that he didn't feel that way either.
"That's not it. So that's not all I want to know. I would like.."
"To know what's up with the locked room or why a monster like me lives in such a chic place?" The slight growl told him that the bigger one was getting angry again. He wanted to know something else. At least for now.
"Actually, I wanted to know why you are interested in flowers and how it came about that you can cook so well. But if you want to chat about something else." This time the monster turned to him completely. Surely to look at him and read his facial expressions. But nothing was wrong. He really wants to talk to the other one. Only then did he realize that Ashes was still in the room.
"You should sit down and have something to eat. The more the better." The candle tried to bridge the silence. A sight came to the answer and a blanket was taken out of a corner and placed on the other side, opposite to the bird on the floor. A bowl was still uncovered, before the bigger one sat with annoyed facial features on the blanket. At least it worked for the bird like that. Then the paws would also be crossed. Then Chuck noticed that the cloak was wet.
"You should really take off the cloak when it's wet." He shoved food into his beak and looked at his plate.
"Satisfied?" Inquired gruffly his counterpart and Chuck looked up. The landlord stared at the table with a grim face, as if waiting for a response. Then he remembered that he was probably expecting to get scared again.
"Yes, better." And he drank something to stealthily look over the edge of the cup to his host. The object with wax hopped on the table over to the larger one.
"You forgot to put something in the bowl." Surely Ashes thought he was whispering, but the feathered guy understood every word and the taller one rolled his eyes at it.
"Wait, I'll do that." Chuck announced, trying to be quick in it again. Fast the bowl was filled up and again on the table. Abruptly he was grabbed by the claws.
"If you want to end up in the pot next time, then you can easily go on exaggerating it." Had the monster noticed that he still got a little dizzy running around? Impossible. Carefully, he was set from the table to the floor and pushed in the direction of his place.
"You have no more fever, but that doesn't mean that you have been cured. Now eat up, take the medicine and then you go to bed." The tone should probably sound harsh, but he ignored that. The bird turned rather to the paw, which was now no longer bandaged. Now it has only come to his mind once again that his host was injured. Since Chuck himself was ill, he couldn't look at it again.
"Does it heal well?" At the question he already hung on the paw to find the wounded spot. In fact, it wasn't open anymore or anything like that.
"Yes it does and now go down from my arm." He heard in annoyed tone and yet wasn't shoved down so much as expected. In order not to cause further trouble, he sat down again in his place. The master of the house began to eat without any further word. At least until he realized the bird was staring. Immediately, it was stopped in motion and looked at the cloak. A paw already wanted to reach for the fabric. Only then did Chuck realize that the other one was disturbed by his staring.
"Oh, I.. I'm sorry, but for the first time I can really look at you without.." To be scared? No, he certainly didn't feel that anymore. Maybe if his opponent goes back to be angry, even then he might him trust not to get hurt. It was strange.
"Without something? I can tell you that you are still.."
"You would have to do it once."
"What?"
"Look at me, I mean." Because that was somehow avoided all the time. Even before as he was lifted down, the other didn't really looked at his face. The bird just wondered why it did not happen. When it was angry and roared at him the other day, it didn't bother the other either. The candle gave him a look as if it didn't know what else to do in the situation.
"Hm." Grumbled his opposing table partner now with an eye roll and it clicked in the head of the feathered one. He wasn't directly looked at because Lord of this property didn't want to see anything negative. Chuck probably shouldn't ask too much now and should just be glad that they could eat together. Thus, the yellow turned back to his food. Even if he didn't know how long he could be silent.