Chapter 4: First Pinfeathers & Reunion
Matoro looked up from where he lay on his back in the street, his eyes instantly catching Zephyr's terrified expression and trembling frame. He began sitting up, but found that his shoulder armor was still chained to the now-ruined office chair. He looked up at Nuparu and Hahli.
"Um… a little help, please?"
••••••••
Hahli stepped back to let Matoro get to his feet. He'd be taking a while to get home; being dragged so roughly over the ground had left him with a sprained wing. She thought she saw him blush at one point, but wasn't too sure.
Matoro felt the part of him that had unusual feelings for Hahli practically purring at her presence. He felt different now that he was a Great Spirit, almost as if he had new instincts.
"Umm… Thanks."
Hahli smiled. "No problem." She looked over to Jaller, who had just caught up with them.
"Well… at least you bunch stopped all this chaos."
Hahli couldn't help but blush.
Zephyr and Aurora were both confused as to why their Daddy and Mama's cheeks turned red. *What's up with them?* the tiercel of the two wondered aloud. *Haven't a clue.* the young falcon responded.
••••••••
Matoro paced in contemplation. What were these feelings? Why hadn't they surfaced until now? And why were they only awakened around Hahli? He looked across the room at where Zephyr was temporarily jessed to his perch as a type of time-out. The little tiercel most likely wouldn't know about such feelings himself at such a young age, so his well-practiced ability to talk to animals was wasted here. Or was it?
His mind drifted to Nuju. The Turaga of ice had taught him the Rahi language himself, and probably had plenty of experience of different emotions due to his age. They could also talk using the Rahi language as a means of privacy… Yes, that would work.
Zephyr caught his attention once more as he tried to chew through the jesses. However, he quickly drew back in disgust. This stuff tasted terrible! Blech!
••••••••
Nuju didn't even look up from his studies upon hearing a knock at his door.
"Enter."
He had known from earlier that his former translator would want to talk about these odd "feelings" soon. *I had a feeling you'd want to talk,* he said, *and in a private manner. I only wonder about the subject.* He smiled. *Care to sit down and explain your visit?*
Matoro silently sat Indian-style on the floor, trembling slightly from nerves, or so it seemed. Then he began. *Lately I've been feeling these… odd emotions around Hahli. I've never felt them… well… before I died, but now it's almost… almost as if becoming the Great Spirit has given me new instincts.*
Nuju held up a hand to stop him from continuing. *If there's any word used to describe such emotions, it's a simple one: love.*
Matoro gaped at him… and fainted.
••••••••
Zephyr paced on his perch in agitation. He was so… bored! Suddenly, he accidentally bumped his tail against the wall, squawking in pain as the tip of his first pinfeather was squished. That hurt!
He scrambled away from the wall and looked at his tail in fright. What was that odd bump? Why had it hurt so much? He suddenly saw one of his baby-down feathers fall off to drift lazily through the air and land on the floor. He was FALLING APART!
Zephyr ran towards the door, tugging at his jesses in desperation. Where was Daddy? He was scared! This was a nightmare! He needed Daddy to save him!
A scary-looking shadow passed over the window and he let out a shrill, screeching shriek, diving under the couch to hide. He heard the key turning in the lock, the opening of the door, and the clicking of metal feet on the tile before the door closed again and the sound of things being set down was heard. Footsteps. The monster was coming closer! His tiny, down-covered body began to tremble as a forked tongue of lightning rent the sky, matched moment-for-moment by a rolling clap of thunder. Daddy, why did you leave? Was I too bad a tiercel earlier? Please, Daddy, save me! he thought.
His tiny heart froze with fear as a set of glowing green eyes peered under the couch and a large metal hand reached out and scooped him up. He waited for his end, his demise, but it never came. Instead, he heard a heartwarmingly familiar voice asking, "Easy, Zephyr, what's wrong?"
He quickly climbed over to his Daddy's shoulder and curled up in his "mane" of neck feathers, glad that he was safe at last