CHAPTER 7
Montayva sat in darkness on the balcony. Lillith and Maya had long since retired, leaving the youngest to ponder her thoughts on her own. She felt quite drained mentally. All the new information to be absorbed, and she was doing her very best to soak it all up.
She jumped suddenly as she felt a pull at her ankle She sat as still as possible, and as the tugging continued, she slowly pulled a LED from her belt. As she flicked it on, she received a startled expression from a very weird little creature. As its eyes adjusted in the light, it cawed at her, in a funny little gurgly sounding tone.
'Why hello, funny little, winged thing. What type of creature are you?' She bent down, curiously examaning the bird like creature. At her welcoming tone, it continued to make its ascend up her trouser leg, its claws coming precariously close to her skin underneath. Once it reached her knee, it perched itself comfortably.
'Friendly thing aren't you?' She giggled as she petted it, and in return the creature nibbled softly at her hand. 'Hey, be gentle wont you?' She scolded the little birdlike animal, and it cawed again, this time louder.
'Shhhhhhh!' She hushed 'You will wake the others! You cannot have me in trouble on my first day here' The young girl informed the bird, who cocked its head to the side. It oddly seemed to understand her, and Montayva began to wonder if the animal belonged somewhere close by, or if it could pick up on her gentle nature. She didn't have to wonder long.
Down in the street, a slim figure scuffed its feet along the concrete as it made its way to the front door of the headquarters There was almost no light, and Montayva could vaguely make out their silhouette. They let themselves in, Montayva assumed it was one of the mercs who resided here. She put her finger up to the birds beak, in a shushing manner, and the animal huddled closer into her body.
There was a stumble up the stairs, and then they were on the second floor level. Montayva heard the door down the hallway creak open, and then closed again. The boys are back from drinking, she thought, and settled herself back into her chair. She had just calmed her breathing again when a shadow jumped though the door.
'Found you!' Mordecai yelled. The bird startled, and flapped its wings in surprise. The end of a barb-tipped wing clipped Montayvas left cheek, nicking the skin slightly. 'Oh' Mordecai was just as surprised as the two sitting. After much drunken fumbling, he flicked the light switch inside the doorway. The light in the interior room stuttered a few times before flickering on. It shone a soft beam of light out to the small veranda.
'Sorry' Mordecai slurred slightly 'I was looking for the bird' he pointed to his pet, that was still perched on the girls lap. It bowed its head reluctantly when its master held out his arm, beckoning him to climb on. After a moment, the hunter withdrew his extended limb.
'Huh' Mordecai sighed in defeat, 'He aint done that before' and he drew up a chair, and fell heavily into his seat. Montayva could smell the alcohol in the air. He had obviously had alot to drink!
'He?' Montayva asked.
'Yep. Junior. My last girls only baby.' Mord sighed as he slumped back in his chair. 'Glad I found the egg when I did. Little guy mightn't have made it on his own.' As his master spoke, Junior made his way up Montayvas arm, and tucked his little birdy head under her chin.
'He's very friendly' She said softly, scratching his soft feathered neck.
'Well, he normally doesn't warm to people like that.' Mordecai admitted, staring crossly at his pet, as if the creature had betrayed him in the worst possible way. Junior lifted his beak, and gently brushed it against Montayvas cheek where he had accidentally nicked it with his rubbery wing. He made a gentle little clucking noise as he did so.
'Awww, I know you didn't mean it' She said to the bird.
Mordecai fumbled along his belt, and finally extracted a flashlight. He fumbled again with the switch, cursing himself under his breath. Once it was on, he shone it at the girls face. Montayva scrunched her eyes closed at the bright assault, but let the hunter examine the damage.
'Junior!' Mordecai scolded the bird. 'You've gone an cut up her pretty face! Sorry bout that' Mordecai lowered the light, and Junior lept down to the floor. Montayva laughed softly as the little bird waddled back in the doorway and out of sight.
'He doesn't like getting in trouble' She smiled.
'Well, It's all in the upbringing.' Mordecai explained, patting his pockets in search of something. He finally found what he had been searching for. 'You raise them right, and they'll be loyal to you until the end of time.' He produced a fresh handkerchief and Montayva raised her eyebrows in surprise when she realized what he intended.
'It's OK I will fix it up later' She started. But he ignored her and dabbed gently at the droplets of blood that clung to her cheek. When he was satisfied with the job, he stepped back.
'There.' He shoved the cloth back in his pocket.
'Er, thanks' she smiled gratefully.
'No probs.' He shrugged 'Better go make sure Junior doesn't assault anyone else' Mordecai muttered as he made his exit. Montayva raised her had to the nick on her cheek, and traced her finger along it lightly. Perhaps the Hunter wasn't the lost cause his comrades assumed him to be. She had glimpsed the gentle caring side to him already. No doubt his guard was down from the amount of alcohol consumed. But it was still in there. The thought made Montayva smile to herself. It always made her happy to know that others could be happy too. In a lifetime that treated everything so harshly, people had forgotten how to appreciate the little things.
