Tawlyn paced back and forth frustrated with herself. How could she let both of her friends disappear? If she had been paying more attention she would have seen the laqeuem plant, or warned Clank to about going out to look for Cronk and Zephyr.
"You're going to pop a blood vessel if you carry on that way Miss Apogee." Cronk warned the woman.
"Argh! I just can't believe I let Clank get away to! It's all my fault if I hadn't..." She trailed off tears prickling through her eyes. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. Talwyn decided to sit down and think. Where would the smuggler hide in this area? Maybe if-
A loud squawk was heard and Talwyn jumped up irritated by having the infernal bird break her concentration.
"That stupid bird!" She cried "Why won't it shut up it's been screeching since..." The Markazian paused; an idea had begun to form in her head. It was just a hunch, but it was the only thing she had to go on.
"What is it Talwyn?" Zephyr asked
"Follow me, but keep quiet." She whispered as they headed deeper into the forest. The Markazian kept her senses heightened and payed close attention to what she heard and saw. She didn't want to miss place a step and end up in a ditch or quicksand. Before she had been careless from the strain of worry and doubt, but for now she pushed all those feelings aside and focused on what she had to do. It could save her friends lives.
The racket became louder as they came closer and closer to the source of the noise. Finally they had gotten close enough for Talwyn to get behind the bird without it knowing. She slowly reached her hand than snatched the bird where it stood. Talwyn quickly grabbed hold of its beak so it wouldn't cry out.
Cronk and Zephyr whom had stood in watch, confused, now understood what the woman had done. In her hands she held a bright red parrot matching the feather they found earlier and belonging to the man they were looking for.
"That's the scoundrel who took our lombax!" Zephyr shouted pointing to the terrified and dazed bird.
"Let me at him! I'll rip him feather from feather like I did to that Robo-chicken back on planet Endako!" Zephyr cried reaching for the bird.
"Guys! This may be our only chance to find Clank and Ratchet. We have to see if we can get any information out of him." Talwyn explained keeping the parrot out of their grasps.
They looked to the bird that had been thrashing in her hands, and froze it when it saw the murderous gaze in the woman's eyes.
"I'm going to take my hand off your beak, and when I do I want you to tell me where the smuggler is. Got it?" Talwyn said threateningly. The bird nodded its head and made confirming noises behind her hand. She gently took her hand off the bird and it paused for a second before screeching as loud as it could.
Cronk ripped the avian creature from the Markazian's hands and held it by the neck.
"Look here you flying rat, if you don't start talking I'm going to make you into parrot pâté!" Cronk yelled crushing the bird in his grip.
"Fine!" It squawked "the smugglers behind the building. Brawk! There's a false wall."
The flying creature gestured its head toward the indicated structure. The three looked to the house and Talwyn and Zephyr took lead. The bird sighed as he began to relax from not being choked any further, but Cronk quickly tightened his grip and looked the animal square in the eyes.
"If you're lying, I'll be keeping my promise about making you my next meal." He said glaring at the bird.
The parrot gulped as Cronk followed the two toward the alleged hide-out.
I love how parrot pate sounds, it sort of just rolls off the tongue :D hope you enjoy!