Title: Birds of the City
Word count: 227
Fandom: Beka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce
Summary: Slapper muses on Beka.
Notes: I came up with this while rereading the series. Not much plot to it, I just had to get it on paper.
There was a glow about her, there was. All of the birds saw it: it was that, not the crumbs of bread, that drew them near to her.
She was a servant of the Tall Dark God, and very devoted, to bring them such offerings. Her hands, her face: they shone in particular. The hands that brought the bread, the face the listened to the Moaning Riders and spoke to them.
The birds of the city knew their job well: the Tall Dark God rewarded them when they came to his Servant, so they came. Oftentimes, the Moaning Riders left after they spoke to the Servant. Some birds liked that: they would be free of ghostly burdens for a time.
Slapper came for another reason. He didn't mind the Moaners, not too much, and he didn't care much for the God's reward. No, he came because of the girl.
He hadn't a name before she gave him one. He was just another pigeon. But she found him when he was injured, and cared for him until he was well. He felt he had to repay her somehow.
So he brought her Moaners to listen to, which she seemed to like. He hit her and hurt her, but it was only to show the others he was a tough old bird, not soft like he was deep down.