Ty sighed and turned over in his bed. He had talked with Seto for a while and the house had quietened down. Brice had gone home and Mitch said nothing as he passed Seto's room. Ty knew he was going to talk to Brice the next time he saw him. And Mitch was going to have to get a lecture as well. Ty grit his teeth as the day's events flooded back to him in an unrelenting wave. Ty sat up and looked over at the bird that had come from above. He heard a tapping and glanced over to look at the dark figure, it's eyes as gold as ever. Ty smiled softly and got up out of bed to open the window. The creature slunk in and went to sit on Ty's bed. Ty followed and sat down, facing the creature. The creature took off it's cloak and Ty squinted to let his eyes adjust to the new white glow. The creature made a clicking sound and Ty echoed it back at him. The creature smiled, before speaking in a low, but friendly tone.
"Why did you summon me? Do you wish for information?"
Ty looked at the creature.
"I didn't summon you…"
"If you did not, then who did?", the creature asked.
"I believe that title would go to me", a quiet voice said.
The two on the bed looked over as a dull light shone in the darkness.
Songbird flew over, his human form a shadow around his bird form. The form walked forward and sat on the floor on the side of the bed.
"Songbird, your form seems split…", Estrid said.
"Hello to you too Alkiz", Songbird said.
Alkiz smiled widely and looked back at Ty, who was trying to comprehend what was going on.
"So…you two know each other?", Ty asked.
"Yeah, we've know each other for a long time. Like two hundred years or something", Alkiz said his smile widening.
Songbird sighed.
"It may be a long time for you, but not for me. A long time for me is more like four and a half hundred years."
Songbird smiled and watched Ty.
"So…what now?", Ty asked.
"Well", Songbird said, his hands coming together behind his head, "you are going to stay here and Alkiz and I are going to go and talk outside."
"We should get going. We don't have long before the sun comes up", Alkiz said crouching on Ty's window sill, his cloak draped over one arm.
Songbird hummed as a pair of transparent, shadowy wings opened from his back.
"I'll be back at sunrise. Try o get some sleep, okay?", Songbird said.
And with those parting words Songbird and Alkiz disappeared out of Ty's window and flew into the night. Ty lay down and let his thoughts wander. His eyes grew heavy and he sunk into the abyss of sleep.
Songbird sat down on the tree branch and sighed. Alkiz landed next to him, smiling at the stars.
"I don't usually get a view like this. Terra really does have some beautiful constellations", Alkiz whispered.
Songbird chuckled and pulled a knee up to meet his chest. It had been a while since he had seen Alkiz. They weren't allowed to talk to each other much back in the Aether, since their jobs kept them busy. But Songbird always like talking to Alkiz, because Alkiz and he were of separate worlds. But somehow they were friends.
"You're always right on time, aren't you?", Songbird asked looking out at the ocean that sparkled far bellow them, crashing onto rocks and breaking them down.
Alkiz smiled.
"Yeah, well. It's kind of part of my job. You always need to be on time to collect the dead", Alkiz joked.
Songbird smiled and watched as the Estrid next to him began to change. Its four arms turning into two. Two of its eyes closing and sealing. Its bony body filling out into a normal, but lithe and thin structure.
"I think I like this form better than your other", Songbird complimented.
Alkiz cheeks warmed as a faint pink tinge appeared on his cheeks, though this went unnoticed by Songbird, Alkiz felt his three hearts beat a little faster. Alkiz looked straight ahead and felt his body relax as he watched a large ship move across. Alkiz smiled and his eyes closed. Songbird watched and smiled softly, his eyes drifting in Alkiz direction. A loud toot came from the ship and Songbird felt the tree shake. His head turned quickly towards Alkiz, his eyes widening. Alkiz was flailing and trying to get his balance back. Then he was falling, he was in too much shock to even try to fly and the fall would surely injure him badly. Alkiz closed his eyes and waited for the impact.
It never came…
Alkiz opened his eyes after what felt like an eternity. He could feel warm arms encircling his back. He looked up and saw Songbird. Holding him to his chest. Songbird looked relieved. The two flew back up to the tree and Songbird sat down with Alkiz in his lap. They both sighed and continued watching the waters. Both willing for the sun never to rise.
But the sun had to rise eventually. Songbird flew them both back to the house and the two sat in the garden. They were silent until Alkiz spoke.
"Uh…thank you for saving me. What did you want to know anyway?"
Songbird looked at Alkiz, who was watching the ground.
"You're welcome and to be honest. I just wanted some company. Ty and the others can't know that I'm not a real bird and I get really lonely. I just wanted a friend to talk to."
Alkiz smiled, but it disappeared as the sun's light began to colour the sky. Alkiz sighed and stood up, wrapping the cloak or darkness around his body.
"Looks like our time is up", Alkiz said.
"Yeah", came a quiet reply.
Alkiz looked at the clouds that were travelling towards the house. He sighed and did his cloak up.
"I guess…I guess I'll see you when I next visit", Alkiz said as he began to fade.
Songbird hummed softly.
"Oh, and Songbird", Alkiz said.
Songbird looked up at the disappearing figure.
"Come home soon. I miss you", Alkiz said turning back just as he fully faded.
Songbird felt his throat compress and tears well in his eyes.
"I miss you too", came a whispered reply that vanished in the wind.