A Starry Visitor

[StingyParrot 1595]

 

A Starry Visitor

 

Spoiler

 

 

It was back, whatever it was. A starry shadow sitting just outside his shuttered window. Disconcertingly, no sound heralded its arrival - Capric would look over from the book clutched in his hands, lit by a low-burning candle, and it was just there. He’d mentioned it to his family already, and they seemed mostly unconcerned, or curious. The latter had taken root in him a week ago, and he’d forgone his usual sneak-out-and-head-to-Vallagne ritual since the war had begun, which left him cooped up in his room, which felt ever smaller the more time Capric spent in it. With little else to do, he’d resolved to wait for the shadow to reappear.

 

Closing his book with a soft thump - he swore he heard the clack of nails on wood outside - Capric unfolded himself from his position up against the headboard of his bed, then stepped to the floor to pad quietly towards the window. It opened on well-oiled hinges, and was just big enough for him to fit through, as he had hundreds of times before. The shadow shifted, ruffling midnight feathers scattered with colorful dots, and turned its head fully around to regard Capric with a piercing gaze, uttering a low hoot. It was some sort of owl. 

 

The Reinhold felt compelled to say something humorous, like ‘There you are’ or some other mindless statement borne from what he reckoned to be the mind longing to converse with another being. His habits reflected the opposite, and he maintained his silence as if the cleric Levian had never healed him. The owl tilted its head, and Capric did the same, which seemed to interest the fledgeling, as it hopped a little closer to him. He was leaning out of the window now, and he retreated to stand just inside the room, waving a hand as if to beckon the starry bird closer.

 

It fluttered through the window, heralded by a gust of cold air and the faintest sound of downy feathers, seemingly muffled. Figuring it would frighten if its exit was blocked off, Capric refrained from closing the window as he lowered himself to sit cross-legged on the floor, watching the young bird explore its surroundings, pecking at the carpet and knocking over a cup of cold cocoa as it tried to stand on the rim. He watched its progress with some amusement, eventually stirring himself to right the cup and mop up the spilled liquid, an act which prompted the owl to trot over and hop onto his wrist, thus forestalling his cleaning efforts. It hooted at him, in a higher tone than usual - though it was to be expected with the youth of the bird.

 

Capric frowned at it, and the owl clacked its beak, shuffling with sharp-pointed talons up his arm, leaving a trail of stinging marks behind. He bore them without complaint as it eventually settled atop his shoulder, freeing his arm to finish cleaning, bobbing up and down as he moved. More high-pitched hooting from the owl as he twisted his head around to regard it, pursing his lips. Norellie would probably know what it was, though he didn’t know if she was awake, much less how to negotiate his way to the other side of the house with the owl. Thus, he sat and watched the little owl turn in a slow circle on his shoulder as he stood and sat on his bed. 

What was he to do with the owl? It had obviously taken to him, and he hadn’t seen any evidence of its parents returning. Maybe it had run off. His family did have a penchant of acquiring stray dogs, one of which stood guard outside the gate. An owl wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary. As he played with the fledgeling, Capric continued to wonder, eventually deciding to keep it. The owl was a little jumpy, but didn’t mind his presence, and it soon decided that Capric’s room was a fine place to stay, and settled on his pillow, thus depriving him of it. 

 

Capric huffs a short sigh, before blowing out the candle and lying crosswise across his bed, admiring the way the owl’s plumage seemed to shimmer in the darkness. His mind turned to other things, and soon he discovered himself waking to a clear winter’s day, with a strange glittering mark on the back of his right hand. The owl was still there, and greeted him by pecking at his hair and twittering loudly, prompting a wince from Capric as he anticipated having to explain his new pet to his family.

 

Spoiler

stingy is back with another narrative post

[Dramatude 861]

Spoiler

I love Capric. I love Stingy narrative posts. That's all.❤️