A Feathered Friend

Incessant chirping was the first thing Jaune could hear when he woke up.

He flicked his ears at the noise and rolled over.

"Just a few more minutes... stupid birds..."

The chirping continued, as birds really don't care who they wake up.

"Mooooooom! Why are birds so loud."

There was no response.

Opening his eyes, Jaune found his caretaker to be nowhere in sight.

He flicked his ears again and chuffed. Of course. Could the morning get worse?

Jaune stood up. Surely his mom had just gone to find some food and had gotten sidetracked. He looked up and glared at the birds who had woken him up. He didn't have much time to be annoyed at them though, as his stomach let out a loud and painful growl. If only he could have slept in until his mom came back with food! The birds, startled with the noise, quieted for a moment, before most of them began chirping. One bird, a small but plump finch, hopped over to a nest high up in the branches and grabbed something with its beak. With a flutter of wings the bird landed on the ground a few feet in front of Jaune and, looking him in the eyes, put a small red berry on the ground, before flapping up onto a low branch to watch. Jaune looked at the berry. It may seem like a lot to a bird, but it wasn't even a mouthful to him. However, he didn't want to offend the feathered creature, so he picked up the berry in his mouth and made a show of eating it. The bird seemed satisfied with this, and flew off to chirp excitedly to its friends.

While Jaune appreciated the sentiment, the tiny morsel did little more than whet his appetite, and he stood up again to go find a more filling meal.

He began to walk away when he heard wings behind him and saw the little finch flying towards him, as fast as its little wings could carry its chubby body. It landed on his back and he stood still in shock as it hopped over to his neck and nestled itself into his mane. The bird gave a satisfied chirp and sat still in his mane, comfortable. Jaune walked carefully, trying not to disturb his new friend, and tracked his way through the forest, trying to find something edible.

After a while of walking around through the dense pine and cold air, Jaune found a bush full of promising looking berries. He gently pulled a berry off the bush to test if they were any good. Almost immediately after he chomped down on the berry he spat it out in disgust. It was the most sour thing he had ever tasted! He glared at the bush as if it were consciously responsible for a great disservice. Jaune lay down on the ground for a moment to rest. He was tired of walking and he was even hungrier than when he had started! After a moment, his bird friend rustled around in his mane and plopped itself down to the ground. Turning around to chirp at him every few feet, it hopped along as Jaune followed, curious.

As he rounded a corner of brush and various flora, Jaune found his feathered friend sitting proudly next to a tree full of fat, ripe mulberrys. The little bird hopped and chirped a few times before jumping up onto a low branch and picking berries with his beak to throw down to Jaune, who couldn't quite reach the tiny fruits. The rain of berries left Jaune with his belly full and his fur stained. His little bird friend, who had also eaten his fill, hopped back onto Jaune and nestled into his mane again.

Jaune began the trek back home, stopping briefly at a nearby creek in a clearing to grab a quick drink. His bird friend hopped down too and dipped his beak in the stream. Jaune lay down again to rest while his bird friend happily splashed about in a puddle. The finch needed a name, he thought. Feeling a moment of inspiration from the cute display in front of him, he decided to call his new friend "Puddles". He let his eyes close for just a moment and ended up drifting off.

Jaune work up to alarmed chirping and his bird friend, soaked, darting back into his mane again to hide.  Several large birds were circling overhead, surely they had been the reason for Puddles's panic. Suddenly remembering how small he himself was, being only a fawn, Jaune grew worried about what seemed to be carrion birds. Just as he was getting apprehensive, the birds started rapidly descending, and after nudging Puddles to warn him, he started sprinting away as fast as he could. The vultures were fast, but Jaune was faster, and he could easily have outrun them if not for Puddles tumbling out of his mane and onto the ground. The birds smell was horrible and overpowering, and Jaune felt tears spring to his eyes from the stench as he turned to run and rescue Puddles. The carrion birds were closing in fast. Jaune ran as fast as his little legs could carry him, jumped between Puddles and the vultures, and reared up, yelling. The vultures, though they were still massive compared to Jaune even standing on two legs, were taken aback long enough for Puddles to hop back up and the two to make their escape into the dense pine.

Breathing heavy, Jaune slowed down once he was sure they had thoroughly escaped. He gently nudged Puddles, who was still shaking with fright.

Talking in a soothing voice, Jaune reassured the small finch.

"Don't worry Puddles, as long as I'm around, no stinky vulture is ever gonna hurt you."

Though the little bird didn't understand what Jaune was saying, the soft tone calmed it, and it relaxed a little, though it still stayed nestled tightly in the thick fur.

Jaune walked slowly the rest of the way home, careful not to disturb the little finch, who had fallen asleep in his mane.