Eclipse Event Stories (NOT CANON)

«So who are you and what is happening with the aggressive birds?!»

The Mayur was snarling at the small and innocent seeming hob, who slowly rose his face and looked in his direction.

«My...my name is Minas. I come from a large tribe north of here. I am a seeker, which is why I'm traveling around a lot.»

Cheondunchida frowned, confused at what he was saying.

«A seeker? What is that?»

«Never heard of it. He's probably hiding something.»

«No, not at all! Well, it's difficult to explain. You see, I –»

«Doesn't matter! That's not what I asked!»

He stepped closer, a deep growl escaping his lungs, but the female stepped in between them.

«Hold on, it's your turn now. Who are you even?»

He looked at her with squinted eyes, suspicion written in his face.

«How about you start, jill. And why do protect a bird anyway? Are you one of them too?!»

She remained calm despite the accusations, took a deep breath and spoke with a collected voice and mind. She wouldn't let herself get dragged down by this impolite hob.

«My name is Cheondunchida, but you can call me Noeu for short. And this is my companion Sun-Hee.»

She pointed with her muzzle towards the bird that still seemed quite upset at the situation.

«I found her when she was still a chick after I had killed her mother and I just couldn't bring myself to do the same thing to her.»

«And so you just keep it? That's insane.»

«Not as insane as killing an innocent creature just like that, which didn't even get a chance at living!»

«That's just nature, if you can't deal with it you're not fit for the world.»

Now even Cheon growled at the Mayur, he was going way too far.

«So. You know about us. Talk, you piece of Skoo-dung or I'll make you.»

«Hah, you? I don't think so. Anyway, I am Cuvrar, the greatest hunter of the western jungle.»

Cheondungchida snorted loudly at that.

«Sure you are.»

«Want me to prove it?!»

«I want you to fuck off!»

This time Minas had to distract them.

«Please, can't we all just be nice and calm? There's no need to shout like that.»

«NO!! You little birdbrain, answer my questions finally! Your eyes have the same red glimmer that those wretched birds have that keep terrorizing my family! What are you doing to them?! What is your plan?!»

«My eyes? No I think you are confusing something here. My eyes are natural like this, I have had red eyes since my birth, like everyone in my tribe. It's just genetics, nothing else. And I don't even know what color the birds eyes have, I am blind, you see?»

«Bullshit.»

Cuvrar spat at the Tatra and Cheon pushed the green hob back again, trying to make herself seem as large and threatening as possible next to the Mayur that was taller by at least a head than her.

«What about you, huh? You have red eyes too! And other than him you can see them in your reflection, he doesn't even know what red eyes mean.»

«Well, obviously he does! He knows he and all others in his tribe has them!»

«Yeah, so someone told him. Doesn't mean he understands it.»

«So anyway...we DO have birds in my tribe. But they're not aggressive like you say. They're nice and calm, they help us with out daily work and we hatch and raise them from eggs. Just like your Sun-Hee!»

«Living with birds and working with them? You must be crazier than I initially thought.»

Cuvrar wrinkled his nose in disgust.

«Well, you see, when you're living in a large, high tree, like my tribe does, it is unavoidable to also interact with birds. It was better to teach them we wouldn't hurt them so they could trust us and exist alongside us than to fight all the time. The tree was their home too, just as it is ours now.»

«Salikos shouldn't befriend prey, that's just wrong! We should hunt them, that's how it's supposed to be!»

Sun-Hee seemed to understand what he said, or she just interpreted the tone of his voice negatively, but she screeched loudly again, flapping her wings angrily at the hob, who stepped back a bit.

«Little beast.»

«I still don't trust you, Minas. I think you're trying to lure us in a trap but I won't fall for that!»

«I'm not planning anything like that.»

The brown hob seemed quite dumbfounded and irritated by what the Mayur with the white snout said, as if this thought would not cross his mind in a million seasons.

«But if you want to, I can take you to my tribe and you can look at it yourself. I'm sure you and Sun-Hee will like it there, Noeu.»

He smiled at her, his face gleaming with joy, and she couldn't help but smile back, despite him not seeing her expressions. Cuvrar on the other hand wasn't convinced yet.

«Why would we follow you? I told you already, you can't trick us that easily!»

«Sssh, calm down, he means well. I would love to join you and visit your tribe. I've got nowhere else to go and would really enjoy seeing a tribe that lives paw in paw with other creatures. That is fascinating!»

«You must be tired of life, jill!»

«And you must be an asshole, hob! Come on, that's exactly what you want, isn't it? You wanna find out who he is and what's up with the birds. Come with us and you'll surely see.»

«Yeah, so those beasts can peck my eyes out!»

«Like I said, we raise our birds as partners from the time they hatch. They would never hurt us, they know Salikos are friendly. That is...as long as you don't attack them first.»

Minas had a slight spark in his eyes now, as if something was crossing his mind that neither of the Mayurs could understand just yet. Still, Cheondunchida wanted to make up for not protecting him earlier and didn't dare decline his invitation. Also, she was really excited to see other Salikos taking care of birds like her, as she had always thought that was strange herself, but now she didn't feel as out of sorts anymore.

«Yeah, alright, fuck it. It's not like you two can defeat me anyway if you try anything. Dwarf girl and blind boy couldn't even kill me in my sleep.»

«We can hear you, you know?»

«Yeah, so?»

His tail was swishing angrily, but Minas had calmed down and got up, stretching his limbs and both brushing and shaking the dust off his pelt.

As the three finally got moving and slowly trotted north, Minas and Noeu next to each other talking and Cuvrar watching them from the back, the Tatra leaned over to the female and whispered quietly.

«I really like your bird, you know? She seems nice and smart. Also, I can feel she loves you very much, just like you do.»

«How do you know that?»

Cheon was very confused by that.

«Call it intuition.»

The hob winked at her, his empty eyes staring right through her. Then he began laughing.

«No no, just joking. I know because I have raised a little bird before too. Usually we have special members in the tribe doing that, they are more experienced and know what to do, but mother has charged me to raise one as well, so I learn what it means to take care of a life and teach them our ways. They get imprinted on you, you know? You'll forever be its friend, no matter what happens.»

«That is nice to hear. Right Sun-Hee?»

She poked the little bird carefully again and it chirped happily in reply.