The Bird Collective

“Oh, there you are!”

“Hi, how’s it going?”

“It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a chance to hang out like this.”

“I… think I love you…!”

Disgusting, Skeet thought. How are all of these people okay with this? Constant chatter, no time for heartfelt conversation! Life moves too fast here. She shook her head. A deity appeared behind her. Quid, most likely, Cygnet’s little guardian dog. Skeet turned around and gave the goddess a challenging look, dripping with sarcasm.

“Reading my mind again, I bet?” She practically spat out the sentence. She hated Quid, no matter what amused facades she put up.

“Must I reiterate?” Do it, I dare you. “I don’t read minds, I sense feelings. There is much discord in your heart, and it pains me to listen to.”

“Then don’t.” It’s not that difficult. You are a goddess, right?

“It’s not that easy, Skeet.” Again with that excuse. Skeet shook her head and snarled while Quid continued. “If I could, I would. You’re insufferable and hard to put up with.”

“For once, I wish Kui could harass me instead of you.”

“My sister is much more blunt than I.”

“She’s also less stuck up.”

“Less?!”

“Unsurprisingly.” Skeet loved making Quid angry. She was so easily flustered, it was hilarious.

“Ugh, I-- anyways. The discord in your heart. It is very strong, it hurts my head.” Quid’s eyes narrowed under her bony mask. “As much as I loathe you, you need to take care of yourself. This world’s future rests on your shoulders, you know.”

“I do know. You reminding me really doesn’t help.”

“Better to be prepared to live in blissful ignorance.”

“Ignorance! As if! Every day I am plagued with visions of how everything could go wrong! I am neither prepared nor ignorant, you FOOL! It was up to you to prepare us, and yet you’ve spent this whole time hiding away and speaking cryptically through the most socially awkward member of our group! You cannot say anything of that scornful nature to me, when you are the lowliest of the low.”

“I… It wasn’t my fault! Kui had me held captive! Had I been able to communicate through Eaglet or Gosling, you know I would have.”

“How can a literal goddess like you be held captive by a lesser being?”

“Kui is stronger than she seems, you know this.”

“Yet you claim you are still stronger. No excuses, Quid. They only make you sound more pathetic.” Skeet let the voices of the passerby drown out Quid’s frustration. 

“I’ll help you later, I have things to do tonight.”

“It bruised so quickly! Why the heck did she do that?!”

“Quick, I need a word that rhymes with flame.”

Stories flew by her, people with tales to tell but not enough time to share. A ray of sunlight struck the railing in front of her and sent gold sparks into her eyes. Quid’s face was reflected in the metal, and Skeet groaned.

“I’m tired of you, hag. Go away.”

“Not until you address the pain in your heart.”

“First discord, now pain? How dramatic.” Skeet hated that the goddess was right. Her chest was tight, like she was trapped underwater. Breathing was a chore, but she wouldn’t let Quid see that.

“If you keep it all bottled up then it will only get worse.”

“You can’t force me to spill my issues all over you.”

“I know that. I’m not about to try to.”

“Then what are you doing? Just bothering me?”

“I don’t know, honestly.” Quid’s clawed feet scraped over the dusty ground. “I want to support you, but the mutual hatred between you and I makes that awkward.”

“If you’re so insistent on me spilling my feelings then send Kui over. I’ll talk to her.”

“I’ll do what I can.” Quid turned to leave, but not before giving Skeet one last glance. As soon as she was gone Skeet left as well. Not even Kui was allowed to hear her feelings dump. Maybe Eaglet could, if she was lucky. Eh, whatever. She could unleash her anger on some monsters later, if she remembered.

“I’ve got this all under control,” she scoffed, then dipped back into her cave.