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North flew through the park like a big white ghost in the late afternoon, the falling sun bouncing off his wings as he glided low through the trees. He came to a stop on a very fancy lamppost and scanned the surroundings, looking for his destination. North was a big believer in fortune-telling and other witchy-mumbo jumbo. He would never admit to it so he kept these visits quite secret and hushed up, after all a big male pidge with such silly ideas would be laughed at, he was sure of it. So in the company of others he laughed at the thought of being able to see into the future, while secretly indulging in it from time to time.

He had heard a particularly talented witch had returned to her haunts in the park and he was checking out this rumour, and going to see her skills first hand. Her nesting spot was supposed to be 'near a bridge, when you see her you wont miss her'. This was the only advise the witch he had spoken to in Happy's roost could give him.

That was when he saw her, all glittering feathers and wild inks as she moved about under the bridge. North was taken aback, he had never seen such a intricately decorated pidge before. He stood and stared at her atop the lamppost, the big white lump in the falling light.

With a direct glance from the witch North snapped out of it and took off from the post with gusto. He perched on the edge of the bridge on top and leaned down over the edge, peering under the bridge. He could see her under there, busying away investigating and preening herself, she was very busy.

"Hello"
North said with a grin, looking at her upside-down
"I was looking for a very talented witch around here...."
He paused and looked thoughtful for a moment, Though this bird was obviously a witch North had struggled to decide.
"I'm guessing that's you?"
He gave a short laugh and hopped down over the edge and glided under the bridge.
"I'm not all that good with directions though, all these bridges look the same"
he was thoughtful again for a moment and then looked at the witch, observing her.
"Yep you must be a witch, you're far too nicely done-up for just an entertainer"
He nodded, very pleased with himself.

"I'm The North" he gave her a little bow and a smile

North really liked her, she even acted the part. He looked around and admired the surroundings this was appropriately mysterious, he loved this.

"Well Missus' Marie, some entertainers are good yes, and some are fancy looking, but they don't all get lovely inks like yours are, especially not the travelling ones you find in parks"

He noticed that she was still setting up her home, and couldn't help feel a little like he was disturbing her.

"You've only just moved back? Gosh, news between you ladies does move quick doesn't it? One of the witches in happy's already knew you'd arrived back in town."

He looked back in the direction of the church and then back to Marie. North was overwhelmingly simple, he thought only one thing at a time and could only really hold one emotion at once either, he was like a big fledgling. It was one of the things which made him a great Nanny, but also one of the things which stopped many pidge from associating with him, or taking him seriously.

"You want any help setting up? I'm good at lifting and moving"

He puffed out his chest all proud-like.

North nodded and smiled and moved over to the bundle of things, he was dreadfully excited to get hands on with real witching trinkets, they were so very fascinating and so pretty, he'd love to have a nest like this but it would be far too inappropriate for him.

"Well Missus' Marie, should I take things out and you tell me where you want them placed or put away then?"

The first thing North picked out was a wing-full of dried herbs all in separate tight bundles, they still smelled fragrant,spicy and woody whatever they were.

"These for hanging up too Miss? they'll go musty other wise wont they?"

He asked this because he was pretty sure he was right, he only wanted her to confirm this so He could feel he knew something about witching too.

North grinned as he helped, turned to look through the bundle once more and picked out shell fragments which glittered in his wing as he held them.
He paused at her question and then smiled watching the shells.

"I was really hoping for a reading really"

The big bird became nervous and remembered

"I have some payment too"
He had a wrapping of twine around one leg which had ridden up to his shins during his flight, he put down the shells & he tugged it down out of his leg feathers and began unravelling it, on the string were a few different glass beads, they were delicate and some were quite detailed even, he held the string at either end to show off the beads to her. There were five of them, like small marbles.

"Scavenger paid me these for caring for her chicks for a few days, There a bit too fancy for me though"

He laughed

North watched with interest as she worked, he kept silent as she hummed a soft melody to herself, the smell of the newly hung herbs carried through the air, a woody spicy smell which created a wonderful atmosphere. North loved all the theatrics which went along with witching, and as he had no means to measure their skill as he had no real knowledge of their inner workings, he tended to judge on the atmosphere and 'performance' which went along with these visits.
As far as he could tell so far this witch was doing a fantastic job of it, she had the right manner, spoke short and curt and kept up her appearance and her nests to a wonderful degree of mysteriousness.
He soaked everything in with relish, his eyes were wide as a chicks as she worked, unable to take it all in.

"I was... hoping to learn about my work life, whether there is anything big or exciting ahead"

North twiddled with his feathers nervously at her direct look, he felt like she could see through him with that calm steady gaze, her inks made her eyes seem piercing.

"I mean nannying is rewarding, but I cant go on just doing this, there has to be more?"

To anyone who ever met North though, it was painfully obvious there would be little else for him but nanny work, or maybe a switch to the guard, but anything wild or exciting, seemed very doubtful. He just couldn't accept it, he always asked the witches repeatedly the same kinds of questions, and they all returned with bleak outlooks.
Those who told him otherwise were avoiding his hurt feelings or spinning him tales, to keep him coming back with more payment.

He continued to watch, as the witch created the marks with ingrained and second-nature skill.