The Feeding
((Please excuse that I'm missing two posts of mine. >>; ))
The purple haired man listened to the rain beat against the rooftop of his humble shop. It had stormed all morning, and the shopkeep didn't think the storm had any intention of letting up anytime soon. The darkness outside cast an eerie shade over the animals of the shop, despite the flourescent glow of the overhead lights.
"Rain rain," Shanuh murmuered, reaching into the rabbits cage to pull out the newest longeared bunny. "Go away - come again another day - little Shanuh wants to play." His words, at first wistful, ended on an eerie hiss.
The ball of fluff in his hands responded appropriately. Squirming, fighting Shanuh's firm grasp, it was a futile effort. The rabbit knew that when Shanuh was near, death lurked in the nearby shadows. The rabbit, so young and so full of life, didn't want its life to be taken away so soon.
"What's wrong, darling," the paled skinned man whispered, cuddling the rabbit against his cheek. Shanuh sensed the fear, sensed the anxiety that the animals of his shop typically felt. Instinct told them they were in hell, and Shanuh was their satan. The man found it amusing, really. Anything life touched tended to shy away from 'his' sort of poeple.
"I'm still bigger then you, bunny, it's no good fighting." His words were an affectionate whisper, violet eyes bright with delight. What was there to do on such a dreary day? The shop was chilly, the air conditioning working overtime to keep the humidity down. Perhaps something warm to eat, something freshly killed that would stuff his belly and satisfy his hunger. Something young, tender, and oh-so-sweet.
"Tell me, dearie, would you like a spot of lunch?"
The rabbit's whiskers quivered in fear. It didn't want lunch - it just wanted to be set down and soon!
She'd developed this bad habit of wandering into random places. Raven blamed the rain as of late-- the chill in the air, the vile scent of diluted oil filling the streets. Then again, she'd always hated the rain, never cared for the icy droplets falling from the sky.
"Hello?" Raven called as she stepped into the shop, glancing around. Such a dark environment-- a place ethereal, but not in the gentle way that had sunshine and fairies. This was like the last midnight, the dark hissing out its fury, promising retributiong for... something.
She really needed to stop getting out more.
The bells jingled, their sound inappropriately cheerful for the gloom that seemed to lurk about the shop. Shanuh, who was still caressing the long-eared bunny-ball-of-fuzz, cast a sideways glance at the door.
It was a female species. How quaint! But a customer was a customer, nonetheless. "Why hello there," he greeted, violet-stained lips curving into an amicable smile. "Welcome to the Birdcage - is there anything I can assist you with?"
The typical speach he'd repeated again and again, time after time. Such a mundane offering, such a human thing to do - to offer service, to offer assistance. But that was why he was here, wasn't he? Shanuh had been handed off to assist the guardians. He was to be used as a tool, to be a service for both life and death. That was merely the way of things, and so, regardless of what he thought about his lot in life, he'd forever offer that fateful greeting.
Perhaps this female form would be picked out. Perhaps, perhaps not. Only time would tell.
Eyes lingering on Raven, Shanuh gently placed the bunny back in its cage. The rabbit was relieved, eternally grateful that Shanuh's attention had been turned to gaze upon that of another. Let the dumb fools who entered this shop voluntarily be the center of deaths attention - this rabbit knew otherwise. Nose twitching with relief, the rabbit hopped to the corner of his cage and proceded to make a burrow.
There was a strange scent, a strange presence around Shanuh, one Raven hadn't noticed when she'd entered, but now that her attention found its way towards the stranger, she felt a shiver run down her spine. He felt like the scientists at the lab she'd been brought up in, felt like the icy chill that took over just before the sun broke free of the shackling clouds.
Be nice. Don't judge too soon, Raven. Perhaps you're imagining things, perhaps he's simply a man who owns a shop. You shouldn't judge. You shouldn't hasten to find a way to categorize everyone you meet.
"'The Birdcage'?" Raven repeated, glancing around. "Is your store's specialty birds then?" It would fit, wouldn't it? A bird for a pet-- Raven hadn't had a pet in years. Not since-- no. The past was gone. Go on, look around. Focus.
Shanuh studied her carefully, his vibrant, two-toned eyes sharp. They were a gaze that seemed to radiate as much affection as a reptile, and were about as warm as a dead furnace. His aura was edgy, to say the least, and incredibly exotic. Everything about the manager was strange - from his shaggy, violet hair to his knee high leather boots.
"In a way," he explained, shrugging his thin shoulders in an offhanded manner. "We have a few special-breeds of birds. Birds that aren't raised in cages and bred for colour." There it was - a change. A change in his voice that wasn't cruel but . . . affectionate? There was a subtle tenderness, a flicker of warmth that seemed to radiate off the man as he spoke of such creatures. See? True human emotion, perhaps the thing that was lacking before.
"Of course, we have other animals. Rats, bunnies, kittens, puppies," he drawled, gesturing to the store around them. "You name it, chances are I can get a hold of it for you. Is there anything I can help you with, in the meantime?"
Was she searching for a pet? A companion to help ease the pain of life and living? Perhaps, perhaps. Shanuh figured he'd find out soon enough.
Raven considered. She'd had kittens, puppies before-- rabbits and rats less often, but... there was something different about her now. Now that time had passed by, events occured shifting her personality, twisting her about from inside, changing her into such a strange mix of a fighter and a healer, a shield and a sword, now she sought... something stranger, something apart from this world and yet part of it-- much the way she'd become. But could she speak such words and not be ridiculed for it? Strange concept, to worry about ridicule in her state. But old habits died hard, at least those which stemmed from experience.
An exotic pet? Is that what she sought? No... no, no exotics for her. But the idea of a bird-- a creature who wasn't tamed by the expectations of society, but rather... a creature who was their own self. Perhaps it was the way Shanuh spoke of them, with almost a kindness rising to fill his voice. Perhaps it was the idea of a group so outside of the norm... but what it came down to is a consideration. A bird. "May I see your birds?" They sound intriguing. The sound of them resonate within me. There were so many additional statements which could be added-- but no. Not yet. No need to say them...
Shanuh was pleased at the response, and it showed. The emotion that had taken hold of his spirit, the stirr of pleasure that had reflected in his gaze brightened at Raven's words. Could she see his birds? But of course! Who was Shanuh to deny a customer the option, the chance.
Part of him wondered if he should direct her towards the caged tropical species. The birds with no life, no spirit within them. The animals that were made of nothing but bone, feather and flesh; the animals that were nothing but a meal. No. This woman, like all those who entered his shop, had the chance of becoming something great. Something that wasn't like all the rest, something that (in a way) could almost become undefined.
If her curiousity did indeed doom her future and she walked away with one of THEM . . . Well, that was her own curiousity's fault, was it not? She could be given the chance. If she was denied, than so be it. In this life, there was no such things as guarentees.
"If you'd follow me, please," Shanuh chattered amicably, flipping back his hair. "You might get a little wet," he continued, squinting behind Raven at the window near the entrance of the shop. "Considering I don't keep these birds in cages."
Zigzagging past the rabbit and kitten cages, and dodging the aquariums in the back of the shop, Shanuh guided Raven to the nearest EXIT. A damp umbrella, still dripping with rain droplets from a previous escapade, leaned up agains the door. "This should keep the worst of it off you," Shanuh offered the black umbrella to Raven, believing it to be the right thing to do.
A mechanical human display, perhaps, but he WAS being polite. "They're just upstairs, here - they like to take perch upon my roof."
No use scaring the girl - how many worried and fretted as they were herded towards his upstairs? How many had walked up those steps to find themselves face-to-face with destiny? And how many more had walked up only to never return?
It was funny the way the numbers worked. If he were lucky, this woman wouldn't fall into the latter category. There were too many of them as it was.
Opening the door for Raven, Shanuh allowed the woman to start the trek up the thirteen steps. The corridor was drafty and cold, the temperature damp. Light poured in from the top of the stairwell where the metal door was kept ajar by a rain-speckeled bucket.
"They like this sort of weather," Shanuh murmured, voice echoing off the small stairwell. "Go ahead and see."
--missing post--
Shanuh watched as the woman catuiously proceeded. Like many before her, the man couldn't help but smirk at their foolishness. Like moths drawn to a flame, the human species curiousity would ultimately be their downfall. Some, a small few, disinclined his invitation to see a wilder side of life. Some made excuses and left, but those sort of folk were rare and few and far between. Of course, Shanuh wasn't complaining - if it wasn't for mans curiousity and intrigue, he woudn't very well have a shop and his wards wouldn't be able to progress upon their chosen path and journey.
As Raven opened the umbrella and stepped outside, Shanuh peeked around her, spotting the familiar scene. The cool rain had attracted a few friends to his rooftop paradice. Various birds were scattered amongst the growing puddles, birds of all various shapes and sizes.
"Quite the unusual scene, isn't it?" Shanuh purred, pleased to see such life at his shop. Some days were quiet and empty - but today the Birdcage roof seemed to be party central!
"You'd think they wouldn't be seen together, you'd think these wild animals wouldn't be found within the city." That was what most everyone asked - how was this possible? How could this be? "These darlings are special."
A large golden eagle was drinking from the same puddle a robin splashed in. Not far from that was a titmouse and bluejay, preening each other in the most affectionate of manners. Birds of all colours were coming and going. A canary dropped down, singing madly, only to be joined in by a chorus of two other dazzling songbirds.
It really was quite the show.
--missing post--
]The Birds didn't seem to give Raven any sort of notice as she approached. They all seemed far too engrossed in their games and songs to both checking out a girl. They were used to being watched and stared at, and Raven really wasn't much of an exception.
Shanuh stayed back, content to watch the events unravel from the safety of the door stop. He contemplated telling her about the birdseed near the door, in case she wanted to attempt to attract their attention. The man decided to wait, to see if that would be necessary. Sometimes, in fact, a lot of times, the Birds didn't need to be enticed by seed to pass judgement. Perhaps that would be the case with Raven . . .?
A few moments passed before the first bird approached Raven. The Golden Eagle, thoroughly drenched and looking quite ridiculous with its feathers in a tangle, suddenly glided over in front of Raven. Shaking out its feathers, it looked up at the girl, before reaching its head over to tap at the tip of her shoe with its powerful beak.
This seemed to be some sort of sign for quite suddenly it seemed as if all the Birds were giving the woman attention.
The little titmouse and bluejay were fluttering around her head, chirping with excitement. A small robin had landed happily upon Raven's side, clinging to her shirt with its little feet, looking up at her with an inquisitive expression.
The golden eagle had nested itself upon both of her feet, and was picking at the seem of her pants.
Shanuh couldn't help but laugh at the sight, the woman covered in Birds. "Having fun?" He called out, eyes light with good humor.
They seemed to find her as a good perch, but did any find her worthy as their companion? That was the trick, really. Did any want to keep her for the long-term?
Thankfully, for Raven, one did.
Like a black and white dart, the bird zipped onto the scene, fluttering madly around Raven and the flock of other Birds. It chittered madly, diving at the titmouse and robin, even attempting to attack the great eagle on her feet! Wildly, madly, it threw a tantrum, attempting to dislodge the other feathered Birds that rested upon Raven.
The eagle hissed, a bit upset by the frustrated Bird, but did comply. Spreading its great wings, it jumped off Raven's foot and hopped back to his puddle. The robin and titmouse were quick to follow, protesting their complaints as they left the rooftop entirely.
It didn't take long before the wild Bird had Raven all to himself. Circling her once, twice, three times more, he finally took land on her shoulder, standing tall and proud as it cawed victory.
Raven was his, and no one was going to take her away from him. Mine. Mine, mine, MINE!
Shanuh smiled, understanding everything the little bird was saying. "Well, Raven, so it seems you made a friend."
