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She turned at the newest drama to occurr that day, and had done so just in time to see the Willow be snatched up by her owner. It was apparent that something of great signifigance had occurred between them, and she wasn't about to press such at the moment.

Especially not with LP looking so upset and worn down like that.

So she dismissed her previous actions and found it best to start as though she'd only heard the question. Delighted with that bit she flounced over, in joyous chance to shop off her new baby, and held up the little bird for LP to see.

"I gots me a big bird"
4laugh

Iris had just answered a moment before, and she quickly corrected herself in apologetic tones to her Velvet.

"I mean, I got a Harpy Eagle.
Sorry Eagle."
sweatdrop

She beamed at the praise of the adorable factor of the Eagle, and gave an appeciative smile as she gently stroked the bird's plume.

However, beneath the bubbly excitement of getting her Velvet, she felt a bit downtrod. Willow and LP both seemed upset with one another and she wished to help.

It wasn't really her place though, and thought it might embarass LP or Willow if she took either or's side in the prevailing arguement they seemed to be having. So she nodded in dismissal to herself and retired to one of the couchess to watch them.

She gave a comforting smile to LP and shook her head. It was certainly not a bad day yet, and she set down her Eagle for a moment to give an inquiring look to LP so as to ask if she might do something to make ammends between the two.

It was a very sad thing seeing Velvet's and thier owners upset with one another...a very sad thing indeed.

But she wouldn't move in on LP's role as a parental guide, unless given some sign of permission to speak to Willow.

Iris had all but summed up an answer for the dillema indeed, and she again sat down at the words of wisdom. Giving an encouraging smile, as she was sure this would solve thier arguments.

Secretly though, she was pleased she hadn't gotten too involved this time, for she was sure she would have made a fool of herself infront of her velvet.

Ok so maybe it wasn't summed up just yet...
She'd quite thought it over, but it seemed it wasn't going to be that simple at all like she'd hoped.

So she quietly launched into a story, addressing Willow, in hopes that it might make Willow understand LP's situation a bit better.

"Once upon a time, there was but a lone mother and her child who lived within the forest of a long ago time.

The mother cared very very deeply for her one and only son, and did everything to appease and protect him from the dangers that lurked within the shadowy realms that surrounded thier humble home.

However, one day the child strayed a bit too far into the woods and came upon an apparition sitting alone within the heather.

Curious, he approached it, and the two became fast friends within little more time then it might take to thread a needle. But he knew his mother would drive his friend away if he were ever found talking to it, so he turned to the ghost and said

"Stay here. I'll come back for you every day while mother is mending."

And with that he was gone.

So every day after his mother began her chores, the little child ran out of the house and met with his ghoolish friend deep in the woods. Learning and being taught everything the spirit had ever known in life.

In time though, strange things began to happen to the child, and his mother took notice.

The color from his cheeks began to fade, and he seemed less...tangible. Almost dissapearing himself into the realm of spirits without a trace!

So the next day she followed him and found of his spiritual guide, snatching him up and forbidding him ever see that thing again. But nomatter how much she pleaded with the boy he pushed her warnings away and became totally absorbed into learning from this spector...

Until finally..he himself became a ghost.

A terrible thing which he would soon regret as years passed and he watched as his mother began to fade from the mortal plain. Broken hearted at losing her child, and hollow eyed from tears shed constantly upon where he'd last been held.

After time she passed away and the boy was elated! He went to find her ghost within the house, and certainly did...

But something was wrong...he could not reach her.
For he had pushed her away for so long in life that now in death he could not call her back.

And that is the end of the sad tale, of a boy who lost himself to ghosts."

Seeing the plain reaction of terror to such thought, she relented the cryptic tale and her voice became softer as she addressed the tiger again.

"Willow...I doubt your ghost friends are malicious enough to do something like that to you. But the story has a moral to it...

You must some one while you can while they are here, because they won't be there forever and who knows if tommorow will come?

LP is just trying to do her best to love and care for you as her child, and it does hurt a great deal to lose someone to the realm of spirits. I've lost family members to death, and I can't help but think I should have spent more time with them and listened to the stories they had to tell.

So love LP as best as you can...because no one knows how long they have left."

"Willow, honey...I think this is something that LP needs to teach you.
I'm not the right person to tell you about death, and I think she would be better suited to it then I am.

I doubt the ghosts could teach you that either, since most of the tame ghosts you speak to don't remember who they were or how they died. They just know they can't leave for some reason, and that you are the only one who seems really able to hear or help them."

That said she gently reached out and gently rubbed the tiger's ear, hoping that might calm her down enough so she might understand it a little better. Making her afraid was not to original intent of the story at all...and she hoped it wouldn't cause her to stop what she loved entirely out of fear.

Speaking of losing people, she began to feel she was neglecting her poor little Eagle. Making it quick in her actions that she withdrew from them for a minute or two and retrieved her velvet, setting him now in her lap so he might not get lonely.

"Selfish is a strong word...You're just a child yet, and I know you wouldn't be selfish on purpose Willow.

But you must understand, that your friends are very sad inside because they cannot move on to be with those they love. So I think it'd be a lovely gesture in return if you could help put them to rest someday."

She gave a sheepish smile to LP at having put her on the spot, but felt some fgood had been done now that Willow seemed to understand the ghost's plight.

Now she seemed a bit happier in all honesty, and it pleased Donna to see the udden interest she took in the eagle who'd been absorbing all this information in quiet fashion.

It might be a good way to relieve tension between them all, so she gently propped up the bird and made it turn to look at Willow.

"Sure, just be careful ok? He just came out of the chest this morning."

This was the first time she'd let anyone handle her velvet, and inwardly she had t admit that this made her a little nervous. What parrent wouldn't be though? And it seemed silly to be confining so early on in it's life...So she gently picked up the little bird and set it in Willow's hands. Making a mental note to keep an eye on the two, lest anything go awry.

" I don't think she'd hurt him either, I'm just a nervous new parent."

She chuckled slightly and rubbed the back of her head, feeling kinda like a newblet in the world of plush parental guidance for eagle things. Oh yes...Her descent into the unknown would be a fun one, well, for the others to watch anyways.

Looking up from her conversation, and watch of Willow, a beaming glow came to play upon her features as she beheld her friend.

"D-chan! Long time no see!

I'm doing well. I just opened the chest a while ago."

She couldn't help but swell a little with pride over opening the chest. It wasn't a big thing really, but it was of signifigance to her at least and she planned to show off her baby at least a little bit before her ego shrunk back down.

"What happened?

Well...At first I thought my key was posessed. It began shaking violently this morning and scared Maxine to death."

She couldn't help but chuckle even then. It had been rather funny to pry Maxi's claws from the floorboards while she kept glaring at the key. She was probably still pissed Donna wasn't home...but that was nothing new.

"I got a Harpy Eagle in the end, and no I didn't see anything for you yet. But I bet your key will start reacting really soon!"

"No, it turns out that it wasn't. I think they shake or do some weird stuff when the chest is ready. I'm not really sure...but I don't think it reacts to anything in particular."

She then rubbed the back of her egolistic head and gave a nod over towards Willow and Mr. Eagle's direction. Indicating they two were at play at the moment, and she'd let D see him later.

"I'm thinking about naming him Arnaud. It means swift and strong..."

"We don't mind ya comming in LP and what does she mean--oh my goodness!"

Her eyes widened as she had turned to see what Willow meant, only to find her Eagle floating. Did Willow do it? Maybe a ghost...she wasn't precisely sure. But like an audiance member at a magic show, she swept her hand under the bird to assure herself it was truly floating.

That was a new...

"How'd you get him to...float?"

"You're not the only one?

I knew it'd be able to fly but not so soon...
Willow?" sweatdrop

"Oh!"

The relief was evident and she only patted both the Eagle and Willow on the heads before resuming her calmer composure and allowing them to continue thier play.

"Tricky little ghostie...But no harm done. Besides, I don't think Arnaud minds. Well, if I name him that anyways. What do you think Willow?"

She smiled at the thought of finding a name others might approve of. Not that she was completely reliant of everyone's opinion, but she thought it might be nice that her Eagle have some early friends and connections that may give some comfort later in his lifetime.

It was good to have friends.

After LP pointed it out and D admitted to her discomfort, she made a mental note that it might be best not to put her Eagle too close to poor D. It was never a pleasent thing to have something of discomfort shoved in your face in an attempt to "cure" you.

She decided it best to show some affection towards the Eagle, who had since been floating under Charlie's guaidance, and crept up towards the bird to gently ruffle his velvet with her features. Nuzzling close for a moment before allowing him play with Willow some more, so she and D could still talk at a reasonable distance.

"I'm sorry to hear you don't like birds"

"Oh, well I suppose that might make you a bit uncomfortable with them wouldn't it?
Don't worry though, I won't let him bite you or anything. Or let him get too close if you like. 3nodding "

She perked up at the compliment, and it was said that day that her ego swelled over three almost tiny centimeters of what it usually was.

"Thank you D-chan! I think they're pretty to."

She could then here the door chime, and turned her features towards it to see none other then Maxi and Celtic waiting for her to come on. It seemed she'd stayed later then intended and they were rather adamant on beckoning her home.

"It looks like time has gotten away from me, and I must be going. Goodnight D-chan, Willow, Lp, Charlie."


See you tommorow!"

She then plucked her Eagle from the air and waved goodbye before she was gone from the shop.