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 Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:13 pm
Shanuh didn't know what to do. He'd already lost one of his wards thanks to neglect, he didn't want to lose another. The boy had cried - always seemed to be crying - and was lost in a plethora of denial and confusion.
Why had Jin left? How could she have handed him over and walked away. . .?
"Damnit," the man snarled, reaching over to affectionately brush back a few disheveled strands of red hair.
The cardinal was NOT doing well, and Shanuh feared the worst.
Darzavian had been reclaimed, and Shanuh refused to see the process happen again. But Shanuh couldn't care for the little Guardian, as much as he wanted to. It wasn't within his jurisdiction, and it wouldn't be fair or right. The Man Upstairs wouldn't allow it, and if Death had to return to reclaim yet ANOTHER soul . . .
No.
Glancing toward the front door, the man heaved a heavy sigh. This wasn't going to be easy, but he had to give it a try. "If you're listening, I could really use some guidance here," Shanuh growled, throwing a bitter look at the ceiling.
No, he wasn't praying, and he surely wasn't devoting himself to some God. Far from that, the shop keep was merely making a call back to headquarters. They had more power and jurisdiction than Shanuh could ever begin to control, therefor, they were the ones who needed to cut him a break.
"Pulling a few strings won't hurt," he argued, holding an entire conversation with himself. Was he crazy? Not in the least!
"Come on! Remember that time back in - yes, yes I am going there and I will if you don't DO something. Just put in a good word - look at what happened once~! I refuse to stand around and let it happen again!"
The store stayed relatively quiet. No booming voice of God, no crackling of fireworks and lightning and an eye-popping display. Just . . . the typical barking of puppies, mewling of kittens, and overall the everyday ambience of a petshop.
Glancing back down at Siahndi, Shanuh shook his head.
This was completely out of his control, but IF the fates smiled upon him, if he were lucky. . .
"Just hope I'm lucky."
Glancing towards the door, Shanuh could only do what he'd been doing for the past week. Wait. . .argue with the fates . . . and hope.
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 8:52 pm
It had been a rather mundane day for Sparrow, her 9 to 5 job was going nowhere as usual. But for some reason he decided to take a different way home today. Passing many new unfamiliar shops, but only one caught her eye. It looked like a petshop and was called the Birdcage, peering in through the window she was not surprized by the sight of the cats, dogs...and boys with wings? Utterly confused now she entered the shop, but not too sure what to do now. Should she say something? Or just start looking around?
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:04 am
Shanuh glanced up as the bells twinkeled in the arrival of a patron. The man looked up and over, his dual toned eyes taking in Sparrow careful. His expression was mild but guarded - it was obvious he had a lot on his mind!
"Welcome to the Birdcage," he spoke, words breaking through the animal noises of the shop. Was this the one? It couldn't be, could it. . .? Another woman? Would Siahndi even bother to try? Yet again, this was completely out of his hands. It was up to the cardinal to see whether or not she'd be worth his time, and yet, the red-haired boy wasn't letting go of his leg!
"May I help you with anything?" He really hoped she wouldn't start demanding animals left and right, or had come in with questions about some pet. He much preferred today to be left alone with Siahndi, to comfort the little guy as best her could.
But, then again, if this person was sent here for a reason. . .
The bandaged boy turned his head to study the newcomer, one large eye staring wretchedly out at the world. It passed over Sparrow, not giving the girl much of a look, before he buried his face back in to Shanuh's leg.
He just wanted Jin back and that one wasn't her.
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 7:56 pm
"I'm just looking around right now" Sparrow said nodding, looking around for any pets that seemed out of the ordinary. She was rather dissapointed when she found no two headed dogs, or mythical birds. Then she spotted the boy again, he seemed normal enough. But why on earth was he covered in bandaids? After pausing for a few moments she asked "Is he okay?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:09 pm
Shanuh allowed the woman space, though he didn't budge from his spot with Siahndi. The poor cardinal had a death grip around his leg, and the man didn't have the heart to untangle himself from the Bird. He pitied the child, and hated the fool who abandoned him.
Thankfully, Sparrow was intelligent enough to browse around the shop without needing Shanuh to tell him absolutely everything she saw. Some customers demanded to be catered to, and though Shanuh didn't tolerate such behavior even when faced with it, he much preferred people to give themselves their own tour.
As the woman headed throughout the shop, Shanuh glanced from Siahndi to the woman. The cardinal continued to keep his gaze averted, and didn't seem any more smitten with her than he had previous patrons.
Work with me, please, Shanuh mentally pleaded. If the cardinal didn't find something interesting in another, if Jin truly was his life, then there was nothing Shanuh could do to save him.
And that hurt Shanuh the most. He was supposed to have helped bring the Guardians happiness and life - not allow their companions to abandon them~! If he ever got his hands around the women that hurt two of his wards . . . .
The anger subsided as quick as it came. No. He couldn't allow himself to lose control. Not here, not in public.
Thankfully, Sparrow gave him a reason to stray away from his hostile thoughts. Looking up at her, the two-toned man gave a half-hearted smile, faint with something feral behind it. "The bandages were something he was born with, something he'll have throughout his childhood, if not his life," Shanuh softly explained.
"Physically he's perfectly fine. It's emotionally where he suffers."
And it was obvious that there was something not right about the cardinal. His feathers were dull and the wings drooping behind his back. His hair was unkempt and disheveled, uncared for. The child's skin, though naturally pale, was unusually pasty, and dark rings shrouded his eyes.
He wasn't happy. There wa no spark of life, no joy, no anything within the winged boy.
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:16 pm
As she listened to the man's story, Sparrow felt for the small child. As she looked at him again she really started to notice that he looked depressed, like he had just given up. What was even worse is that he was forced to wear bandaids because of some unknown ailment. Sparrow didn't know why, but she felt herself wanting to connect more with the small child "Poor boy," she said softly then added "Was there a death in his family?" It was the only thing she could think of that would cause a child to become so depressed.
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Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:04 am
((Sorry, Renegatus! I had thought I'd replied to this. =_= But it seems my post never went through. ))
Shanuh looked from woman to boy, brow furrowing ever so slightly. Well, at least the woman was sympathetic to the neglected child's plea. That was a good sign. It wasn't often strangers felt for others, at least not on this world.
But Shanuh was still wary. If he didn't find someone for Siahndi, someone he could trust to care for the Bird, to bring some sort of joy in his life then the cardinal had a very short time left to live. This woman, whomever she might be, had a great responsibility upon her shoulders. If she failed and left like Jin had, then the cardinal would suffer the same fate as the death kite had.
His body and spirit would decay to nothing and the cardinal would be returned to Death's loving care. Their chance at life and living would be completely over and they'd not see the light of day again.
The little cardinal, still clinging tightly to Shanuh, slowly peeked out from behind Shanuh's leg. Who was this woman? What was her purpose? And whatever did she want? One large, emerald eye stared blandly up at Sparrow, absorbing who she was and might be.
Shyly, the boy burried his face back into Shanuh's leg. She wasn't Jin, she wasn't anybody.
Yet.
Well, at least there was some sort of reaction. But to respond to the question at hand. "You could say she died. But really, the woman left to care for the cardinal abandoned him, left him at this shop and took off. She won't be coming back, and he has no other place to go."
The anger in his voice was obvious as he spoke of the former Companion. His wrath was controlled, but who could blame him? The one thing he asked of his companions - to care for the children - was thrown to the wind and Siahndi was suffering because of it.
"If he doesn't find a new home soon, he'll die." And that was just the way of things.
Soft hands reached down to caress the bedraggeled crimson feathers. A few fell slowly to the floor, coming to rest in a small pile around Shanuh and Siahndi's feet.
The boy, silently, started to weep.
This was not a good day for anyone in the Birdcage. Not. At. All.
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