Page 44 of Journey to the Elderoak
Ava put her hands up to her face. “They’re beautiful!”
“I will give you each a piece of their food and they’ll land on your hand. We can walk them outside to release them,” Durimexplained as he opened a jar filled with squirming worm-like insects.
The three of them held the worms flat in their palm and the firefinches shrieked and dove for them. The darkest and largest one landed on Ava’s forearm and devoured its treat as Ava followed Durim outside a door at the back of the enclosure.
“Once they finish their worm, they should fly off whenever they’re ready,” he explained.
“Do they have names?” Ava asked.
“The one on the general’s arm is Nymeria, the one on mine is Kirro, and yours is Titus.”
“Hello, Titus,” she whispered. Titus looked at her and chirped as he swallowed the last of his worm. “You are such a handsome boy.”
Ava knew Casimir was watching her as she petted the firefinch who was cooing at her. She looked over at Casimir and Durim, whose creatures had already left.
“You can go now,” she said to Titus. “It’s safe.”
But he wouldn’t leave and crawled along her arm, chattering to her. He sneezed and a small burst of flames erupted from his mouth.
“Are you alright?” Casimir asked. “Did he burn you?”
“No.” She marveled at the creature. “I’m fine. They breathe fire?”
“Yes,” Durim said as he watched Titus curiously. “He doesn’t seem to want to leave.”
Ava spoke to Titus again. “You need to be free, little one.” He climbed her arm and settled on her shoulder, nestling into her hair, and chirped. Somehow, she understood what he was saying.
Ava turned to Casimir and Durim. “Uhhh…he said he wants to stay with me.”
Durim started. “You can understand him?”
“Yes. It seems so.”
“Impossible,” Casimir whispered.
She looked up at him. “What do you mean? You can’t do that?”
“Not like that.” He shook his head. “Some fae are better at communicating with animals than others but we can only actually speak to our companions. Could you hear him speaking in your head like with Luna?”
“No,” she said. “I just somehow knew what he was saying.”
Casimir observed her with wonder.
“What?”
“I’ve never heard of anyone being able to do that before,” he said. “After the ocean drakes several weeks ago and now this…you definitely have extra abilities with animals.”
“You’re very special, Your Highness,” said Durim. “If Titus doesn’t want to leave, he can go with you.”
Ava’s head snapped to Durim. “What? Like a pet?”
“Kind of. But you must make it his choice,” he explained. “I can supply you with all the worms you need, but he can hunt for the majority of his food.”
She held out her hand and spoke to Titus. “Come here.” He flew off her shoulder and landed on her arm, tilting his head as he looked at her. “You really want to stay with me?” He spun around and chirped. Ava turned back to Durim. “Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, you can stay.”
