#parrot and owl and canary siblings

[spores-and-petals]

🌙 Pearlypop! 🌙

˚₊‧꒰ა . ——— ˗ˏˋ ✮ ˎˊ˗ ——— ˖ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Rai (🍂🐾) is usually on designer duty, but I had to put the comic down for one second and do Pearl myself. I wanted to add more pins to her bag but I ran out of ideas sobs

I know people usually go with the moth motifs for her but I really needed her to be a bird (for reasons), so owl it is,,

-🌘✨

also you should like totally check out the masterpost for S&P 👉👈

[moomshroom]

I've seen quite a bit of people headcanoning Jimmy, Lizzie, Grian, and Pearl as siblings, and I do too, so I propose we call them something along the lines of flying fish siblings due to the fact that all four of them are associated with birds and fish.

(Jimmy=cod+canary)

(Lizzie=axolotl+crow)

(Grian=cod+parrot)

(Pearl=salmon+owl)

[reynolds-here-over]

Hermitcraft/life series fic I’m workshopping

Superheroes with the watchers as the evil guys to force/blackmail super powered humans to do what they want.

The Hermits are the worlds version of the avengers

The sky siblings (grain,pearl and jimmy) are siblings in this au and are avians and have side small powers related to their bird species.

Grain =parrot(red with lots of colours)likes flying and can do it well

jimmy =canary(The Crested Canary) isn’t good with heights and smaller wings so can’t fly long or to well since he mostly hides his wings

Pearl = owl (The Powerful Owl)loves flying and good at gliding

Grain =oldest pearl and jimmy =younger twins (pearls older of the twins)

Growing up grain accidentally got involved with the watchers and went to prison for it and as a part of his rehabilitation he has to help the hermits and after a few years he ranks up to hero position

During grains jail time pearl and jimmy are still young so they are kinda fending for themselves (let’s say the parents are absent because that physically or emotionally or financially) jimmy lands a job part time at his friends Lizzie’s family vet clinic and pearl gets a part time waste disposal position

Due to her job and relationship to grian the watchers keeps tabs on pearl and sometimes around 18ish she goes missing and presumed dead but in reality the watchers have taken her

Jimmy eventually goes on to get a medical license and actually gets hired to the hermits for medical

Around about 4 years after pearls disappearance a watcher villian with jet black wings appears by the name scarlet and starts causing a lot of trouble and normally the hermits can sus out how the watchers have a villain under their control and help them get out but with scarlet they can’t find anything.

Btw the others come into this at odd angles like:

Martin is a double agent who helps the hermits out with watcher info but he’s not on the top of the watchers information clearance yet so doesn’t know everything

Lizzie is dating Joel who’s the public communications guy for the hermits and she herself runs her family vet(this comes in with pearl and grain plot I’ve thought of)

Scar is a hero for the hermits along with most of the others

Gem was pearls friend before she was taken and was planing to go to med school with jimmy but decided to go full hero route but still is help with medical

Impulse and skizz are a superhero duo(in hermit group) who still run their own podcast

I’m going to be adding more just not ironed out the details yet

[skele-was-hired]

I like the avian Grian, Jimmy, Pearl, and Martyn headcanon. I also like the headcanon that the four of them are all siblings.

Grian would be the oldest of the four. Most people say that he's a parrot and leave it at that, but I like to think that he is a macaw. To be more specific, a scarlet macaw.

I think that Jimmy is the second oldest. Probably two/three years younger than Grian. Now onto the species of bird, the canary. Obvious with his 'canary' curse. Specifically the domestic canary

Pear would be the second youngest, less than a year and a half compared to Jim. I hear a lot of headcanons about Pearl being an owl, and I stand by that. The type would be the screech owl.

Finally, Martyn is the youngest. He's probably a year/two younger than Pearl. I don't see many specific headcanons on his bird type. I like to think he's a hummingbird. In specific the rufous hummingbird.

[Images of the birds of inspiration].

[all54321]

A Siblings’ Chat

After struggling with part 2 of “A ‘Chance’ Encounter,” I decided to write a possible scenario. I’m not sure if it will be canon in the end, but I had the idea. This takes place soon after Grian is outed as a spy, which is far into this AU’s timeline.

In this AU, Grian, Pearl, and Jimmy are all siblings, and are also avians. Grian has parrot wings, Pearl has owl wings, and Jimmy has canary wings. Grian lived on this island for a while now, Pearl moved when things started getting serious and started helping Cub, and Jimmy just came in after hearing about Grian. Also Flower Ranchers is canon in this AU.

—————

Pearl stares past the quarantine police lines, at the mycelium and mushrooms growing out of the road, sidewalk, around and even through buildings. It’s done a number one the places it’s reached and spreading farther every day. She supposes that having someone on the inside helped stall a lot of their progress in keeping it from spreading, not that she enjoys thinking about it that way.

“Pearl!” A voice calls to her, a strange mix of cheery and mournful.

She turns to face her brother, “hey Jimmy.” Pearl wishes she can have more enthusiasm at seeing her brother again after so long, but it’s hard in this situation.

He walks up beside her, staring past the border, “I didn’t expect it to be this bad.” A pause, “it’s great to see you again, I wish it was in a better situation.”

“Yeah,” Pearl murmurs, unsure what else to say.

After hesitating, Jimmy quietly asks, “Grian’s out there?”

She nods, “after we found out he was infected, he bolted very quickly. Gone before any of us could say anything.” She sighs, “we haven’t seen him since.”

“Do you know where out there?”

Pearl shakes her head, “nope. No one’s brave enough to venture into that forest to find their camp. Especially since stepping foot on the mycelium immediately alerts Father Spore. No one has even gotten close to the forest before he arrives, either infecting them or chasing them off.”

Jimmy stares towards the trees in thought, “would Grian come?”

“Maybe,” she murmurs, “but is it really worth the risk to try? The area itself is rather infectious.” Pearl frowns in thought, “if we stay on the edge, we might be safe, but it’s unlikely they’d come out to speak with us unless we go farther out.”

Jimmy sighs, “I suppose so, it was worth a try at least. I’ll help you however I can, to get our brother back.”

Pearl’s only half listening now, thinking on Jimmy’s suggestion. She’s been studying this stuff for a long time now, she knows a lot about it. Her and Cub also have theories that would be interesting to figure out. Mostly, she’s just hoping to see her brother again.

Without a word, she ducks under the police tape and steps onto the mycelium’s territory. Only standing at the edge of it, firmly inside, but close enough to the edge to flee to safety.

“Pearl!?” Jimmy exclaims in confusion, joining her after a bit of hesitation. He looks around at the area nervously.

“It’s safe if we don’t stray far inside,” she murmurs, “but if we can get Grian’s attention… it’s worth every chance to speak to him.” Jimmy nods, looking hesitant.

It doesn’t take too long for a figure to exit the woods, approaching them carefully. He stops a decent ways away, both hands on his cane as he studies them. “What brings you here on this fine day?”

“We’re here for our brother,” Pearl says, staring him down.

Scar doesn’t seem bothered, “Grian is home now, he doesn’t want to go back.”

“We just want to talk to him,” Jimmy presses, looking at the mushroom covered man nervously.

After staring at them in silence for a minute, he turns around partially and glances into the woods, “they don’t seem willing to leave, songbird.”

Immediately after he finishes speaking, Grian himself emerges from the forest, joining Scar and staring at them carefully, “Pearl. Tim.”

Jimmy opens his mouth, before quickly closing it. Pearl studies her brother, taking in the full effect of his infection. Mushrooms sprouted from his lower neck, dropping down under his collar. Several are also spread along his arms and legs. How had they not noticed before? Probably because of his careful outfit choice. He’s now wearing a lower collar T-shirt in comparison to his usual turtleneck sweater. Pearl can only guess it’s to let the mushrooms on him breath. Same for the shorts he now wears and lack of gloves.

“Grian,” Pearl starts, suddenly unsure.

“I won’t go back,” Grian says, cutting any possible response off. “I’m not welcome and I have no interest in becoming your lab rat.”

“That’s not what we’re here for.”

“What are you here for?”

“To talk to you,” Jimmy says, eyes focused of their brother.

Grian softens a little, “I missed you a lot, Timmy. Unfortunate timing to visit.” He pauses, sharing a glance with Scar, “or maybe fortunate.”

He tenses, “what do you mean?”

Grian takes a cautious step forwards, closer but still a safe distance away. “Join us, connect to the mycelium and let it care for you. Life is better this way.”

Pearl shakes her head, “no. No way. That’s crazy.”

“Pearl,” he whispers, before sighing, “I get how it may sounds to you, but what I say is true.” He turns to look at Jimmy again, “this isn’t just an invite for you. You can bring Scott and Tango here too.” He looks back at Scar briefly, “you can feel connected to them in ways you can never imagine.”

Pearl steps in between them before he can continue, “Grian, we are not joining your weird mushroom thing.” He makes an offended noise but Pearl continues, “we’re worried about you and want to help.”

Grian’s expression suddenly turns steely as he steps back to stand beside Scar again, “I don’t need help. My life is perfectly fine, better even, since I’ve connected to the mycelium. This is home, it’s everything I’ve always wanted. The only thing I want now is for you to join me.”

Pearl shakes her head, “Grian, think logically please. We miss you and just want you back.”

He sighs, “this conversation will go no where. You’re always welcome to join us.” Grian turns around, “let’s go Scar.”

“Wait, Grian!” Jimmy calls, stepping around Pearl, but he falters when Grian looks back at him.

At his silence, he continues to walk away. After studying them for a few more seconds, Scar turns and follows him away.

Pearl can’t help but feel disappointed at the conversation and herself. She had so many things to say to her brother, but could barely get anything out. He’s not a lost cause, she just needs to work harder. Pearl will save him, no matter the cost. She places a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder, squeezing it lightly, “we’ll get him back, no matter what.”

—————

Edit: Forgot to mention that during the brief moment Scar was silent at the start was him talking to Grian through the hivemind. Him calling to Grian out loud was just to cover up that they can do that. They’re not interested in sharing that they can telepathically communicate via a hivemind to those not willing to join it. They vaguely refer to it, but not in detail.

[lykanthropa]

Support Class

Chapter 9: Love & Nuts

Olivia stands in the middle of the 15-meter-long metal bridge of the hangar and looks down over the railing at the robotic army. Accurately, they are standing down there and wait silently and motionless to be activated and sent into a new battle against the mercenaries. A fight that many of them will not be able to ride it out. As last time. They consist of nothing but metal, while the mercenaries are men of flesh and blood. And yet, Olivia is of the opinion that they are the ones who have no soul. She reluctantly recalls the memories of the last fight. That's a year ago. Her father's robots were destroyed one by one. And the mercenaries had laughed. They had laughed. It gave them great pleased to kill them. No, Olivia is sure that the mercenaries are those who have no soul. She hates them from the bottom of her heart. The dim light of the ceiling lamps makes the metal old gray and shiny. “You are so beautiful…”

“Olivia?” Graymann comes with his automated wheelchair on the metal bridge. Main building and hangar are connected with only one door. And from this he came. Beside her, he comes to a halt. Just as Olivia always does, she sits down on his lap. “Why are not you in bed? It's the middle of the night.” “They must fight again soon. I want to spend time with them as long as possible before they are again final destroyed.” “I can build them again and again, you know?” “Nevertheless, they are always the same, which must always experience the same fate. I hate the mercenaries for hurting them.” “…then you must hate me as well. After all, I send them into this fate.” Olivia eyed her old father with her big, gold-yellow eyes. “I don't hate you. I know how important it is that these mercenaries must be eliminate. And you and I cannot fight for ourselves. But somebody has to do it...” “I bought you a beautiful canary. Why don't you busy yourself with it?” “The bird is safe in its cage. So I don' have to worry about it.” “I gave you this bird, so it take your mind off things.” “………” Gray Mann sighs. He stroked Olivia's head and looked down at the robots. “Come now. It’s sleep time. The men have just contacted me. In dawn, they will be here with the support team and then the robots will be loaded into the transport tank. And you want to say goodbye to them before, don’t you?” “Yes, father…”

Olivia closes the door behind her, crosses her large, hall-like room, and enters her winter garden, where the aviary, covered by a blanket, stands. And therein is the little yellow bird. A gift from her father, so she is not so lonely. Sure, Olivia has neither siblings nor friends. But she does not need it either. The robots and her father are the only company she wants, needs and appreciates. She slams the blanket back. The canary sits on his sleeping pole, on one leg and the head turned backwards, hidden in the plumage. She still has no name for him. But do birds need a name at all? Do they feel something? Can birds build a relationship with a human being at all? Olivia has the bird just a few days. And he always shows her that he doesn't want to know about her. He never flies to her, never sits down on her finger when she holds it for him. He's avoiding her. He doesn't like her. That's okay by her. He doesn't have to love her.

She opens the cage. The clacking of the cage door and the movements startles the canary bird out of its sleep. She reaches for him. Panically he avoids her hand. A chase begins. The little bird jumps and flutters from one side to the other. He escapes again and again. But Olivia remains obstinate. Finally, she manages to grab him when he is already completely weakened. Firmly in her fist, she takes him out of the cage and looks at him. He defends himself, tries to free himself, and makes constant cheeps noises. She loosens her grip somewhat, but not too much so that the bird cannot free his wings. She looks down at him emotionlessly. “Why do you want to get away from me? Don't I give you everything you need? I give you food and water. You have a big cage. And yet you show yourself ungrateful.” The Canary had for a moment stopped fighting back when she began to speak. But now he starts anew. He opens his beak wide. “And now you're threatening me? Why are the creatures just like that? They are ungrateful, selfish and destructive. Only when you have realized this, you will realize how wonderful the dead things are. My only friends are my father's robots. Since I can remember, I always had them around me. They always took care of me. I just wish I could be there for them like they for me. But I can do nothing to keep them from their fate. They have been built to fight. I cannot fight. I am still a child. I don't know what makes my father wrong that they are destructible. Is it because he does not love them like me? Is love missing? One day I will follow Father's footsteps and then I'll be able to build them. Build them with so much love that I feel for them that they will be indestructible. Will the mercenaries be still to witness this? Will you still be?” The canary now lies completely exhausted in her fist. Olivia clearly senses the little heart, which frantically beats in that little breast. “………” She puts him back into the cage. As by a miracle the vigors come back and the canary flies into the rearmost corner of the cage, the wings spread apart. Olivia closes the cage, looks at the bird for a moment, and covers the cage again with the blanket. Now it's time to sleep.

Team Fortress 2

The little robin beeps during sleep. The tree snake observes the small featherball in the middle of her curled body. Then she turns her gaze to the owl. Sir Hootsalot sits rigidly on the dashboard, trying to keep his balance with the healthy wing. The snake knows that he has great pain. His broken wing must necessarily be fix. But what can they do...? “Hey, owl.” “…what do you want?” “Come down there and ressst a bit.” “Rest? I'm nocturnal, y'know? And it's night.” “You are hurt.” “That's none of your business, snake.” “I am not heartlesss. Even if everybody likesss to think ssso.” “The giant maggot is right, mice eater. A soldier cannot fight if he's under the weather.” “We are no soldiers but birds, you birdbrain” replied Sir Hootsalot toneless. “Ay me…” Aberdeen twists his eyes. Compatriot leaps at the owl. “Now listen to me, you night-shadow-bird! You do what I say!” The white-headed eagle reaches for the owl with his claws, with the intention of pulling him down from the dashboard on the passenger seat. “Let me go! Are you crazy?” “I call the shots! I am the King of Birds!” “The king of birdbrains is much more relevant!” While eagle and owl fight together, the steering wheel remains ownerless. And soon the van starts to swerve. “Put your claws back to the wheel!” Dante barks. But the eagle is not listening. So she takes the wheel. With paws, however, this is not so easy. She slips off again and again. The van is getting swerve even more. The feathers of the fighting birds whirl around the driver's room. The snake holds its tail end over the little Robin. “That’sss enough! Aberdeen, ssstop the vehicle!” “Y-yes! I try it! But I forgot where the brake is!” “There, where isss not the gasss pedal!” “Oh yeah!” “But ssslowly!” But too late. The macaw jumps from the gas to the brake. The vehicle makes a full braking. Compatriot and Sir Hootsalot are pressed against the windshield. The broken wing isn't leave unscathed. Dante's muzzle lands on the horn and then crashes into the footwell, landing on Aberdeen. By her weight the gas pedal is activated, the van jumps up and dashs forward. Compatriot and Sir Hootsalot are thrown back and thrown off the dashboard. They fall exactly on the snake and the robin. The tree snake reacts immediately, wraps herself completely around the small, sleeping bird and brakes the weight of the two birds with her upper body. “Brake! Brake!!” Suddenly the van makes a gigantic jerk. The animals are shaken when they seem to have been driving over something hard. Aberdeen was able to get free himself under the dog and jumped on the brake. At the same time, the Dobermann dog pressed a paw onto the brake pedal. Aberdeen is clamped between pedal and paw. A squeal escapes his throat. Again the van makes a jerk and finally stops.

None of the animals is moving. It almost seems the time has stopped. The snake notices Sir Hootsalot, as he lies motionless beside her. He moaned softly in pain. “Owl! Are you alright?” “…yes…” The Dobermann dog jumps back on the driver's seat. He growled furiously at the eagle, who is caught between the driver's and the passenger's seat. “You stupid bird! Did you want to kill us all?” “It's not my fault you dogs cannot drive.” “Excuse me?” Dante bares her teeth. “Stop it! Don’t you realize that we are always in trouble because of these constant arguments?” All eyes are directed to the macaw. Rarely have they been able to experience him so angered. Usually the parrot bird is peaceful and very patient. “Aberdeen isss right. You have to pull yourssself together.” “Why you? Didn’t you mean we?” “No, I have behave completely correct ssso far.” A slight movement in the snake's body tells her that the robin is awake. She unrolls her body. Robin looks at her with sleepy eyes. “Are we there yet?” “No, not yet, little one. We have only a little breakdown.” Now the little bird is wide-awake. “Oh no! We are stuck? Oh? There are feathers everywhere...” “How is it that you have not been hurled back and forth, snake?” “I already sssaid that my body isss a complete mussscle. And ssso our little robin remained unssscathed.” The snake pets Robin's head. “What are you talking about? What happened?” “We should check whether the van is all right.” Dante opens the driver's door and jumps out. “You ssstay here, owl.” “Why?” “You have a wounded wing. And by your fall it might be worsssened.” “Pfft! As long as it doesn't descend, I don't need to be treated like a deathly ill animal.” “No, deathly ill animals will be euthanized.” “Shut up! This is all your fault! Every idiot knows that he doesn't have to let go of the steering wheel during the ride!” “Then why didn't you steer, maggot?” “Because I have a broken wing!” “Let'sss get out of here too” says the tree snake to the robin. “Da.” Robin is glad to get away from the quarreling. He hates it when they argue. And in a situation like this. Outside, they meet Dante, who had once circumnavigated the vehicle. “And? What'sss it like?” “The van seems to be unscathed. At least I could not find anything.” “What luck” Robin squeals. “Then let'sss have a look at what we've drive over.” “Hopefully not an animal.” “Don't worry. Compatriot is the largest animal in this desert.” “Really? The donkeys in Germany are much bigger.” The snake laughs hissingly. After a few steps they find railway lines along the way. “Well, well. Ssso here we are.” Aberdeen and Compatriot joined the three. “What’s going on?” asks the macaw. “We have reached the railway tracksss.” “Are we right for here at all, stubby tail?” All eyes are directed at the dog. Dante looks down on the ground. “I've lost their track…” “I knew it! If you were made in America, it wouldn't have happened!” “What are we going to do now?” “…I have an idea.” “Tell us, lad.” The snake rolls her lower body together to be at the same eye level as the others. “We drive to the next town and pick up Medic.” “M-medic…? But it can take hours to get to the next city.” “What elssse ssshould we do? Besidesss, we need him. He mussst reduce Sssir Hootsssalot'sss wing and ssshould really Gray Mann behind the abduction, we need Medic to help usss. We asss animalsss cannot do much alone. In addition, I think it'sss in his interessst to learn what happend to hisss former team-matesss. I'm sssure he'll help.” “And how do we make him understand that?” “Well, we have Archimedesss.” “A-archimedes…?!” Robin's little heart makes a jump. He will see Archimedes again! His best friend! “What are we waiting for?” The robin flutters back into the van to report to Sir Hootsalot. “I think we have no choice. But when I am honest, I feel more secure with the idea of having a person with us.” “Hans is not just a human, stubby tail. He is a mercenary. Our mercenary.” When speaking, Compatriots feathered chest swells. Even if the eagle and the soldier often complain about the others, one can be sure, that the two are always behind the team. “Aberdeen, will you help me in again?” “Sure, lad.”

“Are you serious? You want to pick up Medic?” “Do you have a problem with that, Owl?” “…no. Not at all.” “Very good. Then back to your ssseatsss and let usss go. We know the eventual ssstay of our ownersss. But we ssshould ssstill not dawdle. It could take hoursss to get to the next city.” “It doesn't bear contemplating what Gray Mann is doing in the meantime with the support.” “He won't kill them. That's for sure.” “He cannot do that anyway. As long as their data are computerized in the spawn system, he cannot harm them.” Aberdeen disappears back in the footwell of the driver's seat and presses the gas pedal while Compatriot sits on the steering wheel. The snake rolls back on the watch and her owner's cigarette case, the robin in her middle. Sir Hootsalot wants to climb on the dashboard but fails this time. “Hoot…” “Hahaha!” “Be quiet, snake!” “Don't worry. You can join me and Robin.” “………” Sir Hootsalot hesitates. But then he gives in and lies down beside the snake at the window. “There we go. Don't be always so stubborn. Or are you afraid I bite?” “…I don't understand you. Although Spy was abducted and you have no idea what will happen to him, you still make your jokes. Are not you worried?” “Asss I had said before; you cannot underssstand the relationssship between me and Ssspy. Of courssse, I am worried in sssome way, but I alssso know that he isss clever. I'm sssure sssomething will crosss hisss mind to maneuver himssself and the other two out of their dangerousss sssituation.” “And who said that Sniper isn't going to save Medic and Spy? Do you think he is stupid?” “I didn't sssay that.” “Snakes are sneaky. Just like Spy. If he were the one who should be responsible for their escape, then only because of dirty tricks.” “Any problem with dirty tricksss?” “It's dishonorable.” “Please do not argue any more... I do not want that.” Snake and owl look at the robin. It looks very sad. “I'm sssorry, little Robin. We will not argue any more. Isssn't that ssso, owl?” “Sure…mate.”

“Adelar and Parrot, if one of you wants to rest, I can take up your job.” “Thanks, lad. Maybe I'll take up on your offer.” “I'm not letting you on the steering wheel anymore, stubby tail. And stop calling me Adelar. My name is Compatriot. Remember this at last! In addition, Adelar sounds like a female's name.” “You think so? But Soldier is called Jane. Is not that also a woman's na-“ “Jane is a good name!” “I see. Then I will enlighten you. Adelar is Old German and means eagle.” “Wow, I'm honored, maggot.” Compatriot doesn't bother to hide the sarcastic undertone in his voice. “I am glad to hear that” Dante answered playfully. “Then you will surely like it when I say that the word eagle in Germany stands for nobility, host and warrior.” “Aahh~ That sounds much better. When you exchange the word host for army and warrior for soldier, it's perfect. Hmph! Maybe you Fritze ain't that bad.” Compatriot turns his head back to the Dobermann. Aberdeen can observe this. Suddenly there is a strange mood in the air. Do they flirt? The macaw looks over to the passenger seat. Snake, owl and robin have closed their eyes. Are they already asleep? What time is it now? It’s very dark outside. The only light the animals have when driving is the pale moonlight. “Say... do we drive in the right direction at all? I mean, we are just following the tracks without thinking about which direction the town might be.” “We are right! Don't you trust my sense of orientation?” “If you ask me so, lad... no.” “Hold the beak and step on the gas, parrot.” “I am a macaw…” “You have beautiful feathers.” “Oh er… T-thank you very much.” Compatriot makes a contemptuous sound. “What is so great about a colorful bird? You look like you've escaped from a circus.” “Envious?” “About your fall in the color pot?” “That Dante gave me a compliment.” “Calm down, boys. You are both odd birds. I like you.” “Can you fight, Dante?” “Fight? Well, I'm a Dobermann. We are not fighting dogs, but we are classed as dangerous. I have a steel jaw. Where I bite, no grass grows anymore.” “If you are so dangerous, why does your master keep you?” “We are not unrestrained beasts. Sure, there are Dobermann dogs who have attacked people before. But the people are wrong. There are dog breeds that are far more dangerous than we are. We are not even in the top ten.” “But to protect your master, you would become a beast, right?” “Of course. Protecting him has top priority in my life and that of my brother. To save him, I'd even bite a pufferfish.” “What is so special about a fish?” “Pufferfishes are highly toxic.” “Oh… I see…” “How do ya know anything like this at all?” “I am from the city. I am not surprised, however, that someone does not have this knowledge, who lives in a place without water. But honestly. Would not you die to protect your owners?” Compatriot and Aberdeen are silent for a moment. “We never thought about anything like that. We didn't have to. When they die in a fight against the BLUs, they return to life.” “Oh right… They respawn, right? How does this work?” “Don’t know. We only know that their data are computerized into the respawn-device.” “Where not the data of your old Medic been deleted?” Eagle and macaw are silent again. “If we get your old Medic and go with him toe-to-toe with Gray Mann and his robots, then he will get killed in a possible fight and will never return.” The two had not thought of that. But Compatriot knows exactly what he has to say to calm himself. “He is and remains a mercenary, a soldier. If he dies, then for a good cause. And we are not immortal either. We can just as well die. But you're not afraid of death, aren't you, stubby tail?” “Not at all, Adelar.” Ay, they are flirting again… “You said that your master saved your life and that of your brother. What happened?” “Nothing unusual. The owner of our mother was a very strict man who earned his money by selling her puppies. Zerberus, me and some of our siblings were the last litter. He could sell them profitably. But my brother and I were weak. Weaker than it is normal for puppies. He could not use us. Who wants to buy sick, weak dogs?” “That's just understandable” Compatriot answered. “He grabbed us by the nape and wanted to drown us in a rain barrel. Our mother had probably guessed what he had planned and bit him into the calf. I remember that I had the strong scent of blood in my nose.” Dante lifts her muzzle into the air; her nose moves violently as she tries to recall the scent of the blood. “And then ... I got no air. Everything around me was wet and dark, and I struggled with my legs in panic until I was completely exhausted. I tried to find my brother with my eyes, but the breathing trouble obscured my senses. I think Zerberus and I were already as good as dead until we were suddenly pulled out of the water. Strong hands held us, but this time they felt different. Still, I bit as hard as I could. I was panicked, I froze. But I did not let go. And then I heard his voice.” Dante closes her eyes and recalls the memory. “It was quite different from the voice of the man who wanted to drown us. It was calm, dark, and warm. And that made me pull my teeth out of his flesh and look up at him. The blue-gray eyes immediately fascinate me. He was so beautiful...” “………” “………” “And that is why I would die for him. This is the only thing I can give in return. Through His love we have become big and strong. We are even stronger than the average Dobermann. This was 10 years ago...” “Don't be angry with me, lad, but... your master doesn't look like he can give love.” “The exterior does not say anything about the interior.” “Hmph. This is probably true. If an outsider would see our Mercs, he would probably think they were psychopathic killers. But Tavish is a kind-hearted man and a loving son. And basically the Mercs do this job only to make the life of their loved one's at home better. They just do it for their families. But ... for whom does it Friedrich? Does he have a family in Germany?” “No, Zerberus and I are his only family.” “So he just dislodged Hans in revenge.” “Well, my owner does not like it when he is shortchanged. In fact, he always had thoughts of revenge. I am really sorry for your old Medic.” “No one can replace him. Not even your master. And it's absolutely null and void whether he's good or not. Hans belongs to us. And when we have him with us, you will understand why.” “Hans and Friedrich are not so dissimilar. They both come from Germany, are doctors and have no family except their animals.” “And I thought all the Germans were the same. Blond, blue-eyed, brainwash doctors...” “Do not start to think, Compatriot. You always get headaches. That's why his head is so white. There is no blood in it.” This makes Dante laugh. The white-headed eagle, however, makes an ear-splitting cry that startle the owl, the snake, and the robin out of their sleep. “What isss going on here again? Can you not pull yourssself together for one moment? Imbecile!”

Team Fortress 2

Already very early in the morning, the squirrel leaves his safe and warm tree cave to look for food. Although he doesn’t feel like it. After all, he hasn't collected food before the winter began, either. But after his parents had thrown him out of home a few weeks ago, he is now on his own. They said he was now old enough to live his own life, and they only let him live with them for so long, because he was the baby of the family. The squirrel thinks very bitterly of this meanness of his family as he runs through the snow. The cold immediately sinks into his bones. But the only good thing about it is that he can now do what he wants. Without rules and teachings. Sure,at parents home he was very spoiled ripe. Especially from his Ma. There was tender loving care and always enough to eat. But he could never do what he wanted. And what he especially hated was the hibernation. The only good thing about it was the gorge like there's no tomorrow before sleeping. But sleeping as such was grotty. But the squirrel is lucky. His dwelling-place is in the middle of a small town. There is food from the people to steal and pets to annoy. But in winter he is rather sluggish. “Shit instincts. Hmm… I woulda hungry for pancakes.” Some people leave their freshly baked cakes on the window frames in the summer to cool them down. Often he had filled his tummy with these nom noms. But this of course involves danger. Once he was almost killed by a broom. How can they do that? He is the sweetest and sexiest squirrel in the world! But that's no problem. He's as fast as the wind.

He jumps through the snow to a house where an old woman lives. She is alone and has no family. Only her tomcat lives with her. A black, fat cat with white spots around his eyes. Often the squirrel had seen him sitting at the window. And he does so again. The squirrel jumps on the window board and both animals look at each other. The tomcat lays his ears back, a rather unwelcome expression on his face. The rodent lays his head on the side and knocks with his paw at the windowpane. The house cat looks away. He ignores me! Well, it's all the same to me. He jumps from the window and slips under the house. There is a tiny circular opening. From there he reaches the kitchen. The hole is under a cupboard and the rodent crawls out of it. He perks up his ears. Nothing to hear. He has to take care of that the old woman does not suddenly stand in the kitchen. He's sure that old people love squirrels (especially him). But because of their bad eyes, sweet squirrels can quickly become to disgusting and disease-bearing rats. And then the broom is swung again.

The kitchen is searched for esculent. But there is not much to be found. He knows that a lot of food is kept in the refrigerator, but he will never be able to open it. He is just too small. “Aww crap…” “How did you get in here, you vermin?” The squirrel just sits on the kitchen counter to examine the sugar cans when the scratchy voice is speaking behind him. He whirls around and sees the old tomcat standing in the doorway. “Why don't you sit at the window as is right and proper for a grandpa?” “I have a very sensitive nose.” “Do you want to tell me I'm stink?” “You have no business here! Go outside where you belong.” “Calm down, jeez. I just want to take some food.” “You will not take anything with you. This is theft.” “Pfff! Sue me. You're also a fur-bearing animal. You should have the best understanding for a comrade who has no food in the merciless winter.” “Then you should have collect your nuts before the beginning of the winter.” “Are you kidding me? I cannot burn fat in sleep. I don't want to look like you when I wake up in spring. I don't attract girls with fat mass, y'know?” “I'll give you one last chance to leave this house.” The tomcat remains surprisingly calm. “Anything else? Will you eat me then? Contradictory to your appearance, I have to ask you whether you get nothing to eat from your owner. Well, the neighbor has also starved her bird to death because she has thrown the birdseed next to the cage instead in the cage because of her bad eyes. That poor nowt…” “You've missed your chance.” From the throat of the cat sounds a sinister and menacing sound. But the squirrel has only a weary smile for him. He wobbles with his little squirrel-butt in his direction. “Well, then show me what you still can do at your ages.” And then the cat shoots off without warning. He's fast as lightning. With a single bound he jumps on the kitchen counter and snaps with his sharp teeth at the rodent. The squirrel cries out frightened and wants to rush away, which does not work very well at first, because the kitchen counter has a very smooth surface and the squirrel runs on it in lost motion. Finally, he makes a jump and can thus escape the teeth.

A wild chase through the kitchen begins. Anything that is not rivet and nail-proof is overthrown and even fractionalize into individual parts. It rattles and crashes. The rodent runs for his life. Actually he had wanted to provoke a chase, but since it had not yet known that the old house cat is still so fast on his short legs. With ease, the rodent would be flee through the hole under the cupboard, but he has decided not to leave this house without something to eat. He only has to hang on until the tomcat is completely exhausted. Maybe he will even get a heart attack? Would be ugly, but it would not be his fault. A heart attack is ultimately a natural cause of death, which gives the squirrel the opportunity to search the house without ruffle or excitement for food. The squirrel flees from the kitchen into the living room. Agile he climbs up the window curtains. The tomcat follows without difficulty. The thin curtain rod does not hold the weight, however, and breaks through. They fall to the ground. While the squirrel falls on his butt, the cat lands gracefully on his legs. No matter how long the squirrel is running, the tomcat does not seem to runs out of breath. Come off it! I can't stand it any longer… Now the rodent decides to disappear again through the hole, and he runs back in the kitchen. The kitchen floor is covered with smooth tiles. Once he puts the first paw into the kitchen, he slips it out and falls to the ground. The cat jumps onto him. With the last force, the squirrel bobs up but the tomcat gives him a push and he falls again. Through the speed both animals slide across the floor through the entire kitchen and are finally stopped by the kitchen sink cabinet. Now the rodent lies helplessly on his back, above him the fat cat. He does not seem to be out of breath at all. “How…how is possible?” The squirrel utters exhausted. “In my youth I was the most notorious mouse and rat catcher far and wide. I was quick and had a very high stamina, which I still own today. My owner has got a lot of money for me to chasing mice and rats in many houses. I had a success rate of 90%.” “Haha… And what about the remaining 10%?” “They were just like you. Have occasionally sneaked into houses and stolen food.” “But I'm not a mouse. I'm as cute as a mouse.” “Squirrels are rats. You are too big, you stink and you are thieves. At that time I eaten you vermin for breakfast.” “A-are you kidding me? Ha! And I thought, just people mistake us with rats. Well, the age, what? Aut I'm not just a squirrel. We are called as cats, too. Do you understand? Viewed in this light. We both are, therefore, not only fur-bearing animals but also closely related to each other. We should rebel against the people together! They take cats as prisoners and us they flay us alive and make clothes from it. We mammals must finally hold together! What do you say?” “Humans are also mammals.” “That's quite untrue!” “It’s enough!” The squirrel jerks. “You don't really want to eat me? I mean, apart from the fact that you're too fat, I don't taste at all!” “I told you already three times that you should leave this house. You didn't want to hear. If you don't want to listen, find out the hard way. I hope for you that you will be reborn in the next life with a little more brain.” “Why more brain?” “So you don't break into houses where cats live. Just because an animal is old does not mean that it cannot be a calamity for you.” Now the squirrel starts to whine terribly. “Oh no, please! I regret it! I regret everything! I regret everything I've ever done! Ma! Ma! I want my Ma!” The cat sighs and lets the rodent be. “You are still a child. Therefore I put mercy before justice. Go now and never come back.” “What's going on here? Cuddly blanket! What have you done?” Suddenly the old housekeeper stands in the doorway. With shocked eyes, she looks around the kitchen. The cat swirls around to her. This chance uses the squirrel to jump up and bite the cat in the tail. It was really very generous of him to let him alive. But the tomcat needs a dressing-down for humiliating him. After all, he had made him cry (of course, the squirrel would argue that this was only tactic). The cat jumps in the air with a loud cry of pain. Now cut and run! Quickly as the wind the squirrel escapes under the cupboard into the hole and runs under the house on the snowy road. There he stopped and looked at the house. He rubs his paws against each other maliciously. “Hehehe. Hopefully, the old woman will pull your fur over your ears. Nobody chases me like a prey, get it? Whoever is mess with me, will bitterly regret it! And besides, I always have the last word!” The little stomach starts to growl. “Aww crap…” And no food, again.

When he finally leaves the house behind to find the next one, it sounds like something heavy moves on the snow, followed by car squeaks. The rodent swirls around and sees a large, slightly wagging car coming right on his way. The sight of the approaching monster paralyzes the little mammal. As if rooted he stares at the car, knowing to die now. His short life runs away from his inner eye and, at the same time, he thinks with relief that even before his death he could fight with a mature cat and won. A place in heaven is certain to him. The last few seconds before the collision, the rodent squeezes his eyes tightly together.

Team Fortress 2

“Finally. The town. We did it, lads!” Aberdeen sits on the dashboard and pushes his beak against the windshield. A few hours ago the macaw had accepted the offer from Dante to take over his work on gas and brake. All along, they and Compatriot had a nice conversation, while snake, robin, and owl slept. It was nice. However, the eagle hadn't speak for a while. “What? Are we already there?” Robin asks sleepily. The tree snake and the owl are awakening, too. “We should not look forward to early. First we have to find your medic” Dante replies. “Who knows if we are in the right town at all.” “We are right. I'm sure I can feel it.” Robin flutters to Aberdeen on the dashboard and looks at the snowy environment. “I have not seen snow for so long. Misha would certainly like it here.” “Where should we start with the search?” “The firssst ssstep of a perssson in a ssstrange city isss to look for a hotel room. We ssshould look for sssomething like thisss.” “Hm? Oh! There is a squirrel in the middle of the road” notices Robin. They drive straight to it but the eagle doesn't seems to make any effort to dodge. “Er… Compatriot?” “………” “Adelar? What is wrong?” Aberdeen bends over to the eagle and notices that his eyes are directed straightforward. "Compatriot?" The eagle doesn't react a bit. And then Aberdeen realizes why. “He’s sleeping!” “Are you kidding me?” “Wake up, Compatriot!” The macaw shakes at the eagle, which scares out of his sleep. He moves the steering wheel involuntarily back and forth, so the van starts to swerve. “Dante! Step on the brake!” The Dobermann dog sits down with all his weight on the pedal. The tires squeak and the van makes a strong jolt. Compatriot and Aberdeen bounce with their heads against the windshield. Robin lands in the soft plumage of the macaw. The van slides over the snow until it finally comes to a halt. “Oh no! We runs over the squirrel!” “What squirrel?” “You ssstupid fowl!” the snake hisses at the eagle. “Dante, pleassse open the door.” She follows the snake's request, and the animals leave the van to look at the mess. Only the owl remains behind. It does not matter to him either. Sir Hootsalot does not feel able to do anything. And indeed. A squirrel lies motionless on his back, just a few centimeters behind the vehicle. The tongue hangs out from its mouth. Robin buries his face in the feathers of the parrot bird, appalled at this sight. Aberdeen holds his great wing protectively over him. “Shhh… It’s okay.” “Great job, Adelar.” “I just rest a bit” the eagle defends himself. “I told you that I can take the steering wheel if you get tired!” “And I told you that I would not let you take the steering wheel again, stubby tail!” “You slept with your eyes open!” “A soldier must sleep with his eyes open, otherwise he will be surprised by the enemy slyly!” “Well, you've surprised a young, innocent squirrel with your carelessness and now it's dead.” “It's his own fault. Why does it just run on the road? Aside from this, these creatures are keep hibernation, don't they? If it had remained on his tree, nothing would have happened.” “I'm really glad when we finally found your Medic. A person at the steering wheel is far less dangerous. Apart from that, cars were built for people only. And I think that should remain so.” “What are we going to do with the little one now?” asks Aberdeen, distraught. "We cannot just leave him here.” “I will take care of that.” The snake position herself at the feet of the rodent. “What are you up to, lad?” She opens her mouth wide. “WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?!” The reptile sighs annoyed. “It’sss a sssmall, dead animal and I'm a sssnake. I'll devour it now. Had not expected that I get breakfassst today.” “Oh no! Oh no!” The robin whimpered, pressing himself even more firmly in Aberdeen's chest feathers. “Don’t look, if you cannot ssstand the sssight.” Feet and legs of the squirrel slowly disappear into the snake's mouth. “That's disgusting…” When the squirrel is already in the snake's mouth until the belly, it suddenly comes to life. When he realized what was happening to him, he cries terribly loudly. He scratches the snake and bites her into the nose. Immediately she lets the squirrel be and wraps herself, burying her head in her body. Panic, the rodent bounces up and only then notices the other animals. Confused, he looks back and forth between the birds and the dog. “What the hell is that crap?” “It lives!” Robin flutters to it and hugs it with his little wings. “What's going on here? What happened?” “We thought we had run over you.” The squirrel's gaze remains hanging on the van. “I… I live... And you wanted to eat me!” “Ass already mentioned; we thought you were dead.” The snake has now recovered from the bite. "We didn't want to leave your unsssightly body lying here, you ungrateful brat.” “Why don't you checked the pulse before? And what do you mean unsightly?” “Thisss isss not worthwhile for sssmall animalsss like you.” The squirrel wants to answer, but stops and looks again back and forth between the animals. “What is going on here? Who are you? Circus animals or something?” “No, we're on a mission” Robin replies. “Mission? That sounds exciting. Can I join?” “No way! You have nothing to do with it.” “Dude, you almost drove me over! You owe me something.” “We are on the way to a dangerous place. There you could be killed, lad.” “It's still better to die on an adventure than to die of boredom in this wretched town. I have imagined more for my life.” “You mussst be joking!” “Anyway. You have to take care of me now.” “Where are your parents, rodent?” “They threw me out.” Robin is terrified. “That's horrible.” “Yeah, yeah. Can we go now?” “W-wait a moment!” But the squirrel has already jumped into the van. “Oh! An owl!” “That cannot be true… Dead it wasss more pleasssant.” “Well, we could need a little help, right?” “Squirrelsss are uselesss, Robin. What ssshould it do? Asss sssmall asss it isss.” “So… you think I am useless, too?” “Oh no, no. I didn't mean that. You are a bird. You can fly. The sssquirrel not. What isss it going to do if it getsss in trouble?” “………” “Well, we can still throw it out. But it's now more important to find Medic. Don't you agree, Dante?” “The macaw is right. Let's the little one be and concentrate on our mission. And who knows? Perhaps the rodent is quite useful.” The serpent sighs annoyed, again. “Whatever. But if it becomesss a burden, I will devour it.” The reptile hopes very much that the squirrel does her this favor. So that she still get to her breakfast today. “Hey, maybe it has seen Medic. We should ask it.” “Okay, everyone back in the car!” Compatriot orders. In the van they find the rodent, as it had made itself comfortable on the motionless owl. “Aahhh ~ Nice warm here.” “Come down there immediately! Don't you know that owlsss eat sssquirrelsss?” “Eagles, by the way, too.” “Really?” “Naturally. You mammals stink and are dirty, but you are good snack.” A throat clearing on the part of Dante. “What?” “I am also a mammal.” “Dogs are not mammals.” All eyes are directed at Compatriot. “Naturally. And next, you will say that humans are mammals.” “Just shut up, Compatriot.” “You are strange creatures.” “You seem so, too. Don't do squirrels hibernate in winter?” “Life is much too short to sleep through a whole season of the year. And I would have to spend the whole autumn collecting nuts. These are then two seasons that fall away to have fun. I think I'll be fine with you.” “Say, did you see a man who is new to this city? So around the 50 with black hair and a curl?” “No, I don't think so. I'm not so interested in the activities of the people here. Besides, this city is full of old people. They all look the same anyway.” “And I always thought squirrels are alert.” “I told you. It’sss absssolutely ussselesss.” “Hey! I'm not useless! I am fast, intelligent and handsome.” “What has beauty to do with benefits?” “Well, when I have to bewitch a pretty girl to get information, or something like that.” “Do you fancy yourssself asss a ssspy?” “At least I would be a better spy than you, you worm.” “Hey... Something's wrong with Sir Hootsalot” Robin remarks worried. He shakes him slightly with his little wings. “I think his condition has deteriorated.” And indeed the breathing of the owl has slowed down. “Quick, everyone back to his position! We must find Medic.” “Will he die?” “He will not die! And even if ... Medic can revive him. He had already done this with Sniper and Archimedes.” The eagle flies back on the steering wheel and Dante takes care of the gas pedal. “Wait… YOU drive the car?” “Of course! What do you think?” “…cool.” The tree snake, Robin and Aberdeen lay down to Sir Hootsalot. The owl's eyes are closed and he does not seem to make the impression of wake up again soon. The squirrel had settled on the headrest of the passenger seat. He takes a little distance from the strangers. Not least because there are three of them on whose menu the squirrel stands. It observe the situation. Is this situation I got into a good thing? In this car there is a really bad mood. I had imagined it differently... Well, even that's still better than anything else I've ever experienced in my dull life. In addition, many interesting words have fallen. Resurrection, danger, mission ... No idea what these guys are. But I feel as if I belong here, to them. Now my life Begins.