"…"
Lionel could not believe he was trying to talk to a bird right now. He rubbed his face with one hand and let out an amused laugh.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered. "I must be losing my mind."
"Tweet."
The royal bird hopped closer, its little claws tapping lightly on the horse's back. It looked at him again in his eyes before letting out another string of sounds.
"Tweet, tweet."
Lionel sighed and lowered his hand slowly. "Alright," he said softly. "I will just play along."
"Tweet tweet tweet," The royal bird looked at him and turned his head to the side curiously.
[Bond in progress]
"I am here to hunt," Lionel muttered to the bird, thinking that it was asking him what he was doing here.
"Tweet." The bird chirped again, sounding almost pleased.
[Bond Progress: 3%]
What the hell, he couldn't believe it was working.
Lionel would just nod at the bird. Each time the bird chirped or flew closer to him, the number would rise a little by little.
[Bond Progress: 7%]
[Bond Progress: 12%]
At some point, Lionel realized something.
With this bird, there was no point in hunting anything else. Maybe he will just present this bird once their bond progressed.
"Hey, bird, do you want to eat?" he asked quietly.
"Tweet."
He glanced around, then crouched down near the base of a tree. Using the tip of his boot and a small stick, he turned over the damp soil. It did not take long before thin worms wriggled into his view.
Lionel winced a little as he looked at it. It disgusted him a little.
"I really hope this works." He picked one up carefully and held it out. The weird movement he could feel in his finger sent shivers down his spine.
The royal bird tilted its head, then hopped down without fear. In a quick motion, it pecked the worm and swallowed it.
"Tweet!"
Lionel's eyes widened. "You like worms?"
He found a few more and fed them one by one. Each time, the bird stayed close to him, eating the worms.
[Bond Progress: 28%]
[Bond Progress: 46%]
The bird suddenly spread its wings and flew in a small circle above him, its gold feathers glowing faintly in the light again. It looked happy and almost playful now that it was full.
"Hey, careful," Lionel said, followed by a short laughter.
Then, without warning, it swooped down and landed on his shoulder. Lionel froze at the sudden movement.
"You want to stand there?" he murmured.
For some reason, a smile slowly formed on his face. It felt strange, but not unpleasant.
"Tweet."
"Alright," he said softly. "I guess that means we are getting along."
He slowly stood up and brushed the dirt off his hands.
"Let's move, bird. We cannot stay here forever."
Just as he took a step forward, his nose twitched. A foul and rotting scent drifted through the air.
"Hm?"
"Tweet, tweet." The royal bird shifted on his shoulder. It let out another sharp sound, then another, much louder this time.
"Tweet. Tweet."
"What is it now?" Lionel frowned slightly.
The bird leaned closer to his ear and chirped again, faster than before.
"Tweet tweet tweet."
"Alright, alright. I get it," he said. "Are you trying to warn me now?"
The bird tilted its head once, then dipped it down in a small nod.
[Bond Progress: 61%]
"You really are a strange one aren't you?" Lionel smiled at the bird.
He glanced around the forest again. The smell was still there, heavy and wrong. His instincts told him not to ignore it.
"If that is the case," Lionel said quietly, "you should go first."
The bird curiously looked at him.
"Fly out," he continued. "Stay safe, alright? Let's meet again later, little bird."
"Tweet, tweet." The bird looked hesitant to leave him.
With that, Lionel smiled at it.
"Okay, what about you go to my tent. It's in that direction," he muttered as he pointed somewhere, "and then stay there? I will get back to you later, okay? I promise"
"Tweet, tweet, tweet," the bird nodded once as if satisfied with his words. It stepped off his shoulder, flapped its wings, then rose into the air. It circled above him once before flying off between the trees.
Lionel watched until it disappeared.
"Be careful…" he muttered, even though he knew that the bird wouldn't hear him anymore.
When the bird was gone, he turned back to his horse and mounted it again. He guided his horse forward and made it run fast. He headed back toward where the others should be.
As he rode, the smell only grew worse, which made him grow more uneasy. The smell clung to the air. It was bad enough that it made his stomach turn. Lionel's grip on the horse's reins tightened.
Soon enough, he spotted people ahead. Other nobles were returning as well. Relief washed over him when he saw a familiar face.
"Lionel?" Rufus called out. "Are you done hunting already?"
"Yes," Lionel replied, slowing his horse down to meet him. "But Rufus… do you smell that?"
"Huh?" Rufus blinked. "Smell what?"
Lionel froze.
"Wait. Is it me? Do I smell bad?" Rufus sniffed his own sleeve and frowned.
"No. No, that is not it." Lionel shook his head quickly.
Rufus looked even more confused with that answer. He remembered taking a bath earlier.
If Rufus could not smell it, then… Lionel's heart sank
Oh no.
His mind raced.
Is that the smell of monsters?
Before he could say anything else, loud shouts suddenly echoed through the forest.
"Help!"
"There is something here!"
*Graghhhhh
"Ahhhh! There are monsters!"
"Helppp!"