Little lost chick: Little lost chick

Bibi slumped onto the grass and sighed as she failed to chase after the wisps that had been whizzing past her for the last few hours. She looked at the sky, and it looked as if the stars themselves laughed at her as they twinkled.

Laïala, her rider, appeared before her. She caressed the big Stryx's feathers and got nuzzled in response. "Hey, don't be discouraged. Maybe we'll find them another-" She interrupted herself as she noticed something lumbering towards Bibi, the grass parting slightly.

The Harpia followed her gaze and walked towards the creature. With lightning reflexes, Bibi caught the intruder in her beak and held it aloft for Laï to see. 

It was a Stryx chick. A little Harpia as well, almost identical to Bibi were it not for the multiple other markings it possessed. It was still incredibly young and thus, would have been in danger were it not for them. 

Bibi deposited the chick in front of Laïala and nudged her, making big eyes at the human. It seemed she wanted to keep the little one.

Laïala shook her head. "No Bibi, we can't. It's hard enough to take care of you, a Worg, and two Equus Ballators. Especially that you're Nocturnal, and they're not!"

Bibi's face deflated, and her head hung low. She gave the chick a lick, giving her a bath. She liked to think she would make a great mother some day, and thought of flying away with the baby, but ever obedient, and knowing her rider was right, she crouched down to let her on her back. It was time to search for the young Stryx's mother. She shouldn't be too far.

Laïala clutched the baby tightly so it wouldn't fall. Soon, Bibi hopped and off they were in the sky. 

In a few moments, it was sure that her calm wingbeats seemed to lull the little one to sleep. While Bibi flew, Laïala kept a look out of any nest that might belong to a Dracostryx.

Bibi though, took a moment to glance at her back where the chick lay. She cooed. She swerved, barely avoiding a tree in her way as she let out a loud squawk. She righted herself as the baby started wailing.

"We need to get this done now Bibi, dawn is sure to break soon. We've been chasing wisps all night!"

With a sound of agreement, Bibi renewed her vigor. That little lost Harpia counted on her to bring it home safely. But where was home? She inspected every nest in her way, and encountered a few angry mothers along the way.

A particularly nasty bird flew out of its nest and veered towards her, and Bibi tried to her best to avoid it. But it would pursue her every time. She attempted to explain what she was doing, but the bird wanted nothing to do with it. It openly attacked, beak open and talons outstretched.

Bibi went to meet it with her bigger talons, screeching with fury. They didn't have time for this!

Laïala adjusted her grip on the baby.

With a wing, Bibi slapped the attacker and prepared to unleash lightning upon it, but Laïala reminded her that that had been the direction where their tribe was located. Hissing, the Stryx disentangled herself from her attacker and flew faster until she lost her opponent. She and her rider sighed in relief, and soon came upon another Dracostryx in flight. who seemed in desperate search for something.

Bibi hailed her, and quickly asked if she had lost her baby. She had. 

A small "scra!" let Laïala know to hold the baby to the mother, who gratefully grabbed it back and put it in her nest. They all bid each other goodbye and Laïala and Bibi returned to the tribe for a good sleep as the dawn started to break.