Looking at me, Mariana says, "If we use the owl's memories as a guidepost, we might be able to learn their language. Now, to mention all the other information about the beastkin we can get from this."
"If we are able to speak and understand their language, not to mention how they work as a group, lots of the different issues we face in escaping would vanish or become significantly easier."
With eyes of hope, Mariana says, "This means we really could break out one day."
A moment of silence occurs as the idea of freedom rushes into our minds. Suddenly, I remember the images of my father's face, causing me to calm down and say, "Wait, don't you think you're getting too hasty? There are a few things we need to work out with this owl."
"Like what?"
"Like, why did it specifically show us memories we would want to see? It is like it knew showing us those memories would decrease our chances of killing it."
As Mariana and I stare at the wonderbeast, it starts to sweat and turn its head away. Then with her hand on her face, Mariana says, "You're probably right, if this thing is actually as smart as you say, we may be in a few issues."
"Like the fact that all this might be a play until it heals and runs away to inform the beastkin."
"Hey, Nero."
"Yes, Mariana."
"We may need to ground this bird."
"I agree."
"Its wings would have to go."
"So would its legs."
As the two demonic children stare at the wonderbeast, tears fall from all three of its eyes as it shakes in fear of the retribution it is about to experience.
Though it is saved as Charles hugs it, pulling it closer in his arms, then staring at the two demonic children in front of him, Charles says, "No."
"Charles, this is a matter of safety."
"No."
"Come on, Charles, I promise I will let you hug me instead."
"No."
Looking down at the wonderbeast, which looks towards him, he says, "I won't let them touch you."
These words cause the wonderbeast to nestle more and more into his chest.
Nero, in that moment, says, "Charles, what if it runs away and betrays us?"
Looking down at the wonderbeast, Charles asks, "Would you betray or leave us?"
The owl shakes its head no. Looking at us with a rather merry expression(For Charles), he says, "See!"
Both Mariana and I put our hands against our faces in annoyance. We can't argue with this!
WHY, GOD, why did you have to make Charles start acting like a child right now!?
Looking at both of them, I see that Charles has a slight smile while staring at the wonderbeast, so I let out a sigh and say, "Ok then, whatever."
"Nero!" Mariana says while staring at me.
"It is fine if Charles says it ok, I will just trust in him, one thing I have learned over my time here is that Charles is rarely ever wrong."
Sighing, Mariana says, "Fine."
"Good job," Charles says while looking at the owl.
From behind us, I hear a familiar voice shout, "Charles, where are you?"
Getting up, Charles says, "It's Dónal!"
"Oh, he is finally here."
"I am going to show him, Blu here."
"You named it already!"
Standing up, Mariana blocks Charles and says, "You can't show him the wonderbeast, because without a shadow of a doubt, he would confiscate it."
"So what should I do?"
"Leave it here, we will hide it somewhere, then go and meet Dónal."
"Ok."
Finding a nearby bush, we plant the omega owl within it, and then Charles says, "I will be right back."
And as Charles runs off, I quickly move over to the wonderbeast and whisper, "If you inform the beastkin of anything that has happened here, know that whether it is in this life or the next, I will track you down and kill you."
Then I run off to catch Mariana and Charles. After a little bit, I see Charles and Mariana standing, looking at Dónal, who is on the floor, crying.
"What's going on?"
Mariana, hiding behind me, says, "After Charles introduced me, he fell to the floor and cried like this?"
As she touches me, I say, "You really are soft."
"Now isn't the time for this."
"R-Right." Walking forward towards Dónal, I kneel down, and say, "Hey, what's wrong buddy, you need some food? A nap?"
He grabs my head and puts me in a headlock, bringing me closer to him, then says, "I thought we had the whole woman thing under control?"
"Of yeah, we're friends now, so it isn't an issue anymore."
"That's exactly what I didn't want to happen. What if she does something to Charles?"
"Don't worry, they already sleep together every night, and Charles is fine. Though with how much she likes him, I am surprised no babies have been made from them hugging."
Dónal stares at me with an incredibly disgusted face, and then moments later, he falls to the ground crying.
Looking at him with disdain, I hold myself back from insulting him.
Moving over towards him, Charles kneels down and says, "Dóna,l has your day been good?"
Instantly, all of Dónal's sadness disappears as he hugs Charles and says, "I missed you, Charles!"
Rubbing his head, Charles says, "Tell me about it."
"Well, a lot of things happened, but the biggest thing would be that now I am the head of the plantation."
"Wait, Dónal, does that mean-,"
"Yes, I am in charge of everything around here from now on."
Suddenly, a realisation hits me and Mariana, which causes us to say, "Yeah, please keep your fantasies for the bedroom."
"My dad told me that only scum lie to people they have just met to impress them."
"I AM NOT LYING!"
In unison, both Mariana and I say, "Right."
"YOU DIRTY HUMANS!"
Charles, holding him, says, "I believe you, Dónal."
Facing Mariana, I whisper, "Sorry for this, but I did tell you he was annoying."
"I expected nothing less from a beastkin."
Dónal, with an even more dejected face, says, "I heard you!" Moments later, he curls his body into a ball and then lies on the ground.'
As Dónal lies on the ground, Mariana and I look at him with utter contempt.
Charles whispers something to him, which causes Charles to whisper something back. Turning his head to us, Charles says, "Dónal's heart is hurt, so we have to go back for now."
"What a baby," Mariana says.
Charles says, "You guys are being mean."
"Charles, that crying thing just said he is in charge of all the beastkin here, you really can't believe that?"
"Yes, I do."
"That's ridiculous."
Turning his head to Dónal, he says, "Dónal, please make sure fewer beastkin are bothering everyone."
"Ok."
"Charles, you really shouldn't buy into his lies."
Turning his head with puffed-up cheeks, Charles says, "Then just watch."
He really has been getting more resistant lately.
-Break-
Location: Campsite
Φ That night as Mariana lay next to Charles, she couldn't sleep as her head was going wild with thoughts; That dumb demon bird better be there when we return, if it isn't and reports us, our last hope will disappear. We should have tied it down. Why didn't I think of it sooner? Wait, if someone comes upon it, we could be found out instantly, and if so, when we awake tomorrow, we might be executed!
Φ While across the room, Charles was having a similar meltdown. I know I scared that bird, but maybe I did it too much? What if it runs away? We would truly be in a horrible situation then. We should have ripped off its legs and wings. I acted cool and trusted Charles in the moments but now I am freaking out. Wait, if someone comes upon it, we would be found out instantly, and if so, when we wake up tomorrow, we might be executed!
At the campsite, both of them were so scared that a single thought wouldn't leave their heads; I CAN'T SLEEP!
-Break-
The next day
Location: Íogair grassland
Looking around, I say to Mariana, "Hey, is it me or is the number of beastkin around, like drastically smaller?"
"Yeah, I think you're right."
"You don't think."
"Probably a coincidence."
"You're probably right."
-Break-
The next day
Location: On the path towards Fíodóirí's house
Mariana looks at me and says, "There are usually a bunch of beastkin on this path, because of the fieldwork that is done over there. But today there is none."
"You're right."
"You don't think."
"Probably a coincidence."
"You're probably right.
-Break-
The next day
Location: Campsite
Eating my daily meal with Charles and Mariana sitting beside me, I look into the distance and say, "Hey Charles, do the beastkin have some sort of festival they do around this time of year?"
"No, and you were here last year, so you would know?"
"I was just making sure last year wasn't some sort of exception."
Turning her head towards me, Mariana says, "Charles, I think."
"I know Mariana, I know."
-Break-
The next day
Location: Far east of the River Lúide, inside a nearby forest
Looking at Dónal, I say, "It looks like you weren't lying."
"I told you!" Dónal says as he hugs Charles.
Mariana, walking up to me, can barely hold back her smile, and then with that same cheerful expression, she nudges me. Right now, I know exactly what she is thinking.
The fact that we now have the head of the entire plantation here with us is a second trump card that has been placed in our hands. But right now, we need to find some way to use him to our advantage.
Charles suddenly asks, "Since you're the new leader, Dónal, can you let us come here whenever we want?"
YOU BRILLIANT BASTARD!
Dónal says, "Charles, I don't know about that. If I do it too often, people will find out, and I won't even be able to see you all the time."
No, he is pushing back!
Charles, with the softest voice he has ever used, says, "This would make me very happy, please!"
With a face of utter elation, Dónal says, "Yes, absolutely, whatever you need."
Getting up, Dónal says, "I have many duties to attend to so I will be going a bit early, use this time to rest, and you two over there trip and fall off a cliff or something I don't care."
As Dónal leaves our sight, Mariana and I start to run towards the bush where we kept the omega owl.
When we reach there, we see that the wonderbeast is exactly where we left it. Holding it, I give it an evil glare and say, "Good job for listening."
Mariana says, "Because if you had run away, your life would have quickly come to an end."
Struggling, it wiggles its way out of my arms, and then moments later, it flies directly over to Charles's head. "Nice to see you, Blu."
"Now let's get started, with this whole learning thing."
Holding Blu in his arms, Charles asks, "Blu, can you please show us the classes?"
From its eye, the light appears on the ground, and as it does, all three of us sit down and look at it.
-Break-
On the ground, as we look at the image, I say, "I am bored, this really is such a repetitive task."
"Of course it is, did you think this was something exciting? It takes lots of dedication and effort to learn a language."
"Well, you are the kind of girl who it took 9 years to learn how to swim."
"Hey, I told you that in confidence that it wouldn't be used against me!"
"No, you told me that because you couldn't shut up." Letting out a sigh, I say, "How long is this whole language thing going to take?"
"From previous experience, I would say about five to seven years of constant study, maybe longer."
"WHAT, that's ridiculous. How did you even get that number?"
"Centuries ago, my people used to speak a rather altered version of the saviour's song, and during that time, the sage Cordum came and taught them the proper version, and it took us about three years to learn it, and that is only due to the fact that they were similar. For we know this new language might be completely different.
Not to mention that this class is about translating whatever they are speaking into the saviour's song, and the only reason we can understand anything they are saying is due to the owl translating their language for us. We are not in optimal learning conditions, so five to seven years is the best estimate I can make."
"That's ridiculous; we will all be adults by the time we even speak it. Who knows if they wouldn't have completely taken over all the surrounding land by then? This is hopeless."
Charles says, "But it's fun."
"Charles?"
"I find learning this with the two of you to be very fun, so five to seven years of this sounds nice."
Mariana and I look at Charles, then smile, "Ok then, Charles, let's get to it."
"Just so you know, I happen to be a great academic, so you can trust me to understand this."
"The story of how you had to repeat that test seventy times disagrees with that."
"NERO!"