escordvi | closed 🪶⚡ but all i really know, you're where i wanna go

All the way up there?

[There's a slight frown at that as they leave the workshop and make their way through the cavern halls.]

Might as well just fly over then. Would be quicker.

[Her lip twitches with a grin, and Biddy seems enthusiastic about it with his flurry of wing flaps and hoots.]

He appears to agree. It might be a good day to stretch my wings.

[A wry chuckle as his two birds take to his suggestion.]

In that case... I know a shortcut to an upper exit.

[She huffs a laugh with a playful roll of her eyes.]

You and your shortcuts. Alright, lead the way... assuming I do not already know of this one.

You know, I'm not sure you do.

[A quiet hum as he takes a sharp turn down a path that feels as if it's going down instead of up at first (it will eventually start moving up).]

Found this one day while wandering around in thought.

[Oh, she does notice how the trail wanders down, and she nods in understanding. No wonder she doesn't know about it — why would she go down instead of up?]

... Wandering in thought? Is that something you do often?

[As Biddy stares at them in confusion because where are they going, but after a few hoots, he follows after them.]

[A quiet chuckle.]

Aye, when I'm wanting to stretch my legs or just need that bit of quiet time. You know me.

And you just so happen to stumble upon these shortcuts... How very lucky of you.

[Biddy swoops down to try and land on Cid's shoulder, but with him being much bigger now than when they found him, he has some trouble.

Benedikta laughs.]

So how far is this "shortcut"?

[Seeing Biddy trying to land on his shoulder, Cid holds out his arm for him to perch and then let him try to climb over that way.]

Not too far. About a five minute walk.

[At least they won't have any random encounters to get in their way?????

With Biddy now at his shoulder, he scratches the owl's head and beak, favorite spots that he knows.]

Sometimes it is easy to forget how big this place is.

[She also reaches out to scratch Biddy's chin, and he hoots, puffing his feathers out contently like he used to do when he was still little.]

So what is the big news anyway?

[Biddy's hoot turns sharp as he flaps a wing at her.]

Alright, alright. A surprise.

[Cid is starting to have an idea of what it could be if Bidowlfin is this pushy about things and wanting them to go to their nest... But he won't say anything, instead just chuckling as he pats his head.]

All right, all right. Won't be long now.

[And indeed, as Cid said his shortcut is actually a shortcut! With Cid using his lightning to light the way, after a somewhat winding slope upwards, they soon feel the cool air blowing through the tunnel, and it doesn't take long for them to reach the exit where they will find themselves standing on a small ledge about a third of the way up the cliff. Not the highest point, but certainly better than if they had left from the ground and shorter to reach than trying to reach one of the higher points like from their house.]

[For all of her teasing him about his shortcuts, it is a pleasant walk for the three of them. With Biddy now living on his own high up in the cliffs of the Roost, it is less often that they see him these days, and she would never admit it out loud, but she does find herself missing him from time to time, as well as thinking back fondly on the days when he was little and lived in their home with them.

But this is fine, too. They have a little more privacy, and the owl can live a life that he otherwise would not have been able to if they had not found him when they did.

The sun is bright as they crest onto the cliff, and Benedikta closes her eyes against that very welcome first brush of wind.]

It has been some time since we have all flown together, hasn't it?

[Too long, and Biddy agrees as he swoops down from Cid's shoulder and flies in a circle around them.]

And that is precisely why I suggested we fly.

[A knowing grin as he watches Bidowlfin for a moment before gesturing to Benedikta.]

Shall we then?

[And he's already floating a bit as he starts to levitate.]

[Biddy gives him a few impressed and enthusiastic hoots, and when Benedikta lets her wings unfurl with a shrug and a flurry of magic, it startles him into a few spins.

She catches him and sets him straight back into the air again.]

We have both improved since then. I do hope you are able to keep up.

[Oh that sounds like a challenge—even more so when Cid decides to join the fun and fly a loop around the owl, making him hoot!!]

Well then... First one to that tree!

[What tree he doesn't specify because HE'S CHEATING AND ZOOMING OFF with a crack of lightning.]

[She should have known he would pull something like that! She should have known and yet she let her guard down like a fool!]

Which tree!?

[Both she and Biddy shout the same thing after him, though the owl's comes out in a series of angry screeches before he is bolting off alongside Benedikta with a mighty flap of both their wings to try and catch up to him.

But will they?]

You filthy cheater, Cidolfus!

[He just laughs as he spins to face them, waving so very cheerily before he's off in a flash again. With the way he behaves, one would not believe he was a hardened man in his mid-40s.

But while he will let them catch up, can they catch him? He's certainly going to taunt and tease them enough for it.]

[When he spins to face them, she throws a light wind his way in an attempt to knock him around a bit. And while she does have some tricks that she could use to speed herself up or even teleport to him, she doesn't if only because Biddy is having some trouble keeping up with their magically-enhanced flight. Poor thing only has his wings!

So she will stay beside him as they fly, the pair of them switching between who is in the lead, but Biddy hoots with excitement each time he gains a little more distance over her.

Which means that no, they will not catch up to Cid before he reaches whatever tree he had motioned to and even if they do, it will be the owl who ends up being closer, hooting at Cid when he catches up.

Benedikta yells at their little owl.]

Pardon me, but I am not slow!

[It's a fun exercise, and once they finally catch up to him, the tree nothing special, just one of the taller ones, he circles around Bidowlfin who continues to try and chase him.]

You are last.

[A playful taunt as he winks at her, knowing how she was staying by the owl during their little "race."

[Even Biddy gives her a teasing hoot, looking pleased as a peach that he beat her, and even laughs at her for it, and Benedikta plays up her dramatic woes in favour of amusing the owl.]

Only because you cheated. And you—

[She points to Bidowlfin who hoots and swoops around to hide behind Cid.]

I think you might have as well. I swear to you that I will beat you both one day. Just you wait.

[Somewhere in the distance, there's a faint owl's screech.]

[He chuckles when Bidowlfin hides behind him and he will do his best to be his owl son's shield.]

Hah, as if you weren't trying to use your winds—

[But that's when he hears that other owl—as does Bidowlfin. As if remembering what they were here for, he gives a few startled hoots and suddenly takes off towards where there's another scolding screech.

Glancing at Benedikta, Cid realizes they are closer to their nest than he realized and he just chuckles as they start to follow after.]

Sounds like the madam isn't so pleased he was out playing.

[She laughs, flying alongside him as they follow Bidowlfin and he frantically flies up towards the higher treetops where the screeches are coming from.]

I wonder where he got that from, hm?

[Benedikta reaches out to grab his hand as they soar through the air, and as another one echoes across the cliffs, she chuckles again.]

Oh, she is quite upset with him.

[Sounds familiar.]

Hmmm, you, perhaps?

[A playful chuckle and squeeze of her hand because he's not like that noooo.... (yes he is).]

But what do you think he wants to show us? Eggs, perhaps?

Eggs?

[In her surprise, she teeters in the air, and Benedikta looks between Cid and Biddy up ahead, who spins around mid-flight and gives a panicked hoot before flying off faster.]

You do not think—there is no way that...

[She is not prepared!?]

[There's a small look of surprise as he pulls her back to steady her.]

Well why not? T'would only be natural, and why else would he be in such a hurry to bring us over?

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