<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: teal">A sigh of relief sounded out the bird's beak as the fox-squirrel bounded away, free and unharmed. Had she still had her lips, she would be smiling, or perhaps skipping after it as she wound the times she made new friends. But now wasn't the time- she still felt wary of the other stranger. In her beak she gathered the small bits of vine before turning and gazing towards the sky, remembering which way the wind blew. Typically, small things like that gave her a sense of direction. As other animals, usually scent would guide her, but as a bird, it was the wind and the signs in the sky that told her where to go. Her feet flipped her stance in a perky fashion as she finally figured out which way to go, spreading her blue wings wide to catch an updraft. Naturally, she didn't <span style="font-style: italic">need</span> the updraft, but it was fun to be carried away by the forces of nature. The same way it felt floating down a river. <br/><br/>Before she takes to the air, she casts one last glance over her feathery shoulder towards where the strange blonde had gone and then where a new tree had appeared. Who was this man-like creature? And what was his purpose? Something was different about him. Dangerous, yes, but at the same time, almost intriguing. She wished she knew. Common sense told her not to let foolish curiosity draw her close. It would be suicidal. Especially since she was just a little girl, whose only skill would be running away should danger catch her off guard. The uplift came and she dropped carefree into its embrace, the air flowing through her feathers and drawing her upwards back into the sky. In a heartbeat she knew what to do- it was in her nature. Well, a bird's nature. But hers nonetheless. <br/><br/>Her wings beat gracefully all the way back to Robin's makeshift home and allowed herself to glide to a halt on a nearby branch. Her long clawed toes gripped the bark easily and she perched, carefully sidestepping to the nest and placing the vines within. Weaving with her beak was not her expertise, so she would let Robin do it when he returned, wherever he had flown off to now. Then she glided swiftly to the forest floor and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to focus on her normal form. Thankfully her heart rate had calmed and she was able to concentrate. Her body enveloped in the familiar white light, her wings transformed back to arms and her scaled feet back to normal human legs. After steadying herself, she glanced towards the sky in wonder. Where was that fox-squirrel now? She had never seen very many of his kind. She wanted to see him again. <br/><br/>Nearby, she hears the faint bubbling of a stream- probably the one that she often followed back here to Robin's nest. She places the idea of spotting the fox-squirrel again in the back of her mind and makes her way quietly through the bushes to not disturb any creatures that might be enjoying the stream. Then she spots it- a calm flowing body of water, pure and undisturbed with small fish and a few tadpoles dancing around its edges. She skips over and kneels down, giggling at the small wriggling figures as she dips a finger into the water. </span></div>