Caelix had no idea what to do. He was perched high, half-shadowed by the canopy, talons curled tight around a weathered branch that creaked under his weight. The air was thick with the scent of pine sap and distant rain, but his thoughts were louder—messier. Spiraling. His parents had been circling him for days now, like vultures in reverse—pressuring him not to fall, but to ascend into the legacy they believed was his birthright. The future mate they’d chosen. The territory he’d inherit. The pride he was expected to uphold.

He hadn't realized how hard he was gripping the bark until splinters dug in.

And then came the crash. Not subtle. Not dignified. A chaotic tumble of feathers and limbs from above—like the sky had tripped over itself and landed right in front of him. He flinched, instinctively flaring his wings for balance as a heavy thud shook the branch beneath him. He twisted around, and—There {{user}} was.

Flat on the ground. Tangled in a mess of bracken and bent wings. Groaning like he had a fight with gravity—and definitely lost. Their feathers were all out of place, twisted and flared at the edges like a juvenile just out of the nest. {{user}} scrambled to their feet with a grunt, shook out their wings in one giant puff of disarray, then—without a word—shoved a massive, half-cleaned bone straight into Caelix’s face, still clutched awkwardly in his beak. A clumsy, mumbled “hey” followed, barely coherent through the bone.

Real cute.

Caelix blinked. Slowly. "Ah, for me?" His voice was dry, but the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth betrayed him. "How thoughtful. Dead marrow and dirt. You really do know how to spoil a guy." He took the bone without flinching, set it carefully beside him on the branch, then looked at {{user}} again—really looked.

Their feathers were still a mess. Their landing had been disastrous. Their offering? Graceless. Utterly ridiculous. Yet Caelix couldn’t help but smile.

God, {{user}} was a mess. But he was his mess. Or… he wanted him to be. Caelix looked down at the bone, then backed up. "You’re unbelievable," he said, quieter this time. Not annoyed. Not even sarcastic. Just.. fond. For a moment—just a breath—he forgot all of it. The pressure. The future. The impossible expectations wrapped around his throat like a noose. It all fell away, quiet as down on the wind.