2Yeetus I changed my mind on how this would go so it was posponed a while
For Forestyne, losing the children she followed wasn't all that unusual. She had exceptionally bad tracking skills, and children were unpredictable creatures, so when she found she'd lost track of the brothers, she really didn't worry. They'd show up soon enough, or at least she hoped so.
A slight breeze fluttered through the trees, ruffling her feathers and making the leaves whisper against each other. Fall was here, and winter would soon follow. She'd need to go to a town and buy some new winter clothes this year, as she'd grown quite a bit. She only hoped they wouldn't scream at the sight of her.
A sound on the wind caught her attention- upbeat music, a child's voice...was it Greg? He sang a lot.
Deciding she had nothing to lose, Forestyne flew from the branch she'd perched on, towards the music. She soon arrived at what appeared to be a concert, and sure enough, Greg was singing. She quickly located Wirt leaning against a tree, the strange bluebird on his shoulder.
"So...want to tell Greg it's time to get going?" The red-capped teen asked.
"Nah, let him have his fun," The bird replied. Then, with a sly gleam in her eyes, she added, "Wirt?"
"Hm?"
"Tie your shoe."
The boy seemed to think for a second before complying. "Okay."
Forestyne watched as Greg sang a few more songs before finally finishing.
Anxious to get them to her father, the girl-turned-raven flew over them as they left, swooping so low she accidentally knocked off Wirt's hat.
"What the-?" He muttered, bending down to pick it up.
"That raven's been following us," The bluebird noted.
"How strange," Wirt commented, placing his hat-cone-thing back on his head.
Yes, Forestyne thought. How strange indeed.
oOoOoOo
"The beast in upon me!"
If Forestyne had hands, they'd be slapped over the stupid driver's mouth. Yes, her father was here, but why did he have to alert the brothers? He was going to ruin everything!
"The beast is upon me!"
Shut up!
She heard the boys' quiet conversation in the hay pile behind her, Wirt's worried voice and his brother's happy one.
The driver, half out of his mind with fear, made a sudden, sharp turn, tossing the hay- and the children- out.
Forestyne cawed in surprise, flapping out and onto a nearby branch.
"But...it's creepy." She heard Wirt say.
She looked out, trying to find what he was talking about, and saw a tavern that was indeed rather creepy. Just her sort of building, though.
Wirt talked a bit more, stuttering and making nervous excuses, before the bluebird yelled at him, "Just go to the tavern!"
The trio walked into the tavern, though they seemed to have a bit of trouble opening the door. Forestyne flew over to the windowsill and perched there, staring in.
She watched for a little while, fluttering into a shadowy corner of the stable when the bluebird came out.
The bird conversed with a horse for a little while, before stopping.
"What kind of person goes out chopping woods in the middle of a forest during a rainstorm?" She asked. She must've heard the woodsman. The, realizing who she was speaking to, the bird sighed, "What kind of person talks to a horse?"
If Forestyne was able, she would've snickered.
But then the bluebird took off, flying in the direction of the woodsman.
Why would she do that? Forestyne wondered. My father is with him.
The shapeshifter knew, however, that she'd better follow the bluebird, if only to see her father.
A sudden scream while she was flying nearly caused the raven to smack into an Edelwood tree, which was what the bluebird- the owner of the scream- did. What was wrong with her?
The raven flew onto a branch of the Edelwood, watching as two figures- was that Wirt and Greg?- come riding a horse. She hadn't known they could do that!
"Beatrice!" Wirt cried, looking at the now-unconscious bluebird. Then, betrayal written in his face, he looked at the woodsman. "You're turning her into an Edelwood tree. You were The Beast all along."
With that, he blew out his lantern and slid off the horse.
Forestyne wasn't paying attention, though. She was watching her father slide through the shadows, watching the boys with his glowing eyes. She'd forgotten people called her father The Beast. It made no sense to her- what had he done wrong? He was just like everyone else in the world, taking what they needed to survive.
In a flash, or so it seemed, the boys disappeared, riding away on their horse, leaving the woodsman and her father.
They spoke briefly, the woodsman's words angering Forestyne, before her father asked, "Now, what direction did those children go?"
"You leave them alone, Beast!" The woodsman snarled.
Her father just laughed, electing another shout from the woodsman.
As he walked away, her father began to sing.
Chop the wood to light the fire.
Please review and have a great day/night!
Don't die,
~KitKat