One day.
I make sure to pull her blanket over her body before silently leaving her room, going downstairs, and leaving my cottage again. Tulip needs some of my attention. I gave him enough hay, water, and food for the day, but I still want to check on him. Like always, he neighs when he sees me, rubbing his nose against my shoulder.
“Tulip.” I kiss his nose. “I love you so much. You are just the best.”
He shakes his head in his usual playful way, pulling his lips back to show me his teeth, clearly demanding food instead of me telling him cheesy things. I chuckle. “Got you, old boy,” I say, rubbing his neck before opening the little cupboard next to his box and retrieving a carrot for him. I always have a set of treats for him, ready. His favorites are bananas and carrots. On hot days, I put them in a bucket of water so that he needs to fish them out of it and is forced to drink enough.
There is not enough time tonight to take him out for a walk, but I will do so in the morning. For now, I pat his neck once more and leave the stables.
A chirping makes me stop.
“Who is there?” The moment I ask, I feel like the biggest idiot. Of course, it won’t answer, it’s probably an animal.
Another chirping sound.
Squeezing my eyes to look through the dark, I walk around the stables, following the sound of whatever animal it is. It’s moments like these where I wish for wolf senses so that I could see in the darkness.
“Oh.” I have reached the back of my cottage, right where the kitchen is located. I left the light on, and there, on the windowsill, is a small grey bird looking at me through its terrified eyes. “Hey, little birdie. Are you hurt?”
It chirps again, hopping on its little feet and fluttering its wings. It seems like it can’t take off. “You hurt your wings, didn’t you?” Reaching out my hand, meaning to gently pick it up, but instead the little bird hops right into my open palm.
Wow, this has never happened before. Animals like me, but I have never had a wild animal seek me out like this. It’s almost like it knows I am going to help it. Well, animals do have a certain sense sometimes.
Cradling it against my chest, I make my way back to the front of the cottage. The little bird only leaves my palm once we have reached the living room. It hops onto the small shelf of books and some of Faye’s plushies. There it settles down, chirping contentedly.
Okay, time to research how to help an injured bird. My usual way would lead me to the doctor of the pack, the only one of my dad’s old friends who is still kind to me, and who helps me whenever he can. Although he is not a vet, he knows a thing or two about animals and always helps me when I need him. He has been here for Tulip numerous times and refused any payment. However, it’s too late to wake up Daniel. I can ask him for details tomorrow; for now, I will research myself. After some time, I have successfully put together a box and built a little nest for it. Again, little birdie seems to immediately know what I am planning to do and jumps from Faye’s plushy right into my outstretched palm.
Once in its box, it stomps around the nest I made, before it settles down and nestles itself against the cloth I provided for it.
The info I found online also said that hurt birds easily go into shock and die from it, but this little birdie doesn’t look shocked at all. Maybe I am getting it all wrong, but something inside me tells me it’s okay.
“Tomorrow I will call the doc,” I tell it. “He is a great guy. I am sure he will help.”
The little birdie chirps again.
“You need a name,” I say. “Oh, how about Tiger!”
It tilts its head, staring at me.
“Well, because you are strong, you are a survivor. Not even a tiger would catch you!”
At that, the little bird hops up again and chirps joyfully.
So, Tiger, it is.
three
Do Better
*GWENDOLYN*
“It’s so cute,” Faye exclaims, while looking at Tiger. She returned an hour ago, and obviously, the new pet is the main attraction to her. She completely forgot to tell me all about her sleepover; instead, she is hovering over Tiger.
Meanwhile, Marina is sitting in her usual space on the sofa, staring at the TV without truly watching it, while Faye and I tend to Tiger, together with the vet.
The first thing I did in the morning was to call Daniel, who promised to drop by right after breakfast, before his own shift began. Now, his kind eyes are looking at the little bird, and I amhelping him by gently holding it, because the little bud is scared of anyone who isn’t me.
“How come he isn’t scared of me?” I ask.
