Somewhere a tiny bird was twittering.  With a twittering not his own heard nearby he hopped on his skinny branch and tilted his head toward the sound.  When the twittering came closer he answered it, his beady eyes scanning the park in jerks.  Its fragile wings flapped as he chirped in surprise finding a human below his perch.

The human sat, not caring about the wet grass, by the White Ash Pond at Richmond’s Park.  Her narrowed blue eyes were trained up at the bird’s black ones as she twittered and mimicked the jerks of his head.  Both fell silent as the willow wren hopped from one side to the other, causing the branch to wiggle and wave.  Cautiously he observed the lady.  She did not seem like the others.  She did not squeal and chase or throw crackers and seeds at him.  She could sing.  Using that last bit of observation to urge him forward he swooped down a good distance from human and warbled territorially. 

The woman stretched out her legs slowly and crossed her ankles, bringing her head back as she whistled a quick call with a touch of a fledgling’s want of company.  The wren hesitantly responded to this by hopping thrice and then with a few flaps closed the distance between them and stared at the sole of her boot.  After a few hard pecks to test the structure he twittered the same as before.

Covadonga could not help but grin.  It had been a good long while since she could just sit out on one of the royal parks for a break.  Today was a special day, however.  This day, April 27 of 2008, marked the date when she had finished all of the former Department Head’s work.  Now she could finally get on with her own projects, starting with the reformation of the behavior of her staff.  The witch smirked with a scrunched up nose at the thought of it.

With a flap the wren ended up on the toe of the topmost boot and uttered a lengthier call, its pale yellow chest puffing as if in a sigh of annoyance.  He continued to sing as he hopped off of her toe and onto her leg until he ended at her knee.  Now he was so close the black stripe going back from the eyebrows like some dramatic lady of the night.  Laying flat on her back Covi finally answered him with a song of proper duration to reward him for his patience as she drifted through her reverie.  For once the London sky was not so overcast.  The sun was out full force with only some thin strips of white fluff whisked by.  Not even enough for children to make shapes out of.

Putting her hands behind her head she tilted it all the way back so she got an upside down glimpse of the Plantation.  Beyond that she knew there was a great landmark best seen through Sidmouth Wood.  Her lips barely moving she sang, this time in human, to herself, “Early each day to the step of St. Paul’s the little old bird woman comes.  In her own special way to the people she calls, ‘Come, buy my bag full of crumbs…’”

The willow wren silently cocked its head to the side, hopping quietly as she continued to sing, this time all the way up to the stomach of her jacket.

Further into the song her voice grew a touch, “All around the cathedral the saints and the apostles look down as she sells her wares.  Although you can’t see it you know they are smiling each time someone shows that he cares,” she paused a moment, realizing how loud her voice was getting.  She put her head back upright for a moment, smiling at her small listening audience before putting her head back down and closing her eyes, starting off softly again.

“Though her words are simple and few, listen, listen, she’s calling to you.  ‘Feed the birds, tuppence a bag.  Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag…’”

Ah, the joys of having a brother married to a Muggleborn woman… with now seven children of their own.  She shuddered at the thought of the number, but kept singing in their memory.  Well, they did inherit some of the musical leanings from their side of the family but their tastes were all from their mother.  A man by the name of “Disney” was the culprit of all the songs she occasionally found stuck in her head, but this had to be one of her favorites at the moment and seemed most appropriate for the moment.  Granted, she hadn’t touched her viola since she was 18 years of age, but from time to time she found herself singing, usually along to whatever piece Robbie might be playing on the piano at home.

A sunny day in London was rare. So Jason took the day, which he had off, and decided to go out and enjoy the nice weather. Aidan had been excited to go with him, at first. He allowed Jason to dress him without a fuss, pack a bag, get him in the stroller, and start off for the day. Jason had some errands to run on top of it all, and figured that he could keep Aidan entertained long enough for that to go smoothly.

By the time he expected his son to get tired, Jason hoped to be done and be able to stop at the park, maybe feed some ducks or birds. Allow him out of the stroller to run around. Anything, really, to help make it so he would sleep all night. Or at least go to sleep early… Then he could have the night to himself. Maybe Fiona would be home… if she wasn’t working herself ragged again. Smirking to himself as he hoisted the bag over his shoulder, he thought about poor Frank as well. The younger man had signed up readily for the job, though… Not even Jason would willingly work for Fiona. Under, perhaps, but certainly not for.

Dusting off his outfit, he checked himself over once more. He didn’t think he looked terrible. In fact, with the reflection in the mirror, he was going to be arrogant enough to say he filled out his dark jeans very nicely. With just a white shirt on with it, he frowned and rubbed his chin. It could turn chilly… the weather could get colder or clouds and rain could come from nowhere. Taking a purple sweater from the closet as Aidan ran around the bedroom, Jason pulled it on over his head and smoothed it out before pushing the sleeves up to his elbows. Just in case…

A scarf over his neck, and he was ready to go. Picking up Aidan as he made another run around, about to propel himself towards the bed for another jump on it, Jason hung him over his shoulder and patted his butt playfully. “Come on, let’s go.” Grinning as the giggling came from behind him, he tickled the little boy in the side on the way to the front door. Once there, he lifted Aidan in the air, tossed him a little, caught him, and then proceeded to put him in the stroller. Nothing like a little distraction to get most of the work of strapping him in done before he noticed.

Handing the now irritated little guy a biscuit and toy, Jason winked at him and started outside. For the next couple of hours, they walked down the streets of London, stopping now and again so that Jason could do some of his errand running or so that Aidan could get some fresh air and expel some energy. He even stopped for a little bit of ice cream, making sure to keep the little man bundled up in his cute jeans, shirt, and coat. If Jason got cold, that would mean that Aidan had the potential to get a lot colder.

After cleaning his son’s face of ice cream, he started on their way again. By the time he finished dropping off paperwork for his last errand, Aidan was slumped against the side of the stroller, passed out cold. Nap time, obviously… As he neared the park, Jason leaned forward and checked on his precious cargo, making sure everything was all right. The hat on top of Aidan’s head made it difficult to see, but it was also to help keep him from getting too much sun. Always a Healer…

Walking around the park, he lost track of where exactly he was heading. He heard a soft sing-song, however, and started to drift near it, his curiosity getting the better of him. When he pushed the stroller around the corner, he raised an eyebrow at the sight. A woman stretched out, and a bird near her. No, on top of her! From his vantage point, it looked like the thing was preparing to swoop in for something out of the poor girl’s mouth.

Quickening his pace a little, he thought he could save the woman with the nice voice from such a terrible fate. Or at least an embarrassing story… When he got too close, the bird seemed to think twice about anything before taking off to the branches above the bench once again, almost squaking at Jason. Frowning after it, he shook his head and finally turned his attention back to the woman. “The bird looked like he was about to have a little… snack.” Then he saw who it was, and his eyes lit up along with a big grin spreading across his face. “Maybe I should’ve let him though. Hello Miss Gertrudis.”

“Their young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare.  All it takes is tupp—”

The wee bird warbled and uttered a shrill cry of alarm, ruining not only her song but her comfortable position too.  She tilted her head back so she could see the sky and the world right-side up again, her eyes narrowed and ready to shoot a stare at gloom at whoever had caused such a disturbance when she saw someone somewhat familiar.

“A snack!” she said indignantly, her eyes widening at the sleeping child in the stroller.  Her face softened as well as her tone as she added, “I will have you know you just interrupted a lovely conversation.  A wonderful way to introduce yourself to one of my acquaintances, Mr. Marren,” Covadonga said the last with a wicked smile despite the look in her eyes, the sun almost turning their color to the pale, pale look of fresh ice.  Obviously this contrasted with her mood.  Such harsh beams always turned them lighter.

The witch sat up to get a better look at the Healer, putting her hands behind her.  The silly man, knowing her position and possibly her reputation, should have known better.  Then again, she suspected he did not realize who she was when he first started to approach her.  “Who is that fashionable little one you have there?” she nodded toward the child, a touch of happy surprise hidden in her question. 

“A snack!”

Jason had seen her face before she realized who it was, and was glad that he was at least on good terms with her. She looked about ready to bark at him. Smirking as he leaned lightly on the handles of the stroller, comfortable as she seemed to assess the entire situation, he waited patiently, tilting his head and watching her. Aidan was a good tool to use to deescalate any situation. Jason was guilty of using him from time to time for just such a thing. Today, though, it was unintended.

“I will have you know you just interrupted a lovely conversation. A wonderful way to introduce yourself to one of my acquaintances, Mr. Marren.”

Chuckling at that, he tapped his fingers on the handles before glancing up towards the angry bird. “I hadn’t realized it was you until I startled you both. He just looked ready to start flossing your teeth for you.” His eyes met hers and he winked. When she sat up, he merely leaned more on his left hand, lifting his right leg and resting the toe of his boot on the ground next to the outer part of his left foot. Comfortable now, he glanced once again to the bird, sizing it up.

“Who is that fashionable little one you have there?”

Blinking slightly and pulling his attention away from the bird to the stroller, assuming she was talking about Aidan and not… anything else, Jason grinned and leaned over the stroller a bit, running his right hand gently over the hat, luckily not waking him up in the process. Sometimes that boy could sleep through dragons roaring. Or his mum yelling… they were about the same, right?

“This is Aidan, my son. He’s a bit tuckered out… We’ve been out for a couple hours now.” Glancing back to Covadonga, Jason stood up again. “He’s thirteen months, and this is about the calmest he will be.” He would have said ‘quietest,’ but felt that sleeping could be tied for eating. Nodding to the bird, Jason grinned. “And what about that little thing?” His eyes darted back down to her, an amused expression on his face while he waited.

“Oh no, flossing never crossed his mind,” she giggled lightly, “just talking and investigating.”  For a moment she didn’t know whether to return the wink or not.  He seemed to be a fan of the gesture.  Didn’t he do that back in her office?  That seemed like eons ago.  This time she settled for a silly wiggling of the nose.

Merlin on high!  Jason had his own child?  Her eyes widened as she looked back down at the little man.  He seemed awfully young for that.  Wasn’t he her age?  Then it dawned on Covadonga that she was turning 30 this year.  Wow… time had passed so quickly.

Flopping back onto the ground at the thought of it she sighed, her opinion defeated by logic.  Well, of all the people to have a baby a Healer would be a very good father, at least medically speaking.  There was so much more to fatherhood than that.  On that note, who was the mother?  Meh, that would have be a question for later.  It seemed too personal at the moment.

“And what about that little thing?”

Covi put her hands behind her head so she could tilt her eyes toward him.  “He would be a willow wren,” unlike most she seemed very keen to call any creature a he or she, never an it.  “They’re quite common around the beginning of an English spring,” it was well known that a spring in these parts was very different than in others, same thing when people said ‘an English summer’ for the benefit of those who were visiting which meant be prepared for rain, rain, rain, rain… rain.

The witch let her head fall to the grassy ground again, looking back up the tree.  She could see the bird puff up its chest as it would during winter, but with alacrity.  “Oh dear…” she mumbled, and before she could issue a warning the wee one swooped down and circled around Mr. Marren’s head before pirouetting around the stroller and settling on top of Aidan’s wee hat.

“Oh no, flossing never crossed his mind… just talking and investigating.”

Raising an eyebrow, Jason merely shrugged and gave her a smile that spoke volumes; it was amusing, but he wasn’t sure if he believed the bird wasn’t interested in inspecting more closely. He wouldn’t allow a bird near his mouth, anyway. That might just be him, though… “Right, well birds are… naturally curious?” He supposed most things with some sort of brain capability would be curious, some ability to think beyond food and shelter.

She seemed surprised to learn that Aidan was Jason’s son. Glancing back down at the sleeping boy, tilting the stroller just slightly, Jason looked into his face. He thought there were similarities there… maybe he had forced himself to believe something that wasn’t true. Smirking as he gently set the front wheels back down, he decided he would tease Fiona about that later. Jason supposed he didn’t really talk about his private life in the few times he met with Covadonga for work related purposes. They had more important things to do… like work related… things.

“He would be a willow wren… They’re quite common around the beginning of an English spring.”

A willow wren… and a male. Glancing to the bird once again, Jason did the male check and bit his tongue to keep from making a tasteless joke. It was just a bird, after all. Nodding as his eyes moved back to Covadonga, Jason drummed his fingers on the stroller handles. “He’s a handsome devil, that’s for sure.” If he could call a bird handsome, that is. Scratching the back of his head, he shrugged a little and didn’t worry about it.

“Oh dear…”

Jason didn’t quite hear what she said and was about to ask her to repeat herself when the bird flew down. Attempting to duck out of the way, unsure as to what the brave little thing was doing, Jason frowned—he’d lost it. Where’d it go? Glancing around, doing a half circle, he finally let out a breath and turned his attention back to Covadonga. That was when he saw her eyes, and he quickly looked down. “Hey!” He kept his voice as quiet as he could, staring at the little bird perched.

“Get off there! He’s sleeping…” He didn’t want to reach down and smack the little bird away, but also didn’t like the idea of the bird so close to his son, no matter how friendly or curious it was. At least it wasn’t a huge bird. Glancing to Covadonga, frowning a little, he held his hand up. “Ah… what’s it-he want now?”

The next thing she knew she was sitting upright with a hand over her mouth, desperately trying to not laugh.  When the giggles escalated into a snort she put the other hand on top of the first and screwed her eyes shut while drawing her legs it and tapped her boots on the ground.  It was like she was a coil about ready to explode, but with noise rather than a big BOING.

The Department Head looked more like a goofy kid now.  Eh, it was allowed, she wasn’t in the building at the moment.  Slowly she stiffened her legs, opened her eyes and lowered her hands a bit and pursed her lips.  Out came a twitter and a whistle.

The bird hopped on the little lad’s head, turning his head back at both the adults, but his full attention turned to the human with the blue eyes and blond hair when she talked to him again.  He chirruped back respectfully.

“He’s just curious, as ever,” she said quickly before putting her hands back up just in time to catch a snort.  Slowly she allowed herself to tip over and fall to the ground on her side, after which she quickly turned over and let loose a much pent up laugh and giggle in the opposite direction so the babe would not hear. 

Her cackles and snorts ceased mid-giggle as her keen ears picked up on the birds warble.  Flopping back to her other side and perching herself up on one elbow she beckoned Jason with a hand to quietly get down next to her on the ground.

It was cute, how Covadonga could be an adult and a kid at the same time. Jason couldn’t help but stare a moment as she seemed to try and not laugh too loudly. A half grin came to his lips—it was important to act silly, in his opinion, and she seemed to be doing a good job of holding it just at bay. The bird, though. The bird!

“He’s just curious, as ever.”

The little bugger had the audacity to chirp while on top of Aidan’s head! Jason’s eyes widened a bit but he held back. This was Covadonga’s friend, and it would make for terrible manners to just start swatting the lack-of-personal-space bird around like a balloon. Taking in a slow and deep breath in through his nostrils, his eyes caught movement from her and glanced over just in time to see her fall over. If it weren’t so slow, he would’ve been over at her feet in an instant, making sure she was all right.

Well, the slow motion mixed with the fact that her face was contorted with the attempt to not giggle and laugh some more. Clearly this situation was much funnier to her than it was to Jason. Glancing once again at the bird, he gave him a warning glance before his eyes moved back to the interesting woman under the tree. His eyebrows went up when she giggled away from them. He put a hand over his lips and tried to hide the grin that spread.

Then the bird was going again. Frowning a little, quite confused all around, he noticed the beckoning from Covadonga and moved slowly over to the woman in the grass. He took off the slung pack, setting it near the stroller. After glancing around, he unceremoniously sat himself down next to her, grunting slightly as he moved himself into a similar position as she was, on to his stomach and pushing himself up with his elbows in the cool grass. Leaning over near her, his mouth a few centimeters from her ear, Jason let out the question of the hour, for those who couldn’t understand what birds were saying. “What’s going on?”

Turning his head so his gaze went back to Covadonga, he raised an eyebrow and grinned. The stroller wasn’t very far, he would be able to react if something (other than the bird) decided to mess with Aidan. He felt he could take the time to look at the woman to get a more straight answer. Crossing his feet at the ankles, stretched out behind him in the grass, Jason did feel rather nice. Thank goodness Aidan wasn’t awake… Jason wouldn’t be able to chill like this, then. He’d have to be ready to take off after the rambunctious (but not yet totally sure of his legs) little toddler.

As the man started to ask his question she puckered her lips and quickly put her finger in front of them with narrowed eyes.  Yes… it was a bit ironic after she had just snorted for so long, but the situation called for it.

The bird chirruped again and she let out a sharp whistle, but short so as not to wake the child.  It seemed to have the same affect on him as it did the Healer as his wings suddenly wiggled a few times as his beak shut prematurely during his squawk.

Covadonga made her way slowly to her knees, scooted up closer to the side of the Healer.  Abruptly she took his arm so that the back of his hand was near the wren’s face.  The bird in question looked at the hand, the woman, and then the taller human’s chest and his feather’s puffed slightly.  Softly she called a quiet song, to him it would sound reassuring but to the humans it would just sound like an odd chunk of notes.

The bird shifted his weight between his two stick-figure legs, still stuck in what decision to make.


[Abrupt molesting approved of by Tasha]

When she put her finger in front her lips for silence, Jason raised an eyebrow at her but merely turned his attention back to the bird, his question silenced. He only hoped he’d figure it out on his own, since it seemed Covadonga was going to leave him in the dark. Then they were whistling at each other. Honestly… Jason didn’t know what to do. He had had crazy patients that whistled and talked to themselves, sure… but this was completely different. Covadonga wasn’t [yet] legally insane or on some tampered with potion. Or maybe…

Glancing sideways at her, he finally let out a breath and grinned to himself. No, not that. Just being herself. Leaning his head to the side away from her so he could watch her move closer and keep his eyes at a respectable level, he raised an eyebrow. When she grabbed his arm suddenly, he let out a grunt and nearly fell forward. Catching himself and giving her a quick warning glance, he tried to make himself comfortable.

He had only started to when Covadonga started to… talk to the bird, he supposed was the best way to put it. Glancing back to the bird, he saw what she was doing only a moment too late. His mouth opened to issue what was going to be an oath, starting with “Oh no-” and ended with his voice caught in his throat as the bird suddenly shifted himself over on to Jason’s hand. Staring in bewilderment at the thing, Jason wondered if there was such a thing as a suicidal bird.

How easy it would be… if only Merlin was here. A small smirk spread across his lips, but he kept his thoughts on Gabby’s dog to himself. He’d probably just play with the thing anyway… “He won’t crap on my hand right?” Keeping his eyes on the bird, Jason turned his head slightly towards her, a quizzical look on his face. “I mean… the first thing that I’ll do is wipe it on you.” His look turned into a wide grin and he watched the bird. At least it was off Aidan’s head…

A big grin crossed her face as the bird, who was only a mere acquaintance at this point, trusted her enough to hop onto another complete stranger’s hand.  Sadly, it instantly fell at the man’s question.

“Err… weellllll… birds do not have control of their bowels.”  At his next comment all she could do was give him a nasty glare with pursed lips, half tempted to deliver a raspberry.

Covadonga’s nose twitched as she turned her attention back to the bird with a half-frightened stare.  While she was used to being covered in all sorts of nasty liquids and solids, she’d rather not have it wiped on her jacket.  Her sister-in-law gave it to her in an attempt to try and teach her what was fashionable.  Muggle-wise Covi was not very educated in the subject.

Taking out her pocket watch she turned it against the sun back into the trees from whence it came.  The wren’s head jerked up at the glimmer of light reflecting back onto the leaves and took flight, his tiny legs tucked up under him while he sang a short goodbye on his way out.

Putting her watch back into her pocket, revealing her holstered wand, she smiled, “There!  Now no one will have excrement on them, or at least not his.”

“Err… weellllll… birds do not have control of their bowels.”

It was then that Jason felt the closest to smacking the bird against a sustainably hard surface, if only to shake the disgusting thing from his hand. Swallowing that desire, however, Jason wasn’t quick enough to mask the slight distaste that came over his face before fading into his best pursed lip poker-face. Of all the things to tell a man when the bird was on his hand! He reminded himself that he had a wand, a capable spell to wash his hands, and plenty of things to hex if he for some reason did get crapped on and felt the urge to let his frustration out.

Thank Merlin for the park.

At least he’d made her react similarly with his threat. And it wasn’t empty, either. If it happened, the first instinct (after taking care of the bird) would be to wipe it on something. As Covadonga was the one who insisted on this little happy meeting, Jason was fully within his rights (in his head) to react accordingly. She should just be happy he wasn’t considering her for hexing practice, need he go there. He dealt with a lot of things at work, but as this wasn’t work… and he was in fact trying to stay clean… well, it was a different game. And this wasn’t a stomach-aching angry gnome either.

“There! Now no one will have excrement on them, or at least not his.”

As the bird flew away, Jason took a few moments to realize what had happened before reaching into the bag he’d packed and pulling out the wipes. Once his hands were thoroughly cleaned off, he let out a huff and shook his head. Birds on his hands… The words sunk in and his eyes widened a bit before his head turned in her direction. “I hope you’re not planning on calling the rest of the park wildlife to us…” He might suddenly have errands to run; who knew when they might need a third pocket expander.

They really did come in handy, though, when you had a lot to pack and didn’t carry an extra pack like most women did. Even the pouches on robes weren’t enough sometimes. The longer the bird was gone, however, the more lighthearted Jason became. Smiling once again at Covadonga, his normal mischievous glint coming back, he tilted his head and rested back comfortably on the grass. She had pulled him into an odd angle for the bird… “So what else has brought you to the park today, Miss Gertrudis?”

She sighed a wee huff when he took out one of those wet wipes.  The guy had the wren’s feet on him for what?  Twenty seconds?  Merlin’s underpants…  Covi shook her head.

Her glare continued its intimidating stance, “No, I will not be calling them,” but then added with a devious wink, “Usually they call me…” which was very true.  The bird had been asking for a conversation in the first place, twittering away like he was.  Most of the time if an animal caught her presence—scent or otherwise—they would come hopping along, curious as to who was giving off such an odd impression.  Also, whenever she walked into a room with animals all of their attention would suddenly snap to her, Covi had always had some kind of magnetism toward creatures, all the way back to the crib.

Her grin softened and looked back to little Aidan.  Babies were so cute… especially when they were sleeping, or at least that’s how Covadonga felt.  It was the same feeling she had with sleeping baby creatures and other beings, it must have been that utter peace they seemed to slip into.  How could they have nightmares?  When very young they had not experienced enough in their short time here to have fear, and it showed in their sleep.  Whenever she snuggled up to one of them, be it being or beast, she could not help but feel that very same thing, even it if was only for a wee bit.

Flopping back onto the ground, she put her hands behind her head and looked up to the sky, the sun turning her eyes a very, very pale blue, like the spring sky itself at the moment.

“Hmm… a small celebration,” though she did not say what, it was a very unexciting reason for it anyhow.  “And what about you?” she inquired politely, her head turning towards him and as she did so a bit of hair at the front of her head slipped out from the loosened twist at the back of her head, her eyes looking up at him in a squint against the bright sun.  It was a wonder if any regular’s eyes were accustomed to such an unusual brightness in the city during this time of the year.

“No, I will not be calling them.”

Jason didn’t react as most would to death stares and killing looks, or in Covadonga’s instance, some attempt at an intimidating stare. After so many years with Fiona, one either learned to take it as a sign of affection, or not stick around. An easy going guy, not much phased him anyway. So he matched her glare with a grin, rolling his eyes as she finished off the statement. “Wildlife answering service, right next to me.” His eyes twinkled with the possibilities of jokes he could come up with right then. They probably would get old fast, though…

He wondered briefly if any little bird ever felt the desire to jump off the next before it was ready. Maybe it got self conscious because it had the smallest… beak. Or perhaps it just didn’t feel its feathers were as bright as the next. Or perhaps Jason should stop trying to make every animal humanistic. Brushing it aside, reminding himself of his dislike of friendly wildlife that sat on his son’s little hat with no understanding of bowel sphincters, Jason raised an eyebrow. “Of course.”

When she glanced towards Aidan, Jason merely looked at his son and smirked. He all ready had the ladies fawning over him, the little devil. After a few moments, he glanced away and settled on dazing off across the park, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. It was really a nice day, and fairly quiet where they were as well.

“Hmm… a small celebration.”

Glancing back to Covadonga, raising an eyebrow at her position, Jason maneuvered himself slightly so he could look down towards her comfortably. Setting his elbow in the grass, resting his head in the palm of his hand, he watched her briefly. About to open his mouth, she beat him to saying something.

“And what about you?”

The inhaled breath he’d taken to start speaking was let out slowly as he considered her question. Glancing back to Aidan, he shrugged a little and grinned goofily, turning his gaze back to her. “I didn’t want to be cooped up in the house all day, and told Aidan we could feed the ducks…” Later, he’d get to it. Looking into her eyes, he squinted a moment, a slight frown on his face as he studied her face. What was different?

Leaning forward quickly, suddenly interested, he forgot to give warning. With his face above hers, he held himself up with one arm next to her head, staring intently into her eyes. Lifting his free hand, he covered one eye before sneaking a peek at it, watching the different colors. Grinning, realizing his suddenly ‘too little personal space,’ he quickly pulled his hand back and leaned away so she could move away if she wanted. “Sorry, your eyes… they caught my attention.” Thinking a moment, watching them carefully, he was interested. “Why? Do you know?”

As if her eyes weren’t already squinty enough, her nose scrunched up in addition to trying to narrow her eyes further on his comment about being a “Wildlife answering service” which, if you though about… was kinda true.  She did more than just answer them, though.  Besides communicating with creatures and beings the whole other part of the process was working with them to fix problems.  That was the true mission, not being some Dr. Dolittle, diplomacy was actually the key.

Feed the ducks, eh?  That was rather sweet of him!  Her parents never did that before.  Usually her brothers humored her in such simple ways.  Even then if was just Billy and Robbie, Eddie seemed to look down on such “nonsense”.

The next thing she knew she was in a shadow.  Well, half of her was under a shadow.  One of her eyes was now able to open fully, which she did to blink repeatedly at Mr. Marren who seemed to be hovering over her like a vulture waiting for a meal to expire.  She froze as they locked eyes, seemingly unable to move.  His stare wasn’t quite right, though.  Jason looked at her as if she were an article of clothing.  He was not looking at the person or soul hidden within they eye, but the eye itself, its very surface.

Just as she was taking advantage of this time to admire his clear blue eyes which mirrored the sky, her line of sight was suddenly disturbed by the man’s hand.  Both eyes went wide open and her eyebrows rose, but only to have her left eye be blinded by a sharp shot of the sun, blinding her.  “HEY!” she yelped, trying to bat his hand blindly away, only to feel it be done again to her a couple more times.  When he finally pulled away she rolled over onto her stomach and rubbed the now stinging orbs furiously until the colored spots went away.

She started with, “GREAT flaming DUNGBOMBS!  What is your—?” paying no mind to her volume whatsoever when she was interrupted.

“Sorry, your eyes… they caught my attention.”

Well, that would have been romantic… if he hadn’t been such a dolt.
 
“Why? Do you know?”

Covadonga had half a mind to not tell him, she was so miffed, but… it was a curious phenomenon.  Usually it was only children who asked her.  “It is something I inherited,” twitch, “by my mother,” twitch, twitch.  The young lady absolutely HATED acknowledging any similarity between herself and mother dearest, but this was one that could not be ignored.  It had been the very thing which had lured his father into her web… in addition to both of their families contractually forcing them to wed, of course.  “Just a trick of the light, although sometimes it can be affected by emotion,” a very good thing to know ahead of time when Mother was in one of her moods, at just a glance you knew whether you could hold a conversation with her or run for the hills.