The Sunspire nihil

The bird did not leave.

Her lips twisted up in a silent snarl, which faded into a malicious smirk when she began to imagine what she would do should the thing get too close; one swoop down and she’d be launching herself into the sky, snatching the bird from its domain. The mental image brought her joy, believing it to be a fine solution to the problem at hand—but there was a problem. Belonging to the sky, birds did not so often meet the earth; when there was flesh to be picked and plucked they were easily lured in but, given where they were and that she was only one, there were no carcasses that might tempt the creature. Annoyed all over again, she turned away from the bird and focused back on where she was going.

Continuing with her hike, Sorina was unusually silent in the presence of another, thinking. For now, she ignored the bird, furthering her progress down the mountain.