Hushed Willows i always make such expensive mistakes.

Only someone who knew Artaax well could've seen the hungry pleasure sparkling in his mismatched eyes when the bird finally accepted his invitation and hopped in from the cold. It was timid still, so he knew his time was not now. But soon.

"Stay as long as you like," he commented, as though this den truly did belong to him. Which it did, if only for the night. Well, let's be honest, Artaax would always think of it as his from this point on. That's just what happened when he set his sights on something he liked, regardless of how inconsequential, or of his ongoing ability to protect that claim. This bird as a good example as well - it was his now. He just had to find his moment to claim it.