Moonspear rainbows

Seal quickly recovered from her own surprise, something like delight dancing in her carob eyes. Treepie glanced between her face and the bird’s, still not entirely sure if it was actually a hawk or perhaps a falcon. Or maybe it was something else entirely. And that made her suddenly think: it wasn’t really an it, of course.

Before she could ask the question on the tip of her tongue, Seal posed one of her own. Tiuttuk sucked in a breath, pondering it. The hawk tittered. Something flashed in the Regent’s eyes.

You understood that question, didn’t you? she guessed.

The hawk chirped.

Thought so. Well? Are you an ancestral spirit?

Something that could only be an amused caw! escaped the avian’s beak, prompting a chortle from Treepie.

Guess that answers that, she said, yellow eyes flicking to Seal then back to the creature perched on her shoulder. I have another question for you. Are you male?

This time, the hawk’s answer was even clearer: it—she—shook her head.

Female? Pie asked, just to be sure.

A nod of that strangely squashed-looking head.

Do you have a name?

Another up-and-down motion: Yes.

Tiuttuk’s lips pursed as she tried to think of a way to learn the raptor’s name. Her gaze once more shifted to Seal, imploring her relative to share any wisdom she might have on the matter.