Heron Lake Plateau Who does the owl say

The boy groaned and rolled his eyes. This was the dumbest bird he'd ever met! And so far he'd nearly been eaten by a very bold hawk, so that's saying something.

No, you dummy! Not my toes! He stopped his playful wiggling and put his foot down, because keeping it raised obviousl didn't help. At the crook of his ankle joint was a bulbous bug wedged against the flesh, gripping tightly. He couldn't twist enough to point it out so he explained — There! That! That there! Right --- ooph, there! See it? That's not a toe! That's some kinda bug! Bleh. If that didn't get the bird's attention he didn't know what would.

Then again, Tywyll could just leave the little pipsqueak alone and find someone to actually get the tick off of his  leg. That would probably be easier than trying to convince this bird brain to do it - what was he, a bird whisperer? No thank you!