Blackfeather Woods thought i'd something more to say. . .

She didn't understand, at first, why Blue woke her at dawn, prodding gently but insistently at her cheek. Grumbling, she roused, and the grackle began to lead her reluctant feet through the woods, weaving adroitly through the forest trails. Finally, they emerged on the southern border, the sun still hidden behind the mountains to the east. The sky was the pale blue of pre-dawn, growing lighter with each passing moment.

Blue landed on a branch that hung low, near her head, and stared down at her with unblinking silver eyes. He turned his head to the south, then back, looking almost mournful. Gestured again, and again, until Maegi finally understood.

The ravens didn't migrate; that was not their calling. But the songbirds, the robins and the jays, made the trek south to escape the cold northern winter. Blue had gotten on so well with the Blackfeather birds that she had just assumed that he would stay, too. She had forgotten that he was not one of them, despite everything.

Do you have to? Maegi asked, her voice choked, though she knew that to ask him to remain here would be cruel. He didn't have her plush fur; he would be miserable through the cold months, if he survived at all. No, in order to keep her friend, Maegi had to let him go, hoping that he would be back when the spring came once more.

The Melonii began to cry, everything finally crumbling down around her, falling back upon her haunches and loosing guttural sobs. Blue came down with a flutter to land on her shoulder and nestled into the curve of her neck, soft, downy feathers a comforting touch against her neck. Her wailing finally subsided into sniffles, and then she fell silent, the bird still sitting with her.

She had composed herself, for the most part, when Blue took wing once more, giving her a long look before soaring up, up, up into the morning clouds. Maegi watched him go, the silent tears rolling down her cheek, wondering how many nights she would have to sleep before she saw the grackle again.

Until then, she would have to live without a soul.