Anywhere

Winter watched as Qrow retired for the night from her periphery, just sitting in the silence until Mono started chittering at her, running her hair through her beak. "I can't understand you, you know." Aura breeds were supremely intelligent but this bird was apparently dim enough to not grasp the concept of a language barrier. The only response she got were ruffled feathers and continual, failed attempts at communication. The other did start to chitter, though, and Mono looked at Winter expectantly. What did she want? Her friend unmasked? But Qrow had said that it was best to keep it blinded... To try to handle such a powerful animal without any sort of knowledge would be foolhardy at best but… The chirping grew in insistance. "What do you want me to do?" Mono tilted her head, only for Winter to sigh. This really was a fruitless endeavor. The bird extended her wing, Winter just staring. Language barrier was one thing; trying to understand an art she hadn't the foggiest about was another. "She just wants you to take her over to Kiyay." That voice— The AI? A small figure stood in the corner of the webcam feed, smiling Warmly. "Wha—" "I'm using your wireless network to broadcast from Qrow's scroll. It's pretty damn impressive but I already had Coco's signal so wasn't too hard to get in." The little figure grinned and folded its arms behind its head. This thing was going to be a pain in the ass at times, wasn't it? But if it could help at the moment. "Can you understand what the birds are saying?" On second thought, that was stupid. Why would an AI have- "Not yet, but given enough time and repetition, I can use my pre-coded translation software to. I can translate from Atlassian to Branwae for the birds for you.” What. There was no software that could do that, not in real time like that. Plus nobody could be smart enough to code— She was speaking to an AI that even the likes of the Atlas sian military hadn't developed. And its voice and tone were wholly organic. The Standard Atlassian accent perfectly native. Was Summer from Vale or Atlas...? ...The full extent of this AI seemed more and more terrifying the deeper she thought about it. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble. Even one-way communication would be better than this." Animals were not her strong suit and never would be, especially not aura breeds… A moment passed as the I spoke to Mono and the bird bobbed her head, ruffling her feathers and just leaving them puffed up. "Like I said, all she wants is to go over to her mate and she doesn't want to scare you by moving too much. Get in the top right pocket of the bag; you should find Qrow's glove in there and probably Dove's if I knew her even half as well as I do." Winter eyed Mono's talons before nodding and doing so. She withdrew a much more petite glove than Qrow's—Dove's, then…—and tugged it on. Tight but not entirely ill fitting. She was apparently a much slimmer woman than herself, but not entirely surprising. "Do I need anything else?" "Nope. Just have her step up and bring her over here. You'll need to do the same with Kiyay if you want him to get off your desk chair." Well if Mono wanted her mate… Taking in a deep breath, she held her hand up and Mono's feathers laid against her body, a long moment passing before she stepped up. Winter tensed a bit under the falcon's grip and looked at the AI. "Did I do something to offend her?” An angry falcon that could take out a buck that was no doubt much heavier than her was nota good thing. With a single word from the AI, Mono stepped back onto the couch. A few images popped up on the screen and Winter flushed. Oh.. She'd held her hand entirely wring but— Could she truly berate herself for mistakes this time? Normally they were unacceptable. but this world was alien to her. She was just an interloper, pretending to try to understand… At least Mono balanced much more easily this time and Kiyay, though masked as he was, even responded easily with some help from Summer. At least she could get to work now...

α

One hour. It'd only been one hour since she'd started work?! And she normally wouldn't be awake for another two or so… She slumped in her chair eyes shut. Even her work couldn't keep her mind off of what had happened. Coco was gone and Qrow was asleep so she was— Kiyay started chittering, tugging at his mask with his talons and she heard Summer chuckle. "Hey Winter, want to try unhooding him? I think he wants to see Mono." The bird just chittered something and Winter sighed. '”I don't have much choice, do I?" With how much Kiyay was picking at his mask---hood. Summer and Qrow had used the word multiple times. But how? How was she supposed to do something she hadn't the foggiest about? Normally, she would just do it, but if she damaged the raptor's eyes due to negligence… There was no telling whatQrow would do to her. A shiver went up her spine unbidden. Almost as if reading her mind, the AI brought up a video and slayed it several times. “...Thank you.” She shouldn't need this much help but in this case, the birds might come to harm if she weren't careful. If it were only herself, it'd be acceptable but somebody else's companions? Unforgivable. With awkward motions, she managed to use the cloth sides and took off the hood. Kiyay flapped a bit. letting out nervous chittering noises, but she paused for a moment before holding her hand out. His head tilted back and forth several times before he hesitantly stepped up. Huh... His feathers were soft and silky... Odd but not in an unpleasant way and a smile ghosted across her lips. "I know this is all new and scary for you, but it'll be okay; you're safe here." She heard Summer intone the message in Branwae and the bird just fluffed his feathers before leaning into her. Maybe these birds wouldn't be so bad...

Ω

Qrow sighed as he rolled over in bed, the minutes dragging by. Even with as busy as tomorrow was., the sound of the lightbulb shattering still rang in his ears. It was just a lightbulb but... it was only a matter of time until something wins e happened. It was only a matter of time until history repeated itself. It was only a matter of time until Winter ended up like Summer. Or worse. He balled his scroll out and sighed, looking at Raven's text string before shaking his head. No, no Grade Twelve in the tribe would do it. An exile and something that went against a deep-set code of advanced aura ethics...? Social suicide. There probably wasn't anybody in Atlas, but maybe his contacts would know of somebody... Plus Mantle liked him, so maybe he could find someone willing to do it. Every kingdom had advanced aura users, but a Grade Twelve in Atlas...? Ancestors, this would notpan out, but he couldn't let history repeat itself; Winter couldn't end like Summer. Unfortunately, after forty-five minutes of asking around, things only panned out like he had thought. If they didn't just laugh him off, he just got no response. It sounded insane but it wasn't... Damn it! Just…damn it... He didn't want to hurt her but— Robyn Hill. His eyes snapped open at the text. What? If anyone can point you in the night direction, it's you. Chick's always had her finger on the pulse of Mantle even before she entered Atlas Academy. I can set you up a meeting with her in 30 to if you want. The text on his screen blurred and he ran his hand over his eyes. No, he couldn't get his hopes up;i it would just end in disaster as always. What were they thinking, his Semblance wasn't just— Please. Will do, bird. Lemme get an address. Qrow just fell silent, hands shaking. No, no, he couldn't get his hopes up. Never never never. Last time he had, Summer had died. She'd been so happy, so expectant. But she'd never gotten that book becauseof him. If he could just keep Winter safe… An address popped up on his screen and he dropped his scroll on the bed. Winter would be better off with Summer and it wouldn't be that long. Go in, make contact, come back. She had Mono and Iroki; it'd be fine. An icy chill out through the room and black feathers turned to ink in the night sky. Hopefully this would pan out. If it didn't, he was fuck out of even bad luck.