Good Food And Even Better Company

Pan caught the look on my face before I could hide it.

‘You okay, Ina? You look a little,’ he raised his eyebrows in suspicion, ‘overcooked.’

‘What? No! I was just… uh…watching the…uh…fire. It’s hot.’

Pan pouted like a cat, with eyes stretched into lines in disbelief.

‘Yes, it is,’ he said as he patted my head.

‘Squawk…’

‘Is he sulking?’ I asked, looking at the tiny bird with wings hanging on its side, as if exasperatedly fed up.

‘He’s mad you’re either looking at Riye, thinking of Celphi, or being patted by me.’

’Awww! Let’s name him.’

Riye turned slightly, golden eyes flickered toward the bird.

‘He’s already got a name. Are you still going around renaming or giving nicknames to anything you find cute?’

The strong spark between our eye contact made me fidgety and smile stupidly like a little child.

‘Squawk!’

Pan turned me around and hugged me from my back.

’That’s enough… You’d make me…’ Pan hesitated, ‘…de.. Mede. You’d make Mede jealous.’

I thought he was going to say that he was jealous.

’Where is he? You told me he doesn't want to see me!”

‘Squawk?’

‘Later bird!’ I scolded.

‘Misses being wedged to your chest, probably.’

‘Pan!’ I gasped, swatting Pan.

‘What? It’s where he was happiest. Phoe… these birds are possessive.’

Riye turned his head towards me, then the bird, then opened his mouth.

‘Wait...’ Pan cut in quickly, raising a hand. ‘Don’t.’

Riye blinked at him in disbelief. ‘Why not? She should know.’

‘Not yet. It’s funny.’

‘Funny? You realize she’s been stuffing him into her shirt for two days.’ Riye gave him a deadpan stare.

I felt Pan’s shrug from his secure embrace.

‘This is why you’re a liar.’ Riye shook his head.

Pan smiled serenely. ‘I’m aware.’

‘I told you not to misunderstand. He just doesn’t want to show his bald shape. That’s it.’ Pan whispered to my ear as he tightened the hug.

So warm.

’Pan.’

‘Squawk!’

Riye and the bird spoke out synonymously. Pan let me go begrudgingly.

‘Ahem.’ I walked over to the other side of the fire to pick up my bird. As I put it over my chest, a strong grip stopped me mid motion. My eyes fluttered upon seeing Riye’s face up close.

How fast and silent. So charming.

‘I apologize. I had not known these two were messing with you.’ Riye took the bird from me and cast it into the fire.

’STOP!’ I shrieked as I instinctively grabbed onto Riye’s arm to stop him. But the bird was already chucked into the fire like a bowling bowl. And it was on flame as it rolled towards Pan.

‘How could you do that!’ I turned to hit Riye on his chest repeatedly. It felt as if knocking desperately on a huge door made of pillows.

As if I could actually do any damage.

My sight was still locked on my poor bird and Pan who is now skipping around like a wild horse, trying to avoid being burned.

’Hehe!’ I wasn't able to suppress my laugh. The sight turned out to be funny, not scary. The bird wasn't dying. It was just on fire and trying to get Pan on fire too. Finally the realization hit me.

Angry bird. Fire bird. Bald bird? Red eyes.

‘Is that Mede?’

Pan nodded as he jumped for his life. ‘Yep.’

My jaw dropped into the ground. ‘HOW DARE YOU!’

I was about to join the fiasco but Riye held me back like a referee holding back a rowdy player.

‘Why didn’t you say anything?!’ I could only point to Pan.

‘Because watching him pout like a rejected boyfriend is healing my soul.’ Pan pouted and skipped.

Mede flared his tiny wings with another offended chirp.

‘You’re not any better! You’ve just helped yourself to my chest any time you so pleased!’ I pointed at Mede bird aggressively and accusingly.

He turned his beak up and waddled away behind a log like a dramatic soap opera diva. Riye, who had quietly watched the exchange, let out the tiniest chuckle.

‘He’s jealous.’

‘Of what?’ I whipped my head back to him in anger, wriggling my arms free as well.

‘Of me.’ Riye said it without arrogance. Just quiet certainty.

Pan turned to me. ‘Not just him.’

’What do you…nevermind.’

Caught in the middle of this bizarre contest for my attention, I lifted my hands in resignation,

‘Okay, okay. Let’s not turn this into a roast off.’

Pan lifted an eyebrow. ‘A what?’

‘Like, a rivalry. Over meat. Or… me.’ I explained. ‘It could also be a fight with snarky words.’

Pan snorted. ‘Same thing, apparently.’

Riye, now holding a skewer with perfectly crisped meat, handed it to me.

‘Eat,’ he said simply.

‘Thank you…’ I muttered, still irked, as I accepted.

He crouched beside me, close enough that I caught the heat rolling off his skin.

Something is up with Riye. While I feel that I can’t trust him yet, there is something undeniably warm about him. Not just his excellent physical look and manners, but from something deeper. Unwavering lion heart? Maybe that oppressive thing I feel in my soul? Something. 

‘That is a suspicious proximity.’ Pan raised his eyebrow and came up to sit on my other side.

Riye didn’t flinch. ‘I need to watch her for signs of poisoning. Or fatigue.’

‘With your abs?’

I choked on a laugh, nearly dropping my skewer.

Pan don’t remind me! I’ve moved on to a different train of thought now.

Riye glanced at me, then at Pan. ‘It’s called proximity medicine.’

Pan nodded solemnly. ‘Yeah yeah! Next time, I’m inspecting her for sadness with my biceps.’

I was howling with laughter. Cheeks, belly and heart warm.

Mede peeked up from behind the log, eyeing me with judgmental squawks.

Awww… Sorry… Maybe you would’ve introduced yourself to me if you could.

‘Mede,’ I called softly, ‘you can come back. I’ll let you nap on my lap at least.’

Litte Mede shuffled closer. Then climbed up onto Pan’s lap instead. Gave me one long, betrayed look, and turned his back to me. I held onto my imaginary pearls for support.

Pan looked at me as if I knew the answer. ‘Did I just get claimed?’

Leaned back, chewing on a skewer. ‘Congratulations. You're the rebound.’ Riye dryly said.

I gasped through my laughter. Pan stroked Mede’s puffed chest feathers.

‘Bird’s got taste.’

’I forgive you Mede. Maybe.’ I whispered.

Mede glared at Riye. Then glared at me. Then turned dramatically and buried his face in Pan’s shirt, then squawked a muffled emotional squawk.

‘Can anybody translate for me?’ I asked.

‘I am not speaking to anyone who has used me as a portable heat pillow and then goes around to accuse me of being a chest dweller.’ Pan translated.

’Pffft.’ I almost spat out my food from that adorable tantrum.

’You did think he was food as well, correct?’ Pan said to add insult to the injury.

’PAN!’ I swatted his arm.

‘Squuuuawk!’

Riye couldn’t keep his guttural laugh anymore. His booming laughter filled the immediate area, making me feel safe and happy as well. I turned around and leaned closer to him, joining his laugh.

‘Don’t be dramatic, it wasn’t even that funny.’ Pan complained. Cutting into Riye’s and I’s shared laughter. Claiming my attention once more. ‘We already have one drama king in this camp fire, and he’s covered in feathers.’

First of all, you made the joke yourself. We were just laughing. Secondly, you are an even bigger drama king!

I stifled a giggle as Riye shot Pan a warning look.

Raiona had good company.

‘You okay, Ina?’ Pan asked, tilting toward me.

‘Yes, I just…’ I glanced between them. ‘You three bicker like old friends.’

‘We’re not friends,’ they said at the same time. Joined by one squawk.

Silence. Then Pan leaned toward me and whispered, ‘We’re trauma-bonded rivals.’

I giggled. 

Same. Us too in the orphanage.

Just then, Riye finished cooking some more meat, pulled the skewers off with calloused fingers, and handed one more to me.

‘Eat.’

His voice was soft, but it commanded attention. I reached for it, hands brushing his. I had to fight not to stare again. His golden eyes glinted in the firelight, his jaw was sharp, lips plush, arms veined and…

Pan immediately sat in between us and blocked my line of sight.

‘Eat in peace, Your Highness. No distractions.’

‘I am her guard,’ Riye said. ‘I need to see her at all times.’

‘What, is she going to fall into the fire if you blink?’

‘She might choke over your ego.’

I was laughing so hard my cheeks hurt.