Ennui 2015/04/06(Mon)00:33 No. 633127 ID: 03a06f
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>>633043

That...That is very true...

You see your mother washing dishes, there's no food on the table. She hears you enter but doesn't turn around right away. A long time ago, your mother was a high member of the Guard and lead many attacks against the humans when they dared to push too close to our boarders. She had many promising years of leadership ahead of her and would have no doubt climbed the ranks even further - Unfortunately...

Ennui 2015/04/06(Mon)00:34 No. 633128 ID: 03a06f
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Accidents happen.



"Welcome home, my dumpling."



You've always thought your mother's voice was the most pleasant sound in the world, quiet and measured, every word carefully chosen.

Your stomach moans and you ask her why there's nothing to eat.

Ennui 2015/04/06(Mon)00:34 No. 633129 ID: 03a06f
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"We're running late already, there's no time for that. You'll be glad you didn't eat anyway."

Her voice seems to stiffen as she nudges you outside. You figure you're not allowed to bring anything along - she probably would have mentioned that. Instead the two of you start walking through toward the Elder's hut to finally have your Time.

You have a little bit of a walk, what do you do?

don't ask anything specific, just generalizations like. "is it scary?".

also, has she told you about your father? ask about him.

>>633129
It sounds like you're going to be eating something during your Time. Ask if you're gonna have to eat a human.

>>633131
Or there's something that'll make her want to retch...

One question. How in the bloody blazing saddles did you manage to tie off your hair like that?

We should just thank her for everything and ask her to wish us luck.

Wait, do harpies have hands? How is your mother washing the dishes?

Get going, you've got a trial to survive.

Ennui 2015/04/12(Sun)05:12 No. 633975 ID: 03a06f
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>>633224

Huh? It's simple! You just hold the dish like this and wash it. Silly, haven't you ever done dishes before?

Ennui 2015/04/12(Sun)05:12 No. 633976 ID: 03a06f
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>>633219

Harpys are very dexterous of course.

Ennui 2015/04/12(Sun)05:13 No. 633977 ID: 03a06f
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>>633130
>>633131

Father? What father? There's no males in your tribe.

You bite your lip for a moment then softly ask her if it's going to be scary. If you'll have to eat a human or something horrible. You feel your stomach churning at the very idea of your talons sinking into sentient flesh like that. Sure, you're not a fan of humans but...but to eat them? You can't even imagine. She doesn't respond for a long time then simply murmurs, "It will be scary for you."

You feel a lump stiffen in your throat and you're already glad you didn't have any dinner after all.

The Elder's hut looms in the distance, illuminated by enough torches to make it seem like daylight and your mother turns to face you - a silhouette in the dark. She's quiet for so long you almost ask what's wrong, but just as your lips part she speaks so quietly you have to strain to hear her. "Bread. Do you know what humans call us?"

A horn erupts from somewhere unseen and you feel the feathers on the back of your neck fluff up. You can't hear what she's saying, but her lips very deliberately pronounce each syllable.

Ennui 2015/04/12(Sun)05:14 No. 633978 ID: 03a06f
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"Butcher Birds."

Before you know it she's walking past you, back toward your home and away from the lights beckoning you forward. You find it a very peculiar thing to say but don't have time to ask her what she meant. You're not even sure if she heard you say you'd make her proud as you dart over to the hut where the other girls had already begun to file in.

It seems like you miscounted earlier, it looks like there's twelve other girls in line before you.

birds who butcher, or birds that will be butchered? I guess thats up to us.

well that's ominous. tuck head into neck fluff and see what the hell is going on.

Be ready to fly away if they force you to murder sentient beings.

>>633986
ye
also, well, that's a choice you're gonna have to make.
i mean, fly away and then what, be banished from your tribe forever??? alone??? sometimes you have to do nasty shit to survive. i just hope this wont be one of those times.

>>633977
If there are no males, where do babies come from?

>>633995
The Time.

>>634008
i sincerely doubt it and i rly hope not
especially if theres girls who dont make it back
anyway yo where's a disthread? (ps i did a fanart cause CUTE)

>>634025

I didn't think anyone would want one! I'll go put one up now because I need to see this fan art. I'm so glad you're liking it :D

>humans call us Butcher Birds.
That's weird, you don't call the humans butcher monkeys. You call them humans. They should call you what you are, too!

>It seems like you miscounted earlier
Or one didn't show up.

>Father? What father? There's no males in your tribe.
But are there males in your species?

...maybe that's what the Time is for. Maybe they send you out to find a scary male.

Butcher birds? Like ...whatsit, shrikes?

Kill something and hand it impale it on a tree for me, then. Good luck with the Time.

Ennui 2015/04/30(Thu)06:51 No. 637087 ID: 03a06f
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As the first horn dwindles out you enter the hut, the other twelve girls casting their eyes in your direction. Some look away but you feel eyes still burning into your feathers long after you look away and scurry to an empty spot against the wall.

There seems to be a small lull before your Time starts. The other girls are chatting with each other, maybe you should try to start conversations? Maybe they know something you don't - and allies ARE always helpful, right?

The real question is.. who do you try to talk to first? You're not sure how much time you'll have, you better make a good choice.

Finally done being sick! Excited to get back into posting~

>>637087

Top right.

Bottom, far most left.

>>637087
The twins~

Yeah, prolly top right. She looks most cheerful, which bodes well for being willing to talk to you.

>>637099
Or middle right, she looks in about the same state of mind as you.

Top right looks friendly.

the green one, top row third to the right!

we need to make friends with skills that compliment ours. we're more of a watcher, and she looks like a fighter. it would be good to have someone like that on our side!

Dark green one. She looks tough, and you're not very tough. Making a friend out of her would be a good thing.

Ennui 2015/05/07(Thu)01:52 No. 638802 ID: 03a06f
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You take a deep breath and steel yourself, finally deciding that one of the girls is obviously the same...erm...temperament as you. Besides, none of the other girls so much as paused their conversations when you looked at them - but this girl smiles as you approach.

The air in your lungs burns but you can't seem to breathe out. You can't seem to do anything at all but stand stupidly beside the other girl. She cocks an eyebrow and smiles wider. The corners of your mouth tug up in what could almost pass as a smile and you dip your head in a little nod of acknowledgment.

A little flutter of a giggle comes from the girl as she leans a little closer to you and whispers, "Are you nervous? My momma said there's nothing to worry about - everyone else in the tribe did it, why can't we?" her persistent smile remains and she cocks her head to one side. "I'm Meringue, what's your name?"

You finally feel the weight in your chest lift as you finally breathe and manage an actual smile as you answer. Perfect, someone you can talk to! Uh... what do you say?

name first "i'm bread. what do you think the time is?"

Carefully explain that you're worried that the Time may be too much for you to handle (if the Time involves hunting humans for reproductive services, you're out). You would like a partner in case you need to run away.

Also explain that you do not care if she is a horrible person, deep down. You are sweet but also a loser; maybe you can help balance each other out?

>>638859
no, do NOT ay the second bit, holy hell.

>Perfect, someone you can talk to! Uh... what do you say?
Well you should probably introduce yourself, like she did.

Be shy and adorable as you introduce yourself, she seems to like your cute shy adorableness. She seems more cheerful and chirpy (pun maybe), you guys should totally be best friends.

Ennui 2015/05/20(Wed)22:13 No. 641791 ID: 03a06f
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...You're not a complete idiot... Of course you know to introduce yourself! But after that you only really have one thing on your mind. Tentatively you ask her what she thinks is coming and if her mother had let anything slip.

Meringue seemed to have known you all her life as she chattered on, watching the other girls mingle while she rocked up and down on her talons. "Momma said it's to prove that we won't be a burden to the tribe. She said every year it gets harder and harder to find fresh meat that hasn't been tainted by the forest. I'm not sure what we're really doing, maybe just hunting? I've gone hunting loads before, it should be pretty easy, right?" she smiles easily but you find yourself having a harder time curling the corners of your mouth up. You haven't ever gone hunting, actually..

"You're still scared?" Meringue continues to smile, hopping a bit closer to you as the feathers on her neck ruffled, "It'll be fine! We can stick together!" Your heart swells and you wonder if she could be any more perfect. You're completely....a flutter

D'awww.

Um...give some indication of agreement. "I'd like that," or "Yes, please," or something.

sure that would be great. but, aren't animals supposed to be in the forest, how could they be tainted?

guess we will find out.

Ask her if she has talked to any of the other girls. If so what was her opinion of them and if she hasn't talked to anyone else ask her why.

If this is some kind of tribal deathmatch, you are going to screw this ritual and fly north. No sense murdering your sisters when you can fight for a home in the Northlands... right?

Ask Meringue if she wants to come. Journeying north would be more dangerous but would also prove yourself like the Time.

>>641805
way way too premature for that. it could be anything. asking to run away before looking is bad.

Ennui 2015/08/02(Sun)20:04 No. 659933 ID: 03a06f
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You nod your head with a little smile you can't seem to wipe off your lips. You assure her that yes, you would love to stick together with her - but you omit your lack of hunting skill. What if she changes her mind when she finds you you'll just hold her back? You regret never talking to the girl earlier, but you suspect after tonight the two of you will be the best of friends.

Assuming, of course, that you both make it.

>>641800

You decide that maybe her bubbly personality means she knows the other girls more than you and cock your head, using your chin to indicate the other chattering harpies. "Oh, them?" Meringue taps her lip with one wing, her brows furrowed. "I know some of the girls because my momma knows their mommas. Uhmm.. Ten is the one with the pretty green feathers. She's really nice, sort of quiet though. I've only talked to the twins once - their names are Chime and Pearl. I erm...I don't remember which is which! It doesn't matter, they're both equally snotty." The small girl scrunched her nose up and tapped her foot hard on the ground. "They don't talk to anyone but each other anyway. And the big blue bird is Rain. She...doesn't talk much. Mostly shrugs. Erm. I'm not sure if she'll be much help to us either." She fluffed her neck feathers, tucking her chin down into the soft plumage. For a minute she looks just as nervous as you do.

Behind the only door in the Elder's hut you hear the murmur of voices. They're coming. It's about to start.

This is it

look the part the best. do what is expected for this. do you stand at attention?

Fluff your wings. Listen carefully to the instructions. When you decide what you want to do, do it with SPEED. Tell Meringue to follow you as safely as possible.

OH MY GOD THIS IS BACK IM SO HAPPY AAAAAAAA AAAAAAA IM SO FUCKING HAPPY ahem ok anyway
look sharp!!

Try to not look like a nervous mess and pay attention.