Chapter Text
I groaned, walking around my cluttered cabin. The only thing worse than having one troublesome palisman is having two troublesome palisman. Especially when they’re best friends. My home was a wreck as is and it only gets worse when I leave Nettle and Rascal unsupervised.
Finally, after about an hour of searching, I found them seated on the couch tearing apart my newest cushion.
Looking at the pair of little birds, you would never expect much of them. Lil’ Rascal has one big innocent eye and is missing the other. Besides that, he’s really tiny. You would never expect he would cause much trouble at all. Maybe a few harmless pranks here and there but not much more.
Nettle was even more innocent looking by comparison. He was a round little thing, even tinier than Rascal by the smallest degree. He was basically made of up two fluffy balls stacked atop each other, one being his head and the other his torso. The tips of his wings and tail had a little blue tinge to it. Everything about him shouts soft and nice. That’s the impression I had when I carved him. But boy was I wrong. That little guy is a being sent straight form hell, born to hate everyone aside from Lil’ Rascal. Maybe I’m being a little harsh but it’s how he is most of the time. Of course, he’s still my palisman and I love him dearly.
Just because I love him though, doesn’t mean I can’t be mad. “Guys!” I shouted, stepping out from behind a pile of junk. “What the fuck?!”
Lil’ Rascal jumped and shook off all the stuffing that clung to his feathers. A look of guilt set into his face and he took a step back. At least he seemed apologetic. I looked at Nettle to see him standing there, glaring at me defiantly.
”You’d better have a good explanation for this!”
He twittered at me, flapping his little wings, and hopped towards me. ‘We were bored. Besides, the cushion was ugly.’
“Excuse me?!” I waved at the scraps of fabric and stuffing that were scattered everywhere. “Do you know how hard it was to get enough snails to buy that?! I know it was ugly but we don’t have the luxury to get super nice things okay?” I sighed, placing my hands on my face. “Nettle, if I could I would love to get you nice stuff. But I can’t right now and you know it.
He tweeted again. ‘Just steal something.’
I shook my head. I feel tired. I feel defeated. This has been going on for what feels like decades. In reality, I’d only spent two years out on my own. In reality, I’m still sixteen. “Nettle, you know what that means.” I nodded at the wanted posters I had collected. I try to take down as many as I can so that people don’t get word of my crimes. It’s a pretty futile effort but it’s whatever. “I can’t afford a bigger bounty on my head. People don’t want to fight me for now but as the price rises so will the number of hunters.”
Nettle turned away from me. I know he feels bad for telling me to steal. I know he understands. He just doesn’t know how to show that he cares.
I felt a weight land on my shoulder and a soft tweet in my ear. I looked to the side to see Lil’ Rascal perched there, nuzzling into my cheek. He’s a lot sweeter than Nettle is.
I smiled at him gratefully, “Thank you, buddy. You’re great at comforting people.” Not that he spends time with anyone else. The only witch he’s been near recently is myself, and all palisman have a connection. Some kind o magic bond. It’s pretty cool.
He tweeted happily, and I kind of wish I could understand what he was saying.
I felt Nettle land in my hair and my smile grew. “Hey, Nettle.”
He didn’t respond verbally but I felt him nest in my hair. At first I hated it but now there’s a sense of comfort that comes with the mildly uncomfortable feeling.
I extended my hand and stuck out a finger. Lil’ Rascal glided down onto my finger obediently. “You guys hungry?”
Lil’ Rascal tweeted, standing straight on my finger. I heard Nettle twitter as well, accompanied by a painful peck to my scalp. ‘Yes! Food!’
I grinned, “Okay, okay. Let’s find something to eat.”
Nettle and Lil’ Rascal sat talking at the table as I dug through the kitchen. Various cheap pots and utensils lined the counter, haphazardly stacked on top of each other. I opened a cabinet, grabbing the large jar of mixed seeds and nuts. The only thing I don’t put into it are the weird green ones Eda gives me on occasion. I think they’re called pistachio’s and Nettle doesn’t like them. He’ll throw them at me. Literally.
I scooped a large handful out of the jar and shouldered the cabinet closed, walking back to the table. I dropped the handful down and the palisman dug in.
I sighed, looking out the window at my crops. They weren’t ready to harvest yet and that means I have no food. If I want to eat today I’ll have to make a visit to Bones Burrow. It’s not like I hate the place. People usually minds their own business and as long as I avoid the coven scouts I don’t get bothered. I dug into my pocket and counted up my snails I had there. Fourty three snails. That’s enough for some cheap food and a cookie at the local bakery. I’ll even have a little to spare.
I heard a tweet and turned, looking at the birds. ‘Aren’t you going to eat?’
I shrugged, “Not right now. Though…” I smiled at them. “Anyone want to come to town with me?”