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"Phil? Phil!" The bald man shouted through the thick forest of fog and trees.
Fit, Etoiles and Tubbo hadn't seen their colleague in a week and they had begun to get worried. It wasn't like him to just leave without telling someone. Even when he was traveling, he told everyone he wouldn't be around. He had entrusted Tubbo with Chayanne and Tallulah.
The eggs were still missing, some residents were gone, and now Phil as well.
So, the three set out, searching for the Crow.
They had practically nothing but a chest full of flowers, and a spot where something lay in the middle. Though it was long since picked up, the flowers were broken or missing petals in the shape of a book.
They guessed someone, the Federation or specifically Cucurucho himself, broke in and wanted Phil to find it.
After searching throughout spawn buildings, Fit's gym, the museum, the Favella, and asking if anyone had seen him, they searched every waystone area they knew Phil went to/had. They were now searching the forest around the nest.
"Philza! Come out! I need a challenge! The code has not shown up for too long! I am in, uh, withdrawals!" Etoiles tried, hoping a friendly competition would draw their dear friend out of hiding.
Tubbo fiddled with his hands, "Guys, what if he's dead– What if the code killed him and took his body? What if the Federation killed him- what if CUCURUCHO KILLED HIM??"
"Tubbo! Please. Calm yourself." Fit snapped, sighing, "He's smarter than to just get killed by something out here. I have more faith in Philza than that." He defended, hoping he was right. He knew Philza was an experienced warrior, and he could handle himself especially without his kids around to potentially get in the way.
It didn't save Fit any anxiety about his dear friend.
"Guys, come see!" Etoiles shouted, causing the other two to rush his way to a large wooden building.
"A bird house?" Tubbo tilted his head, goat-like ears flicking with curiosity, "All the way out here?"
"I mean, I guess it makes sense? It's close to the nest-" Fit tried.
"A good 800 blocks out. Why have a nest with the waypoint if you have a big birdhouse here? Why not have the waypoint closer, for convenience?" Etoiles spoke next, thinking it was weird that if Phil built this place, hundreds of blocks away from the nest for his kids (why even build the nest in the first place, other than maybe a trick? To hide this home?) and tell no one? Not Fit, nor Tubbo or even Bad, who often took care of Chay and Tallulah when he couldn't make it home.
Everyone felt wrong about this place.
It was eerie, no torches anywhere, which was unlike Phil already. Tropical birds were flying around, many were just perched on trees nearby. It wasn't right. All were bright and colorful birds, unlike Phil's normal black Crows.
No one liked this situation.
With a collective breath to calm the nerves, they went to the code door - Tubbo quickly got out his code breaker and opened it - pushing inside slowly.
It was dark, another sign that it was dangerous. Phil would never let the inside of a building for his eggs be dark for monsters to creep into. He knew better.
The floor had feathers littering it, blue and red small feathers from parrots, and a handful of massive black ones. Phil's wings.
Red flags were in everyone's minds as they crept inside, looking up into the top segments of the house. Bird cages were broken and torn apart, some lying on the ground where they fell from such a height, but the chains still hung from the ceiling hidden beyond a layer of shadows. Some blood spatter near them told that whatever was in them didn't survive. Platforms and bird perches littered the home. It would have been perfect if it wasn't for Chayanne's float, Tallulah's hat, and Phil's hat sitting near a chest in the back of the room.
Tubbo was staring straight up, seeing birds staring down at the three intruders, "Um.. guys?"
Etoiles had his sword ready, watching Fit go and open the chest.
It was empty.. but he noticed what had been inside before, thrown to the floor in the corner.
He knelt down and picked up some ripped pages and pieces, finding the only words written for Phil.
"A cage for a cage."
Fit's eyes widened, "Shit.. the Federation are behind this... Fuck."
"Guys?"
"Not now, Tubbo." Etoiles said, stepping over a broken birdcage to Fit to see the words.
"Guys, please-"
"What, Tubbo?" Fit finally looked over, the boy was almost shaking, staring up at the top of the building. He gave a pathetic point to the shadows in the highest point of the building.
The two looked at where he was pointing, finding the many birds.
"Afraid of some birds, Tubbo?" Fit laughed a bit.
"Ah ah, Fit, look closer." Etoiles stepped back, growing tense at the sight.
He furrowed his eyebrows, squinting to see the big shadow within the corner of the home.
It wasn't just a normal shadow. It was alive.
Shit.
"What is that.." Fit asked, low to hopefully not disturb whatever that massive spot was.
"No idea."
There was a growl, a low growl that echoed in the home as the shadow began to move. It shifted and contorted before it reached its claws to grab chains and boards with each limb to slowly lower itself towards the intruders.
It was a beast. Golden claws, big black feathers and black eyes. Its teeth were massive, sticking out over its lips, ready to gouge and rip how it needed to.
"You've gotta be fucking me.." Fit cursed, "They locked him in a birdhouse with a fucking monster!?" He shouted angrily, pulling his own sword.
The beast screeched, wings extending before it jumped down. The clang of chains hitting wood and metal echoed, a minor distraction, as the creature pounced onto the ground. It was big, and terrifying, cracking the wooden planks with the force, making a puff of multicolored feathers go into the air.
Its eyes were black, ears long and big. It knew they were there since they walked in, no doubt.
Etoiles attacked first, "Did you eat my friend, you stupid beast??" He shouted, slicing at its large wings with his code sword.
He immediately got thwapped with it - his shield giving him little help - flying back into Tubbo, before both tumbled out the door. It knocked the air out of Etoiles' lungs with the powerful blow. It was strong.
In turn, it shut the door with its back claws, turning a shelf over in front of it so they couldn't get back in quickly or easily.
"Oh, come on! You're supposed to be the best fighter on the server, Etoiles!" Fit shouted, "It knocked you out in one hit!"
"I-I am sorry!" Etoiles wheezed from his spot in the dirt, ashamed of his performance, "It is smart!"
"Oh, yes, I can see that!" Fit replied as the dark eyes trained on him.
The man ducked and rolled once it pounced, getting up just in time to see it rebound off the wall - he noticed the walls had dents and scratches from this thing's claws, but didn't see them before - and come at him again.
He pulled his shield, "A little help here!"
"We're trying! The door is jammed!" Tubbo shouted, voice cracking with fear. For Philza and now for Fit.
"Your stupid code breaker broke the whole door and now it is on the fritz!" Etoiles fussed, searching for another way inside. The windows were barred, and the home was reinforced, so he had little luck.
"Anytime now, please!" Fit growled, the beast flinging his shield to the corner, cutting his arm in the process.
The man hissed, backing up against a wall, "What did you do to my friend??" He questioned as it reared another pounce.
It didn't answer, attacking him once again.
This time, it caught his face, slicing his cheek and through his lips. He groaned, holding the bleeding wounds as he moved in the small area. There was nowhere else to go. Up would be a disadvantage for him so he had to keep dodging and trying not to slip on the feathers or trip over the bird cages until his friends could come help.
If he could survive that long.
How long was Phil tussling with this thing before it eventually got him? Did it kill him and eat him? Or is there a possibility he escaped? Fit could only hope his friend made it out with his life. For his sake and for the egg's sakes when they return. He didn't want to think about how Chayanne would feel to lose his dad, and for Tallulah to lose a father two times in a row. They'd be heartbroken.
Before Fit knew it, his sword was ripped away from him and he was thrown into a wall. With a groan and blood pouring down his face and neck into the fabric of his bandana and shirt, he looked directly at the beast slowly coming upon him. His face hurt, and his ribs ached, wheezing out a breath as he made eye contact with the monster.
It was pale where it wasn't covered in black feathers. It had long, unruly blonde hair cascading from its head. Wings big and black with some white feathers in the middle row and on its chest was a feathery red heart.
And as it got closer to sniff him, Fit slowly realized that Crows were highly social creatures. Phil was a hybrid, like most on the island. Tubbo was a goat hybrid, Cellbit was a cat, Roier was a spider, and the many other bird hybrids that were among them.
That explains the crows swarming Phil's home. They didn't have part of their family. They knew something was missing but they couldn't find where.
This beast was Phil.
He had been alone, in the dark, for much too long. The anguish his mind must have gone through with these tropical birds he didn't belong with, and judging by the apple cores and the many many feathers, he must have run out of food and began picking these birds off in this form.
"Phil..?" He carefully reached a hand up, "Phil, hey, Phil, it's ok.. you're not alone.. not anymore.."
The beast tilted its head, showing the emerald earring dangling in its left ear. It was Phil's, for sure.
"Oh, my friend, we missed you so much." Fit smiled, gently setting his hands on the beast's face, scratching the black feathers around its jaw.
It was shocked but melted into the touch, "You need some help.. Guys, I'm gonna need some help-"
"Are you ok? What happened?" Tubbo asked, while taking the whole door off its hinges.
"This creature.. It's Phil. He's been away from his family and friends for too long. He's depressed and resentful.." he said, making the creature lay down and purr gently.
He was safe.
"Come on, I want you guys to come sit with us. Make him feel comfortable." Fit smiled, petting his dear friend, "Man, we were so worried about you.."
Phil didn't move much, shutting his eyes to enjoy the company.
It took a bit, but the two got inside the home, going to help Fit calm Phil down. They gave him his hat back, though it looked comedically small on the beastly head.
They had a laugh about it.
After grooming his poor wings and a proper meal for the lot, they all settled down in the house Phil had been trapped in for the last week and then some. With more lights, this time.
Tubbo was already asleep, while Etoiles was drifting off. It was a long day, but they didn't think Phil should come home looking like this, without all his mind. Not near the Federation where he could be taken again. Not yet.
Fit laid against a wall, the crow beast in his lap, resting as well, "I'll stay here with you until you're back to normal, King. I just hope you aren't too far gone.." he said before settling in for the night.
They all slept until morning.
Fit was the first to wake, but only because of the shifting that came from the weight on his body.
He opened his eyes, comfy and warm with a large set of wings around him. What he saw made him smile.
The beast was gone, replaced with a very feathered, but very humanoid Philza against his body. His friend was back. He wrapped his arms around the blonde, giving him a long awaited hug. He missed his friend. He couldn't lose anyone else. Not now. Not with his precious baby boy gone and having been gone for weeks.
He couldn't take it.
"Fit..?"
The bald man looked down, unintentional tears in his eyes, "Phil?"
"Mm.. when did you get here?" Phil asked, rubbing his blue eyes with a feathery and clawed hand. He wasn't fully transformed back, but it was a start.
"Yesterday. We came looking for you.. we found you in this place. Alone. I'm just glad to see you alive, man."
"Alone.." Phil mumbled, remembering what happened, "They tricked me and trapped me here.. alone.."
Fit nodded, the blood on his face long since dry, and the gashes needed to be cleaned and bandaged badly.
"Did I..?" The crow asked, looking at the wounds from yesterday.
Fit nodded, "It's fine. You're back and that's all that matters."
"How long was I gone..?"
"A week.. and a few days."
"How's Forever?"
"Awake and thriving. Worried for you.."
"Anything new?"
"Tubbo's factories are going great.. Foolish is having a crisis and Bad is doing some suspicious things.."
"And the eggs..?"
"...still gone.."
They grew silent, being in each other's presence. They didn't want to be away from one another. Phil was touch starved and socially deprived and Fit hated his home being so quiet and empty.
They needed one another in these hard times.
"I'm sorry.. for not telling you about this."
"Hm?" Fit looked down at his friend, who didn't move from being curled up on his chest.
"About the whole.. beast thing… that's why I've been clingy with you and Tubbo. Since Chayanne and Tallulah are gone, I was getting lonely.. When I'm lonely, I want to isolate myself.. I've gotten better about it over the years, about taking care of myself and regulating my emotions better." Phil explained, voice small, smaller than Fit has ever heard from his friend.
"Hey, it's ok.. this is hard for all of us. This island is messing with our heads. The eggs, the Federation, the codes.. it's all so much.. I'm just glad I have you guys here to weather through this messy situation.. new and old friends alike." He glanced over at Tubbo and Etoiles, sleeping in their respective positions.
Phil smiled, giving a small nuzzle, shutting his eyes once again, "Me too.."