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“Tommy! Come here!” Phil shouts, his wings fluttering as he flies around the kitchen and dining area of their treehouse. He places the backpack he’s packed for himself on the dining table and turns around, flying in place at the bottom of the stairs and waiting for Tommy.
Seconds later, Tommy runs down the stairs, trying to flutter his wings as he does so. “Dang,” he mutters, his tone obviously annoyed. “Dad, my wings are broken.”
Phil just chuckles and tends to his son’s wings. “They’re not broken, Tommy. You just haven’t used them as much as most avians your age, so they haven’t developed at the normal rate. You shouldn’t be using your legs for anything unless necessary.”
Tommy huffed in annoyance and walked over to the dining table where he saw Phil’s backpack. “Where are you going this time?”
“I need to go get some more food. We’re running low. I’m gonna trade some of the goods I have for emeralds at the nearest village. I’m gonna buy some food for us and some more seeds for our garden with whatever they give me.”
Phil pulled his son into his arms and hugged him tightly, placing a gentle kiss on the top of his head before letting the boy go. “I should only be gone for a day, maybe two at most, but if I’m not back by then, then lock up all the doors and windows and cover them. Hide and don’t come out unless you really need to.” Tommy nodded, his expression serious as he listened to his father. “I love you, Tommy. Stay safe, alright? Be careful and be smart. Don’t go outside.”
Without another word, Phil flew out of the treehouse, closing the front door behind him as he soared around the trunk of the tree and landed on the ground.
Tommy watched from one of the living room windows, waving at his father when he looked up at the treehouse, and Phil started walking in the direction of the village.
* * *
A few hours of flying later, Phil had finally reached the village. He visited many stalls, trading all of the items in his backpack for emeralds before buying some food and seeds at a stall near a big, open field.
“Be careful, avian.” A farmer whispered to him before he could turn and walk away. “We’ve been seeing a lot of hunters around these parts lately.”
Phil’s brows furrowed. “Thank you. I wish you well.” And with that, he left, keeping his eyes on his surroundings as he walked into the forest.
But just as he got ready to fly, hands tied his wrists and a bag was thrown over his head.
Well, this is inconvenient.
* * *
When Phil woke up, he was in a cage. One that resembled the one he had been held captive in as a child, before he escaped and made a life for himself.
He was still in the forest, but he was now in a camp. Hunters walked around and talked, sat around a fire and ate meat, and terrorized other hybrids in the cages around him. It wouldn’t be easy to get out of here. He knew that. He may be the strongest avian of his species, but he hasn’t used his fighting or hunting skills in God only knows how long. He was more than a little rusty, but he would try his best. He had to. He had a son to care for. He just had to make sure that he wasn’t followed once he escaped. He didn’t want anyone to find where the last of the avians had run off to.
“We’re gonna get paid good once we get back,” a male voice interrupted Phil’s thoughts. “When’s the last time you’ve seen an avian? They’re so rare and we’ll get some good money out of him.”
A small group of hunters approached his cage. Evil smiles cursed their lips as they talked about him.
“He’s well-cared for too, but too bad it’s just him. I bet he has a family or friends that are avian.” Another male voice spoke as he eyed Phil. “He’s a strong one too. His black wings symbolize his rank and strength. He’s probably a Pure Blood.”
The men continued talking, but walked farther away. Far enough away that Phil had to use his avian hybrid senses to hear them better.
“Siren and Blaze have been spotted in the area. They attacked other camps nearby and freed hybrids. We should be on alert. We got word from another camp that they’re stronger than before and completely uninjured.”
“Okay, get everyone stationed in their positions. I want as many people as we can watching the hybrids. But make sure the outside of the tent is guarded too.”
The men dispersed, shouting orders every which way. People ran around the camp like headless chickens. Two men were stationed with the caged hybrids; looks like those are the only men they could spare to watch them. Good. He could make do.
Phil ushered over a nearby guard, sticking a hand out of his cage to wave the guard over to him. “Hey, you! Yes, you! Can I get some water?”
The guard, now annoyed, held out his canteen to Phil. “Hurry up.”
Phil thanked the guard and grabbed the canteen, but just as the guard backed away, Phil grabbed his arm. He pulled the guard forward and slammed his head against the iron bars of the cage, knocking the man out. He grabbed the keys hanging on his waist before letting him go.
Just as Phil unlocked his cage, another guard came up behind him, but didn’t have enough time to knock Phil out before Phil tackled the guard and knocked him out himself. After moving the guards inside the cage, Phil walked over to the other cages to let the other animals out, but blacked out after being hit over the head by a guard he hadn’t seen when he escaped his cage.
“Bad birdy.”
* * *
Phil woke up a few minutes later with a terrible headache. He wasn’t in a cage again, but somewhere even worse. Hanging upside down over a fire.
“Fuck,” he muttered angrily. They’ve really outplayed him now.
And now, because he didn’t plan for the guard that snuck up behind him, he would never see his son again. Tommy would starve and probably only live a few more months before passing away if he stayed in the house. If he ran away, he’d probably be killed by a hunter like Phil.
Just as he let out a sigh and was ready to admit defeat, he heard shouting from behind him. The guards surrounding the fire he was perched over stood up and ran out in different directions. They shouted angrily as Siren attacked them with his voice, putting them to sleep instantly as he fought off guards that weren’t put to sleep by his voice. He killed the guards with practiced ease, his movement fast as he pierced them with his daggers.
Blaze was on the other side of the camp, taking on a giant horde of guards all by himself. He raged and shouted insults as he killed three men with one swing of his giant netherite axe. Phil could’ve sworn his eyes became hearts when he watched him fight. He was so strong. He could help him. Siren too, of course.
“They’re just like Robin Hood,” he mumbled, watching Blaze and Siren with awe. Tommy would love them; he knew it with absolute certainty since Tommy’s favorite story was Robin Hood.
“Need some help, birdy?” Siren asked from his right, sliding into his peripheral vision.
“Please,” Phil replied, getting ready to fly into the air to avoid the flames once Siren helped him.
Once Phil was free of the ropes, he flew a few feet into the air and landed beside Siren. “Thank you so much, Siren. I couldn’t thank you enough for saving me.”
Siren’s face flushed at the praise. “No need to thank me. Just stay safe, alright?” Siren then ran off to help his partner by killing the rest of the guards before they both helped the rest of the hybrids escape.
“We need to find some shelter and food, Wil. We’re running out, and we need to settle down somewhere.” Blaze said as he set his axe down on the ground beside him and leaned on it.
Phil overheard their conversation and took the opportunity to present himself.
“Sorry for interrupting, mate, but I couldn’t help but overhear that you need shelter and food? I have a treehouse not that far away from here. I have plenty of food and seeds to grow more and plenty of room for the two of you.”
Siren - or Wil, as Blaze called him - eyed Phil for a few seconds before turning to look at Blaze. “What’d you say, Tech?”
Blaze nodded his head. “Sure, why not. Thank you. What is your name, avian?”
“Please call me Phil.”
* * *
A sigh escaped Phil’s lips as they reached the trunk of the tree. “There are some stairs you guys can use to climb to the top. I’ll meet you up at the top. I need to check on my son first.” Phil flew up into the air and landed on the ledge right at the edge of the stairs. He opened the front door and walked in, looking around the bottom floor of the treehouse for his son. “Tommy! I’m home!”
The sound of someone running down the stairs fills Phil’s ears, and just as Wilbur and Techno enter through the front door, Tommy flies into his arms. “Dad! You’re home! Oh my God! Are you okay? You were gone for three days!”
Techno and Wilbur watch the avians with fond amusement. “This is your son?” Wilbur asks, stepping forward.
Phil steps aside to introduce Tommy to their visitors. “Yes, this is Tommy. My one and only. It’s just us around here. And, as far as I know, we’re the last of our kind.” Phil says as he runs one of his talons through his son’s hair. The kid leans into the touch and chirps happily, his golden locks getting tangled in his father’s talons. “Tommy, this is Wilbur and Technoblade. They’ll be staying here for a little bit.”
Tommy smiles and holds out his hand for them to shake. “Hello! It’s nice to meet you! Thank you for helping my dad!”
Wilbur and Techno return Tommy’s grin with one of their own and shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, Tommy.”
After a while, Phil heads to the kitchen, setting his backpack on the counter by the sink so he can prepare a big meal for everyone. He hears Tommy’s laughter from inside the kitchen, and he swears there are hearts in his eyes again as he watches Techno roughhouse with Tommy while Wilbur cheers Tommy on and playfully yells insults at Techno. He leans on the door and watches them for a moment before eventually going back to wash the herbs and vegetables he acquired while he was out.
Maybe they’d like to stick around forever. Maybe Phil should ask them about that later - for Tommy’s sake, of course.