If Birds could Speak - Closed RP

[myvalentina]

Closed RP with Myvalentina and @StoneWolf18






If you look to the skies over the mountains of Northern California, sometimes the dark clouds of incoming storms look like something else. It's near enough to the city of Sonoma, that generations of locals have written about the dark bird that hunts across the snowy mountains. The oldest piece of evidence that this myth has any truth to it is an old newspaper that dates back to the turn of the century, found in an old Spanish mission. Translated it speaks of a giant black bird that terrorized native and colonizers alike. It says the bird was judging them.


The towns that litter the valley speak of the old bird still, telling children and tourist alike, that if they act badly Jueza will come for them. What most of the tourists don't realize is that among that mountain range lies an old mansion and the stories are real. It sits among snow for most of the year, and it's upkeep is handled by the family that built that mansion more than one hundred years ago. But no one from the Alcalde family ever visit; there is no one left alive that remembers why the family left it to sit empty for so many years. Nearly forgotten.


If the clouds and trees would allow, you could possibly catch a glimpse of a giant, black form return to the Alcalde mansion every night. Jueza comes home every night. 

 

[StoneWolf18]

Most people have had moments in their lives when they decide to do something, but once that something is already in motion, they regret it dearly as soon as they are unable to back out.


Elara was having one of those moments.


She had needed to clear her head, the various college courses she was taking getting to her. And so the best way to do that, to her at least, was to go on a bit of a walk. Normally around the block once or twice to stretch her legs and fill her lungs with fresh air. But this time she'd decided to push herself. The woman having gone off on one of the hiking trails that she normally would avoid. At first it was a refreshing change of pace, but as every branch began to look all to similar and the sun slowly began to dip below the skyline, a pit formed in her stomach. Instantly regretting what she had done. Now she walked alone on a particularly unused trail, the undergrowth and thick carpet of leaves almost obscuring her view of the trodden dirt beneath. Being lost was the absolute worst thing that could've occurred. Well, aside form a wild animal becoming too curious. Yet the increasingly nervous Elara kept on walking, her fingers tightly gripping the edges of her thin jacket as a chill began to climb into the air.


After a few more minutes of walking, she came into a clearing that once looked to have been free of Mother Nature's grasp but it now being clear how she had regain a hold on the area. Yet what made her breath catch in her throat wasn't the makeshift courtyard, but the giant mansion in a state of heavy disrepair looming in the darkness before her. Every instinctual fiber of her being told her to get away from the building. Run. Never look back. As just being near it felt...wrong. But with night having already set, Elara slowly neared the large set of double doors, trying a handle with a shaking hand.


Of course it was bloody open.


Shuffling inside ever so carefully, the woman glanced back at the open doorway, still tempted to run back out.


@myvalentina

 

[myvalentina]

Warmth was usually her main goal after a day out hunting. As soon as the sun began to dip below the horizon she'd make her way back with a full belly and something stolen from the large ranches in the valley. Quilt's or blankets were her go to if she could find them, or maybe a claw-ful of hay to add to her nest. 


The roof on the eastern side of the mansion had collapsed a long time ago and she would snuggle into the rafters of the large attic with the smell of laundered blankets. It wouldn't last long, but for a couple of nights she felt strangely different. Like she could almost remember what it was like to sleep in sheets and soft linen. 


Jueza had already begun to fall asleep, but the sound of the front door creaking open strained every plank of wood until she felt the rafters beneath her body shift ever so slightly. She was quick to fly from her roost through a hole in the wall straight into the large open foyer. Emerging with a swift sound of wind and dropping large, glistening, ebony feathers behind her, she had to catch herself among the wooden architecture that decorated the ceiling. 


There at the foot of the giant staircase was a person. A woman, her dark silhouette lit by nothing more than a rising moon.

 

[StoneWolf18]

Deciding it was in her best interest to say put, Elara examined the staircase before her with a bit of difficulty due to the lack of light. About to approach it, the woman stopped for a few reasons. The creaking of the house was to be expected, but this was something else. Looking up and around to see its origin, she swore the she saw a faint outline in the rafters but with the thick darkness she couldn't tell if it were actually something or just her fightned mind playing tricks on her. Yet as she neared the staircase something on the ground caught her eye. Feathers. Glistening in the moonlight that flooded in the door way. This wasn't significant until she felt like she was being watched. Trying desperately to control her breathing, Elara glanced around the mansion with a slight nervousness as she continued.


@myvalentina

 

[myvalentina]

Jueza had protected her home from intruders before. It was her job and a long time ago she would take on armies of men with guns and arrows. Things were less exciting nowadays. Most of the time she was picking off animals looking to make a home, teenagers looking for a place to throw a party, or filthy looters. This was different. It was rare someone was so lost this far from anything, and if that was the case she wouldn't last out here for long. 


She was quick to make a decision. 


Making her way back through the attic space and down into the lower rooms she made it into the large living room area. On wetter nights she would stoke a fire to dry her feathers, and so tonight she gathered together the remnants of old logs and used a dwindling piece of flint to spark a flame. The room was soon a wash in reds and oranges and a small piece of her dismayed at the state of her home. Lying a quilt she had stolen from a little girl in the valley on an ornate chair she returned to the ceiling. Sitting in a hole near the fireplace which led back towards the attic, she watched with curiosity to get a better glimpse at the intruder. 


@StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

The woman climbed the stairs slowly, the protests erupting from the ancient planks in the form of drawn-out creeks and groans. Not helping her nerves in the slightest, Elara was quick to reach the top of the staircase when she paused. Something had caught her eye. Peering down the left corridor a glow seemed to radiate from a large pair of doors set ajar. Having assumed she was the only one in the mannor, she approached cautiously before warily entering the room. It was coated with dust and cobwebs, the light from the fire that had been lit casting ominous shadows around the room. Aside from the lit hearth being out of place, the quilt that was spread across an elaborately crafted chair that looked as if it hadn't been sat in for a long amount of time.


Despite not feeling all that certain about the situation at hand, Elara was exhausted and no to mention that the fire provided some since of security. Approaching the chair, slowly sat down, the blanket providing the the padding the piece of furniture had lost years ago. Soon she unwillingly was lulled to sleep by the warmth from the fire.

 

[myvalentina]

Jueza held her breath when the woman entered. It had been some time since she had seen another person this up close, longer still since she had contemplated actually speaking to another human. She wasn't even sure she had a voice left. She watched the woman fall asleep, and soon after jumped from her spot high up in the wall, landing silently. 


Her large form blocked the light from the fireplace, so she got that much closer to inspect the woman. In shadow she looked very pale and her hair looked silvery as it spilled over her face. Jueza reached out to push it back, stopping only when she realized her wing was not built for such gentle gestures. She trilled in frustration, ruffling her feathers in annoyance.


@StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

As the monstrous figure loomed of Elara and moved to brush a bit of hair away from her face, the woman stirred and blinked open her eyes somewhat before allowing them to widen considerably. It blocked the light from the fire yet despite this they still could be made out rather well. A giant bird-like creature. She was stricken with a mute terror, shrinking back slightly into the chair. Her face contorted into a look of pure fear. Various thoughts passed through her mind, but one continued in a never ending loop.


'I'm going to die.'

 

[myvalentina]

As the woman's eyes opened, Jueza froze unsure what to do. And as it twisted with fear it distressed the giant bird. She was used to striking fear in people, but had never really tried not to do that. She quickly stepped back, her talons clicking frantically over the wood floors as she tried to disappear back into the shadows.


What could she tell this woman? Not to be afraid? The whole point of a giant beast of a bird was to scare people. Jueza whistled a bit, a type of singing that was meant to sooth the other birds in the area. And then she spoke.


"I'm sorry." Her voice was unnaturally deep and raspy from disuse. "I didn't mean to scare you." She said from the corner, her feathers glistening from the bit of firelight that bounced around the room.


@StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

Elara still remained frozen, watching the monster with a fearful gaze as they scrambled backwards, whistled, and then spoke. She blinked her expression turning into one more of surprise than terror, softening somewhat while not cramming herself into the chair. "Y-you c-can speak?" The woman asked the painfully obvious question seeing as she was already having trouble keeping her voice steady. Whilst waiting for a reply, she was trying to rationalize the situation but falling up short of any logical explanation.

 

[myvalentina]

Jueza chose to answer her question with more talking. "What brought you to this place, my dear? The mountainside is a dangerous place, and my home is not reached easily." She asked, a little accusation edging into her voice.


The woman was beautiful, and maybe it had momentarily blinded her of the consequences that might come by revealing herself to another person. It wouldn't be the first time. "I will do you no harm, but I must know your intentions." She finished. 


@StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

As the bird asked her how she had reached their home and her intentions, a slight edge creeping into the already unnatural tone, Elara's face shown with clear nervousness. Her reason was so generic and easily fabricated she feared the creature might not believe her. "I-I had gotten lost..." She replied slowly. "And found this place...with night falling, I d-didn't think being o-out in the woods was smart..." The woman trailed off, ready to plead for her life if it came to it.


Part of her didn't wasn't to believe this was actually happening and was nothing more than her mind creating something for her to witness as it tried to comprehend dying out in the woods. But something told her it was real, which she couldn't deny either.

 

[myvalentina]

"It's quite lucky you found the place." Jueza mused, taking a step out of the corner. Her feathery head inched out of the shadow and was more illuminated with light as Tahoe gauged the young woman's answers. And to see her better now that the warm firelight splashed onto her face more liberally. 


The beast could do nothing but take her on her word for now. "Did you become lost from a group?" One woman was nothing compared to a group coming to find this place, to find her. And if they brought an army back... "Are there others coming after you?" She asked.

 

[StoneWolf18]

The woman kept listening before shaking her head. She had forgotten her cellphone at home. "No...I'm alone...unfortunately" she mumbled the last bit, knowing how lost she was.

 

[myvalentina]

The answer was satisfactory, for now so she emerged completely from the shadows. "Lost and alone. Then you will stay here for the night and I'll decide what to do with you in the morning." Jueza said, striding across the room. 


"You may stay in the master bedroom. It should still be to a human's liking." She told her, holding out her massive wing to direct the woman out of the room.

 

[StoneWolf18]

In no position to argue, she nodded  slowly and pushed herself up from the chair, still eyeing the beast wearily, she walkes in the direction their wing gestured, now realizing how tall they were compared to her. This not helping calm her nerves in the slightest, Elara remained silent, not wanting to make the situation any more tense.

 

[myvalentina]

Jueza moved out ahead of her, claws echoing loudly through the dark hallways, only moonlight from large windows lighting their way. She usually kept all the rooms closed, her form not allowing for her to enjoy the many books and furniture the mansion still had to offer. It seemed strange to be opening one up now for the young woman's sake. She felt like some kind of host.


"Here." She said, nudging the door open for her to go inside. It was the largest room in the mansion, last having been occupied sometime in the early fifties, but it was hard to remember specifics nowadays.


@StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

Following and passing under the creature's wing to enter the bedroom, it had a large four poster bed that was coated in a considerable amount of dust. The cloudy window allowing a limited amount of moon light inside. The room looked to have once been rather beautiful, but now was in the same depressing state as the rest of the manner. Despite this however, she turned to face the large bird, having to crane her neck to look into the extremely tall beast's eyes. "Thank you..." She choked out, before getting a bit to curious. "D-do...do you have a name?"

 

[myvalentina]

Looking down at the woman Jueza softened. This wasn't a normal thing, that she hadn't broken down into tears was honorable. But she shifted under the question, and moved into the room to avoid the woman's piercing eyes. She walked to the fireplace working on the piece of flint until a fire had sparked. 


"They call me Jueza. The judge. I'm the protector of this house." She said, stoking the fire into life.


@StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

Watching the creature walk over to the fireplace and coax a flame, she responded not long after. "Elara." The woman said, stating her own name while she made her way over to the bed and sat on the edge. The mattress, while extremely stale, wasn't entirely unfit for use. Letting her eyes look to the fire that had been started, she let herself gaze into the dancing flames, the room soon filling with a pleasant warmth that fought against the chill.

 

[myvalentina]

"Elara," She repeated, finishing with her task and walking to the door. "Well, my dear, I'm sorry you became lost our here with nothing but a beast to look after you." She told her honestly. "And I'm sorry but this might just become your home for the foreseeable future." Walking out she locked the door from the outside.


@StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

At first, the woman thought Jueza was genuinely apologizing, but she suggested otherwise once the door to the room was locked from the other side. Rushing over to the large double doors, she tried the handles but even though they were extremely aged, they didn't budge. Backing away slowly, the previous terror she had felt before slowly crept back into her mind. What if the creature's hospitality was all a ruse? An act so she would be easy prey or worse? Unable to control the flood of unpleasant thoughts that ran through her mind, she slowly retreated to the dust coated bed. Crawling on top of the sheets before lying her head down on the pillow that stank of mildew. Maybe the beast would take pitty on her. A swift end as she slept. And soon enough, she was lulled back asleep once more. Not all that wiling to wake either.

 

[myvalentina]

Jueza had barely slept that night. She laid amongst her nest, restless and unsure about what to do. There was a stranger in the house and it went against everything she had ever been told. These halls and rooms were for the Alcalde family only. But most importantly no one should know of the power that they had and beasts that they had at their disposal. It's why Jueza had for so long stayed locked away in the caverns at the base of the mountains, unless she was needed. Maybe it had been her mistake for thinking she could live in the house now that the family rarely came by.


When she felt the sky beginning to brighten Jueza came down from her nest, and marched to the master bedroom. Stopping in front of the door she was ready to do what should be done. What she should have done last night, but was too blinded by human emotions to do.


And yet, she pulled away and burst into a run, taking off into the sky the second she could. For all intents and purposes she was running away. But really she was just coming to terms with her decision.


Only few people were up this early, beginning their rounds in the small valley town. The baker was loading up his truck with freshly backed breads and sweets. Stepping back into the shop for just a second to retrieve more bread, he walked out to find his first tray gone. The same happened to the milk deliveryman. On her way back to the mansion, she swiped eggs from a farm, her arms full to the brim with breakfast. 


It had been a long time since she had cooked anything so she deposited everything in the kitchen and made the slow walk back to the master bedroom. Hesitating at the door, she knocked and waited for a response.


@StoneWolf18

 

[StoneWolf18]

Elara, despite being somewhat terrified, slept soundly throughout the night and well into the next morning. Only stirring when the fire had burned out causing the temperature to drop as well as when Jueza had ran from the door and took off. Her talons sounding loudly on the wood, enough to cause her to briefly flicker open her eyes before being pulled back into the depths of sleep.


Then there was a knock. The women slowly waking up, although reluctant to do so. She was freezing and now having a fresh coating of dust on one side wast helping. Wrapping her arms around herself, she slowly approached the door and tugged. It was still locked. "Y-you locked it last night..." She squeaked out, still not certain of the creature's intentions.

 

[myvalentina]

Jueza heard the woman stir and walk to the door, her question sounding intimidated which was to be expected.


"I know." Jueza said, choosing her words before she was even sure what she was trying to ask. "I just... If you were ready to wake I wanted to... I brought breakfast for you if..." There was a lot that needed to be said, but food would make it easier she hoped. "If you won't run we can have breakfast. And we can talk more." She finished.