After that rather... awkward confrontation with Wilbur, everything went back to normal. Or at least as normal as a life with hybrids can get. Techno watched as Phil and Tommy flew around in the skies during their training, or more like Phil kept on pushing Tommy back into the air when he lost too much height. But the avian was making progress, that's for sure. He could stay in the air longer and manages to hover on a spot for almost a minute before his wings start to tire out and he floats back down.

While the two birds train, the human found different ways to entertain himself. The rule that he wasn't allowed to walk around on his own was quickly forgotten when he kept being distracted by other hybrids or animals when he was watching Phil fly around. Techno was often drawn to the lake Niki had her home in, as the aquatic hybrid was probably the nicest to him after his bird friend.

They often chatted about random topics and most of the time they were joined by Jack and Sneeg. At least they don't really consider him an enemy anymore. Techno only really noticed just how much he had warmed up to the hybrids when he slipped into the water without question after Niki asked if she could braid his hair. To think he would willing go into the water with a mermaid that is known to drowns hunters... his past self would call him insane.

A month ago he would have killed her on the spot if he had the chance... and now he's sitting in the water while she braided flowers into his hair. What a weird turn his life has taken... "You should go with the blue ones. They would match his hair better than the white I think." Jack handed her a couple of cornflowers, careful not to touch any water. It's fascinating how a water and a fire hybrid are such close friends... Niki took them and held them next to Techno's hair. "Are you sure? Maybe we should try Allium instead? They would look better with pink. I'm sure Ranboo has some."

"But I like the white flowers though..." Niki chuckled and put the flowers away to go back to braiding. "Alright alright. You can keep the white ones. They make you look a lot friendlier anyways." Techno hummed and laid his head back down on his arms. He forgot what it felt like to have someone else do his hair... it's relaxing. And the water was suprisingly warm... probably because it's been so sunny the last few days, who knows. Or it could be the magma blocks that are scattered at the deeper parts.

A shadow flying over them made him look back up, only to see Phil land only a few feet in front of him. Tommy did as well, but lost his balance and fell into the water due to the speed he had. Jack went to hide behind Phil, who used his wing to shield the blaze from the water that came flying his way. "Thanks..." "No problem mate."

The other hybrids laughed as the soaked teen climbed out of the water, pouting. "Don't laugh... I was doing so well." "Yes you were... but you need to slow down before you land." Phil ruffles his wet hair before sitting down at the edge of the pond.

"Awww look at you. All pretty with flowers." Techno huffed and flicked some water at the bird. "I will make a feather pillow out of you." "If you do my crows will rip you apart." "And I will do too!" The human looked at Tommy, clearly not impressed as he puffed out his feathers. "Yeah right. I can hold you down with one arm."

"No you can't."

"Pretty sure I can."

"No, you're too slow to get me."

"So you want to rip me apart by running away?"

"No! I can just attack you from the skies!"

"You can't fly."

"I almost can!"

"You're falling with style. Or... just fall."

"Alright you two. That's enough. No one is gonna kill anyone." Tommy crossed his arms and kicked his feet in the water. "Just you wait... one day I'll be even better than Phil at flying." The older smiled and wrapped a wing around the slightly shivering boy. "Of course. Your wings just have to fully grow in. Give it some time."

Techno didn't know if Phil just said it to make him feel better or if he actually believed in it. Avians naturally don't have large wings like Phil does. He had thought that Tommy was his kid and that's why his wings are still small, but since his friend told him the truth about Tommy's species, he wasn't so sure if he really can grow bigger wings. 

"Hey, is Fundy  doing any better? I haven't seen him in a while." "Yeah, I talked to him yesterday. He's just tired now, but he should be back on his feet at the end of the week." Niki sighs and laid her hand down on her arms, already done with Techno's braid. "Poor guy... I can't imagine what mating season must feel like... fox hybrids are one of the few species that have those still."

Techno frowned and turned to look at her. "So you all don't have them? Just him? After Phil told me about that I thought it was a universal thing." "Oh no. It's definitely not. Most of us are fine with having children all year. I think only Fundy and Phil are limited to the warmer months... for whatever reason." "Wait... Phil you have that?" "I mean... technically? It's not the type of mating season humans like to imagine. We don't just break down in horny and fuck everything that moves. It's more of... a feeling that tells you it's safe to have kids now."

"But then why did Fundy barricade himself in his den?" "He doesn't feel well during the first few weeks of it... it's like having a bad fever. And he's embarrassed, since he feels like a little kid that needs to be taken care of. I'm sure you know how terrible you can feel if you get really sick. Wilbur brings him water and food while he's in there. Usually he's the only one allowed to go in, since he's the one who raised Fundy."

"Huh..." Techno climbed out of the water now that his braid was done and settled down on Phil's other side. The bird graciously used his free wing to keep his warm while he dries up. "Anyways. Let's change subject. I need to leave the sanctuary for a small trip. Get some resources we don't have in here. I had a nice idea for that empty looking wall in the pub, but I need to get bamboo for that. I also want to get some spruce wood for Wilbur and berries for Fundy."

"I thought we had berries and wood here?" "Well we would have if a certain someone didn't destroy the berry bushes. And Wilbur accidentally used the last few spruce saplings as fire material." "Again?" "Mmm..." Techno looked over at the fog wall, remembering the time before he lived here. "I don't think you should go on your own..." "Why not? I've done it most of the time. Scott and I are the only ones that leave the sanctuary to get stuff. Sometimes Wilbur is allowed to too, since he can go invisible and shit, but that's rare."

"I mean... you've been spotted in the area."

"So? They know about me anyways. I've been around that village for years."

"I just think it's not a good idea that you go on your own. What if you get shot down again?"

"I won't. You just got lucky."

"And what if someone else gets lucky too?"

"Techno I'll be fine."

"I'm just saying..."

"Why are you so nervous? Do you know something I don't?"

Techno stared at his hands, biting the inside of his cheek. "Dream is probably still around. You have quite a high bounty on your head." Phil frowned and watched his friend nervously playing with his hands. "Who's Dream?" "A hunter... his reputation matches mine in our field. He barely ever misses a kill. We've been rivals for years." The human looked up at his hybrid friend, his eyes showing genuine concern. "If I can shoot you down... so can he. I'm worried that he will get you. And he will definitely not cut you free."

So that's why he was so nervous. He's scared that his friend will get hurt. "So you want to come with me, just so you can protect me if it comes down to it?" The former hunter nodded. "It doesn't have to be me. I know the rules... no human that saw the sanctuary is ever allowed to leave. So you can take Scott or someone else with you. I just don't want you to go alone."

"I mean... if no one snitches, then I can just take you with me. I'm pretty sure you won't just run off the moment we get outside. You like your life here." Techno laughed. "How could I not? It's safe, I have a bed and a roof over my head, food... this is the most relaxed I've been in years."

"I knew it. He's just using us as his personal hotel." Jack grinned and raised his hands when the human threw a small rock at him. "Hotels wouldn't treat me like a prisoner." "Since when do we do that? I know you had a lot of angry glaring and shit... but that's it." "I'm not allowed to leave the house without Phil." "Okay apart from that."

The group laughed again. "Seriously though. If you be quick and we don't have to lie into Scott's face... we won't say anything. Right Jack?" "I'm no snitch." Both now looked to Tommy, who had a wide grin on his face. "Oh no..." "I'll stay quiet if you bring me something!" Phil groaned and nodded. "Fine. I'll see if I find something for you." "Then we have an agreement."

The human raised an eyebrow as the avian puffed out his chest, as if he just won a tournament. "Is he always like that?" "Yes..."