Paul had been right to his word and returned with a small plate of water crushed with berries. He looked at the bird first, smiling at it as he came in and set the plate down on the bed. His other hand held materials like small bits of wood and bandages.

"The brothers down at the kitchen would like to meet him. We need to give him a name," he chuckled as he slowly pulled the creature from its box and rested it down on the bed next to the plate. It only thought for a minute before jabbing at the berry and water mixture haphazardly.

"It's going to have to be released soon," I reminded Paul who only looked up at me and smiled.

"Nothing says he won't come back at some point, these birds remember faces very well."

"Adonis," I mused quietly. Brother Paul looked back at up me, stroking the head of the bird who looked up in equal curiosity.

"Sorry, I was busy with some Greek Mythology books. My mind's just filled with sirens and strange creatures. Adonis was the lover of Aphrodite and Persephone."

"And it sounds like Adonai," Paul added, turning back to the bird, "I think it suits him very well, don't you Adonis?"

The bird only croaked in response before turning back to its berries and eating it greedily.

"Well, I'll have to bandage little Adonis' wing, but we should be done before having to head to None."

So, the room fell into silence with Paul slowly working with Adonis' wing. The bird croaked in agitation, to which Paul apologized as he finished it. Eventually, he was settled back into his little box where he was then left to his own devices while Paul practically dragged me to Mass, being just a few minutes late.

I couldn't focus during the hymnals, constantly thinking about whether Adonis was safe or not. It annoyed me to no end, considering how my first greeting of him was a finger injury. Still, the bird was acting off instinct, and so wasn't something I should take entirely to heart. The mass continued before we came to receive the Host, followed by further hymnals, the Kiss of Peace and dismissal until Vespers. As soon as we were released, my first journey was taken immediately to check on Adonis who was no longer in his box but hopping along my bed.

He was pecking at my pens with interest, probably the colours.

"Adonis, you'll hurt yourself," I whined as I stopped him, bringing him back into the box, "more than you already are."

Adonis only looked up at me, letting out a jesting croak in response. I've never seen a bird with attitude and it almost seemed as though Adonis saw me as something he could fight, with or without the broken wing. I sighed, sitting on the bed beside the box.

"I'll have to figure out where I can keep you so you won't get into trouble."

I think he understood that part, his head bowing in guilt as he curled against the side of the box.

"I can't bring you with me everywhere, you might disturb the brothers." 

He croaked in response, demanding more of an explanation.

"It's not my fault you're loud," another croak from him and it sunk in that I was having an argument with a bird who probably only made out base sounds and thought I was just some other bird with a throat condition. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I held my head in my hands.

"We're going to bring food back from Vespers, and then I'll be back after Compline to take care of you, is that alright?" 

Adonis seemed to understand that much, confirmed by his silence. 

"Such a strange bird, you'd think you weren't injured with that attitude." 

And so the croaking began again, as though he was assailing me with retorts like a disgruntled child. I let out a frustrated sigh before slowly pulling the blanket over his head as if that would somehow keep him quiet. He only poked his beak out and continued his one-man argument. 

Vespers came and passed quickly and I had taken a small plate that the kitchen had prepared especially for Adonis to the cell, sitting it down next to his box. He looked like he was asleep, but heard the plate settling on the bed. He nearly tripped over the box as he shuffled to go eat the assortments.

"The other brothers want to meet you and see what has gotten Paul into such a state," I reminded Adonis as he ate. He didn't stop for contemplation, still shoving his beak filled with as much food as he could get. Tentatively, I reached out and stroked his back. He turned around immediately, looking at my hand which jerked back but didn't attack. He simply stared at me before returning to eating. I didn't know whether or not that was a good sign but, testing my fate, I reached out and continued to stroke his back. He didn't move this time, resting into the warmth of my hand as he practically inhaled the food.

After having his fill, and two more, he stopped and continued hopping awkwardly on the bed, looking at the bare minimal that adorned my cell. He looked over the edge of the bed but I grabbed him before he could jump.

"You might get hurt, Adonis," I growled, "Please think for once."

Adonis looked at me as though I had just cursed his entire family, sulkily croaking as he left my hands and hopped back into his box. He was oddly intelligent, brash, but intelligent enough to at least see the box as a safe space and know that I was not impressed with his childlike antics.

Paul knocked on the cell door and entered, looking at the small crow sitting angrily in the box.

"Did someone make my little man angry?" He cooed, earning a pitiful squawk from the bird as it turned to look at him. Paul raised his eyebrow at me before letting out a soft chuckle. He walked forward, kneeling beside the bed and running his fingers across Adonis' feathered head.

"Don't worry, Adonis. He's just a bit stiff," he joked, trying to lighten the tension.

"Am not," I argued with a small giggle betraying my  frown. Paul chuckled in response, pressing his finger against my thigh.

"Yes, you are," he said, emphasizing every word with a poke, "just like an old man."

"And you are like a child," I sighed.

"Better a child with childlike faith than an old man with old man's sadness," He snorted. I pushed his shoulder gently, breaking the air with a chuckle as he nearly fell back. Adonis looked between us before turning around to peck at the blankets with boredom.

"He's like a child," I muttered, looking back at Paul. He shrugged his shoulders before standing up, straightening his robes.

"Compline is coming, do you want to go and get a good seat so long?"

"What about Adonis?"

"He's still alive, isn't he?"

"I suppose," I replied uncertainly. Paul's face softened and his eyes gleamed with a childlike joy.

"Aww, you care for him just as much as I do."

"Shut up," I chuckled in response, getting up from the bed and following Paul as he left the cell. I heard a small, pitiful croak and turned at the door, seeing Adonis looking at me from over his box. He let out another squawk, louder now that he got my attention. Pinching my brow with annoyance, I walked back and knelt by the bed. Reaching out and scratching Adonis' head, he let out a small croak of satisfaction.

"I won't be gone long and, when I'm back, I'm staying for the evening until tomorrow."

This didn't seem to make him any more pleased. A frustrated croak left his beak and he crawled back into the warmth of his bed. Again, that childlike behaviour was getting to me but I was urged by Paul to hurry or we'd be late for Compline. Getting up, I quickly left the room, looking back to see Adonis still sulkily resting in his box. I left and followed Paul, my mind still heavy with thoughts of the bird and how I was going to hold the Great Silence this evening if I had to manage with him.

It is safe to say that I struggled immensely. I couldn't move him to the floor without him letting out a sharp, bickering sound and so he took residence on the higher part of my bed where I wouldn't roll over him accidentally. Granted, I was more worried about what he'd do to me while I was asleep.

I eventually only managed to fall asleep at around midnight, to have the most unusual dream.

The box had fallen over and was opening down on the floor. The blanket itself was gone, but wrapped around the shoulders of a tall, lanky man. He had black hair, curling over his back and chest, and it almost seemed like his skin had these strange black stones embedded in it. He turned over his shoulder, hissing when he moved and looked at me. Again, the blanket was wrapped around his shoulders and so his lower body was well in sight.

It was a very strange dream. I had heard of these types of dreams with stories about church fathers who suffered with desires. Yet, there was something about this strange man standing in my cell, nude save for a blanket, that got to me. He reached down and slowly ran his fingers across my temple before moving to shut my eyes.

"Go to sleep now, little monk," he whispered. His voice was deep and reverberated through my entire body. It all went into malfunction at the sound of that voice which held all the beauty of a million gardens, but all the power of the sea. His fingers were warm against my face but they soon retracted and I let out a soft sigh of need as the cold air rushed back against my face.