The sun beat mercilessly against the back of her neck and exposed arms. With sleeves pushed to her elbows, and the hem tucked in a drenched apron, a frustrated huff emanated from pursed lips, aimed to push falling strands away from a sweaty forehead. Yet, the stubborn hair refused to budge, only serving to annoy her further.

Fingers ached, grip taut around the slippery bar as her arms continued their painful rhythm. Her hunched spine begged for some rest or at least a less straining position. 

'Do you still refuse my offer?'

Ashelia scowled, her movements growing faster in spite of her protesting joints and muscles. Faint hoots reached her and she puffed out shaky breaths. The clothes weren't going to clean themselves. That was what the grumpy lady kept saying, shooting icy glares her way every time her head poked out of a tiny window to make sure the tasks were being fulfilled.

'I can easily snap her neck in two.'

Rinsing the soap off of the last piece, she dropped the bar in its small wooden container and then shook off the excess water in his direction. 

Efû flapped his wings, a startled cry making its way out. 

"It's your fault. So, be quiet and let me fix your mistakes." She groaned, aggravated. "Stupid owl." 

He started to protest when she shot him a look as black as his feathers, daring him to argue further.

Once the shock wore off after the previous night's events, Ashelia was stuck in a whirlwind of dizzying thoughts. She wasn't supposed to feel safe, secure, and at ease, around Efû, Eagan, or whatever. 

She'd seen him change, shift from a normal owl to a huge four-legged beast. Well, if a talking owl was considered normal that is. 

However, she'd heard snapping and fur appeared. Then, suddenly, the bird looked like some kind of a mythical hybrid: half owl, half feline - which explained his constant purring.

They haven't talked about it. He'd returned to his smaller shape and disappeared between the trees to reappear a while later with a dark brown dress, too big but warm enough to shield her quivering body.

She should've questioned him about it. Because, the next morning when she waltzed into the village, head held high to hide her unease as curious stares followed her awkwardness with skepticism, a woman stopped her.

The look on her face ignited fear deep inside Ashelia. It was an all too familiar look. The short woman raised her hand in the air, waving around a wooden spoon. 

Ashelia flinched, blinking rapidly as the ringing in her ears increased and some gruff words such as thief and punishment registered in her brain.

Only when the woman grabbed her by the scruff of the woolen dress did the little girl finally snap back to reality to find herself getting dragged.

Efû bristled, releasing a threatening hiss, and Ashelia freaked out.

"Calm down, Efû!" The frantically mumbled order went unnoticed by the old woman as she kept muttering under her breath.

"Aye, girl. Get your ass moving." The villagers turned away, returning to their business. Some cleaning, others getting their shops ready. But, their curiosity kept pushing them to follow the stomping woman and the frail little girl stumbling after her from the corner of their eyes.

'I won't let her harm you, little one.' She knew the unspoken promise in his menacing growl: even if I had to kill her. So, she ignored him.

Her hands shook as they tightened around the cloak, thinking that perhaps if she'd put it on she wouldn't have been caught. However, even the overgarment didn't belong to her.

The relief that washed over Ashelia when she found out the punishment didn't involve beheading or welting didn't last long when a basket full of foul-smelling garments was shoved in her face. 

It wasn't the only one to go through.

It's been three days since Ashelia started scrubbing, washing, and hanging clothes. The villagers didn't own much. So, to steal from them was not an easily forgiven act. However, despite this serving as a punishment, the old lady offered her nourishment and didn't comment on her seeking shelter in the empty barn.

"I refuse to have walking bones passing by without doing something about it," was her excuse.

Retreating to a bed made of hay and straw, the cloak was spread before she flung her body across it. A moan filled the silent space. It just felt so good to rest after a long day.

Ashelia tossed and turned before heaving a sigh and giving up. "Efû," her gentle murmur tore at his defenses. Yet, stubbornness built it right back up. The past few days passed in a blur of restless nights and exhausting days. Her body yearned for some rest. "Efû, please. I can't sleep without you." 

His walls crumbled yet again.

'I am not familiar with how your world functions, Ashelia. You ought to excuse my lack of knowledge. I have been gone for so long. Things changed.' He appeared beside her, invisible feathers turning to darkness.

"It's not entirely your fault. However, stealing is still stealing, no matter the time you've lived through." She's always wondered what happened to him. The deep anguish in his voice when speaking about atoning for past mistakes poked and prodded at her inquisitiveness.

'In my previous life, the people I served owned more than you can imagine. The notion of stealing did not exist. Well, it existed but in different and much grander forms. They owned more than they needed. Yet, it was never enough.'

Ashelia laughed. "I envy them."

'You shouldn't, child. It's a curse. The more you own, the less satisfied you are. Greed is ugly, Ashelia.'

"Oh..."

'Now, sleep. I am here.'

Burying her face in his feathers, her fingers stroked his head, eliciting content purrs, while she drifted in and out of sleep.

"Eagan is your real name, isn't it?" He hummed. "But, you prefer Efû. I do too."

'Sleep, tiny one. You need your energy if we are to leave this place.'

"Martha said I could stay here." Efû pulled back, a confused what following. "While you were dozing off on the tree, she came and told me that I've finished my punishment. She said I was welcome to be a part of the village as long as I was productive."

'Oh.' 

She laughed. "So, what do you think?"

Head tilted to the side, he stared at her, streaks of dormant inhumanity swirling deep within electric blue. 'I am wherever you are. A protector follows their master, ensures their safety, and follows their orders.'

"I'm master of no one, Efû. You're my friend." She flashed him a crooked smile, a paroxysm of hoots following her statement and prompting amused giggles to escape. When he calmed down, they huddled together for the night.

Incessant thoughts and recollections of that fateful night kept nagging at her mind, knocking and bouncing around, demanding attention. Drowsy blue settled on her hands as they kept their rhythm, enjoying the softness of Efû's dark feathers.

Ashelia was aware she was more than her looks let on, more than her body and human features showed.

However, the powers, being a curse or a blessing, were a mystery yet to be solved. All she knew, for now, was to act like she usually did: as a normal human. 

She'd lived her whole life as one. It wouldn't be hard to keep the pretense going when ill-informant about what or who she really was.

Survive, her mother had said and that was what she was going to do.

Word count: 1274.

Total word count: 14003.

Eagan, or Efû's hybrid look: