CHAPTER 2

Rai stared the young Trico for a few moments. He noticed that it was trying to jump out of the hollow.

Without a second thought, Rai jumped in and the animal backed away. To his surprise, the Trico was just at the height of his knees.

The Trico shrank at the wall of the hollow. Its eyes were glowing pink.

"Hey little... Come here.", Rai said, but as expected the feathered animal did the opposite, shrinking further.

"Come on, I want to help you.", he said. The baby Trico slowly approached him, its eye colour changed to yellow. He could hear its sniffing.

Curious, aren't you?, Rai thought.

The boy cautiously tended his hand towards the Trico. At the hand's movement, the young animal started, but kept going.

The Trico finally standed in front of Rai and sniffed him. Both of them were on their toes, ready for each other's any sudden moves. Slowly Rai moved his hand to touch the animal.

"Easy... I don't want to hurt you...", he said. In a little he felt the touch of the Trico. Soft fur running through his fingers. The feel was feeling... magic.

However the animal, feeling uncomfortable, walked backwards, to avoid any further contact with the human.

Rai stood aside, so that the Trico could approach the hollow. Always keeping an eye on the boy, it stood next to the hole. It was apparent that it was too small to reach it, once the wall of the hollow was about Rai's height.

Rai making a quick move, helped pushing the Trico up and then got himself out, to not lose the animal.

The boy could now have a better look on the Trico, once in the light. The fur on the head and tail was beige with some gray. The muzzle was dark brown and the feathers, something between gray and brown, mostly the latter. Now the Trico was looking at him curiously.

"So, nice to meet you. You must be away from home, huh?", he told it, like he was expecting for an answer.

The young Trico just gave him a glance before running in the forest.

"Hey! Where are you going?", Rai shouted, trying to run behind it for a moment. He stopped, thinking that it's better to leave it alone.

He was left with the feeling of the Trico, still feeling the magic.