Ooh! Loot!

A hat and a coin? I like the hat, but what are the ‘copper coins’ for. I tipped my head at the items that had appeared out of nowhere. Did I get these for beating the ants? That seems to be the only option. I tried to pick up the hat in my beak. It was made of a heavy, smooth cloth. I couldn’t lift the hat since it was far too large for me to actually do anything with it. I started to pull the hat away from the tree to take it with me. I didn’t get far because, well, it was larger than me. I dropped the hat for a moment and went to look at the copper coins. They were ovals stamped with a strange symbols. On one side was a tree similar to the white-barked one; on the other was a half-circle covered with crossing lines. I didn’t understand the symbols, but if beating the ants dropped these, then they must have been important. I picked one up and ran it through my beak for a moment.

I need to store these. I sure can’t carry them with me. As I thought about storing the coins, I dropped the one in my beak. I was expecting to hear a ‘plop’ as the coin hit the mud, but instead, there was more of a ‘zzt’ sound as the coin vanished. Huh?

Added (1) copper coin to currency pouch.

Oh. I have a… currency pouch? I tipped my head once more. What is a currency? It seems important, so I should collect them. Can I see the interface?

Currency Pouch:

Platinum Coin: 0

Gold Coin: 0

Silver Coin: 0

Copper Coin: 1

Oh. Cool. I have no idea what to do with them. I did my birdy shrug again. I picked up the rest of the copper coins before turning to the hat. It was a tall, conical hat with a wide brim. I hopped over to it and poked it with my beak.

-Used [Identify]

Wizard’s Hat (magical, common)

It’s pretty. The hat was purple with blue trim along the brim. Gold stars dotted the hat, each varying in size. It was made of a tough fabric that was somewhat smooth to the touch. I rubbed my beak on the cone of the hat and cheeped in delight at the texture. I like it.

I stepped back and took in the sight of the hat. It was larger than me, so I couldn’t just put it on, right? I circled it a few times before I decided I would just… try. I picked up the edge of the hat in my beak and lifted the brim. I went to crawl under the brim, but it fell before I could. I tried a few more times before I squeaked in frustration, stamping my tiny feet. Setting my feet, I lifted the brim once more before I pulled on the hat in anger. In my attempt to toss the hat, I fell back and pulled it over top of me. With a slight plop, the hat blocked out the rest of the world. Sitting in the darkness I blinked a few times, not that it did anything. I sat inside the hat for a few moments. This is… kinda nice. It’s warm and I feel… safe. Just like… I tipped my head.

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Just like… what? I clacked my beak as I racked my brain about the odd feeling. I… Does it feel like my egg? That is the only place I felt safe… until I didn’t. But… that doesn’t feel right. I…

My confusion was interrupted by a pop up:

Do you wish to bind to [Wizard’s Hat]?

Eh? I jumped slightly as I was pulled from my confusing train of though. Bind to the hat? What does that do? I shook my head. It doesn’t matter. I think is is what I wanted anyways. Yes, I do!

The [Wizard’s Hat] started to shake as I heard fabric tearing and some kind of fizzing sound coming from the hat. I scrambled to my feet, but was knocked back down by a forceful ‘pop’. I let out a surprised cheep as light returned to my world. I blinked a few times to adjust to the light. I was at the base of the ant tree, which, thankfully, still had no ants. I hopped to my feet and looked around for my hat, but I couldn’t see it anywhere. I was about to go looking for it before a notification startled me.

[Wizard’s Hat] (magical, common)

A pointy hat that is a staple of any fledgling caster.

You can use this hat to cast spells in place of other foci.

Adds an additional 5% INT

I sat on the muddy ground, stunned. ‘Fledgling caster’? Casters use magic, right? My eyes grew wider than ever before. Magic. Magic! I scrambled to my feet and hopped around in joy. I can do magic! This hat can let me do magic! Hehehe. I let out a giddy, chirping laugh. I looked up and saw the brim of my new favorite thing just at the top of my vision. I did my happy dance. Just as I was about to begin on my third happy dance, a revelation came crashing down on me.

I… don’t know how to do magic. My wings dropped in disappointment. I slid down to sit on the ground, my heart broken. But, I always wanted to do magic… She said… I sat on the wet ground as my revelation sunk in, something deep within me distraught.

As I struggled with my emotions, something fell onto my hat. I looked up just as a water droplet pelted me between the eyes. I yelped and fell back. I scrambled to my feet, but the mud and the slowly building rain didn’t help any. I got them under me and hobbled to a nearby bush. I shook myself off as best as I could with the rain and mud matting my fluff. I hissed quietly when the mud squished through my toes. I looked up into the bush and started to jump and climb. I made it to about the middle and nestled next to the stem. I spent a few minutes cleaning mud off myself, but I couldn’t do too much about my soaked fluff.

The rain picked up and beat harder on my bush. I sat quietly on the branch. After listening to the rain for some time, I started to doze. The exhaustion of my first day of life washed over me and my eyes slowly shut.

I miss you, mom…