The morning went by rather quickly, and went a lot like I thought it would thankfully. It was great! The humans, or as I have started jokingly called them, hootmans because of how similar we were on the inside unlike animals, spent the time fishing. They were putting fish after fish into boxes with ice and water inside with lots of talking and comparing sizes and making fun of each other for hours! I even caught and ate another fish to show I was able to keep up just like them, just because of how insatiable these… insatiable hootmans seemed to be. I am just as good as them! I thought with pride, even as they laughed at Zane again as he watched me fishing with his pole, forlornly. Or was his name Zero? I remember them calling him both. Hootmans. He is now Z. I decided with a shake of my head.

The sheer amount that they were catching and packing away, made me think that they are storing them to eat later or for more hootmans.

Though, I wondered where the others were. I had learned the idea of cities and towns and other places humans made to live in bunches, but I didn't see anything like that around when and where I found these persons. Maybe all the hootman family's all lived on the water! On one GIANT boat on the ocean, with houses on top! Hootmans are the coolest. I wondered to myself, imagining all the things that persons with hands, like the humans, could make and do. Lucky featherless blokes. Blokes? Huh, neat word.

I heard the captain of the boat shout something, and a few groans from the boat in the distance. I couldn’t hear what was said, but it was clear that something was happening. I turned my head away from the fishes in the water, to the boat positioned beside where the fishes gathered. The persons seemed to be reeling in their lines, and putting away their poles! Are they finished? I wondered, shuffling my legs and spreading my wings as a little bit of stretching.

It looked like they were, so I gave a hoot and grabbed my pole with my talons before lifting off into the air with a big push of my wings and flapping into the air a bit to the point where I could glide over to the front of the boat without any issue.

The hootman who I had taken my pole from, Z-something I think was his name, seemed to be watching me as I came closer… This guy is acting suspiciously… I thought to myself as I watched him with narrowed eyes, even as I glided closer still to the boat with my fishing pole in my talons. Z’s eyes seemed to be darting from me to the pole.

I gave a hoot of annoyance. You want to take the pole? I thought to the weird human with realization and the annoyance that I had expressed with my hoot. No! This is mine! I told Z rebelliously, with a hoot punctuateing my thoughts. He looked concerned… Oh… He’s sad… I thought as I looked at the guy's face, his frown and wide sad eyes clear even from here.

Well… You know, honestly, I think that it's a bit cumbersome to fly around with it anyways. Fine! You can have my pole, silly hootman! But only because I am feeling generous! I finally broke, and with a final hoot I flapped my wings down hard and rose into the air, flying over Z. He looked up, trying to watch me but I could see from his squinting that the sun was getting in his eyes. I felt a grin take hold of my beaked face and I opened my talons, dropping the pole right on his head as he was blinded by the sun. Ha! That's what you get, for pressuring me with those big helpless eyes! I thought with a hooting laugh as I watched Z get smacked and recoil in confusion, to the laughter of the men once again.

I landed on the mast of the ship, looking down on all the humans that were getting to work below me and hoping on the pole to watch everything unfolding below as the captain directed Z to get to work, putting away his gear and helping move the coolers. I wondered what a cooler was, but Z answered that question soon enough as he picked up one of the boxes with ice and water and the fish inside and started moving it somewhere to get put away. I gave a nod of satisfaction as I watched everything below. Good job, hootmans!

Soon enough, everything seemed to be packed away until the top of the boat didn't look any different from when I found it sailing to the spot where we went fishing in the first place. Then the sail was raised again and we started moving away and following the path that we took to get here. And soon enough, we were out in the open ocean waters by the coast. I looked around at the open ocean, hoping to spot where we were going, but we stayed near the coastal cliffs as we sailed.

I wonder where the humans are going? I thought curiously as I settled in on the top of the mast and looked around at everything while the ship and I bobbed up and down in the waves with the wind filling the sails. I don't particularly mind waiting and following the persons around for a while, it's already been interesting and the amount of new things that I have seen is really high for a day’s traveling!

And the food was really easy to get. On an unlucky day, I could be waiting on a tree perfectly still for over an hour before I catch anything. But there was enough fish that I could catch one in minutes, on demand! The human fishing poles were mainly the reason why it was so easy, but I was the one using it so it counted!

And now I could move far without needing to push myself as much as when I fly. Not that flying isn't good, but it is a nice change of pace for a little while. In a lot of ways, flying is much better actually. It feels nicer with the wind slipping underneath me and bringing a much needed chill, and I go way faster than this human ship even when I am gliding.

I rustled my wings a bit at the reminder of the temperature. Now that my feathers are coming in thicker, I have also started to feel quite hot during the days and sometimes even during the nights. It is supposed to be a chillier time of the year according to my knowledge, but that just makes me a bit nervous about the hot part of the year. But luckily, I am sure that the cold season is coming here soon so I am happy about that. The way that seasons work seems weird to me though, and I don't know anything about it besides it happens. Maybe I would find out eventually?

But I was getting distracted, so I pulled back in my attention and looked over the ocean and the coast while we sailed. The water seemed to stretch on forever, rippling and swaying on its own like it was alive until it met the blue sky and the white fluffy clouds in it and it seemed to end.

It all seems so big… Yet so small? Why is that? I thought to myself, but no answers came to me. It seemed that answers very rarely did nowadays. It was only at rare times like when I saw the fishing pole that my strange source of thoughts seemed to bring me information and knowledge about the world around me. I wonder why? Why, why, why?

I seemed to do that a lot… I was on a mission to find out why, I suppose. Enforced and caused by nothing but my curiosity, but that was more than enough and it was already killing me to have such thoughts come without answers.

I swiveled my head around away from the ever churning sea, and I looked at the land to the other side of the boat. The walls of rock that seemed to be at the edge of the water everywhere around here seemed to be a bit smaller than back when I had found this boat, or when I was fishing with the humans for that matter, but they were still very tall. They seemed a bit more lively as well, even around the top that was covered with plants. Maybe it was less steep, but here there were lots and lots of small plants along the cliff and even a tree or two that leaned out from the grey stone.

I thought that plants grew in dirt, not rock? I thought curiously as I looked at one particular shelf of rock with a large wizened tree that grew like a hand sticking up from the rock. It was one of the only green plants I had seen, and it even had some nice looking white and purple parts that could be flowers or vines with flowers on its surface. It looked rather out of place. Though maybe because of how beautiful it looked on that little outcropping of rock, everything around it seemed out of place.

I glanced down at the hootmans below me, and I saw a few of them looking out at the little life filled tree as well. One of them did a strange gesture, though I couldn't tell what it was supposed to mean or why they were doing it to the nice tree. He placed his hands together on his heart, bowed his head a bit and then pushed them out like he was giving something to the air. Some of them laughed at the guy for it, but they got scolded by the captain and a few more did it as well.

Why are they- Oh? Religion? That's… interesting. Complicated as well… I like it. Something to do with what a person believes, like in a power greater than themselves or the world around them. But not only that, it can mean a lot of things? Humans are weird sometimes. But this is a cool weird. I thought as a new piece of knowledge clicked into place in my mind. So the tree is important to them for some reason? Nice. I like it too, it's a very good tree. Very… alive and green. Yes.

I bobbed my head a bit awkwardly as I let my eyes travel along the coastline.

After the tree, nothing in particular seemed to stick out as important in my sight. Just rock and sky. And… What's that blue and white thingy? I thought, straightening up as I spotted the bright color on the cliff face. Then I noticed just what was ahead of us on the coast. The cliff face vanished a ways away, and it seemed like a section of it was striped away. I could see on the opposite side of this oddity in the land that it seemed to curve in and then, but it was really large.

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Cove? I like that word. Cove. It's a cove. I recognized, my memory flashing as I recalled a particular piece of knowledge about the coast. It's like a circle of land just sinks into the sea, and it's usually an area where the land meets the sea on an even level, unlike the cliffs.

But the blue I saw inside of it was on a structure. It was wooden, and there were a few boats tied to it. A bit of a raggedy old pier, with the blue and white thing flapping in the wind on the end of it. A diagonal white cross on a blue backdrop, painted on some kind of fabric. I recognized it as a flag. Scotland? A name occurred to me out of the blue while I looked at it and the boat headed closer to it. I like it. So the land I have been on is called Scotland by the hootmans… I like the name I gave my home land better to be honest. Alia Plains versus Scotland. But I guess they can keep it. The Alia Plains is only my nest home's name I suppose. My names are better.

But with that little revelation aside and a country's name vilified, I started to watch out for where we were going as what was beyond the end of the pier was slowly revealed and the crew of the ship started to get to work on getting ready to dock at this place once they reached it.

I watched, my body still on the mast as my head swiveled this way and that to see where we were going. The pier was revealed inch by inch as we sailed closer at first, and it seemed nothing particularly interesting was on it besides the three ships docked at it as well and a few people who looked like they were hanging out by the ships or maybe working. But then we reached the edge of the cliff he had been sailing beside the entire time, and I gave a hoot of surprise and excitement at the sight arrayed before me.

Inside this cove were houses. Dozens of them, although old and old fashioned. This… was a village. It seemed rather large to me, but humans are bigger than they should be as well so I suppose it comes with the territory? My nest land, the Alia Plains, was bigger than one of these bigger houses, including the tree and the hunting grounds, about the size of two houses put together! Though… My nest was like my house in the larger land and it's smaller than a human, so I suppose that they are just as good? If I was as big as a hootman, my village would be bigger. I thought to myself as I puffed myself up with a little pride as I looked at the coastal village.

The houses seemed to all be close together and arranged like a wall in front of the water, with pathways and a few larger roads that seemed to lead to other places within the village that I couldn't see from the boat on the sea. But I could see trees larger than any of these houses surrounding the edges of the cliffs and the village, like it was holding both in its grip, or shielding it. And as I looked up at the top of a cliff, I spotted an odd red and white building sticking up like a pillar from the ground somewhere deep in the forest. Lighthouse! A building that shoots light at the sea for people on the sea to see… Humans do such weird things. I love it. I thought, admiring the old spearlike structure sticking up from the forest in the distance. I saw a glint from something reflecting the sun, and I noticed it came from a smaller figure that seemed to watch us.

Then I turned back to where we were heading as I heard several shouts coming from the pier and the village, some excited and happy and some confused. One angry high voice seemed to come loudest though and carried clearly even across the distance to the pier.

“GRAVEN THEODOR HOOKE!” One woman who had a basket at her side in her hands, who had apparently come running from whatever she was doing to get to the end of the pier. Her face was red, and she seemed livid for some reason as she stared down the ship as it came closer with a slight wind buffeting in her face. But she did not blink, as she locked eyes with someone on the ship. Who is Graven? I wondered, looking down at the ship.

The people below me however, already knew and were shying away from the person that the woman was glaring at. It was the captain, who was looking a bit pale… And not just a little scared and nervous. But if the woman did not let up with her glare.

Hey, what is going on with that? I wondered with curiosity and a mild sense of anger and protectiveness at seeing them scared, Why is the scary woman angry? I just helped these poor hootmans, and she is going to be angry at them?! Not my hootmans, you crazy woman!

I let out a loud hoot of defiance and spread my wings, glaring at the woman right back. Then I got an idea…

I pushed off the mast of the ship and I circled around it in the air for a second before I spotted what I was looking for. Z’s fishing rod. HA! I love this pole! It's been so useful! I thought with glee as I dived down quickly. Nobody on the ship seemed to be paying much mind to me, so I managed to scoop it up and fly back into the air with a cackling hoot.

“NOT AGAIN!” I heard Z shout exasperatedly, forgetting about the silence that had been brought upon the crew after the woman shouted and causing more then a few people to look up at me with his pole once again. I think I might have seen the captain move subtly towards his camera as I caused my distraction. But I was focused now…

Focused on flying up and towards the pier. Once I was high enough I started to glide with the pole held sideways with my talons and keeping it from sliding out of my grip, almost to the pier before the ship was. I could see a small crowd forming on the pier, children, older persons, all looking up at me. Even the sharp red face of the red haired woman that was yelling at my hootman just a moment ago.

So it was that much more devastating when I flew up so my form was covered by the sun, and dropped my pole on her face with a righteous hoot as I passed over her head! HA! That will teach you! I am the fist of righteousness! The wielder of the pole of judgement! I thought with satisfaction as I watched it impact her face from above and sending her stumbling back in surprise, knocking into a younger looking woman before she managed to regain her balance. Her face was a hilarious mix of furious and confused as she held the pole in her hands before looking back to me, and then at the ship of the fishermen. I let out another cackling hoot of delighted laughter as I landed on the front of a smaller boat tied up to the pier and looked out at everything that's happening now, everyone either laughing or trying to make sure that the evil woman was ok… I immediately liked the people that were laughing.

I looked back at the fishing boat of the fishermen who I had hitched a ride with, a proud puff to my chest and my wings spread just a little. Most of them were laughing, Z and the captain however were exchanging looks of exasperation with a hint of amusement. Z patted the captain on the back with a solemn look… Why are they acting like that? I wondered, finding it strange.

Then I looked back at the people arrayed to meet the ship and I realized why. The evil red haired woman was looking angrier than ever, the rod still clenched in her grip. Oh no… I did a bad thing! I gave her a weapon! NOOOO! I realized with horror, but there was nothing to do now as the ship came to a rest at the pier and was tied up quickly, preventing any escape for them.

I took off into the air, flying to rescue the good man before the evil woman hurt him!

The very first thing that happened was the woman storming onto the ship. She pushed men aside, not that they were trying to get into her way in the first place. She paused and handed Z the pole without a word before looking back to the captain. I flapped into the air and went into a steeper and faster flight towards the captain.

“Well? Care to explain why you are here four hours early?! You were supposed to get a week's worth of fish so you could be home during the wedding! What in god’s name are you thinking?!” She shouted with a loud voice amplified by her high, angry tone as she looked the captain dead in the eye with her hands on her hips.

With one final flap in reverse, I landed on the captain's head lightly and I stared down at the woman as I sat on his head defensively, my wings spread just a bit as I glared. No talking like that to the captain! He is good! And you are evil, it's the red hair and your angry face that shows it! People with red hair always are! You have no soul, vile woman! You very large… Angry woman…

The woman didn't seem impressed, and the captain stiffened as I sat on his head with my talons lightly balancing my body on his head steadily.

“AND WHAT IS WITH THIS BLOODY BIRD!” She yelled out, looking right at the captain, fury in her eyes. I glared back at her.

“Sue, this bloody bird showed us how to get all the fish we need in only a few hours!” He defended me quickly, raising his arms to his head and plucking me off his head and into his arms. I was too surprised to react, looking up at the captain with shock.

“...What?” The woman asked with a look of absolute confusion as she looked down at me and the captain with suspicious eyes.

The captain moved his hand onto my head and gave me a little pet as he held me, making me shiver. That.., That feels good… Hey! NO PETTING! Not-not even if it feels… HOOT! I complained with a hoot, unfolding my wings and trying to straighten up and out of his arms. He held out his arm cooperatively, and I flapped into the air with a final hoot of dignity as I found my place on the mast again. All the hootmans were looking up at me now…

I heard some chuckles among the people, and in the group of smaller hootmans I could see bright eyes and open mouths as they looked up at me in awe. That's cute… I noted the little one's reaction, preening a little under the attention. Maybe I should stick around for a while… Find out more about the hootmans. …And look at the adorable little humanet… Wait, no they are called children. They are too adorable for their own good.

I looked out at the village, wondering how life with humans would be. It can't be too bad… Today was a good day.