BZZZ BZZZ BZZZ

Consciousness slowly consumed Norbert, the memories of the previous day coming back to him, the bird, if it could even be called a simple bird, flying through the air and crashing into the canopy, escaping to freedom. Hope there was some way out of the endless forest of ginormous trees.

Feeling in his pocket, he retrieved his phone and turned off the alarm. Turning to the side, hoping to get more sleep before class, he turned his head while his eyes rested on a black object on his pillow. Lifting his head the black object still stayed nestled within his pillow.

Looking closer, it had flecks within it, not completely black. With a flap, it disentangled and slowly came to its feet, the little eagle following him from before. Thinking back to it, when the massive bird came and startled the little guy must have landed back on his head again before both of them were whisked away.

Looking around, the obsidian bird stared nestling in the pillow and looking back at Norbert expectedly. With a sigh, he scooped the bird up heading towards the kitchen to get some food for them. Looking around for something easy to make, no pizza in the fridge all being eaten the night before, he took out some bread to make a sandwich for breakfast.

Sitting on the sofa with the plate, he moved the bird onto his knee beside the food. Breaking a part of the sandwich off, he set it next to the bird on the plate, picking the rest up and slowly biting into it thinking of his future endeavours.

As his immediate goal of getting to the ground was met, Norbert's next goal was to find the river he had seen and hopefully find something of a town or village where he could get some information on where he was and continue from there.

He would also need to pack for a lot longer, as he would need to go until finding that river or some water source to cut through it, as walking along the forest floor was taking far too long. Thinking about direction and time as he was unsure of the exact distance he had been travelling or direction, and with a complete lack of time. Norbert previously just went with the flow until it was too late and was lucky for his escape.

Notifying him of the needed time, he finished the sandwich and looked down at the bird, which was still nibbling away at its little bit. Norbert shook his head in annoyance at the difficulties this little bird could bring.

Pulling out his phone, he started to look around to see if anything was similar. With it being the same as an eagle and its proportions but shrunk down to the size of a sparrow, looking at him, a wave of sympathy came over Norbert, trapped in a strange world without knowing what was around it.

Looking at the bird, he gently put his finger next to it, the bird hopping over and onto it; Norbert slowly brought it to his face, just in front of his nose. Looking at the bird, it started back at him expectantly.

"Now, little guy, you'll need a name."

Hearing a chirp in response, Norbert began thinking of what to name his little black companion.

Looking over at the obsidian bird with speckles throughout it

"Ray of hope, no too long. How about Blacky, Eagly? No, not original enough and a little too silly for you." The bird nodding its head in response to his last remark. He once more brought out his phone; after searching, he found a name for it.

"I shall name you, Obsius."

And with that, Norbert's little companion, the black obsidian bird, was named Obsius.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

With a smile of satisfaction on his face, he brought the bird up to his head to start the day.

Thankfully he could stay inside and not lose Obsius as it was a weekend today and no lectures or work, at least this time.

Bumbling around the place with the bird on his head, he once more sat on the couch, pulled out his laptop and began planning the great adventure he would be going on. He would need another backpack, some way to navigate the forest quicker and water, lots more water and food, a compass and a watch to set the time. With a plan in place and too much spent online, Norbert once had the day free and just waited for his items.

***

The next day his items arrived, the backpack the same size as last time, with collapsible water bottles to pack as much in, more bars, a cloak to cover himself from the rain and blend in and the best item that could save him time, a self-inflatable raft.

Looking at all the items spread across the ground and the backpack next to it, Norbert saw quite a task ahead to pack it all and a journey lugging it around everywhere as he made his way across campus. The bird would also need to participate with Norbert, feeling shame if he were to leave the little guy all alone.

And so Norbert, with his two bags and Obsius, on top of his head, went out to brave the day of the gruelling world of a student. Venturing into the day, they went from one place to another. All eyes were on him again; what could have once stopped as the whispers with his backpack adventures when he was wearing double had increased doubly and got even worse as people were now pointing right at him.

Though right at him was not specific, as they pointed to the little black ball on his head, still being the centre of attention was nice in a positive light for once. Wanting to sit at the back and away from everyone was necessary for this development, adding to the spookiness. Still, more importantly, Obsius to have some break and vital playtime.

With this, the day went smoothly, with only Jake coming up to talk and pet the little bird as it got comfortable. We both had smiles due to the little mascot that only they could touch. Once at lunch, a group asked more questions about the bird on his head and where they could get their own.

Little Obsius was not too happy with the development and flew around, out of everyone's reach, until Norbert had to leave when it descended back on top of his head, puffing up its chest to make itself as big as possible. Mustering all the intimidation the small bird had.

With the day once more done, Norbert headed back to the apartment with Jack, looking at where it could be.

"So really, Norbert, where did you get the bird from and train it so well?"

"Same place as the leaf earlier Jack, same place."

With an annoyed look on Jack's face, Norbert always gave the same reply. And so the two friends went to the apartment and through door seventeen.

After relaxing once more for the day, they both kicked up their feet on the couch and watched TV.

Obsius did the same as best it could, sitting on the neck rest and having its two little legs in front of it. They rested the night away watching whatever show appeared on TV.

Knock, knock, knock

The sound coming from the others side of the door. All inside looked up at it, none wanting to move and see who the guest was, hoping they would just leave. Hand waves exchanged between the two friends, neither Jack nor Norbert wanted to move from their current position as they both had gotten comfortable. With a sigh, Norbert got up, being the closest to the door out of the two.

As another knock came through, Norbert swung the door open, stopping it mid-try.

A look of confusion appeared on the other side of the door. Looking at each other, Norbert's face went into a state of shock and confusion wrapped around it.

Casper had come to their little abode at an hour that usually isn't done.

"Hey Norbert, sorry to disturb you from your essential meeting.” Casper looked around Norbert to see Jack on the couch.

"Just wondering where you got that bird; it seems out of this world."

Norbert looked quizzically at Casper. "That’s one way to put it, came from the same place as the leaf you looked at the other day."

Silence filled the space growing more and more, awkwardness filling the room as it went further and further.

Slightly standing back, Norbert grabbed the door handle and slowly closed the door.

As the door squeaked slowly closed on Casper's face, he gave a smile and thumbs up.

With the last look of Casper, as he did a step back, the door was closed once more, sealing the strange man away.

"What did he want?" Jack called from the room.

"The usual, just about the bird", Norbert replied as he stepped away from the door and back onto the couch, watching the show again.