Heart Fortune

Come, come! Lepid sunk his teeth into the bottom of the old, soft trous Jace wore to bed and pulled, ripping.

“Stop that. I’m coming as fast as I can.”

HURT.

Okay, that was a cause for concern. He tugged on half boots, hoping he wouldn’t have to travel far, wished he could dress a little more in protective clothing. “Why aren’t you bothering Glyssa?” Jace grumbled.

She would scold. She told me to stay in the tent. Place is too little.

Yeah, right. No doubt she was sleeping right now on a bedsponge big enough for two. Where he’d like to be.

And you and I shared an adventure, already! Lepid dashed out of the tent and danced impatiently. Most of the local animals had been scared away from the encampment area and there were wards against the dangerous ones. Still, Jace strapped on his old blazer that could only stun and hoped it would be sufficient. A wounded animal—Fam or not—would bring predators.

With another grunt, Jace exited. Lepid took off running, as fast as his young and small legs could take him. Jace started out at a trot, feeling older this morning just from watching the Fam. They headed south, in the direction of the Deep Blue Sea.

Oh, yeah, Glyssa would like that her FamFox had left the camp entirely.

The morning light spilled over the horizon in long shoots of sunlight. Another beautiful summer day.

Frantic FamFox barks sounded and Jace put on speed, stretching his muscles. Felt good. He saw Lepid scaring birds, as big as he was and with wicked beaks, away from a dark lump on the ground. FamFox didn’t have much sense. Glyssa would not approve of this adventure, either.

Jace lengthened his stride, his breathing a little rapid, but not too bad. Still in good shape. Could run for another couple of kilometers.

He is here! Lepid had turned in Jace’s direction and bounced up and down on his paws. Hurry!

“Who does he belong to?” asked Jace. Something odd about the fallen animal.

I . . . be . . . long . . . to . . . my . . . self. Large . . . man. The voice in Jace’s head came high, with sighing air-notes.

“Who’s his companion?”

Seven

The FoxFam just shook his head, and as Jace took the last few meters, the lump became a bird. A large, predatory bird. Jace slowed his run. He didn’t know of any BirdFams. Not in the camp, not at all.

He stopped and squatted by the bird, a Celtan bird called a hawkcel, as long as his forearm. He didn’t look good. Blood on his chest and one wing was broken. Beautiful bird with rust-colored, black and white feathers, a touch of yellow around the glazed eye. Made Jace’s chest hurt. “How are you doing?”

With . . . care . . . I . . . will . . . live, he said.

Jace wasn’t too sure. He seemed to be breathing too fast. Who knew?

Take him to camp! Lepid insisted.

“Of course,” Jace said, a little too heartily. He sucked in a breath through his nose. “I’m going to lift you now.”

The bird’s eye closed.

Jace slid his hands under the bird, lifted, trying to ignore the wicked beak that could rip his arm open.

Thank . . . man. The bird went limp, and Jace tensed. He cradled him against his chest and ran fast back to the camp, that had begun to stir. The Healers—two—who manned the medtent got up early. People liked to walk at dawn and look at the pretty scenery and sometimes came back injured from the wilds.

He got to the clinic and found the flap tied back, a small wavering spellshield against dust and bugs showing in the opening. Hunching his body over the bird, he pushed through.

“What’s wrong?” asked the Healer, standing behind a high table with a bedsponge.

“Bird,” Jace said.

“A bird! We don’t treat birds here.” The Healer stepped back, a disgusted expression on his face.

“He’s a Fam,” Jace said.

Lepid hopped onto a stool, mouth open and tongue lolling. We will take him to D’Ash! She is a wonderful Fam Healer!

Jace spared Lepid a glance. “D’Ash is a long way away.”

“There are no BirdFams in camp,” the Healer said decidedly.

“He’s sentient,” Jace insisted. “Can you please look at him? Maybe splint his wing?”

“Birds are dirty and carry disease,” the Healer said.

“Lepid, go wake the other Healer. They share the green tent, the one that—”

Smells like Healers. I know that one! I saw it last night when I explored. I go! He hopped down and ran out the door.

“Wait,” the Healer protested. “She didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Wonder why,” Jace grumbled. They’d had sex and he hadn’t. He felt deprived. “I’m putting the bird down.”

Carefully, he set the FamBird on the bedsponge table on its uninjured side. “Bird, can I wipe down your chest with a wet cloth—water?”

The bird struggled a little. Jace stroked his head with his finger. “Steady, you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Breast . . . does . . . not . . . need . . . outside . . . care. I . . . can . . . Heal . . . myself. Jace hadn’t known that FamBirds could lie so well. Obviously the hawkcel was too much of a predator to allow himself to show weakness. Then he moved slightly, turning his head and Jace saw the gleam in his eye—as if just being away from outside gave the Fam hope. He trusted people for some reason, and for a hawkcel in this area, that was puzzling.

Wing . . . hurts. Perhaps not as alpha as Jace thought.

“I heard that, I think,” said the female Healer, bustling in with a cheerful smile. She glanced at her colleague and snorted. “Your scared-of-animals thing slow you down?”

“Look at that beak and those claws!” the man protested.

Lepid followed and hopped back up on the stool, yipped. HE IS NOT AN ANIMAL! HE IS A BIRD.

The Healers winced. “And I definitely heard that, FoxFam. Don’t project so loudly,” the woman said, then cooed over the bird, stroking the feathers around the puncture in his breast. “We’ll take care of you.” She touched the wound and Jace sensed her sending Healing Flair into the bird, mending tissues. The avian Fam relaxed a bit more.

“How did you get hurt?” Jace asked.

The hawkcel rolled his eye. Fighting two others for a wounded groundruck. They are tasty. I lost.

“How come you’re intelligent?”

We have been intelligent for generations. We have watched the camp and the people. Most humans have good energy.

“Good morning, Symphyta, Trago, Jace.” Glyssa walked in. She stared at Lepid. “Where have you been? I thought I asked you to stay in the pavilion.”

Lepid turned his head to Jace. We went on a walk. We found a wounded BIRDFAM!