Beloved perked up, then sighed.
Ashton tilted his head, "It is possible, but only for a bit, your mana so strong, will wash ours away."
Haven shifted his coils to bring Nix closer. "You say that, as if there is a more permanent option."
Beloved peeked through her hair to watch her big snake's reaction. "Well, yes, but it's very different! Perhaps just a taste, before we explore, no need for haste." Beloved trailed off before sliding down to rest her ear over his heart beat. No haste, bonds took time for forge. This… she wanted this.
Haven half nodded, "Then, a temporary arrangement."
Nix pulled a feather from Beloved's dress, then one of his own out. "Both feathers have merit, both feathers almost the same, the only real difference, how long you can claim."
Haven nodded, "How long would each feather last?" Haven released Beloved so she could sit up, her eyes still red from all her tears.
Beloved pouted, huffing so her hair moved out of her eyes, "Mine is more subtle, maybe an hour, Nix is more sturdy, a few weeks before overpowered."
Haven slowly lifted Beloved up, he was male, and Beloved was his mate. Despite the conversation, if she continued to wiggle about atop him, he may whisk her away from prying eyes.
Beloved blushed, allowing Haven to lift her onto his arm. "I think mine is better, at least for a taste, a few weeks of song, from silence is a great change."
Haven smiled knowingly. It would seem, in spite of her fear of change, her desire for him remained strong. "Then, I would like to hear your world."
Ashton covered his eyes as he held out Beloved's feather. Rolling her eyes Beloved snatched it up. As if everyone in the tree was not aware of their current predicament. He had more than enough sense to pretend he knew nothing.
Beloved huffed with a nod as she lifted her feather to Haven's forehead. "It will be loud, a little bit scary, but I am right here, this is just cautionary." The feather became a white flame.
Haven watched as the flame separated, then condensed into two separate enchantments. They flew toward his ears. Nodding his ascent, the enchantments took hold. Then… his world changed.
Sound wasn't enough to describe what he heard. Of course he'd heard songs, talking, battle. This… was deeper. The only thing that even came close… was his ability to understand the wind.
Haven gasped, closing his eyes to reorientate himself. Suddenly, he was able to focus on two sounds. Songs. They weren't drowning out other songs, but made them less jarring.
Beloved sang as she wrapped herself around Haven's head, softening the bombardment.
Haven took several moments to make sense of the songs. Hundreds of songs, the tree, the fruit, the fox, the humans. Honestly, song may be too generous a term for the sounds they created. It was as if each individual conscious had more than a dozen instruments playing at any given time. Few, if any were playing in any kind of comprehensible rhythm.
To make sense of what any of it meant… could take a lifetime.
Ashton sidled up to Haven, blinking innocently as he coughed into his cupped hand. Offering his own feather up to interpret the cacophony of sounds. "Perhaps a little biased, but from song, into words."
Haven gave Nix a slow blink, perhaps it was because they were song birds, but theirs was the most… rhythmic. He could also vaguely guess what their songs meant. Comfort, trust, expectation, acceptance, hope… love. There was more, but the sounds couldn't even be considered whispers.
Accepting the feather, the songs immediately became comprehensible. If this was how birds interpreted the world… Haven wasn't sure how they retained their sanity. Though there were immediate advantages… like knowing three of the birds were plotting to steal dragon scales. Or hearing his own heart almost imperceptibly offering comfort to Beloved.
Then again… hearing his own possessiveness drowning out his offer of comfort wasn't exactly something he wanted vocally announced. Mine, she's mine, this is mine. Was the loudest part of his song. It was a wonder they hadn't fled.
Haven turned his attention to Beloved's song, it was a combination of higher notes. Rather reminiscent of the tinkling leaves. My big snake, my warm snake, sing to me, sing with me, fly with me, love me. Her song was far more expressive. It's a bit cold, pretty feathers, tasty fruit, the sun is warm.
Ashton leaned back as Haven turned to him. His song… was a mix of two. Nix was the forefront… but that didn't mean Ashton was gone. They were, in reality, two separate beings after all.
Haven's eyes constricted. Nix's song was again, very understandable. Be happy, its cold, be warm, fly free, don't worry, it hurts, love her. Haven wasn't sure if Nix wanted to make sure Haven would love Beloved… or if Nix was saying he loved Beloved. The second, lethargic song obviously belonged to the sacrifice.
It's cold, just a bit longer, be happy, so cold, it's happening, it hurts, I miss them. It wasn't exactly negative. Haven focused, trying to pick each song apart… he hadn't been imagining things. It was there… mine. She's mine… mine. Nix… was tainted with humanity.
Ashton gave Haven a half hearted smile. "We live, we learn, and we both know… how humans yearn."
Haven tightened his hold on Beloved. Seeing no reaction, hearing no reaction, didn't put him at ease. He understood why so many god's went after Nix… no one liked having their heart laid bare.
"Yearning… greed. Is it because of the dragon's greed that your heart is tainted? Or just because you are so… intertwined with humans?" Haven asked, listening to Nix's heart as well as his words.
Ashton sighed, tilting his head from side to side. "To be honest, I am not sure, to be fair, thoughts arose, but make no mistake, I, Nix, am in control." Nix let his eyes change as he made his promise. Then he smiled, "But I am hungry, my heart alone, perhaps something yummy, to dislodge the stone?"
Haven loosened his grip on Beloved. Nodding, he lowered them to the ground. The smaller birds already chirping away delightedly, checking out Beloved. Offering comfort, curiosity over the change.
Caius flinched when the snake god's glance pierced his soul. He had to physically check himself over for any new holes… Aiya, scary snake. Caius tried to keep his thoughts light hearted… but something told him… they all knew. Which meant… Peach… Caius shook the thought away.
No matter what, Caius was committed. He would do anything, give anything… he was sure, that with enough time, his Little Snack would keep him.
Haven had just finished cleaning up when the songs abruptly came to an end. It was jarring, as if he'd lost his tail, or one wing. As he glanced around, listening… he heard only the passing breeze.
How quickly he'd become accustomed to just… hearing. Questions not being misconstrued. Answers were prompt and honest. Now… Haven picked Beloved up, pressing his head to her chest. Listening to her heartbeat. It was fast, faster than any snake's, or humans.
Haven closed his eyes, "I hope, my song is enough for you Beloved."
Beloved teered up again as she clutched Haven's head to her chest. Words were so hard… so she just nodded.
Haven glanced over Nix, Ashton. "How, would I gain this hearing permanently?"
Ashton pursed his lips as he tried not to smile. He had to be serious. Standing up with his hands behind his back, "You are so strong, your power unrivaled, to influence you… we must find another equally unbridled. Beloved is a goddess, in name that is true… but she is still a part, easily subdued."
Haven raised a brow, easily subdued? Compared to what?
Ashton gave a short cough, "I am a monarch, my reign is quite strong, I'd last much longer, a century or so, should nothing go wrong… but… I know another, who's feathers of gold, could endure forever, if that is our goal."
Haven's eye twitched. "Ru… is not a song bird." They were both predators. Ru… ate his kin. Having birds from Ru's flock was one thing… having… Ru… well that was a good way for the treaty of gods to come to an end. Neither would accept the other's dominance.
Ashton blinked innocently, "Eh? Says who? Who will tell that to Ru?"
Beloved giggled, kicking her feet with surpressed mirth.
Haven eyed both birds… Ru… a song bird? Only if the screams of his victims could be considered as such. Now both birds were laughing… Haven sighed. "And, what would Ru demand in return?" If the birds liked to barter… well, as long as everyone gained what they desired.
Ashton blinked, then titled his head… "Demand? In return? For a feather?" Ashton glanced around, sneakily opened a small rift, reached inside, then pulled out a gold feather. As the rift was closing indignant eagle screeches shook the golden palace. "See? He didn't even notice!"
Haven watched as a golden rift opened above Nix's head, and half a dozen fist sized walnuts rained down. Nix had dramatically fallen face first into the ground, holding up his stolen feather. Haven's lips twitched as Beloved burst out laughing, her body rocking back and forth so hard he had to use both hands to keep her from falling.
"hahaha hahaha hahaha! Silly Nix! Hahaha hahaha!" Beloved clutched her stomach as she laughed.
Sneaky… they were not. Haven felt Ru's gaze, it barely passed over them as Nix pushed himself up.
Ashton pouted, "Well, we have the feather, I know the spell, will take only a moment, then you will hear our realm."
Haven thought it would be a more elaborate ceremony… but Nix just separated the feather, condensed the mana, and it was done. Haven was able to lower the volume of songs as he wished. He could even focus on specific songs… it was a wonderous way to experience the world.
Haven glanced over the tree… even if he now had to hear the Tree think they were heavy.
Beloved burst out laughing again. "We will strengthen the tree, it will be with us as we grow our family!" Beloved reminded.
Haven smiled, "Yessss."
Haven was loosely coiled as the birds set to work. Nix carving mana crystals, Beloved finishing the last touches on her instrument, the small birds learning from the foxes. He could hear it, they were preparing to part ways…
Beloved was sad, but looking forward to their life. Nix was encouraging, making sure she had everything she could want or need.
Haven glanced over the gathering humans, dragon, dragonkin, beasts… It was if only Beloved and Nix saw their parting as a forgone conclusion. Even the smaller birds were sadly chirping, almost coaxing them to stay.
"I could… kill the dragon." Haven announced.