After finishing lunch, Alice's originally brisk motions at clearing the table suddenly slowed. Julian, helping to wash the dishes nearby, noticed Alice's unusual behavior and glanced at her suspiciously.
Alice set aside her work and walked to the sitting room by the window.
She Alice set aside her work and walked toward the sitting room, her steps measured and deliberate. The room was bathed in soft daylight streaming through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor. She stopped before the largest window, its panes slightly ajar, and pushed it open fully.
And then a gray-white furry animal perched on her arms.
The animal resembled an old falcon in shape, though its feathers had an unusual, almost silvery sheen. It perched close to Alice but maintained a cautious distance, its sharp eyes scanning the room before locking onto Julian.
