#avain

"I don't need you to necessarily", Cain watched Maurie look down sadly, "but if you would like to come with me, you can."

"Really?", Maurie smiled.

"Ymhmm", Cain nodded as they took a bite, "I'll have you wait in the waiting room though. It's a more indebt visit, which you don't need to be part of. After that we can go for a walk or fly if you like."

"A walk would be nice.... I don't really want to fly", Maurie poked their fingers together shyly.

"You don't trust me... I won't drop you", Cain chuckled.

"I-I trust you.... I just don't like being up there. Being off the ground isnt really my thing", Maurie looked at Cain's strong wings, "you should, you know, save them if there is a war."

"A war?", Cain smiled.

"Yes, you are a general of the Avian Fleets for the kingdom. I'd hate for you to be tired", Maurie giggled awkwardly.

"Well, I guess you have a point, but let me know if you change your mind", Cain grinned.

"Okay", Maurie nodded.

Maurie sat in the waiting room while Cain was seen.

"Slave girl", someone called, "you belong to General Cain right?"

"Yes your honor", Maurie quickly stood and walked to the window where the person had asked for them.

"Has General Cain ever taught you how to preen his wings", a nurse questioned.

"Yes, that is one of my duties to help him with his wings. I always carry my two preening combs with me", Maurie pulled them out, "does Master need me?"

"No, we actually have an avian soldier here who was wounded recently. Our normal preener isn't here, and no one knows how to do it. The soldier is not happy right now, and says they are highly stressed. A preen will help them relax", the nurse explained, "would you be okay with helping them for us? We would really appreciate it."

Maurie heard screaming.

The nurse's shoulders sagged.

"I would be happy to help, but I need permission from my master. He told me to stay out here", Maurie frowned.

"Come here, we will go ask together", the nurse walked them behind the door.

The nurse knocked on the door, then opened it.

Maurie stood away from the door, remembering Cain didn't want them around for his appointment.

"General Cain, forgive me for bothering you. We have a soldier who was injured in a recent accident during training. They are highly stressed and say a preen would help them. Our normal preener isn't here today. Your slave says they would help as long as you gave permission. Would you please allow them to help us?"

"Yes of course. I didn't know someone was still hospitalized. I would like to visit them after this if I could", Cain nodded, "Maurie right there?"

"Yes."

"Maurie take good care of that soldier's wings", Cain ordered.

"Yes Master", Maurie smiled.

The nurse led Maurie into the room.

"Who is that?", the soldier groaned, "I don't want visitors.... plus they look like a slave. Are you joking with me?"

"I'm Ge....", Maurie started to introduce themself.

"Hush and go away. What a dishonor to have a slave brought to me", the soldier stuck up their nose.

Maurie quickly turned.

"I'm sorry, they have been very mean lately", the nurse sighed, "I feel bad that you just..."

"No its okay, uhm", Maurie shook, "can I go back to Master Cain.. please?"

Maurie lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in", Cain called.

Maurie quickly opened the door and went in. They sobbed as they slammed the door.

"Maurie what happened?", Cain frowned, I thought you were helping preen those wings."

"The soldier was insulted that a slave was brought to them. They thought I was trying to visit", Maurie shook more, "they uhm, yelled at me Master."

"Ah I see", Cain sat up, "I'm thinking it is one of newer soldiers then, they all don't know you yet. Come here."

Maurie inched close until Cain was able to pick them up and hug them close.

"That wasn't fair for them to yell at you, and it is not insulting to be visited by a slave", Cain wrapped their wings around them fully, "especially a slave like you."

After a few minutes, Maurie was calmed enough to climb down from Cain.

"Would you like me to leave", Maurie saw the doctor come back in.

"No I'm actually getting finished up", Cain smiled, "take a seat over there."

Cain knocked at the door of the soldier's room.

"General Cain", the soldier sat up, "what brings you here."

"I had an appointment of my own, I wasn't aware you were here", Cain stepped in, "I thought I come and check on you."

"Oh thankyou sir", the soldier smiled, "I'm okay mostly, I've been a little stressed lately."

"Yes I heard you would like to have your wings preened", Cain grinned.

"Yes sir, they haven't been done since my injury" the soldier frowned.

"You know the nurses asked if my slave could do it. I of course said yes, but was disturbed to hear that you yelled at them. They said you were insulted to have a slave brought to you", Cain sat down, "you know I've never been insulted by any visitors who came to see me."

"Th-that was your slave?", the soldier sadly realized.

"Yes Maurie is mine. They were part of the spoil we took several years ago from the enemy village Capstonel. I was gifted them for my successful siege", Cain grinned, "they were very young at that time... easy to train. I put in a lot of time making them the perfect servant for me. One task they do very well with is wing preening."

"I-I'm sorry, I've been on edge. I didn't mean to", the soldier looked at Cain.

"Well I appreciate the apology, but I'm not the one you should apologize to", Cain looked toward the door, "I understand being on edge, especially when you haven't been able to care for your wings. But, you did make my slave cry, and I do not like seeing them cry. Though they are merely human and a slave, they are still near to my heart, and I've put a lot of time and effort into them."

"I-I understand", the soldier nodded.

"Maurie would you come here please", Cain called.

After a few seconds Maurie appeared halfway in the doorway, shyly hiding from them, "yes Master?"

"If this soldier apologized to you, would you be willing to preen their wings?", Cain turned to look at Maurie.

"Yes of course Master. I'd be honored to help one of the soldiers", Maurie nodded.

Cain turned back to the soldier, "it's up to you. I won't force an apology, but you will have to wait until the on staff preener comes back to care for your wings."

The soldier nodded, "I am so sorry for being mean to you. I don't honestly even deserve for you to preen my wings though. I was a jerk."

"It's okay", Maurie stepped further into the doorway, "I know it's not fun being in that bed. Especially for your wings."

The soldier nodded with a weak smile.

"May I get started?", Maurie pulled out their preening combs.

"Yes please", the soldier sighed in relief.

Maurie listened as Cain and the soldier talked. Cain told stories, shared advice, taught different in flight maneuvers for the soldier to try to lesson injuries.

Maurie carefully and meticulously combed through each feather. They plucked out any dead feathers and moved the newer feathers around.

"My, it's been a while since you've molted", Maurie dropped a few more feathers to the floor, "a lot of feathers are popping out into my fingers without me even trying."

"Yes, I was supposed to molt a few days ago, but this injury kept me from getting to do it", the soldier sighed, "I really appreciate you doing this. My wings already feel so much better. I also don't feel as stressed."

"I'm glad", Maurie smiled.

Cain also smiled as they watched Maurie.

"Okay I think that is about as good as I'll get it right now", Maurie slid their fingers through the wings, "I've checked every part of your wings."

"I feel so much better", the soldier laid back, "this means so much to me. I'm sorry it took so long, I'm sure you had more important things to do then sit with me all morning and into the afternoon."

"No I didn't. I chose to stay here with you and talk. I've been in these hospital beds plenty of times to know how lonely it gets", Cain stood, "I could have left Maurie here if I wanted, she would have come right back to me when she was done."

"Thankyou so much", the soldier's lip quivered, "it means so much to know that a general wanted to stay with me."

"Your welcome", Cain looked at Maurie, "are you ready to go. We can grab something to eat in the cafeteria, then take a walk. I'm sure you don't feel like cooking lunch after preening those wings."

Maurie nodded, then looked at the feathers.

"Do you want me to ask?", Cain grinned when they watched Maurie nod.

"Ask what?", the soldier frowned.

"Maurie likes to collect feathers from the avians she has preened. Would you be okay if they took one of your feathers for their collection?" Cain looked at the feather covered floor.

"Yes of course they can", the soldier nodded, "I can imagine that is quite the collection."

"You have no idea", Cain shook their head, "one more story while they pick their feather.

The soldier excitedly listened.

"There was battle probably three years ago now. The Avian fleet had been trapped in the mountains for a month straight. We had plenty of supplies, everything we needed.... except a preener", Cain talked, "I decided late at night to sneak out and fly here. I grabbed Maurie and flew back before dawn."

"Please make note. Maurie hates flying with a passion, but I got her there. That entire day Maurie and I preened every soldiers wings. Then Maurie preened mine", Cain chuckled, "I can't tell you how many times we said ow because we were poked. Maurie has a feather from every one of those soldiers."

"You yourself preened soldiers wings? You waited until everyone was done before you had yours done?", the soldier gaped in shock.

"Yes, I wasn't made a general because of my good looks... shocking, I'm sure", Cain smiled, "my troops come first. We were able to boost moral and the entire fleet was relieved. The next day we were attacked. Of course, I had Maurie there, so I was a little stressed with her being so close, but it all worked out. That was the last battle. The war was won.

The soldier nodded.

"I think the moral boost helped everyone there", Cain smiled, "a happy soldier is more aware than a stressed one. I never want to see my avian comrades stressed."

Maurie reached down for a feather, then looked at Cain.

"That's the one?", Cain chuckled.

"Yes Master", Maurie nodded, then showed the soldier, "is it okay if I take this one?"

"Yes of course, thankyou so much for taking care of my wings", the soldier smiled.

"You're welcome, thankyou for the honor of doing it", Maurie smiled.

A nurse came in with a lunch tray.

"Well, we will head out. Enjoy your meal", Cain started toward the door, "hope to see you at training soon."

Cain stopped at the counter to schedule another appointment.

The nurse from earlier came by.

"Thankyou so much for allowing them to do that", the nurse smiled, "they seem so much happier now."

"You're welcome", Cain smiled down at Maurie, who was examining the feather.

"Thankyou slave girl.... sorry, Maurie for doing that as well. We all appreciate you."

"You're welcome", Maurie looked up, smiling, "I was happy to help."

Taglist. As always please let me know if you want to be added or taken off of the list. It's not a problem at all.

@villainsandheroes @the-beasts-have-arrived @sacredwrath @porschethemermaid @monarchthefirst

@generic-whumperz @bloodyandfrightened @freefallingup13 @notpeppermint @cyborg0109

@idontreallyexistyet @painfulplots @whumpbump @everythingsscary @skittles-the-whumpee

@expressionless-fr @theforeverdyingperson @legendarydelusiongoatee @candleshopmenace @whumpanthems

@lavndvrr @ivymyers @starfields08000 @a-living-canvas @lumpofsand

@watermeezer @indigoviolet311 @whumpy-mountains @3-2-whump @risk606

"Yavooti - Stage Debut"

I wonder who's gonna be on stage. . .

"Featuring:"

FlyingBep / Flying Bep

Yavooti / Yavooti

*Pixy-Pixels~ / Autumn

Sharb / Sharb

Woot / Dotty

"Fun Factoids"

I made this piece to re-balance my standard colour palette. Yavooti wears overalls in this piece, he usually doesn't wear them ^^