Caleb Wittebane: Winter Bird-Sitter Headcanons
Summary: In the heart of a Boiling Isles winter, the Wittebane cottage becomes a temporary sanctuary for the realm's more delicate feathered friends.
While Evelyn provides a warm refuge for these 'winter-palismen' during the harshest months, Caleb has unexpectedly found himself promoted to the role of head caretaker.
Ao3 version
Enjoy!
Headcanons inspired by this artwork.
The Snowy Owl (The Blue Fair Isle Sweater) :
β’ This owl arrived with a frozen wing, and Caleb was the one to gently splint it with carved cedar wood; now, the owl watches him work with a look of deep, scholarly respect.
β’ Caleb knit the blue sweater specifically to keep the owl's chest warm while its magical circulation recovered; he takes pride in the fact that the owl no longer shivers when he enters the room.
β’ If Caleb sneaks an extra treat or stays up late woodcarving, he looks at the owl with a "you didn't see anything" wink. The bird is "in on it."
β’ As the wing heals, Caleb finds himself checking the splint more often than necessary, secretly dreading the day this dignified guest will be strong enough to fly back to the Knee.
The White Dove (The Long Red Scarf) :
β’ Found caught in a thicket of brambles, this dove was terrified until Caleb used his carving knife to delicately cut it free; the red scarf was Evelyn's idea to hide the scruffy feathers that had been pulled out.
β’ Because the bird is still a bit shaky on its feet, Caleb lets it wrap that long scarf around his thumb while he walks, acting as a human "crutch" for the little survivor.
β’ Caleb has been tasked with "enriching" the dove's diet; he spends his afternoons mashing magical berries into a paste, feeling a surge of joy every time the bird takes a bite.
β’ Now that it feels safe, the dove follows Caleb everywhere; he has learned to walk with a "stiff-but-fluid" gait to ensure he never accidentally steps on the trailing red fabric.
The Red Cardinal (The Teal Turtleneck) :
β’ This cardinal was the "toughest" rescue, having fended off a small slitherbeast before Evelyn found it; Caleb admires its spirit and gave it the teal sweater as a "badge of honor."
β’ During its recovery, the cardinal has "reclaimed" Caleb's workbench; it likes to hide his smaller chisels inside its turtleneck, forcing Caleb to play a game of "find the tool" every morning.
β’ To help the bird regain its vocal magic, Caleb whistles old tunes he once sang to a young, frightened Philip during their coldest nights in Gravesfield; he nearly dropped his tea the first time the cardinal successfully chirped a bar of a familiar lullaby back to him.
β’ When the cardinal gets tired, it retreats to the crook of Caleb's neck to nap alongside Flapjack; Caleb will sit perfectly still for an hour, refusing to move even a muscle while letting the combined heat of both birds radiate against his skin.
Pigeon (The Indigo Sweater) :
β’ This "loaf" simply followed Evelyn home one day because it was too cold to find its own nest; Caleb dubbed it the "official house guest" and ensured the bird had an indigo sweater to coordinate with the one Evelyn lovingly knitted for Caleb's first Boiling Isles winter.
β’ Whenever Caleb works too long without a break, this pigeon plumps itself down directly on his blueprints or sketches, refusing to move until Caleb sighs and pets its soft, indigo-covered back.
β’ The bird is fascinated by the red crests atop its head; Caleb often holds up a small polished mirror for the pigeon, telling it that it's the most "fashionable bird in the woods."
β’ During the coldest nights, Caleb moves the pigeon's nest closer to the fire; he often falls asleep in his chair with one hand resting near the bird, making sure the embers don't go out.
The Pigeon Triplets :
β’ These three are never seen apart; they tend to "loaf" in a perfect row on the windowsill. Caleb has to be careful when opening the shutters, as he doesn't want to tip over the "pigeon-train" while they are mid-slumber.
β’ Whenever Caleb is eating a piece of bread, the triplets perform a coordinated routine where they all tilt their heads at the same angle simultaneously. He always ends up surrendering his crusts to them.
β’ They love the smell of fresh linen. Whenever Caleb is folding clothes, the triplets immediately nestle into the warm piles.
He has accidentally walked halfway across the house with a "pigeon-filled" basket before realizing he was carrying three extra passengers.
β’ When they get particularly excited, they don't flyβthey just roll.
Caleb often finds himself gently nudging them back toward their nest with the soft end of a broom.
The Scarfed Penguin :
β’ This bird is the "moodiest" of the rescues.
It arrived with a permanent scowl, but it produces the most body heat.
Caleb likes to tuck it under his arm while he works on his more intricate woodcarvings.
β’ Unlike the dove who gets tangled, this bird is very protective of its teal-striped scarf.
If the knot is even slightly off-center, it will peck at Caleb's fingers until he fixes it to the bird's high standards.
β’ It has claimed the top shelf of Caleb's tool rack. From its high vantage point, it watches him work with a judgmental squint.
Caleb often asks its opinion on a carving: "Does the grain look right to you, Master Penguin?"
The bird usually just blinks in response.
β’ Despite being a "loaf," this bird loves to launch itself off the porch into deep snowbanks. Caleb then has to go "fishing" for it, grabbing the end of the blue scarf to pull the round, disgruntled bird back out of the drift.
Dark-Headed Bird (Snowman) :
β’ This bird has a peculiar habit of perching atop the snowmen Evelyn builds in the garden, sitting so still that travelers often mistake it for a decorative carving.
β’ Because the bird is so strangely drawn to wooden pipes, Caleb finds himself carving a whole assortment of bird-sized ones to keep his little friend occupied during the long winter afternoons.
β’ Because it loves its pink-striped scarf so much, Caleb often lets the bird stay perched on his own shoulder while he works outside, acting as a living, feathered "neck warmer".
β’ It takes its role as a snowman-sentry very seriously; it will chirp loudly at any other bird that tries to steal the snowman's twig arms, which Caleb finds endlessly amusing.
The Festive Owl (The Light-Bringer Snowy Owl) :
β’ This owl is fascinated by the glowing magical lights Evelyn uses for decoration; Caleb spent an entire evening untangling the bird after it tried to "wear" a string of them like a royal cape.
β’ On the darkest winter nights, Caleb lets this owl perch on the headboard of his bed; the soft glow from its tangled lights helps ward off the shadows and reminds him of the vibrant life he now leads.
β’ Despite Caleb's best efforts to keep things tidy, this owl constantly "borrows" extra light strings to add to its collection; Caleb has given up on organizing them, simply calling the bird his "Luminous House-Guest".
