location: the Hardy House status: closed with @sagetomashardy
Lily wasn’t there when the warning was first issued; she was cleaning the Hardy House, sweeping out dust and organizing Flora’s things so they weren’t so scattered. Tomas was also there — she could hear him in his bedroom, talking to Flora, who was chattering back at him with equal enthusiasm.
She half-smiled and shook her head. Libby would be back soon, and then they could have dinner, and she could ask them about hosting a party. But until then, she wanted Libby to come home with one less thing to do.
As she went outside to sweep the dust and farm-dirt off the stairs, a bird trilled. It was a call she’d only heard in the jungle, and at the sound of it Lily’s head snapped up. She turned toward the source and saw that a quetzal had landed on the edge of the roof, only a few feet from her. Male, with a brilliant red chest, iridescent green feathers, and a long, sweepingly elegant tail plume.
“Oh, hello friend,” Lily cooed, keeping her voice soft. The quetzal called again, head turning away, but black eye remaining focused on her. She clicked her tongue and took a step forward. The bird turned to face her fully, silent, and she smiled at it, lifting her hand. “Hey. It’s okay. Why are you so far from home?”
Why am I? she thought, but before she could think further on that, the quetzal took a step forward, stepping onto her wrist. Lily laughed and carefully escorted it to her right shoulder, and it stepped up naturally. Giving it a once over, she determined that it didn’t seem hurt, no missing flight feathers or injured wing.
Well, if it wanted to keep her company, it was welcome to it. The windows were large enough it could leave freely if it wanted.
Lily went back into the High House, unable to resist looking at the beautiful bird on her shoulder, and stopped when she saw Tomas had left the room. “Tomas!” she greeted with a grin. “Look! I made a new friend.”
