GAMBIT 24 024| Falcon

"It's injured." Virgo responds right away, kneeling down to pick up the injured bird. On its left abdomen, a large wound could be found with a wooden arrow piercing through it. With pain, the bird mourns, after being lifted by Virgo.

"Get me the Egnaro berries in my bag. It will help the bird recover quicker." Virgo instructs, pointing her finger to her bag found in the patch of flowers. Quartz responds in a rapid pace and follows what the young woman instructs.

"Which one? The yellow or-"

"The orange ones." She interrupts. As the young man gathers the berries, Virgo tilts her head to him to see if he was looking at her. She then tilts back to the bird and aids it as fast as possible before the young man finds out. With a gentle tap on the bird's wound, the woman's hand glows in a green veil, sending off a fuzzy feeling to the bird. Within a matter of seconds, the bird was healed and the wound disappeared.

"Here are the ber... What happened to the wound?!" Upon giving the berries to Virgo, Quartz was left stunned after seeing the bird all healed up with arrow on the gra.s.s. She looks to Virgo, and seemingly she has the looks of a drowsy and tired person.

"Just feed the berries to the bird." Inhaling and exhaling deeply, Virgo instructs, not answering the young man's questions or whatsoever.

With Quartz feeding the berries to the bird, Virgo does her different agendas and picks a plethora of a Elppa berries from the tree. Just like a hungry child, she eats the fruits in a rambunctious and desperate manner.

"There... There..." After being fed, the bird stays on the lap of the young man. He pats its wings, ma.s.saging it like a mother ma.s.sing the back of a newlyborn baby.

"The bird. It's a falcon. They're speed is beyond any winged-creature that roams the land of Sacchi. It is a rare scenario to see an arrow hit a bird of swiftness. Perhaps the doers are skilled archers." Virgo suspects.

"Skilled archers? Are there any kind of species that are masters when it comes to archery?" He queries.

From the distance, a chattering voice interrupts both of them. They have the voice of an unruly and sluggish person. Apparently, the voice seems to be going closer to Virgo and Quartz, raising the suspicion that they're heading to the Elppa tree.

"...Piglins." Virgo murmurs.

Trying to impress Virgo, with bravery the man tilts his head to the back of the tree. From there, he sees two fat and obesse creatures. On ther hideous jaws are tusks. Their heads have the look of a boar and their clothings are merely made out of leather. One of them has an axe while the other has a bow. They seem to be looking for they falcon that they have taken down.

"Don't mess with them. They're not called Piglins for nothing." Virgo pulls the young man, forcing him to hide behind the tree with her.

"Perhaps you have a point, however, I believe they can be outsmarted." Quartz technically concurrs. He then jumps out, showing himself and grabbing the attention of the two Piglins.

"Filthy boars. The falcon you are looking for is with me. If you want it, then you have to get through me." He bargains, insulting the looks of the obesse creatures.

"Who in the b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l is this ding-dong?" The piglin with an axe insults, laughing hysterically.

"Oi mate. Give us the falcon or we'll give ya a b.l.o.o.d.y match." The piglin with the bow warns glaring with seriousness to the young man. On the other hand, Virgo takes care of the bird, while watching Quartz against the two piglins.

With maximum velocity, Quartz jolts around the field with the piglin with an axe trying to chase him. On the other hand the skilled archer prepares, stretching his bow and placing the arrow. With keen eyes, the Piglin tries to keep up with the swiftness of the man. For him, it was like shooting an ant, squirming around the field.

During the perfect moment, Quartz halts, giving the Piglin an opportunity to launch the bow. However, his friend with an axe interrupts and goes in front of the young man with his axe ready to slaughter Quartz. Sadly it ended up with the arrow piercing the heart of the Piglin. For Quartz, the Piglin was a s.h.i.+eld of fats.

"Oh G.o.d." The other Piglin starts to worry, seeing that he has killed his own friend. He decides to run away, leaving his dead friend on the patch of flowers. Lucky the young man is, for he has outsmarted the two Piglins without the need of fighting. He then returns to the tree and leans his head on it. He grasps for air, in order to cool down his burning lungs and perspiration.

"You have a brave heart." She chuckles. Seeing the young man, the falcon glides, staying on top with its claws hooked to the man's shoulder.

"Hi there. Seems like you're feeling better now?" Quartz smiles, fiddling with the falcon's chin. In response, the falcon smiles back and lets out its cry.

"Virgo, it's been a pleasure meeting you, but I am afraid I have to return." Quartz snaps back to reality, realizing his training session in the camp today.

"You may go, as long as you tell no one about me."

"You have my word." He smiles, then walks further from the tree. The falcon interrupts, and glides back to the man's shoulder, shocking both Quartz and Virgo.

"Looks like the falcon wants to come with you." Virgo giggles while a.s.suming.

"To express my deepest grat.i.tude, I swear to protect you." The falcon begins to speak, leaving the man stunned.

"I almost forgot to say, Falcons can speak the language of men." Virgo explains. Hearing the falcon speak, Quartz also wish that the falcons of Earth could speak like humans as well.

"You have saved me from the grasps of the two Piglins who've attacked me. Due to this, I, Endeavor, vow to protect you from any danger." The falcon introduces, gesturing with respect by bowing down to the young man.

"Endeavor? Such a unique and genuine name." Quartz compliments, fiddling with the chin of the falcon.

"So Master? What shall be your first bidding? With all my might, I shall do it." Endeavor bows, selling his life to Quartz for free.

"Master? Please, call me Quartz."

"Quartz it is! My adventure with you, begins today." Endeavor beams with exuberance.

Meanwhile, sitting on the gra.s.s while leaning on the bark of the Elppa tree, is Virgo, chuckling softly while watching the young man bond with his Falcon. With everything set, the young man and his new pet return to the kingdom. Only time will tell what dangers and problems Quartz and Endeavor will encounter together.