You won't stay with me, I know
A mother who is just now making her return, belly full of dead things to regurgitate to her young. And as is the way in the animal kingdom, the sound of her babies sets her on full alarm, ready to see what fool has decided to intrude upon her nest. Unfortunately it's not Lena she spots first but Colt, the rancher being near enough for the mama bird to mistakenly peg as a threat. With a piercing shriek it dives toward the blonde, red beak open wide to reveal a mouth of tiny, horrifying teeth. Its talons extended, it seems ready to try and snatch the human by her hair. Whatever shall you do?
Meanwhile the boys have made it to the base of the turret, exchanging teasing, playful looks as they ready to climb the stairs. "Last time I fought alongside a dead thing it wound up being pretty useful," Koa concedes, remembering the ragged zombaby that had changed sides midway through a fight. He pulls the door open for Zavien, wincing as it shrieks on its hinges. "Maybe we could get it on scouting duty? It'd be great to have a soldier who was invisible and couldn't be killed."
The tower is in a surprisingly good state of repair, all things considered. Narrow wooden stairs are lined with moth-eaten carpet, but they don't show any signs of rot or potential to collapse under the mens' weight. Another door waits at the top of the staircase; Koa glances uneasily at Zavien as the sound of scuffling is heard beyond it, his wrapped hands balling into fists. "Right behind you," he whispers, nodding for the other Dragoon to reveal the threat that lies beyond.
As the door swings open, another high-pitched wail whistles through the tower, and now they can clearly see that one of the windows is fully open, a breeze rushing through to rustle all the stray paper and detritus within.
And there, perched within the windowsill: an old, wizened, Cockatrice.
It fixes the men with one beady eye; the other is missing, hideous scarring suggesting he'd lost it in a fight. Mangy feathers puff and rise along its scaled neck as it digs gnarled, arthritic talons into the old wood. It appears more than ready to do violence at a moment's notice, without much need to be provoked. "Fuck," Koa hisses, eyes wide as he gapes over Zavien's shoulder. "Think we can get rid of it without a fight?"
Round 3! Lena has successfully dislodged the dreambird nest, but the sound of her babies has put mama bird on alert, and she's now attacking Colt!
Koa and Zavien have made it to the turret, only to discover it is the nesting place of an old, mean looking cockatrice
Koa
But you can have your way with me Till you go
