Shoo, Bird, Shoo

[arianna]

It was quite the lovely day out. The air was crisp and cool, a light layer of snow covered the ground, and the winter birds twitted and flew from tree to bush to bench. And Arianna, of course, sat in the middle of it. She had run out of nuts and berries quite awhile ago, but the birds still insisted on bothering her for more. Some dared pick at her head, while others perched quietly on the bench some ways away, staring at her with pitiful eyes. The girl tried shooing them away, but was so far unsuccessful.

"I told you, I don't have anymore," Arianna flapped her arms at the little sparrows. "Go...bug a house elf. They'll get you something...."

[Lianna Maylorn]

A small pebble, last seen at the base of a sneaker skipped across through the flock, the girl who'd kicked it looking up at the commotion. "Sorry..." She said softly as she noticed both the birds perching right back down again and the older girl on the bench.

"Hi..." The first year said timidly, suddenly feeling both the courage and size of an ant.

[arianna]

As the birds settled down, Arianna heard a small sound over the flap of their wings. She looked up to see what was going on and saw the girl.

"Hi," she greeted with a large smile. "Nice day out, isn't it?"

[Lianna Maylorn]

The girl only nodded in reply as she gazed about the courtyard. "Very nice." She quipped finally as the birds twitched but didn't move much at the sound of her voice.

"Lianna." The tiny girl said in introduction, all the while inching her way closer to where the other older girl sat.

[arianna]

"Hey! If you removed the L and added an A and an R, you'd get my name," the Ravenclaw smiled ever more widely as she gestured to the empty spot next to her. "Want a seat?"

[Lianna Maylorn]

The math was done right in her head, but the pronunciation could go a few ways. "Airianna?" she questioned, though there was no 'I' that didn't mean it couldn't be pronounced that way. Taking a seat next to the older girl, Lianna's attention went back to the birds.

Still twittering were they who merely looked up, tilted their heads then hopped around like a bored rabbit.

[arianna]

"More like Ahriahna," the older girl replied. She reached into her pocket then and, shaking her head, pulled out a small bird and set it gently on the ground.

"Poor birds don't get much to eat in the winter," she explained. "And they don't seem to understand that when I say I'm out, that means I'm out."

[Lianna Maylorn]

Lianna smiled. "Its a pretty name." She said with a nod. Giggling as she removed the bird from her pocket.

"They really don't understand do they?" She questioned tilting her head again at the birds. "Do they follow you, or just stay here when you finally do leave?" Lianna inquired her eyes meeting that of a bird looking up at her, its head tilting left and right.

[arianna]

"Thank you," Arianna grinned. Few people had ever told her she had a pretty name.

"Sometimes they try to follow me," Arianna replied to the girl's question. She reached out a hand to pet one of the little birds on the head. "I have to hurry inside so they don't get in when that happens."

[Lianna Maylorn]

"Your welcome, I take it no one compliments it often?" She responded initially.

However at he second comment she found herself fighting back laughter. "They, actually try to follow you?" She exasperated with a giggle. "Don't they know stalking is illegal?" She questioned with a small wink toward the birds.

[arianna]

Arianna started to shake her head, but broke out in giggles upon the question of the legality of birds following her.

"I don't think they know that," she replied, stifling her laughter. "But I always thought of them as little flying puppies. You know? The ones that follow the little kid home and the kid tries to convince his parents to let him keep it? It's really too bad I can't keep these guys, but I think they'd be happier out here anyway."

[Lianna Maylorn]

"Besides, it would eb kinda hard to keep this many birds in one place, except the...whats it caled, Owlry?" She stated, and questioned to make sure she got it right.

She still hadn't gotten all the odd-er names memorized, nor most of their locations. Getting lost was becoming a daily ritual.

[arianna]

"Yup," Arianna gave a short nod. "Up there where all the owls roost. It's a right mess up there sometimes, but they seem to like it. I don't know if these guys would, though. But at least they wouldn't be locked up."

[Lianna Maylorn]

"Must be nice to know you have a fan club..." Lianna quipped after a moment. It was clear the birds like her if they remained even after she had no more food. Either that, or they were just stupid twits. Lianna hoped it was the first one.

[arianna]

"Kinda is," Arianna agreed, chuckling slightly. She picked another bird up off her lap and held it out to Lianna. "Want to hold it? I think it'll let you. At least they haven't flown away yet."