Chapter Text
The owl had been following him for three days now.
The first time he had noticed it was right outside the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. The bird had flown into one of the towers on the roof. Resulting in a tremendous twunk! and a disgruntled, yet mildly shocked, hoot as it bounced off the stone onto the rooftop.
Kaeya and the two guards at the entrance had all paused and looked up in surprise at the sound. The blunette frowned upon seeing it. Wondering if he needed to send some squire up there to dispose of the poor thing’s body, but it had flapped its wings and managed to stand.
Though it looked severely dazed and annoyed.
Well, as annoyed as a bird can look.
The captain had continued to frown because it was the middle of the day and seeing an owl this late past dawn was atypical behavior for the species. Between that and it’s blunder of a landing, he was mildly concerned that the creature was sick with some sort of avian flu.
But he had just seen Timmie when entering the city. The boy had commented on how well his pigeons were all doing, as well as the ducks in the moat. So, if this was some sort of sickness it had yet to become endemic.
However, the blunette could recall how young finches would often become drunk off fermented grapes and fly into the winery. The servants had to haul away the little things who broke their necks. Birds weren’t always the brightest creatures.
Did owls even eat fruit? He would have to ask Timmie or Sucrose. Perhaps one of them would know.
Though, it probably would be best to warn Timmie’s caretaker and tell her to keep an eye on the child. Just to be safe.
The Knight had then shrugged and went about his day. Forgetting about the matter.
The second time Kaeya noticed the bird was that following night. It was late and the blunette was more than a little buzzed. Though the headache in the morning was going to be worth it. The captain had managed to smuggle some very valuable intel from the drunk Treasure Hoarders after all.
He sighed as he searched his pockets for his house key. Ready to go inside and drink some water before going to bed. He had another long day ahead of him tomorrow.
Kaeya paused as an unmistakable hoot came from across the street. Bright red eyes that rested in a dark feathered face stared down at him a little judgmentally. The blunette blinked. Looking up at it sitting on top of the streetlamp. It wobbled a bit uncertainly as its talons clenched around the slick metal. Its wings stretching out slightly as though it was trying to maintain its balance.
The captain looked around. As though he would find some sort of clue as to why this bird had appeared here as well. It wasn’t like rats or other vermin ran around. They had too many cats in the city for that— wait.
He squinted at the bird of prey. Realizing it was quite large.
“You better not eat any of the cats around here,” he said as he finished the task of unlocking his door and opening it. “Margaret will have your head for that, you know.”
The bird hooted at him again. Leaning forward a bit as though it was losing its balance again. Its wings flared out and its tail feathers shot up behind it as it desperately tried to stay up on its perch.
Kaeya tsked. He really needed to check in with Timmie tomorrow. Just to make sure it was a drunk owl and not a diseased one.
His door closed behind him.
The knight was surprised to find the owl still outside of his door the following morning. It glared at him. Feathers puffing up angrily, hissing. The blunette frowned. Confused as to why it had grown significantly more aggressive since the night before.
Birds couldn’t become rabid could they? He thought that was a disease only for mammals. Perhaps he should go and talk to Lisa. This bird was really starting to bother him.
The said avian began to hoot at him rapidly as though it was scolding him. Its feathers growing more and more ruffled in agitation. The blunette just blinked up at it. His headache and the lack of coffee making this too much for him to fully process. He rubbed at his temple. Winching as the bird screeched at him for ignoring it.
“You’re quite annoying, aren’t you?” he asked it with a wince.
The bird hissed at him, flapping its wings before losing its balance and nearly toppling off the lamppost again.
Yes. He needed to talk to Lisa first thing this morning. If she thought the bird might be dangerous, he would send some Knights to capture it.
He turned his back to the owl, ignoring the loud desperate hoots that followed behind as well as the sound of flailing wings as it tried to fly after him. Kaeya planned on going straight to Jean’s office. Where he would most likely find her with a fresh batch of coffee and the Librarian.
His walk to the headquarters was brief and without much event. He picked up a quick breakfast for him and his friends, because he knew good and well Jean had not taken the time to get food that morning, before making the short trek to the Headquarters.
Lisa was in Jean’s office, just as he anticipated.
“Good morning,” he greeted as he placed the pastries on the desk for them to sort through.
“My, aren’t you just the sweetest~” Lisa smiled at him before selecting one of them.
“It is a bribe,” the blunette said with a smile as he perched on the edge of the desk. “I have a question for you.”
“Oh?” she asked.
“There is this owl that has been hanging around the city since yesterday,” Kaeya crossed his arms, but waved one hand around as he explained. “It crashed into the building, and it seemed to have a hard time staying up right. It is acting abnormal for a wild bird of prey. Plus, it was flying around during the day. Do you think there is a chance it is sick?”
“That certainly is strange behavior,” the Librarian acknowledged as she paused to think.
“Are you sure it is not Master Diluc’s bird?” Jean asked him as she approached him with a fresh cup of coffee.
“I don’t think it is,” he shook his head as he accepted it. “His birds are better trained. They would never make a fool of themselves like it—”
Thunk!
The three adults turned in surprise as the glass window shuddered from impact. The bird in question had landed quite clumsily and a tad too forcefully on the window seal. Slamming hard into the glass. It blinked a bit, slightly dazed, before roughly shaking its feathers and peered inside. It hooted when it spotted the three staring at it.
“Is that the bird?” Jean looked at Kaeya surprised.
“That’s him,” the blunette shook his head in dismay.
“Seems like he is following you,” Lisa hummed as she set her pastry down and went to the window.
“Careful, Lisa,” Jean frowned as the Librarian slid the window open. “It might have something wrong with it.”
“I have gloves on, sweetheart,” the electro allogene said as she offered a hand to the bird.
The owl looked down at her arm a little doubtfully before it timidly climbed onto her forearm. Its great big talons wrapping around her forearm tightly as it wobblily tried to maintain its balance.
“See?” Kaeya nodded at it.
“Yes,” she gently held it up. Looking at it. She lightly grabbed its right wing and stretched it out. “It is acting abnormal.”
It hooted in alarm as it nearly toppled over from the motion. The electro allogene was quick to steady it before carefully unfurling the other wing and examining it.
“Is it hurt?” Jean asked in concern.
The owl’s head spun around to look at her before those red orbs landed on Kaeya. The blunette glared at it as its feathers raised up aggressively at him. Followed by a hiss.
“He doesn’t appear to be injured, but he acts quite tame for the most part,” Lisa’s green eyes twinkled in amusement as she glanced at Kaeya.
“He?” the blunette questioned as his own eye flicked up her.
“It is a male,” she nodded as. “Some sort of eagle owl from the looks of it.”
“Do you think it is someone’s pet?” Jean asked.
“I am only aware of one individual in in Mondstadt that has the means to own such a beast,” Lisa raised an eyebrow at the blunette.
Kaeya frowned as Jean also looked at him. “He doesn’t have any owls.”
The bird glared at him.
“Maybe it is new?” the Acting Grand Master shot the bird a look.
Kaeya sighed and pushed himself off the desk, walking towards the office door with his cup of coffee in tow. “Either way, it is not my problem. If the bird isn’t a treat against the people of Mondstadt through disease or aggression I could care less. And if it is said person’s pet, he will be sure to come collect it when he is ready.”
He ignored the bird’s screech as the door swung closed behind him.
Kaeya didn’t really think about the bird again until late that afternoon. A light knock on his office door and he tore his gaze away from the mound of paperwork on his desk that he was reminded about its existence.
“I brought you some tea, sweetie,” Lisa smiled at him as she came in with a tray. “I noticed you didn’t go to lunch.”
The blunette looked up at the clock hanging from the wall. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. He hadn’t realized that the day had grown so late.
“Thank you,” he stood to make room on the desk for her. “Is Jean joining us?”“No,” Lisa set the tray on the space he cleared. “She is out sparing with Eula.”
“Actual sparing this time? That is good. She needed to let off some steam,” the blunette sat and watched as the Librarian made their tea. Knowing good and well she would just swat him away should he attempted to touch her teapot.
The drink was just what he needed. His shoulders relaxed slightly the instant it touched his lips. “You make the best tea.”
She purred at the complement before taking her own cup and leaned back in her seat. “I thought you had a patrol today?”
“I do,” he sighed around the rim of his cup. “It is not until the evening shift. I’ll need to head to the gate in a few hours.”
“Well, be sure to eat an actual meal before then, hmmm?” Lisa gave him a hard stare.
“Of course,” he purred. Though he wasn’t quite sure he meant that yet. That all depended on if he was able to finish this paperwork in time.
“And you might want to keep an eye out for that bird of yours while on patrol too,” Lisa continued. Causing him to tilt his head questioningly at her. “I tried to take it the Cathedral to see if any of the sisters could tell if it was sick and it flew away.”
Kaeya hummed. “Hopefully it left for good.”
But the bird, in fact, had not flown back to where it came from. The Calvary Captain found it waiting for him at the gate. Glaring at him with those red eyes.
He couldn’t help but think how much it reminded him of a certain someone. Very few people were able to look at him openly with such pure disdain. It was actually a bit impressive an animal like the owl was able to conjure up so much hatred towards him.
“He’s been sitting here half the day,” one of the knights at the gate said. Following Kaeya’s sharp gaze.
“I’m surprised it hasn’t toppled off the wall yet,” the blunette glared back at the bird. Irritated that it was still here.
He was really bothered by the fowl for some reason. Which was embarrassing in itself. It was just a mere animal after all.
The owl hissed at his words before lifting his wings and swooping away, though a bit wobblily. As though to prove something to the blunette.
Kaeya shook his head as he turned to his men. “If you see it acting sickly let me know. It is a strange beast. Best to give it some space.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” they saluted.
Kaeya began to make his rounds as the moon rose. The city’s activities narrowing themselves down to the Cat’s Tail and the Angel’s Share and the other taverns. The city’s lamps glowed warmly under the starlight. It was actually quite a nice night.
Well, it was until he was assaulted by dead rat.
The captain shrieked as the rodent bounced off his head onto the pavement at his feet. He frantically wiped at his hair gasping in horror as the corpse bounced off his skull onto the ground.
A smug hoot caused him to look up. The owl sat on top of a nearby roof. It was laughing at him.
Kaeya’s eye narrowed into a slit, finger raised, and his mouth opened to do something about this menace of a creature—
“About arrest a bird, are we?”
The blunette’s glare shifted from the avian to the woman who melted out of the shadows. A smirk on her face.
“A criminal is a criminal no matter the species,” Kaeya growled as he shot another enraged glare at the bird. “It’s lucky I don’t feed it to Prince.”
Rosaria chuckled.
“Why are you here?” Kaeya crossed his arms. Glaring at her still. Offended she was taking a bird’s side over his.
“I thought I heard a child screaming, but it turned out to only be you,” her smile as sharp as her clawed jewelry.
“Ha ha,” he turned his back to her. “You’re hilarious, Rosa.”
The owl seemed to think so. It’s mocking hoots followed him before it disappeared back into the night.
The rat was only beginning. Kaeya was continuously pelted with various items throughout the rest of his shift. An old smelly shoe, a pair of wet underwear that he didn’t want to know where they had been found, a spoon, a small rock, several sticks, mud wads, and even an onion.
The knight was quite paranoid by the time his patrol shift had ended. He had sprinted to his home, arms protectively raised above his head as he hurried through the streets. Afraid the blasted bird was going to drop a baby on him next.
But he wasn’t safe from the terror of a bird even behind the protection of his own walls.
He had just laid down to sleep when there came a tap. Tap. Tap. At his window.
He had sat up with a frown. Looking over at it. It wasn’t uncommon for Rosaria to sneak into his house at night, but she was usually a lot quieter about it. His confusion turned into anger as he saw those bright red eyes staring back at him.
Kaeya threw his window open, nearly hitting the thing. It raised its wings aggressively and hissed.
“What is your problem?” he knew he probably sounded and looked like a someone who had lost their mind, but he had spent all night being hounded by the thing and now it had stalked him to his house. It knew where his bedroom window was. “What do you want with me?”
The bird hooted and its talon began to tap against the shingles.
“You don’t have a letter for me,” Kaeya continued hissing at the bird. “I don’t have a letter for you. What do you want?”
The bird glared at him. The tapping growing more aggressive. Apparently, it wasn’t going to be leaving anytime soon.
With a disgusted sigh Kaeya slammed his window shut and stormed down the hall to his office. Aggressively lighting a candle and yanking some paper and a quill out of his drawer.
D,
If this is your bird come and get it before I make a sweet madam out of it. This is your only warning.
-K
He rolled it up aggressively and stormed back to the window. Of course, the bird was still there. He yanked the window open and extended the letter to it.
“Here,” he glared at it. “Is this what you want?”
The bird looked down at the paper before hesitantly grabbing it with his beak.
“Now, shoo,” Kaeya waved his hands at it.
It bowed up at him in reflex before it hissed once more and flew away.
It was about an hour later before Kaeya was awoken by more tapping. He rolled out of bed and yanked the window open. The bird had a letter in its beak. It was sloppily rolled up and looked suspiciously like his own stationary. He hesitantly reached for it, making sure the bird didn’t plan on biting him. But the avian allowed him to gently slip the letter free. He unrolled it an immediately frowned.
“What is this?” He asked incredulously squinting at the bird. “Did you bring this to a preschool?”
The bird’s feathers ruffled in irritation. The plumicorns on its head flattening aggressively. It shrieked at him.
Kaeya looked back down at the letter. It was covered in lots of harsh child-like scribbles. It might have been an attempt at some form of alphabet, but it was not legible by any means. The bird began tapping its talon against the roof as Kaeya sniffed the page.
Was it written in berry juice?
The blunette sighed and dragged a hand down his face. Looking down at the bird. It was still tapping at the roof. Glaring at him.
Before Kaeya could figure out what to do, there was a loud pounding on this front door. Causing them both to jump. The blunette looked back down at the bird before sighing and shutting his window, the last thing he needed was for it to fly in and shit on his bed. It hissed at him in annoyance and pecked at the window.
Kaeya ignored it as he grabbed a robe and made his way down his stairs. Checking to make sure his sleeping eyepatch was still on correctly before opening his door. Lawrence stood there. The blunette waved his salute away.
“Sorry, to disturb you, Captain Kaeya,” the man apologized. “But the Acting Grand Master is requesting you.”
“Oh?” he raised an eyebrow. “Did she say whatever for?”
The man shook his head. “No, sir. Just that she needed your presence promptly.”
The blunette sighed with a nod. “Allow me a moment to get dressed, Lawrence. I’ll be there shortly.”
The other knight saluted before hurrying off while Kaeya closed the door behind him with a frown. Jean would have known he had a patrol tonight. Something must truly be wrong if she was summoning him knowing he was running on an hour or two’s worth of sleep at best.
He made quick work of getting dressed. A glance at the window told him the owl had left, but knowing Kaeya’s luck it hadn’t gone far. He made a quick glance before he exited his apartment. Racing towards the headquarters before the blasted thing could drop more items on him. He slowed to a walk before approaching the building, nodding calmly towards the knights on guard before going inside. He found both Huffman and Jean waiting for him there.
Kaeya quickly took in the scene. Huffman, normally very professional and poised, was clearly agitated by something. His fingers drummed against his side. Its eyes darted towards Kaeya immediately a flash of what looked like hope alighting in them. Jean looked tired and somber as she looked up at the entering captain. She gave him a nod.
“Captain Kaeya, thank you for coming. I apologize for fetching you right after your patrol.”
Honorifics. Hmmm. This must be serious then.
“It is nothing a cup of coffee won’t fix,” he waved her concerns away. “You wouldn’t have summoned me unless it was important.”
He came to stand next to Huffman nodding a silent greeting to him before turning his full attention on the Acting Grand Master. Jean grabbed a slip of paper and handed it to him.
“I just received this. It is from Captain Eula.”
Kaeya accepted the letter. Skimming its contents quickly.
“Mika is missing?”
That explained Huffman then.
“The past two days,” Jean nodded somberly.
Kaeya looked back down at the letter. The Reconnaissance Company were out patrolling Stormterror’s lair after reported increased Abyss mage activity. They had been out there about ten days now.
“And what do you need me to do about it?”
If Eula was already searching for him with her entire company, Kaeya doubted he would be much more help there. The Reconnaissance Captain was quite capable and so were her knights.
“You are close to Mika,” Jean said taking the letter back. “Is there any place you know he might go?”
“He wouldn’t desert his duties,” Huffman stiffened a bit at her words, but Jean was quick to reassure.
“I know,” Jean nodded at him. “But if he became injured or attacked, he might have retreated to hide somewhere until someone found him or he recovered enough to move once more. No one knows the layout Mondstadt quite like Mika. I am sure he knows of a thousand places between here and Stormterror’s lair that we do not.”
Huffman nodded. Swallowing a bit at his outburst.
“I am not sure if I know of anywhere in particular that someone else might not,” Kaeya shook his head with a frown. “I can go and check, however. The ones I know of are mostly in Wolvendom, however. I never had the opportunity to travel with Mika to Stormterror’s lair. But Mika made plenty of maps of that area. Surely there might be clues within those?”
“I am sending Huffman to bring them to Eula,” Jean nodded towards the knight. “He knows how Mika thinks better than many. He will be of most use there. I am going to send him with Outrider Amber as soon as she arrives.”
That meant there would be a hole in their patrolling schedule. Kaeya would need to address that before the night came.
“Very good,” the blunette nodded. “It might also be a good idea to ask Klee if she knows of some of Mika’s favorite spots.”
“That is a good idea,” Jean nodded. “I will summon Albedo and have him ask her as well.”
There was a knock and Amber burst into the room without waiting for a follow-up ‘come in’.
“Outrider Amber reporting for duty!”
Kaeya nodded to Jean and Huffman. “I will leave you three to it. I shall go and search Wolvendom. I’ll report back this evening unless I find something first.”
Jean nodded.
“Thank you, sir,” Huffman saluted him.
“Amber~” Kaeya smiled at her as he passed. A bit more mischievously than was necessary, but he did enjoy how she would squint at him in return when he looked at her like that. It made her nose twitch like a bunny’s.
“Captain Kaeya,” she huffed back before turning her attention to Jean.
The door closed between them before he could hear her thoughts on the matter. The blunette turned left rather than right after exiting the Grand Master’s office. Heading up the stairs to the roof of the headquarters. He knew from experience it was far quicker to simply glide across Cider Lake to the forest on the other side rather than walk all the way around. His boots landed lightly on the beach and he headed for the path that led deeper into the darkness of the trees. Using the light of lamp grass to guide him.
He made sure to keep his footsteps relatively loud for any nearby wolves or other wildlife to hear him and have plenty of time to avoid them should they wish. Yet he walked stealthy enough that no humans would perceive his footfalls.
Well, all humans except for one.
Razor found him much faster than he anticipated. His eyes flashing in the moonlight as he appeared in front of Kaeya on the path.
“Hello, Razor,” Kaeya smiled at him. Giving him a clear view of both of his hands. “I am looking for someone. Have you happened to see a boy around your age around here? His name is Mika. You might have met him with Klee before?”
“Little bird,” Razor nodded with familiarity. “Razor has not seen the little bird for many days now. He is not here.”
Kaeya sighed through his nose. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
“Have you noticed anything strange lately?” Kaeya asked instead. Many blew Lisa’s student off since his common was a bit basic, but the blunette saw Razor’s intelligence shining through those warm eyes of him.
The boy knew how to pick up signs others overlooked and how to listen to his instincts.
Razor thought for a moment before nodding. Turning to head into the darkness of the trees, “Yes. Come.”
The blunette followed after him, turning off the path and keeping close. The light of the flowers guided them. Kaeya could sense the boy’s lupical at the edge of the shadows and his vision. The wolves were keeping a close eye on their boy. Making sure that he was safe from the man.
The electro allogene led Kaeya towards the canyon leading to Stormterror’s lair. Stopping at the edge of the cliff and pointing down at a small rocky ledge that hovered over the canyon. A flaming flower sat at the tip of its peak. It allowed anyone standing there to easily survey the canyon below.
It was the sort of place Mika would love.
“Strange,” Razor told him. “Dark smelling. Ice. Dangerous.”
“Strange you say?” Kaeya tilted his head in thought staring at the flower. “Is it like anything else you have smelled before?”
“Abyss,” Razor nodded. “Magic.”
Kaeya frowned. That didn’t sound good. “Do you smell Mika here?”
The wolf-boy shook his head. “Darkness too strong. Can’t tell.”
“Hmm. Have you noticed anything else?” Kaeya asked him.
“No.” The wolves began to howl. Calling their little pup back.
“Thank you, Razor,” Kaeya nodded. “You have been most helpful. Please, inform your lupical that I will be wandering around a bit longer to look around and that I mean no harm.”
The boy left with a nod. The blunette leapt from the ledge he was on and glided down towards the flower. Staring down at it. His elemental sight flashed into action. Trying to find the barest trace of pyro energy on its petals.
There was none.
Kaeya turned and looked around. Searching for any clues. His eyes caught sight of a flash of cryo not too far away. Resting on another cliff edge to his left. Settled between two trees.
His heart sank as he approached it and realized what was lying abandoned in the grass. The blunette bent down and carefully picked it up. Rotating the gauntlet slowly, searching for clues.
The rustling of feathers and the crack of tree bark under talons caused him to look up. He gazed into the red eyes of the owl. They appeared darker than they had before, like something akin to fury in his gaze as the avian stared down at the cryo vision in Kaeya’s hands.
Kaeya tore his gaze away from the bird. Looking down into the canyon below.
An ominous feeling crept up his spine.
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