Carrie and the canary.

"Hellooo." Says the Core, shyly waving with a goofy, cautious smile. "Are you... bad guys?"

I'm unsure of what to say; as the bandit coughs, saying. "These 'r dangerous 'uns, Carrie! Be careful."

A coy-coo come from above once more. "Oh, Little Sparrow, you have quite a few guests. Should I make tea for a party?"

Carrie looks up at the higher voice; the idea of a tea-party seemingly sending her into a a joyful frenzy. "Yes!"

While the others seem to be just as confused as to what to do as I, my eyes finally catch a good look at the prim and proper voice's owner. Whatever this creature was, it could only be described by one word. Otherworldly. Standing high, at well around seven feet, it's long, bird-like legs stretched it's height far beyond what it's head and torso contributed. Rough, black claws of the bird-thing led up too feathers of a dark, purplish blue, which puffed out from a thin, spindly frame. It's arms were graced with enormous pseudo-wings, with twin talons, and a thumb-like third claw; just as dark as it's other pair. The creature's face was that of a bird; an owl's large eyes, mixed with a hawk's sharp features. Speaking of eyes, five of them dotted its skull, arcing in a half ircle above it's nose, with an honey-gold glow. It's beak was incredibly short, and flexible, almost like an odd pair of lips. The feathers at the top of it's head were the most poofed out of the bunch, acting almost like a mohawk.

Over it's torso was a fanciful, well kept, black vest with a golden trim, with an ascot wrapped around his neck, matching his eyes. Beneath the vest was a plain, white blouse; short of sleeve; below which were a pair of short, poofy pants, with straps leading up under it's vest. All of this new looking clothing, all on a being seemingly trapped within an large, gilded bird's cage.

"What even..." I mutter under my breath.

The sounds of the little-one straining to move things entered my ear, as she pushed a box of yet more pilfered food over toward where we stood; gasping out in excitement. "This is going to be my biggest tea-party ever, Uncle Mako!"

The tiny tot, tumbling a bit as she rushes around, then looks up at Cilla; confused, and in adorable awe. "Are you a bunny?"

"In a way, yes." Says my Handler, her cheeks beginning to turn an awkward cherry hue.

"Can I touch your ears?" Asks the child; reaching up at the floppy things in question.

Cilla pauses, then leans over, letting the little girl gently paw at the fluffy appendages; the Curious Core giggling in joy all the while.

"Pardon me, Miss Carrie." Says Eve, the first of us to finally speak up properly in this strange situation. "How old are you?"

"Um..." She stops in her tracks, and counts on her fingers; struggling to reach to her final total seven. "Seven days."

The Compuro nods, taking a seat near the fire. "If you have any oil, that would be lovely."

Cilla seems shell-shocked; trying her best to stay calm as she takes a seat next to her co-worker. "I'd love some tea. Anyone else?"

Slowly, cautiously, and awkwardly; our party one by one sits for the up and coming tea-party. Except, of course, for Gabriella; she was still harassing the bandit in attempts to let her heal him.

"Sir, please. It will only take a moment, and your chest will be eased."

"I said no. Ugh... stop it, and just 'ave some tea."

The clattering of pottery could be heard from above as Cilla whispered with Eve. "Seven days!? How did a newborn intelligent Dungeon Core get this close to a city on her own?!"

"I don't know..." Eve whispers back, putting her hand over Cilla's. "Let's do our jobs, and find out; shall we?"

Ashes looks over all the food, cutlery, and cooking equipment that was being brought out; mouthing out the ingredients to several recipes her father had taught her. Particular focus was on the preserved slabs of ground-beef, tomatos, and garlic; with a variety of spices hidden behind a few sacks of grain.

"Hey, Little Missy? I could cook us all a pretty good meatloaf, if you have a stove in your treasure trove." Ashes is visibly licking her lips; must be good, whatever she's thinking of.

"You can cook?" Asks the little-one, awe in her eyes. "There's a stove-thingy over here! Come on!"

Her little hands wrap around a few of Ashes fingers, pulling her over past some crates; Zana quickly following to help as always. Finally, the bandit surrenders to the endless prodding of Gabriella; allowing her to use Divine Heal on his broken ripcage. The tension in the air seemingly begins to simmer down; that is, until that "Uncle Mako" up above calls down.

"Hello? You, in the red cloak!" It calls.

Cilla looks up, an odd, awkward blush to her cheeks. "Hmm? Me?"

"No, the other one with a red cloak. Yes you! This may seem odd, but do you have anything from a Spirit in your possession?" It asks. "Something from a particular... fox. If you catch my meaning? I can sense his presence..."

A fox? Wait, does he mean...

Cilla pulls the Pheonix Feather from her cloak; one she had been using to tell Fawks any visions I had of my Others.

"Hm? Odd." Says Mako, scratching under it's beak. "You there, Ruya-Kin. Could you fly that up to me? While I've no clue what my old friend is doing with another Spirit, I'm certainly intrigued."

Old friend!?

Cilla and I share a concerned look, but still, she hands me the feather. I fly up to the cage, seeing that it was full of fine decorum; a lavish bed, a writing desk that would be the envy of my Handler; a collection of notes and books strewn about intricate, foreign carpets. Dead center in the cage was a massive ornate tea-pot. I hand over the feather to Mako; his five eyes tracing up and down it's form.

"Hmm..." He hums, then doing so in a tune. "Hmm~ mmh~ hmm~"

The caged creature looks at me with intrigue. "Who sent you? Did he? Did the Houses?"

"Woah!" I hold my hands up in defense. "No one sent us; we just happened on this Dungeon looking for something."

I explain my "connection" with Fawks, from start to finish; each detail I could recount given, aside from the few visions I had seen of his past.

Mako twists the Pheonix's Feather in it's talon. "That is quite the adventure for the King of Nothing. Once more almost getting himself killed; or, well, you know what I mean."

Wanting my own confusion availed, I ask. "Who are you? How do you know Fawks?"

"Your second question is simple" Says Mako. "We are allies. I helped him with his little war on the Houses, he helped me with my research into forbidden lore... that, and well... I did try and seduce him; the poor thing, so reserved for a Twin-Hearted one."

it scratches beneath it's beak once more. "As for who I am? I am known by most as Un-Mako of Talos. A Spirit of Hidden Knowledge; a Eule, more specifically. I was just staying in this cave while on my way to Krow, that is, until that Hatchling fell down here. The poor thing."

"So... you aren't trapped?" I ask, looking at the cage in confusion.

Mako laughs. "Oh, of course not! I just enjoy the aesthetic; goes well with that song I'm working on."

Clearing it's throat, Mako asks. "I know what this feather can do, being a Spirit myself. Before I finish with the tea, may I write to our mutual friend? Just a small thing; no grand poem, or the such."

Shrugging my shoulders, I allow it; being quickly handed back the feather afterwards. I return down to the others, where the fantastic smell of Ashes cooking filled my senses. After Carrie brings the tea from Mako (how she got up there I'll never know), Ashes gave a small prayer of thanks; just like her father back in Saltmoore. The bandit, Goober, was still cautious to eat anything we made; but generally, all present dug in with ravenous abandon.

Seemingly stuffed, Carrie flopped down onto an equally stuffed Sammy; who jiggled about from the impact. "Best... tea party... ever..."

The child fell fast asleep; all were too cautious to try and wake her, and so the only noise that could be heard were the tick-tacking steps of a large bird-thing approaching.

Mako bows to us. "I've been waiting for this bum to get better from his wound to do this, but your odd lot seem to be quite more dependable."

Goober mouths the words. "'ey, feck you too." at the Spirit; swigging another drink from one of the wine bottles.

"Especially you two fine damsels." It adds, nodding towards Cilla and Eve. "This Hatchling is still so young, and shouldn't be involved in this Eternal War; she can't even count to eleven, for goodness sake. She can't follow me, even though I've quite enjoyed her company; my work is far too dangerous. Please; take her to a Runacathy, would you?"

"A Dungeon Core..." Says Eve; a hushed tone that had lost her usual calm; her screen blank, unable to display her feelings. "No agent in the Runacathies has ever inducted one before."

Cilla scoops up the tiny girl in her arms, running her fingers gently through her silky pink locks; a look of care like none other I had seen gracing her features, giving her face a sort of gorgeous glow. "Of course. We'll take good care of her."

Sammy, seemingly having just jiggled awake, whispers in excitement.

"Does this make her my little sister?"