THE POOL DECK {Early morning}
The little bird squirmed in Mina's hand, it's wings pushing against her closed fingers hoping to get free. "Shh." She soothed, running her thumb over it's soft head.
The sun had risen when the eldest Necromancer walked the silent halls of the Manor in hopes of getting some fresh air. The entire week that she had been at this place was stifling. Stress was taking it's toll on not only her but she could see in her brother and sisters too. And all Mina wanted to do was take them home. But she couldn't. She was stuck here, bombarded by the mixing magics as if she was being assaulted over and over by potent spices that clogged her nose and made her eyes water.
The deck out back became somewhat of an escape for her while the rest of the house was quiet with sleep. So after a quick stop in the kitchen for a cup of tea, Mina disappeared into the quiet chill of the morning and searched for a nice spot to drink her tea and just process.It was on her walk from the door to the far end of the pool that she saw it. A tiny bird lay in the path, sprawled out and lifeless and Mina just stated at it. She had no concept of how long she stood there looking at this poor dead thing, but when she did eventually come back to herself she noticed her mug had since gone cold when she sat it on a nearby table.
A lot of people would be grossed out by her next move, yet she scooped the bird up gently, almost reverently, and held it to her chest. It's lifeless body weighed nothing, feather-light and still, as she carried it to a deck chair and sat. Mina cupped her hands and breathed into the small opening between her thumbs. There was movement now, slight fluttering tickling her skin. She smiled softly opening her hands enough for it to stick it's head into the sunlight. "You're safe now." Said Mina, petting the bird until it relaxed. When it began to chirp, she looked to the sky for strength. It was so easy to give life to something so fragile. Barley and effort was needed, like Oliva and that bastard cat. Mina gave this bird an undead life which had been drilled into her head as not a life at all. It was alive, sure, but not really.
"It's going to be okay, cher." Her thumb and forefinger circled it's neck, "I'm here." The bird could live this half life but soon it would begin to rot. It's wings wouldn't be able to carry it after a while and gone with those precious wings would be the ability to fly. It's body would be consumed by the earth as did happen with all things. She had brought it back, yes, because it broke her a little to know that this bird had died scared and alone and away from it's family. Nothing should die like that, nothing should die alone. "I've got you." She whispered, "I'm here." Kissing the top if it's head. She quicklysqueezed and until she heard a pop and the bird was still once more.
Mina found a a shaded flower bed on the backside of the hut and dug a hole for her little bird. When she was done she placed him in and covered him with the cool soil. A flower was placed on the fresh mound of dirt and Mina's heart hurt a little less knowing that in it's last moments this time there was someone there for him. She prayed that he would remember that where ever he was now.