Re: [Carriage House: Raven & Atticus]
[Matt let his hand hover over that broken wing when Atticus spoke to him.] She's - what?
[But Atticus was already off looking for the sock he'd asked for, and that left Matt alone with the bird. Who was human. That explained a few things, at least.
He didn't actually do much more than lightly smooth down pinions to get a clearer view of the damage. Fully extending the limb could create trouble, as could jostling it too much. He felt, very carefully, along fragile, hollow bones for the break point, and the second he found it he slipped his hand out from under. That was that - no more poking around.
She was human. Could she understand him?]
It's broken, but it's a clean break. The sock goes over your head, with a hole cut in it, and that stabilizes the break. Like a cast. [Pause.] Maybe nod if you can understand me. [A little more worriedly.] And you're conscious.
[He looked up at Atticus when he returned. He was in a worse mood than he'd been when he went to go get the sock, so something had happened between here and the bedroom. He suspected the sock wasn't the offender.] She is. Are you? [He took the sock from Atticus, then produced a knife seemingly out of nowhere - possibly secreted in a holster in his boot - and began cutting a hole wide enough for the bird's little head to fit through.] Will buy you a new sock. Just one. I haven't got the cash for a pair.