Time for the monthly letter to Grandmother. Eirian grunted... this was the first of the series. But she had promised she would write once a month if Thiago was to attend Hogwarts with her. Sigh. She'd begrudingly follow this condition, since she was trying to stay within the lines the rest of society fit her in. Why couldn't she try to cooperate with the old hag, too? So, letter in hand, she approached one of the school letters. Her scarlet ibis was home for the school year; she had taken a rather nasty bite to the leg from Eirian's pet snake, Fino, and was still in the process of healing.

Merlin, owls scared her. For some reason, beyond her dislike of them, they would get all huffed up if she approached them. Often, they attacked her. They could smell her fear. They were demons! But Eirian was brave - the daughter and sidekick of an explorer had to be - and so she continued to inch forward, the owl staring at her and her staring back. The gaze was held until they were close. Very close. And then... owl attacked. And Eirian shrieked.