ORIGIN

James returned a few hours later, the journey to and from Pegasus one that required a chat with the Queen of Lies in the tunnel between Pegasus and Cepheus. But he'd gotten here with his stone safe and sound.

"Isra?", he called out, "I'm back! And I have the stone."

He pulled out the Olivenite and set it on the grass, standing out on the lawn like Irsa had asked. He waited patiently, ears perked forward, excited to try and recruit one of the beautiful swans as his familiar.

James swallowed and nodded, nervous now. He didn't doubt should things go awry, he could easily fly away, but he was still anxious to see if he could truly make friends with the animals.

He opened his pouch and peered into it, looking at the fruit, meat, and grain inside. He'd asked Arwen to offer him some, and she'd even stuck the grain together with honey. She was really too kind, and he'd offered her some of his molt in exchange.

"Okay, James," he exhaled, "You can do this."

He approached one of the ponds with some of the animals swimming in it and stopped a few feet before the shore, setting down a stick of sweet seeds, a few assorted soft fruits, and a fillet (he had to spit and sputter after picking it up, bleh).

"Oh swans!", he called out softly, "I've brought you things, I hope you like them."

The stomach was the way to a great many people's hearts, he'd found, so swans couldn't be much different.

James sighed as they didn't come closer, swishing his tail. Perhaps when he did the deed, he could call it over to eat instead? He wasn't too familiar on how the bond worked... he probably should have asked Pride beforehand.

He inhaled, breathed out, and cast the spell, stretching out his consciousness to link with one of the birds. When something happened, he opened his eyes... and there was a swan, right in front of him, staring. It honked and he startled, almost slipping and falling, before staring at the animal.

It took a few steps forward and peered at the food, nudging it with a foot before sighing and picking up the piece of meat, daintily swallowing it whole before yawning, it's neck splitting open as it grabbed the other morsels and snapped them down too. It's mouth shut, seamlessly coming back together, and it looked at James, blinking slowly.

"... Oh wow," James said, "I did it! H-hello! Oh you need a name..."

The swan honked and turned to preen it's feathers, tail shaking.

"Darling," James said, and if he could snap, he would have, "Perfect!"

Darling looked at him with a disappointed sort of expression, but it wasn't a terrible name, so she just sighed and followed him.

"Come, let's go see Tahi," he said, and took to the air, Darling quickly following, urged (politely) to do so.

She was already so finished with this damn horse.