Oh, that was by far one of the longest flights she had ever done.

Her wings ached, the muscles straining. The crucible was feeling heavier and heavier, but she was determined to bring it back. If she were physically capable, she would have cried at the sight of the alcove that she had made her own, and she tilted her wings to land.

It was clumsy, more of a controlled fall than anything, but she was finally able to drop the cup, allowing it to roll towards the furnace that she had repaired. It had been hard to make, but she was very proud of it. It wasn't beautiful, or elegant, but it worked, and that was enough. This nook had been chosen because it had enough of a hole in the top to funnel out the smoke produced by the furnace.

Ruffling her feathers, she began to doze, intending on sleeping before flying out again.