OH MY GAWD! AN UPDATE AFTER -*grabs calculator* Subtract the 5, add the 2, divide by the reciprocal- half a year! I've been way too busy with things... That's hopefully changing

Anywhom, before I'm robbed of my sweets from complaining and/or procrastination, let's get into a "masterpiece" of mine. I call it: ca- Character Backstories! Now, they do exist before I've even done this, I know, but I work mine up from start to a certain point, like how I worked all of the Avis characters I have (i.e. Krown, Neenie, Syn, and so on.) to the point they meet a certain character.

Two warnings:

1. Yes, again, there's anthros in this, but I don't get all "meh" about it and start throwing in things that are for rule 34. (no pun intended)
   
2. This is a five-part section. The other backstories, including Krown, Syn and Floria, Myrla, and Grace, shall be posted before this month crests. I promise my writing heart that.
   

With those out of the way... And with no other things needed... I introduce you to the first backstory!

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There's many days where an owl can't sleep, or when an owl fears losing something close to it. Neenie's short, frail build made her a jaw-dropper in some eyes, but in others, there was a female they could take advantage of. During a sharp, cool dawn, Neenie was preening her feathers, watching the snowflakes fall around her ruination of a house. Two boards leaned against a tree, with an old blanket tucked under the boards to prevent them from sliding away in storms, and a ripped tarp covered the top to protect from the elements, although the amount of holes made it better for a game of billiards than it did for a roof. She sighed sorrowfully, her thin and starved body complaining in pain for her to eat.

"I have nothing I can do," her beak parted slightly, casting a look of remorse the five towers piercing the sky due east from her. The Owlina, a group of owl sages that looked over the land in their respective region, had sharp views on what races of owls were allowed to live on the land. Great Horned Owls, Snowy Owls, Screech Owls, and the sacred Golden Masked Owls were allowed full control of the land. Those that chose to live under their rule and follow law were given living land. The Elf Owls, however, were denied the choice. Since they weren't tall, strong, or silent, the owls banded together to kill them. Neenie was born two days after her mother died, only supported by her brother and father. The painful screaming of her father's death as Gradiew ripped his body apart still plagued her mind, while her brother's last, bloody gurgles for air after being tremendously injured by Dewin reverberated in her heart. "I have no friends, no family, no life worthy enough to-" Neenie was cut short by a snapping twig, and sharp calls of Great Horned Owls bouncing to and fro.

This is it, I'm going to die here... Neenie shook violently in fear, as her body was never accustomed to long sprints, nor was she able to hide easily in the snow. Options limited, she dashed from tree to tree, attempting to outrun her fears. Reaching the first tree, her legs already stung from lack of nutrients and muscle, causing her to nearly fall. Her fear wouldn't let her stop as she took another daring sprint from the tree, running until she slammed into a feathery body. She fell back, rubbing her head until a scale-covered tail coiled around her, rising her broken body into the air.

"An owl ran into me? This one seems half the try to make a meal of," a growl escaped the creature's throat, causing Neenie to tremble again.

"Please, please, please! I need help, a home, something! Food would even work! Just please..." her wide bark covered irises sleek with moisture as she cried to the beast, "Just keep me from the owls..." A beak probed her side as the creature was suddenly confused.

"This is just a trap. You owls think you're so smart, trying to fool a cockatrice like me. I should kill you here and now, but I should wait for your little friends. I'm in a hungry mood," he scratched his side with a foot, then swung his head up to spot a few owls break the ranks of trees as they neared.

"A cockatrice? Those are enough," the largest spoke. "I'm Grandiew, the leader of this army. May I ask you to drop that Elf Owl?"

"She's my appetizer, you bird brain!" it growled, this time hoisting Neenie above its head.

"Be my guest, but she's thin, poor choice for protein, and has a debt to pay to my people," Grandiew's broad shoulders shined with bloody brown feathers, adorned with the waist down in black downy feathers. He only wore a robe, which did little to cover vital areas of his body, and showed from his chest up and waist down. Neenie shuddered, silently praying for her life. The cockatrice tilted its head in thought for a moment, then cold, emotionless eyes opened their sight to the opposing owls.

"Debt? Elf Owls were long gone. Something you erased from this land. If she IS one of those, I'm changing my mind. However..." it swung its head to her, "She'll need to agree with a few terms of mine."

"Then consider yourself dead," Grandiew withdrew a rapier, running to the cockatrice to leave his mark of dominance across the cockatrice's neck. Plans were not to be completed as the beast swung its body into the owl, knocking him off balance as it turned and fled with great speed. Neenie started to fall into sleep, more from her lack of food than her fear of death, and before long, the shadows of the world merged into a black blob.

The smell of berries and nuts woke Neenie, turning her head to see wooden bowls filled to the brim with a wide variety of the delicacies. She jumped to the first bowl, scarfing down everything she could grab before bringing the bowl to her mouth, gobbling the remains with haste. She repeated the process for the other six bowls laid out before her, sighing in happiness once she was sated.

"Glad you liked my assortment," the familiar, gruff voice startled her out of her trance.

"W-Who are you?!" she whimpered softly, her eyes bleak with fear yet again.

"Calm down. My name is Dir, and this is the home of my people," Dir grumbled as he stretched his wing to emphasise the cave.

"Y-Your people?" curiosity started to bubble into her mind. How many of this creature's kin live around here?

"Yes. The tribe of cockatrices live as one society, as you would call it, under the earth above. It ensures we're protected from those pesky birds."

"But, what about me? Aren't I something against your traditions?" Neenie asked, stumbling to her feet to meet Dir eye to eye.

"I think I'll come to like you. You speak from your heart, not your mind," Dir smiled, lifting his cracked beak to speak again, but he closed it as soon as Neenie spoke again.

"But... I speak only for your tribe's well-being. If I spoke from my heart, I would of died with my family. Don't mind me also asking, but why give me food?"

"Good question. Well, you'll need to gain some weight to even be edible, if I wanted to eat you. Also, your family died? How old are you?"

"I'm... I'm... I don't know," she sighed in defeat.

"Well, that's easy for me to find out, but it may be slightly painful," Dir patted her on the shoulder.

"Guess I should be thankful... But fattening me up? That's out of the question!" Neenie experienced laughter for the first time, stopping when her lungs hurt. "I have a superior metabolism."

"Ah, but I feed my guests with Chari, young one. We'll have you in fighting shape in no time," Dir chuckled as Neenie's eye grew wide.

"Chari? I thought they only were edible on a new moon!"

"Good thing it's during the new moon, eh?" Dir laughed. "Now, get some sleep. We have some work on nursing you tomorrow."

Neenie watched as Dir left the small cavern her sleeping quarters were in, until finally laying down on the small straw bedding. Well fed for the first time, feeling at home, and even feeling like she had a family, it felt good. Something made her want to stay, but her mindset was still on the owls chasing her. Just how long would it be until they found her? Would it be by her fear, or would she end up giving their location away otherwise? The sudden spike of fear caused by her thoughts startled her.

Maybe if I sleep, I can ignore my fears, Neenie thought to herself. It’s worth a shot. She closed her eyes, trying let her body fall into slumber, but she just couldn’t shake the feeling. Her fear shackled her to the waking world. She could hear the sleeping breaths of the cockatrice close by, the heartbeat of many small mammals hiding in the walls of the cavern, and even the scratching of insects and grub, something Neenie always felt at peace with before. Her eyes scanned the surrounding area once more, spotting a few assortments of bowls, woven nests, and a couple mounds of dirt. The nests were lined into the walls of the cave, most likely to help with keeping things in or out of them if blocked off, which was something she didn’t notice at first.

“Why can’t I sleep?†She grumbled half to herself, half to the air around her. “I was able to sleep in the open so easily, and there’s no threats here. I don’t get why I can’t sleep...â€

“Something wrong?†Dir yawned as he lifted his head to face Neenie, eyes half mast.

“I just can’t sleep,†she yawned, then smiled. “Yawning contagious as well. You’re going to cause a pandemic doing that.â€

“Maybe you just need to get used to being well fed in a bed, warm, cozy, and safe. Any creature would be the same way from your last situation. Plus, your fear scent is mucking up the place,†Dir shook his head, “What to do with you... Well, try thinking of your old home. Maybe that’ll help.†Neenie shook her head, looking down at her legs.

I haven’t noticed until now, but my legs are still shaking from everything that’s happened so far... Maybe he’s right. I should work on being open to this land, rather than the last. Neenie give a contempt shake, grumbling to herself as she tried to get comfortable again. Neenie closed her eyes again, contempt with her thoughts as she finally fell to sleep.

Light filtered through the cave entrance, fluttering across different rocks and minerals. Dir blinked the last few drops of sleep out of his eyes as he woke, scanning the surrounding until he found Neenie’s nest. However, he was in for a surprise when the nest was vacant of the new owner, plus a bowl of different fruits right under his feet.

“Where are you? Miss Elf Owl!†Dir growled, whipping around, almost crashing into her as soon as he stepped forward.

“I’m right here,†Neenie blinked, then sighed. “Do you really trust I’d want to expose myself?â€

“Well, how would I know you didn’t run from fear?†Dir countered half-heartedly. Neenie’s chest feathers flared as she was angered from the petty remark.

“If I was afraid of you, I wouldn’t of given you food this morning! I wouldn’t of even trusted you last night! I wouldn’t of-†her voice trailed off as she teared up slightly. “I would of been dead with my family...â€

“I-I didn’t mean to upset you,†Dir brushed his body against hers, attempting to soothe her. “My, your dark brown feathers remind me of my children many years ago.â€

“Wha- Hey! Don’t change the topic on me!†Neenie pushed him over, smiling. “Unless you like the ground, I’m sure you’re a doofus for laying on it while you’re awake.â€

“I’ll show you doofus!†Dir tackled Neenie to the ground in a playful manner, nipping her shoulder. They continued for a while, roughhousing back and forth until Neenie motioned for Dir to stop.

“I think I should learn some way to protect myself,†she seemed tuckered out as she fought for her breath. “Then I wouldn’t be a burden to anything.â€

“Well... I think one of your nature can try to learn earth magic,†Dir calmly spoke, as if he had given the same speech multiple times, “However, your body may never be the same again.â€

“What do you mean?â€

“Magic will alter your physical form over time, and shall manipulate your mentality as time dances its melody. The only cure to protect your mind, is to remember yourself, as if you had a family, friends, me...†Dir’s voice started to drop as a sullen look glazed over his eyes.

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Alright, I also want to ask a couple things before I go and dwindle on other backstories to polish them up.

Is this text size alright for those who read it? I mean, I hate for people to complain mainly on text size and not content, so let me know!

Is there a writing challenge on the forums? XD It would be great if there was!

Thanks for reading, and remember! Critique, comments, and suggestions are always welcome!