>>15673295
Yesssss.

Also, we can see now?

"I feel bad for shouting earlier." Fredrick speaks suddenly, his feline face crinkling up like a paper bag as he opens his mouth to speak. "I've been getting madder and madder lately. The more I think about it, the more I realize it's been getting worse." He snorts. "Even back before- back when I was human, I had a temper on me. I even hit my wife once. I should've felt sorry for her, apologized. But the more I thought about what an idiot I'd been, the madder I got." He shakes his head to one side, his horns threatening to scrape the ceiling. "Even now, I still get a little twinge of anger thinking about it.

"Hell, it wouldn't be a problem if it didn't start to burst the 'seals' on my real form." He looks down at one of the huge hand-like paws at the end of his arm, and you hear a deep, near growling sound come from him that you quickly realize is a chuckle. "Some kind of science bullshit. Something about my muscles and whatnot being folded up under my skin. Whatever the case, that's what makes me transform. Anger." He looks down at you, something odd about his small, rounded eyes that your vision can't quite pick up. "I can feel them wearing out. Someday, I might not be able to turn back." He lets out a throaty sigh, padding away a few feet or so. "Anyway, you told me all about your life, figured it couldn't hurt to let you know a bit about me a few months late."

You realize that you recognize the emotion in his face.

Fear.

>>15673353

You still don't have your natural vision back. But this vision seems fairly sharp, and still stretches around corners and whatnot. Your eyes still feel numb and smooth to the touch.

Upon further examination, you notice a number of small bumps on your tail, back towards the end. It also seems to be a bit longer, but not much.

>>15673465
>>15673494
Poor guy; I guess we'll just leave Fredrick to his peace for now.

Things we need to do as agents of justice:
- find out about past since it's spotty as hell
- fight crime
- find cure/remedy for Fredrick's "ailment"

I'm sure this list is going to get very long, very soon.

Renee shrugs. "You're not such a bad guy, you know. No one's perfect, Fred."

Fredrick glowers over his shoulder at Renee. "Most people with a bad temper can't flip cars when they get pissed, Renee."

"To be fair, you seem quite adept at directing your temper." Godfried says, from over near the doorframe.

"Yeah, yeah. The big, fuzzy freak gets a little soft and everyone thinks he needs some sympathy." Fredrick raises a fist with a single finger extended over at Godfried.

"I think you'll be fine, Fred." Renee says, lighting up a cigarette. "After all with as ugly as you are when you're looking like a man, the ladies probably can't tell the difference when you've transformed."

"Yeah, yeah." Fredrick snarls at Renee. "Hey! I thought you said you were quitting!"

"No, I said YOU were trying to quit." Renee smirks, handing Fredrick a cigarette.

>>15673613
surelyOPwilldeliver.jpg

>>15673764

Well, if you don't really want to do anything, I guess I might as well.

Fredrick takes the cigarette in-between two fingers, and gets a light from Renee.

The big creature sighs in relief with his first exhalation. "God, I needed that."

You hear a loud screech from the main room, the one with the piano inside. Through your garbled vision, you see a creature like the ones you had glimpsed before, or parts of it, locked in combat with a large, predatory bird. The scream blows apart one nearby wall, spraying the lot of you with wood fiber and insulation.

"Oh hell no. You did NOT just interrupt my smoke break!" Fredrick growls, adjusting the bent cigarette in his mouth as he starts over towards the nearby room.

"Take care of it, I'll yell if I'm being eaten alive." Godfried says, smoothing off his jacket as he goes back to checking the doorframe.

Renee is the last in the room, behind Hugh, who enters in behind you. Fredrick is looking up at the creature, who is further up on the wall than even his mammoth reach can effect. The bird locked in combat with it is something like a bird of prey, with a curved beak and powerful talons that have torn holes in several of the monster's numerous eyes. It swipes at the bird with its forearm, grazing the creature's wing. Finally, it yowls and breaks off, turning one way on the wall as the hawk circles in the opposite direction, wheeling around.

>>15673981
My bad, OP; I thought you were still laying out the scene.

Let us go; to arms! er...wing!

>>15674037

Actions?

>>15674048
Just another day in the life...

Exactly how high is this ceiling? Any major furniture or windows that we should keep an eye out for?

>>15674077

The ceiling is about 30 feet high, with a large glass window on one side.

There is a grand piano, some hanging plants and a few book cases by the window, some portraits hanging to the right fo the room, and some more book cases and couches to the left.

Fredrick seems to be eying the piano.

>>15674168
"Fredrick! Don't be reckless. We'll bring it down to you."

With that, assume aerial formation, keeping our distance from the bird. Coax the creature by tossing some books at it mid-flight, then, once it grapples either Hugh or us, help the other drive it into the ground.

>>15674218

"Fredrick! Don't be reckless. We'll bring it down to you." You say to him. Fredrick nods after a moment more of consideration, taking a drag on his cigarette.

You take a few books off the floor under one arm, and begin hurling them at the beast. It recoils from the impacts, and one book that it dodged leaves a large dent in the wall.

"You're telling me not to be reckless." Fredrick snarks.

Finally, with Hugh pestering it in a similar fashion, the beast leaps down at you. You roll onto your back, ready to lash out with all of your limbs as it lands on top of you. The creature's claws dig into your sides, and you scrape at its belly with your toes, the rubbery flesh not quite giving to your blunted claws. Fredrick smashes into the thing with a wound up punch, sending it careening back into a book case. As it tries to recover, Renee comes round the corner, shooting into it several times. The beast goes for him, but Hugh gets in the way first, a stony elbow sending the creature's head up as it lets out an ear-splitting screech.

>>15674282
It's on the ground! Kill it!

Get up in its face and start pounding away with fist, foot, tail; whatever we have to stop it.

>>15674317

You leap on its back, digging in with your hands and feet as you chomp into its back, shielding your body from the environment with your wings and using your tail to balance as the creature whips around, trying to dislodge you.

Hugh puts the thing in a headlock, trying to hold it with both hands to keep it from biting back. Fredrick begins working on its back legs, smashing down violently, blow after blow. Renee somehow shoots into this confusing mess, the bullets staying about a foot away from you. The hawk flies down again as well, hooking its talons into the creature's eye sockets and seeming to slash at it with its beak, flapping its wings to keep balance.

The creature at last loses consciousness, its hind legs broken in several places, its spine partly exposed, and is face a bloody ruin with only two out of its six eyes remaining. The hawk lets out an echoing caw at Hugh, who lets go of the creature. The hawk then spreads its wings over the creature's head, sticking its beak down and plucking at the creature's head with a loud thunk.

"Is that bird made out of stone?" Fredrick says in confusion.

Renee looks over from the doorframe. "Now that you mention it... Seems that way."

The hawk simply looks over, almost defiantly, and snaps its beak through the creature's skull. Its body twitches slightly.

>>15674439
Let's try to not scare off our sudden ally. First off, thank it for helping us. After that, question it.

"You are like us." Point to us and Hugh. "What are you, and what are you doing here?"

Mrs. McGregor's house is like a supernatural magnet.

>>15674463

You nod to the creature, whose ruffled feathers smooth back down as it begins feeding, pulling some of the monster's brain out of its head and downing it quickly.

"You are like us." You point to yourself and Hugh "What are you, and what are you doing here?"

"Manspeak." It squawks suddenly, causing you a bit of surprise. "All you know is manspeak? You do not know the cavern songs?" With that it takes another bit of brain in its mouth, hungrily.

"Never heard English called manspeak before." Renee says nonchalantly.

The hawk turns its head to him. "Because you have not spoken to me before." You notice its feathers on its head flare out a bit.

>>15674514
"I'm sorry if this speech offends you, but we know no other language." Hugh's witty move-related remarks would be appreciated.

"Well, what business do you have in Lady McGregor's house with this creature?"

From first impressions, the bird appears to be the polar-opposite of Hugh.

>>15674583

"I'm sorry if this speech offends you, but we know no other language." You explain to it.

"Besides, where did you learn our language?" Hugh says, in what you can only assume is supposed to be a barbarian's voice.

"I listened." The hawk says back.

"I like this guy. He's the perfect straight man." Hugh thinks for a second. "Straight bird?"

"Well, what business do you have in Lady McGregor's house with this creature?" You ask the hawk.

"Eating its brain." The hawk says simply, and continues to do so.

"Well, I guess there are weirder hobbies." Renee sighs."

>>15674618
"And how did you come across this creature?"

And, remember our manners.
"Oh, my name is Gabriel. My friend here is Hugh, the fine man over there is Renee, and the large creature there is Fredrick." Give everyone their chance to say hello. "What is your name?"

>>15674653

"And how did you come across this creature?" You ask it.

"Hunted for it. Came into this strange cave." It responds between bites.

"Oh, my name is Gabriel. My friend here is Hugh, the fine man over there is Renee, and the large creature there is Fredrick." Each of them nods to the hawk in turn.

"What is your name?" You ask it.

"Silence." The hawk says, imbibing more of the brain.

Renee looks over at you with an eyebrow raised, and he shrugs.

>>15674717
I guess we'll just wait for it to finish?

Have Hugh pick up Gab's slack:
"Listen, we just helped you put this thing under. Is that anyway to treat the people that just helped you?"

>>15674737

"Listen, we just helped you put this thing under. Is that anyway to treat the people that just helped you?" You ask it, somewhat irritated.

"Under what? How are you being treated?" It asks.

>>15674786

Rather, Hugh asks that.

>>15674786
Hugh still talking:
"Well, you just kind of...uh..." Have him point to the creature, assuming a detective movie trope. "See that dead-weight; been caught under our house, defying bail: Meaning it's our jurisdiction. And I don't want no feds out on my local case."

Then, have Gab chide in. "What he means is that the creature was our problem, and you eating its brain without explaining yourself is...rude."

>>15674843

"Well, you just kind of...uh..." Hugh thinks for a moment, scratching his head. "See that dead-weight; been caught under our house, defying bail: Meaning it's our jurisdiction. And I don't want no feds out on my local case."

The hawk's plumage puffs out again.

You clear your throat. "What he means is that the creature was our problem, and you eating its brain without explaining yourself is... rude."

"I did explain. Came here hunting. You can eat as well if you want." The hawk retracts its wings from around the creature's head. "All bring it down. Would share anyway."

>>15674889
Eye the carcass for a second. "No thank you. It's all yours."

Go talk to Renee, Fredrick, and Hugh for a second.

"It's very...straight-forward."

>>15674949

"No thank you. It's all yours." You say, turning to the others. "It's very... straight-forward."

"Except with its name." Hugh whispers.

"So what do we do about this?" Renee says, crossing his arms.

Fredrick finishes off his cigarette. "I dunno. It's all going over my head. When it comes to this stuff, that's not hard."

>>15674990
"I guess we'll try to question it further; perhaps it'll open up to us then."

Return to the stone-bird.

"What did you mean by 'Cavern Song'?"

>>15675026

"I guess we'll try to question it further; perhaps it'll open up to us then." You shrug, turning back to the strange stone raptor.

"What did you mean by 'Cavern Song'?" You ask it.

The hawk calls out with a warbling chirp, a quiet squeak, and a loud caw. "You do not know these meanings. You do not know the cavern song." It says simply, digging into the skull voraciously, its wings spread back out around the corpse's head.

>>15675060
"Is your home far?" Considering that we're pretty much in a city, this needs some explaining. "Why go to such great lengths to chase this...prey?"

>>15675085

"Is your home far?" You ask it, looking around. "Why go to such great lengths to chase this... prey?"

"Not far." It says, turning its head. "This thing's brain is good tasting. Not hard to kill. Just cut in the face and it bleeds to death after a while."

"What about those sounds it makes with its mouth?" Renee asks the hawk.

"Avoid them." The hawk answers. "My question: Why hunt this thing if not to eat it? Is this your territory?"

>>15675129
"Um...yes. This is a friend's home; someone who was threatened by this creature."

>>15675200

"Um...yes. This is a friend's home; someone who was threatened by this creature." You try to explain in the creature's way of thinking.

"And your friend could not fight them off himself." The hawk bobs its head slightly. "Good for you, food for me."

>>15675270
"What is your name-"

Have Hugh interrupt, striding over to the bird, giving his best explorer impersonation.

"And what shall I call this noble hunter? This untamed beauty of nature?"

>>15675322

"What is your name-" You begin, with Hugh interrupting.

"And what shall I call this noble hunter? This untamed beauty of nature?" He asks, with a slight British accent.

"Silence." The hawk answers.

>>15675351
"Ah, silence. Would a rose by any other name-"

Have Gab slap him in the back of the head.

>>15675405

"Ah, silence. Would a rose by any other name-" Hugh starts, and you slap him in the back of the head.

"-by any other name would smell as sweet; So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
and for that name which is no part of thee
take all myself." Silence responds, in iambic pentameter, pausing in his feast until he finishes the line.

The room is silent for quite a while, the group of you staring at the bird.

After about a minute, Silence lowers his head and begins ripping out the creature's brain once again.

>>15675519
Hugh:
"Where'd you learn Shakespeare?"

>>15675599

"Where'd you learn Shakespeare?" Hugh asks, scratching his head.

"My clan's chants were of this Shakespeare." Silence says, turning his head. "He must be quite famous, you know of him as well."

"So is there like a birdie community play group or something?" Fredrick asks, raising a huge eyebrow.

"We repeat these phrases until we have memorized them. They are quite valuable in learning philosophy." He says. "We have several perfect copies on the walls of our home."

>>15675648
Hugh:
"So there's more of you? And you know Shakespeare?" Have Hugh look to Gabriel. "Think she can come over for trivial pursuit nights?"

Gabriel:
Look to Renee for answers. Also, examine this stone-bird more in depth. Is it gargoyle material, or is it different then us?

>>15675673

"So there's more of you? And you know Shakespeare?" Hugh looks over at you, smiling. "Think she can come over for trivial pursuit nights?"

"I am a male." Silence says.

"Oh. Sorry." Hugh apologizes.

You look Silence over. He seems to be made of stone, like you, but each individual feather is paper-thin, some chipped, and you can see more articulation on it than you have on yourself. He is made from another kind of stone, you think, from Hugh's description.

"Ah, I think I have it." Godfried says from the other room.

>>15675742
Perk up. "It appears Godfried is finally finished."

Turn to the bird.

"Thank you for your time. We'll leave you to your...meal."

>>15675749

"It appears Godfried is finally finished." You say, turning back to the doorway.

"Thank you for your time. We'll leave you to your... meal." You turn away, and are surprised to hear the flapping of wings as the stone hawk follows you.

"Was just finished."

Godfried tweaks the symbols on the frame a bit, the edges of the frame seeming to fade off fuzzily to your vision.

"A thought has crossed my mind." Renee says, pausing. "Someone has had to have taught Silence English. And if he knows Shakespeare, whoever it is probably had a healthy respect for the plays as well."

Silence preens from the top of a small shelf in the room, tilting his head at the conversation.

"Indeed. Who did teach you English, Silence?" Hugh says, in a faux English accent.

"Wind and Stone-beak. My parents." He says, looking off into the portal.

"So someone taught them as well..." Renee ponders.

"And here we go, stand back everyone." Godfried says, securing a bit of duct tape over one symbol. "This may do something."

>>15675871
Preparing our bodies...

You feel a sudden pull as the portal starts to follow the tape, pulling out after it until with a sudden, soundless snap, it is gone.

You hear a distressed squawk from Silence, who looks over at Godfried with his feathers puffed high. "What did you do? Where did it go?" He nearly hisses, hopping down off of the stand and makign his way over to Godfried on foot.

"I closed the portal. It was a simple matter." Godfried says, standing up and leaning back from the bird. "I don't believe we-"

"Bring it back!" Silence squawks, raising his wings up threateningly.

"What? I- I can't." Godfried stammers. The hawk wastes no time in rising up off of the ground a loud chirp issuing forth as it reaches out with powerful talons, grabbing Godfried's scarf as he pulls back, nearly tumbling down the stairs.

"Bring it back, witch!" The hawk calls, his wings beating furiously.

>>15675958
...fuck.

"Silence! Why didn't you tell us that was your home?"

>>15675981

"Silence! Why didn't you tell us that was your home?" You say, getting in between the two quickly.

"I did not know what your manspeak means! You asked me nothing about my home, only where it was!" The hawk shouts. "I did not know what your witch was doing! I do not even know where this is!"

Silence tries to poke his head around you, glaring at Godfried.

"I'm sorry! Had I known, I wouldn't have done it!" Godfried says, bracing himself with his hands on either side of the basement door, leaning backwards.

"I should have said something." Renee says, walking over to the group. "He knew what that creature was, he said his home was close, and all that cave talk..." Renee shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Silence. I should-"

The hawk cries out, turning tail and flying back into the larger room, cutting close past Fredrick, who covers his face.

>>15676054
Well...I guess we should go comfort Silence.

Have Gab and Hugh chase after them.

Things we need to do as agents of justice:
- find out about past since it's spotty as hell
- fight crime
- find cure/remedy for Fredrick's "ailment"
- find a way to get Silence back home

>>15676110
"him"

Also, somethings to say.

"I am sorry that we didn't see the connection sooner."

"I promise, as long as I live, I will search for a way to get you back."

>>15676110

Silence is perched far up in a corner of the room, brooding.

You and Hugh come into the room, each flying up to the top of a book case.

"What do you want?" Silence says, glaring down at you. "I do not know this place. I do not know you." He crows quietly.

Hugh looks over at you, shrugging. "Sorry Gabe, I'm just no good at cheering people- erm, birds up."

>>15676181
We done goofed.

"Silence...I know what it's like too; to lose a home. I know it's hard now, but..."

Then, be resolute. "The portal to your home was opened before, and it can be done again." Offer him some comfort. "I promise, as an agent of justice, to find a way to get you back home."

>>15676125

"I promise, as long as I live, I will search for a way to get you back." You say to him.

The hawk looks off to one corner of the room, his voice warbling for a brief moment. "How do I know there is a way back? I can never see them again. I can never-" He chirps, lowering his head.

>>15676231

"Silence... I know what it's like too; to lose a home. I know it's hard now, but..." You fly up next to him, and he looks over at you, sadness evident in his stony expression.

"The portal to your home was opened before, and it can be done again." You pat him on the head, softly. "I promise, as an agent of justice, to find a way to get you back home."

"I hope you can." Silence says quietly. He looks you over. "What will I do? I have never hunted here. Those prey came through that passage like I did."

>>15676288
"In the meantime for finding a way back, you may roost at our home. The prey here is much more docile, but I hope it will suffice. And, if you so choose, come with us to hunt bigger prey..."

Also, I'm heading to bed, OP. Thanks for the quest.