Can I have a do over?

"It's called a storm and he can get hurt really bad if he's up on the mountain in this," Vi was keeping a respected distance and Pip landed on her shoulder.

He glared at her father as if he was evil. Vi patted the bird gently, "Calm down you just got hit by hail you need to rest." she smiled at Pip and he seemed to melt and nibbled on her ear lobe gently. It was a bit hard to tell but as he shifted from foot to foot he was worried about her.

Vi walked over to her father and sat down beside him, "I hope Pernas is all right." Pip ruffled his feathers.

"Master Dragon can handle anything." Vi smiled and let things laps in to silence.

About halfway up the stairs, Pernas heard a yell. That stairway just happened to have a window, and he saw the reason.

Ralph had fallen off of the top of the mountain. He turned and walked down slowly.

He walked into the room in silence. "He fell." he said solemnly, sitting down.

"Ah, well. He'll just come back again in a few days." Alar said. Then he saw the expressions on the other faces. "Well... won't he?"

"I don't know..." Pernas said.

Vi frowned then looked alarmed suddenly and bolted to her feet clutching her belly, "He doesn't have to get reborn right? I'm the only girl here!" She started breathing hard and Pip had to get off of her shoulder and land on the table.

"Oh yeah..." Alar said. "Then again, it wouldn't happen unless one of these two-"

"IF he comes back." Pernas said, cutting the talkative hummingbird off from finishing that sentence. "It won't be as a human. It'd probably be a cow or a bird."

"He probably hopes for the latter." The lunch-cow said.

"So I wont spontaniously grow the sailor in my belly right?" Vi looked disgusted at the idea, "Unless." She knew he already knew the unless.

Pip looked disgusted as well but quickly spoke up, "No no. You'll be fine. He'll probably be a cow or bird." Pip landed on her shoulder and Vi sat down quietly. Still a bit tramatized that she might give birth suddenly.

"Well, we'll just have to wait and see." Pernas said. "If so, that's probably what'll happen to you two when you die."

"I don't think I like the idea of spending eternity being dragon-food." The father said.

"You get used to it." The cow said.

"Hope to be a bird." Alar said. The father just grumbled.

Vi frowned, "I guess I wouldn't mind." She looked at her hands already missing her thumbs.

Pip pipped up now, "What about the storm though? What are we going to do?"

Vi nodded slowly but was in agreement with Pip they were thinking about coming back as birds but it was important to think about what was happening to them now.

"All we can do is wait till it blows over." Pernas said. "I'll go up and check at periodic times. Can't last too long." he said. "We'll be fine. We have enough in here to live comfortably until we can go outside again."

"I can check," Vi volunteered. It was something to keep her busy and keep her away from her father at least for a little bit.

Pip rustled his feathers, "Mistress Vi I don't think that, that is a very good idea. I quite like you human."

Vi smiled and patted the bird, "I like being human too."

"Good. We all agree." The father said gruffly.

There was a moment of loud silence.

"either of you two sing?" Pernas asked at length.

"Huh?"

The silence that stretched was like nails being drawn on a chalk board. Erie and a bit disturbing at once. Pernas broke it with the oddest of question. She thought for a moment. Yeah, she could. Not really trained or anything but she had been in the talent show and people had told her she was pretty good.

Her dad hadn't really been happy that she had gotten home late. He had wanted her to go out with him or something and now didn't feel like the best of times to bring that up.

Pip trilled in, "Like a bird!" Vi couldn't help but giggle as the little bird puffed it's chest out in confidence.

"Yeah, I guess I can," Vi said it quietly and Pip looked completely thrilled.

"Wait till you hear Master Dragon!" He hopped about excitedly, "He makes the island ring!"

Pernas smiled. "Yes, Pip, I know you can sing. Coloratura tenor." he turned to the others. "Birds are always either tenors or sopranos. I've got a bunch of music in the library - I was thinking maybe we could practice some things, put on a concert or-"

"Oh, for God's sake!" The father said, standing up. "A man just died! We're stuck in this god-forsaken cuckooland, and I have to talk to a freakin' cow to keep myself form boredom!"

"I'm sorry?" the cow said.

"And Vi, what are you up to? I hardly see you. Always off with this dragon or whatever..."

Pernas was a bit taken aback, not really knowing what to say. Didn't expect this man to be railing against him.

"What are you playing at?" the father asked, turning to him. "You trying to kill us?"

"Pernas wouldn't do that," Vi answered but blushed. Pip instantly stood up for her. Strutting his way over with his feathers puffed up.

"Master Dragon is a kind dragon! He would never gobble any one up but the cows!" He seemed to ruffled up to even say any more.

Vi scooped him up in her hands as if afraid that her father would strike at the bird, "I like it here."

"It's okay..." Pernas said to Vi and Pip, before turning to face the Father.

"I want my daughter and I off of this island." he said, fuming.

"I've told you, there isn't-"

"Then MAKE a way!" The father roared. "Of if you can't, I will."

The cow had sat down, and was chewing his cud, contemplating if he could walk away and get through the day without being eaten. Well, it was entertaining.

Alar was silent. He hadn't seen anyone stand up to Lord Dragon before... last time it was some first-time bull that didn't want to die. That didn't turn out well. Poor thing wasn't really the same after that.

"Listen, hoo-mahn, you really don't want to do that." Alar said.

"No, Alar, I won't hurt him." Pernas said. "He's just angry."

"Why don't you talk as though I'm actually here, huh?" Father said, folding his arms. "Yeah. 'Angry.' Any idea why?"

"I'm not leaving," Vi said and even Pip was silent. Looking up at her me made a little squeek but that was all. Standing up quickly Vi moved to stand behind Pernas. Peeking out from behind him she said it again, "I'm not leaving."

Pip squirmed his way out of her hands and as if to make her point clear he hopped on her shoulder once as he glared at her father, "I don't care if I become a cow or a bird when I get older."

The room was silent for a while.

"Well..." Pernas said, scratching his head. "This hasn't been a very good start of the day. Maybe some breakfast will help." he said, looking around hopefully. Father simply grumbled and sat back down in the chair.

Vi looked a little pale though. She sat down cautiously and her hair slid forward covering her face. A veil drawn closed and that was all. Pip hopped down and ruffled up his feathers. He wasn't about to leave and go in to the storm just to find something to eat.

Though quickly enough he busied him self with preening. It was so quiet except for the click click of Pip's beak that it was a bit oppressing.

"I'll go prepare breakfast for us." Pernas said. He gestured to the cow. "You, come along." he said, walking down the hall.

"Oh joy." the cow said snarkily, following.

Father sat in the chair, grumbling. "Stuck on this god-forsaken rock that's right out of some second-rate fantasy novel."

Silence again. Vi didn't even move and if it weren't for the rise and fall of her chest she could have been a doll sitting in her chair. Perhaps a very scary doll that you would expect to have teeth and eyes of the dead benieth the dark black hair.

Pip seemed to be effect by the silence and fell still too. Though with a bird like attention span he flittered off to parts unknown.

"This is highly awkward." Pernas said to the cow as they walked down the hall, to a room where Pernas could cleanly prepare it for breakfast.

"Never had family squabbles, myself." the cow said.

"Humans can get into some problems. I've seen." Pernas said, shifting into his dragon form. "Well, being stuck here, two things can happen - they can patch things up, or they can simply live on different parts of the island and never see each other."

"You could kill one of them." the cow said.

"Sometimes I think you've become desensitized to death..." Pernas muttered.

"It happens." The cow said drolly.

Just then, Alir flitted in. "The storm has stopped" he said.

"Well, that's comforting." Pernas said.

"What are you doing?" Alir asked.

"Preparing breakfast."

"But you didn't finish the last cow."

"Huh?" Pernas asked.

"Well, there's a half-eaten one right outside the cave. Can't be older than today."

"That's absurd, I haven't eaten yet today..." Pernas said.

Then he paused. Then he walked back into the parlor. Father was surprised (hadn't seen him in dragon form that much.)

Vi looked up at the dragon Pernas. She smiled but it disappeared, "What happened?" How she could tell something had happened not even she knew. Maybe it was the twitch of his tail or the look in his eyes. Her gut told her something though.

Pip flew back looking a bit ruffled up, "Hey Dragon Master Lord," He seemed flustered and landed on the table gathering him self, "There's two cows out there and they ain't be torn apart like that by no storm."

He shivered and his feathers stood farther up, "You ain't did that me hopes!"

Alar looked at Pernas quizzically.

"No..." Pernas said. "I didn't."

"What? What's going on?" father asked, not understanding what was happening.

"I don't know." Pernas said.

"Cow carcasses that apparently Lord Dragon didn't eat." Alar said. "So what did?"

"If I may be so bold, Lord Dragon," Pip spoke up, "Perhaps us birds could go and have a look see about the island? After all that storm has stopped."

Vi was silent looking worried but she fidgeted, "It wasn't The Captain right?"

Pip perked up, "Course not. Tough one he is."

"Yes." Pernas said to the bird. "You do that."

This was all highly confusing. What on earth could have been eating those cows? Well, it wasn't him, so that meant there was something else on the island.

Unless, of course, this was one big practical joke the birds were pulling on him. But he doubted that.

Last time it happened, alot of fire happened... somehow.

"I think in the meantime, you two had best stay with me until the birds come back."

"I'll guard the perimeter!" Alar said, flitting off.

"I could almost swear he's quoting something..." Pernas muttered.

"Excuse me," said the cow. "Does this mean I'm not breakfast."

"I didn't say that." Pernas said. "You just... stay here for right now."

The cow groaned and sat down, starting to chew its cud.

Pip saluted in a birdie way and flitted away in a different direction. Quickly to gather birds and start the search.

Vi shook her head at the cow. It didn't really make much sense. They were very desensitized to death, "Pernas, maybe we shouldn't stay here. After all the cow was out in front of the cave wasn't it?"

She shuddered and looked away. Slightly afraid she had spoken too much. After all her father was here. Thank goodness he had yet to even ask for a drink but she would have to be wary any way.