A Firebird's Inclusion

Firebird sits upon his roost, brooding over his lack of a companion, decides that he should finally get himself into the world. Not knowing anybody, he decided he would fly until he tired, or when he found a friend. If he tired, he would then walk the ground until he tired again, and only then would he roost again. [[Continue|Beginning]]

So Firebird went off on his flight, circling his nest for an hour, but finding nothing but mice and beetles. An hour more and still no friend to be found, so Firebird walked upon the soil for 2 hours more, but still no more than ants and snakes. Upon his return to the nest, Firebird felt his loneliness more than ever, but even more determinatıon. [[Fly More |FLying]]

Upon his second run, Firebird decided to expand his path further in all directions. Through this he found more, but they were still simply Rabbits and Squirrels, and for 2 more hours he flew, yet nothing caught his eye. Upon the earth lead nothing more for Firebird, and caused another, more defeated return to his nest. [[One More Flight]]

After another roost, Firebird determined one more time to search his forest. He fluffed his feathers and took to the skies, flying further than he had ever before. He flew and he flew for not just 2, but many hours, until he stumbled upon a hut and inside that hut was Baba Yaga [[Continue|Baba Yaga]]

"Can you help me find someone to call my friend?" spoke the Firebird. "A friend?" croaked Baba Yaga. "Yes, for my roost is a lonely place and without anyone else, to talk to I am hopelessly bored" replied Firebird. Baba Yaga noticed Firebird's strained wings and decided to give him some options. "I know of three beasts such as yourself who long for compassion: A Beast by Sky A Beast by Night A Beast by Fire And by your own endeavor will you find acceptance in any." [[Sky for sure! I flew here nonetheless | By SKY]] [[Fire sounds exciting! Let me meet this guy | By FIRE]] [[Night sounds mysterious! Who wouldn't want a friend like that? |By NIGHT]] [[Can't I just meet all of them? Why should I choose? | By CAULDRON]]

"Why then I shall introduce you to a fellow avian creature. One with feathers as black as night and a cry that croaks fear into anything unfortunate enough to be his prey." Baba Yaga depicted as she mixed in roots, herbs and elixers in her mortar and pestle. "You're sure that they're going to be a friend of mine?" Firebird hesitated. "Why only if you are certain of intention and conviction" riddled the witch. [["You know I think I will take my chances out in the world."|Left Without Friend]] [["Show me my avian brother" |The Raven]]

"Why then I shall introduce you to the fierce lord of the flame, who can set anything around him ablaze until nothing but ash remains." Baba Yaga voiced as she mixed in stones, spices and salts in her mortar and pestle, until a burst of flames erupted from it. "You're sure that they're going to be a friend of mine?" Firebird hesitated. "Why only if you are certain of intention and conviction" riddled the witch. [["You know I think I will take my chances out in the world."|Left Without Friend]] [["Show me this fearsome creature" |The Dragon]]

"Why then I shall introduce you to the hunter in the night. Secretive enough to have never been seen when on the hunt, and effective enough to not have any of their prey get away." Baba Yaga articulated. "You're sure that they're going to be a friend of mine?" Firebird hesitated. "Why only if you are certain of intention and conviction" riddled the witch. [["You know I think I will take my chances out in the world."|Left Without Friend]] [["Show me this creature of mystery." |The Cat]]

"My feathered aquaintance, of course you may meet them all! It would be foolish of you to simply choose one." Baba Yaga uttered excitedly. "I am glad for I was so lonely, the more the merrier!" Exclaimed Firebird. Baba Yaga began to lead Firebird towards the back of her shack. As he went further on, he began to notice many bones strewn about from animals of all variety. [["Are you sure there are my friends back here?" |Doubt]] [["Who are these bones from?" |Questioning]] [["They sure seem tasty!" |Sucker]] [[Continue Silently |Follower]]

"Yes I am certain that they will love to see you, as an old lover would see their betrothed." "Thank God" sighed Firebird. As Firebird let out his sigh of relief that he will soon be aquainted with his soon-to-be best pals, but as his eyes closed, Baba Yaga turned around and gobbled him up. [[Not Trusting ~Ending 1~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

"Why they are from the ones who wander lost in the forest, for I forever have given them a home." Baba Yaga replied. [["Well that's nice! I'm glad that they had a home!" |Curious]] [["What did you do? Eat them? They're picked clean!" |Curious]] [[Continue Silently|Trusting]]

Believing Baba Yaga, Firebird and Baba Yaga continue on their way towards his new friends. As they continued onwards, they entered a room full of hides. "And what are these from?" Inquired Firebird. "These are the cotton blankets that I bring to keep my friends warm" replied Baba Yaga. [["No they aren't, theyre animal hides!" |So Close]] [["That's sweet of you! |Trusting]]

Firebird and Baba Yaga continue through the field of bones in silence to come into a room with many different hides. Deer hides Bear hides Rabbit hides Fox hides, and many more [["If they were here for a home, what is with the hides? |Tempted]] [["I should really leave. It's been fun, but I think I'll find friends myself. |Can't Hide]] [[Stay Silent|Trusting]]

"Curious one, aren't we?" croaked Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga turned to face Firebird. "I see bones of all varieties, including many human skele-" In one quick movement, Baba Yaga gulped up Firebird whole. [[Curious one aren't you? ~Ending 2~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Continuing along their way, Firebird and Baba Yaga continue throughout the hut, passing by candles, and the disembodied hands holding them. Passing by the piles of entrails left about by this morning's breakfast. Passing by the urns filled to the brim with ashes and dust. Firebird and Baba Yaga arrive into a small room with a cast iron cauldron at the center. [["What is this for?"|Curiosity]] [["How can I help?" |Eager]] [[Stay Silent|Silence is a virtue]]

Unable to resist the curiosity, Firebird inquires about the hides. "Curious one, aren't you" Baba Yaga groaned. Before Firebird could get a word in, Baba Yaga turns around and swallows him whole. [[Temptation ~Ending 6~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Firebird begins to turn around to fly away when he feels a hand grab his talons. He turns back to see it has no body attached to it but still he cannot shake it. Baba Yaga saunters over and eats him up in a single gulp [[Can't Hide ~Ending 5~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

As Firebird questions the legitimacy of Baba Yaga's statements, he realized that Baba Yaga was no longer in front of him, and as Firebird goes to turn around, he is greeted with a large oven, where he is shoved in for dinner, where Baba Yaga feasts. [[Had to question it, huh? ~Ending 3~|A Firebird's Inclusion]]

"Why it is a cauldron used to boil things!" exclaimed Baba Yaga. "And yet it is empty, be a dear and fill it for me." And so Firebird goes to get Baba Yaga some water for the cauldron, and when he returns, he finds Baba Yaga ready with salt, pepper, mushrooms and more. As he sets the cauldron down, Baba Yaga stuffs Firebird into the cauldron, boiling him. [[We're in hot water now. ~Ending 4~|A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Eagerly awating to see how he can help his soon to be friends, Firebird gets up and fills the cauldron with water, only to return and see Baba Yaga preparing a large roast. Baba Yaga puts in herbs and spices into the cauldron, and the roast into the oven. In moments the cauldron holds a delicious soup, and the roast is nice and tender. "I never have guests" stated Baba Yaga. "Me neither" stated Firebird. It was at that moment that Firebird recognized that he did not need to be struck by greed, and that he did not need 3 friends, when he could have one great one. [[Witch one? Cant decide! ~Ending 7~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

As they enter Baba Yaga's back room, they are greeted with a cauldron. "Be a dear and fill it for me" muttered Baba Yaga. Firebird then went and filled the cauldron all the way to the top, and upon his return, Baba Yaga has prepared an elixer capable of sight around the world. In the milky depths of the cauldron, Firebird could see a black flash across his field of view, followed by a cloud of fur. Afterwards Firebird witnessed strong winds followed by the sight of scales. Finally Firebird saw a lone black feather falling towards the ground. They all seem to need help. [[Fur |By NIGHT]] [[Scales -> By FIRE]] [[Feather -> By SKY]]

Firebird quickly exited Baba Yaga's hut, feeling completely defeated, realizing that he may have wasted his only good chance. Unable to still feel accepted, Firebird flew back to his nest and laid himself to rest for a while, still nobody at his side. Firebird then grew old and sad, and eventually withered into his own self pity. [[Still Alone ~Ending 8~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

From Baba Yaga's mortar and pestle erupted a flurry of darkened strands of fur, and as they settled they showed a kindom surrounding a stone house, and a swift, elegant black figure that never let anybody get too close to them. Feeling that this mysterious figure was bound to be his friend, Firebird rushed off towards the sunset to find the kingdom that they roam. Firebird flew until the sky turned dark when a kingdom appeared in the distance. Upon the streets of that kingdom slinked Cat, Son of Cat, cautious of everything around them. Firebird cautiously approached and asked simply "Would you like to be my friend?" "If you truly wish to be a friend of mine, you must gain my trust, bird of flame" cautiously replied Cat. [["How can I gain your trust?" |Test of Darkness]]

From the flames appeared an image of a solemn Dragon within a cave that Firebird recognized, and so Firebird rushed out of there to see what friendship awaited him. Firebird flew into the distance until the sky looked as red as fire, when he arrived at the cave. Inside the cave Firebird found Dragon, Son of Dragon. Firebird approached and introduced himself to Dragon. [["I see you are distraught, is there a way I can help?"|Test of Fire]]

With a puff of black smoke, an image appeared revealing Raven, Son of Raven brooding intimidatingly over a large stone home that used to be his own many weeks ago. Firebird immediately recognized the area that Raven was in and quickly rushed to find it. Firebird took to the skies and flew towards the near-grounded sun until forest turned to field and then back into forest yet again, and upon the edge, a worn pearch sat unattended. [[Wait for Raven |On The Perch]] [[Search for Raven |Flying Around]]

And so Firebird sat until the sun fell below the horizon, and the crickets and the frogs and the rats came out and scavenged for what they could find before the predators found them. But Firebird did not go for them as prey, instead he waited and waited until the sky turned blue once more and a bird black as night finally perched next to him. "This is my perch, get lost" demanded Raven. "But I have been sent to you by the witch in the forest to be your companion!" Firebird pleaded. "I don't need a companion" [["I can help you" |Test Of Feathers]] [["Everyone needs a companion" |Bargaining With Raven]]

And so Firebird, insatiable, started flying around looking for Raven, yet no matter where he flew, Raven was unable to be found. Firebird noticed many scratches and empty rat nests, yet Raven was nowhere to be found. As the sun left the sky Firebird was getting discouraged, constantly being many steps behind finding his friend. Knowing that he has gone too long being lonely though, Firebird persevered until the sky returned to blue. Then in the light of day, upon the worn perch sat Raven. Firebird approached Raven and struck up some conversation "Hey, I am Firebird and I thought you looked lonely, who are you?" "Busy." Snapped Raven. [["I can help you if you'd like" |Test Of Feathers]] [["Alright I guess, sorry for bothering you" |Given up]]

"Now that you mention it, I have been needing help. You see, I no longer have a home, and haven't for weeks. If you can help me reclaim it, I swear upon the sky itself that I will be your companion until death." [[Get right into it |First Test]]

With a stern tone, Raven demanded "Get lost, I am trying to focus." Raven then went completely unresponsive through his intense focus and Firebird recognized that he was unable to get through to him. [[Failed to Grab Attention ~Ending 9~|A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Given up on it all, Raven obviously not giving Firebird the time of day, Firebird decided to fly off and live the rest of his life in solitude. [[All Alone ~Ending 10~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

"Well in order to get my home back I first need someone to evict the current couple, then I need you to punish the fox that kicked me out of it, and finally I'll need you to move my things in to make that house a home again." Explained Raven. So first, Firebird to look in the house. Inside Firebird found a large stone throne, with a chimney and a large bed. In front of the chimney sat a fox in a rocking chair, staring into the fire. [["Sir, this is not your home, and I believe you should leave" |Request]] [["You have hurt my friend by evicting him from his home"|Confrontation]]

The fox turns around, taken aback by the gall of this bird before him. "Why of course this is my home, for I am living in it, so why should I leave?" The fox explained. "Why it is because it is not yours by right. It was only yours by trickery and schemes" Replied Firebird. "And yet I am living here in their place, so what of it?" [[Attack the Fox|Assault]] [[Continue Arguing |Argument]] [[Try to compromise |Compromise]]

The fox turns around, aggrivated that someone would be so bold to come into his house to yell at him. "And who might you be, bird?" the fox snarled. "I am a friend of Raven, Son of Raven, and I demand that you give him back his house!" "I am apalled that you would be so bold to try to evict me." The fox replied, taken aback. [[Yell at him more |Argument]] [[Assault the Fox |Assault]] [[Attempt to compromise |Compromise]]

Firebird lunges towards the fox, aiming to remove him by force to prove himself to his friend, but the fox was cunning and lept to the side as Firebird went direcly into the fire, burning him alive. [[Overzealous ~Ending 11~|A Firebird's Inclusion]]

One comment turned into many and Firebird and the fox had their debate escalate to a screaming match. The fox would get in Firebird's face and continue his screaming. This escalated until the fox shoved Firebird into a barrel and threw him outside, and Firebird was unable to reclaim Raven's house. [[Too Flustered ~Ending 12~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

"And what do you suggest I do for this bold claim of yours, bird?" the fox snarked. "In exchange for giving Raven his house back, I will find you a better home for you and your family" replied Firebird. "And where might that be?" inquired the fox. [["This nice hut in the forest would be perfect for you!" |Back to Baba Yaga]] [["You would love my old home in the forest, it is much larger than this!" |No Way Home]] [["I don't know but I will find it"|Argument]]

Curious, the fox decided to see what Firebird had in mind, and so the fox, his family, and Firebird left for Baba Yaga's hut. After a short while of walking, the hut came into view and the fox, his family, and Firebird approached. Upon entering the hut, the fox and his family was intrigued at all of the bones and hides around the hut, to which he asked, "What is the meaning behind all of the bones and skins?" When shortly after, Baba Yaga gobbled them up, and Firebird was back on his way. [[Revenge has been taken on the fox |Gathering Furniture]]

After a day of walking, Firebird arrived at his old nest in his tree. With one look, the fox was apalled at the idea of moving into a bird's nest. "You expect me to live here?" The fox asked, shocked. [["It was my home, and it provided me comfort and filled me with magic for all my years and I would be honored to give it to you" |Lying]] [["Just take what you can get"|Denied]]

Along the path home, Firebird remembers that Raven needs for him to make his home feel like a home for him. Upon the path home, Firebird recognizes a large pile of fresh wood and figures he should make something for his new friend. [[Make a table |Table]] [[Make a chair |Chair]] [[Make a bed |Bed]] [[Make a sculpture |Sculpture]]

"Why I believe you, as I can feel the magic from this home. I do indeed feel comfortable here" replied the fox. And so Firebird returned to the stone house victorious of convincing the fox, but did not punish him for his crimes against his friend. [[Continue helping Raven |Gathering Furniture]]

"There is no way that I can accept this as my home, bird" the fox judged. And the fox and his family returned immediately to his stolen house and Firebird was unable to reclaim Raven's house. [[Come so Far ~Ending 13~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Firebird figured that the best thing to help Raven with would be to give him an area to rest his belongings, and over a day, Firebird constructs the most beautiful table and brings it back to the stone house. Firebird lovingly places it in front of the fire so that Raven may enjoy a drink by the fire, but an ember fell on the table and it caught on fire. This fire raged until the house fell to the ground, and Raven was upset. [[Innocent Mistake ~Ending 14~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Over the remaining hours of daylight, Firebird decided that he should build Raven a chair to rest himself after a long day, and so he threw together a chair for the bird. Firebird brought back the chair to the house to remember that there was already a chair there, as well as a perch on top of the chimney for Raven, so his efforts were wasted. Looking at the chair that was already present compared to his own, Firebird felt too ashamed to show his face, and flew off. [[Its the thought that counts ~Ending 15~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

With the pile of wood, Firebird opted to build his friend a bed so that he never has to worry about where he will sleep at night. Over the remaining daylight, and through the night, Firebird worked to create that bed, but only in the morning did Firebird recognize that it was too heavy to return to Raven's house. And so Firebird tried and tried but he could not move it at all until he collapsed on the ground and died. [[Foresight is important ~Ending 15~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

With the pile of wood, Firebird decided that he would spent the rest of the evening creating something that simply showed his appreciation to Raven, and for as long as daylight remained, it took shape, until the sun set and Firebird brought it back to the house. Upon taking it inside, Raven took one look and was struck with emotion, accepting Firebird into his life until the end, under the same roof until they both do part. [[Friends With Raven ~Ending 16~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

"Oh bird of flame, I am distraught because my flame has not returned to me since I was tricked weeks ago" Dragon sobbed. "How may I coax the fire out of you again?" asked Firebird. "Well, small bird of flame, you would need to go out and find the driest hay, then you would need to introduce it to the hottest flame, and then you will need to bring that to the most hearty wood and bring it back to me before the wood turns to ash." Dragon explained. [[Get right to it |The Hay]]

And so Firebird went to it, flying all the way over to the vast fields of drying hay to find that it was picked clean. Through the whole field, there was nothing but dirt and stone, and nothing that could catch flame. Desperate, Firebird considered options. [[Use your nest as the hay |Burning your home]] [[Take hay from nearby animals |Famine]]

Seeing that the fields were empty, he opted to return home and use his meticulously created nest as the kindling for Dragon's fire. His own nest in hand, Firebird flew to the desert adjacent to the field of dry hay so that he may light it. As the hay lit, Firebird was approached by a gruff sparrow, who wanted to hustle him for his hay. [[Ignore him and fly off |On a mission]] [[Try to give him some hay |Generosity]] [[Try to fight him off |Protective]]

Deciding that he were to not give up his home, Firebird went to the nests of the nearby mice, birds and even found an abandoned dam. It is due to Firebird's efforts that every animal for miles had no hay left for themselves, and so they are doomed to starve. Firebird then found himself in the desert adjacent to the field that he picked clean and attempted to light his bounty of hay, but it would not light, and simply blow away in the breeze. [[Extinguished ~Ending 17~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Not wanting to waste time, Firebird grabbed his flaming nest and carefully flew to the thick forest in the north. Not letting the fire go out, Firebird searched the forest for a tree that had already fallen, but looking through the midnight darkness, none were to be seen. [[Set the forest on fire |Arson]] [[Persist in the search |Dedication]] [[Rest in a cave until morning |Rest]]

Seeing the greedy sparrow try to grab at his hay, Firebird decided to rustle through his hay for a good piece to give him so that he may fly away, content. But as Firebird looked, the hay got more and more burnt and he was unable to find any pieces before it was all burned up. [[Too Generous ~Ending 17~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Seeing the sparrow grab at his hay, Firebird snaps back and tries his best to fight off the greedy sparrow. He guarded the hay with all that he could, but the sparrow batted at Firebird with his wings and snuffed out the fire. [[Snuffed out ~Ending 18~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

In a desperate attempt to keep the flame alive, Firebird found a nearby tree and rested his flaming nest in the trunk. This fire caught easily on the dying wood and the tree went up in a blaze. From that tree, another tree caught the flames, and soon enough the entire forest was on fire, and in the flames, Firebird was roasted. [[Arson ~Ending 19~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Despite the darkness and the exhaustion, Firebird decided that he should keep at his search until its last light. Minutes later Firebird found a fell tree that was entirely devoid of any and all moisture, where all of the wood did not have an ounce of rot on it. He put the flaming hay down on top of it, and it quickly caught. Carefully grabbing the burning log, Firebird brought it back to Dragon. Dragon was thrilled to see Firebird return with the flaming log that he had longed for for so long, and quickly inhaled the flames to feel himself reignited, and Dragon swore to never leave the side of Firebird until his last breath. [[Rekindled ~Ending 21~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

As the moon rose in the sky, and Firebird tired more and more in his search, he found a small cave where he could rest his wings for the rest of the night and continue his search in the morning. So Firebird made his bed and allowed himself to settle in, and by morning's light, the fire had been depleted. [[Burnout ~Ending 20~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

"Well how can I do that?" inquired Firebird. "I would like you to fetch for me, my heart, which is hidden within a trunk of cedar and iron, within the clanging brass gears, at the heart of the tallest clocktower in this kingdom." riddled Cat. "Get that for me and I will be your friend for life." And so Firebird left without hesitation. [[Continue |The Clocktower]]

In front of Firebird there stood a large expanse of a kingdom, with a clocktower to the left of him, as well as to the right, and right in front of him To the left was a shorter clocktower To the right was a taller clocktower Right in front of him was the tallest clocktower [[Left]] [[Right]] [[Center]]

Searching the smallest of the three clocktowers, Firebird ended up finding nothing, no gears, and especially no trunk, and thus he had failed Cat [[Wrong way ~Ending 22~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Searching the middle sized of the three clocktowers, Firebird ended up finding nothing, no gears, and especially no trunk, and thus he had failed Cat [[Something isnt Right ~Ending 23~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Going straight ahead into the tallest clocktower, Firebird entered at the top and started his descent. Among many wooden mechanical areas, both large and small, Firebird eventually came down onto a floor in the middle of the clocktower, where to the right of him was silver gears moving the hands of the clock face. To the left of him was brass gears that were being moved by the pendulum that kept time. [[Silver]] [[Brass]]

Firebird looked through all of the silver gears, and found nothing at all. No chests, no buckets, and nothing at all that could contain anything. Before he could get back out, Firebird got caught on one of the gears and was torn to shreds. [[Out of Time ~Ending 23~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Searching in the brass gears, Firebird eventually found 2 different chests. One of the chests was clad in iron bars, with structure of cedar. The other one was beautifully wrapped in brass, with most of it being made of spruce. [[Iron and Cedar]] [[Spruce and Brass]]

Firebird opens the chest constructed of Cedar, and clad in Iron, to find a smooth golden ball that he takes in his talons and flies back to Cat. Cat, overjoyed by his reclaimed heart, devoted himself to Firebird for all the days that he had remaining. And thus Firebird was happy, as he finally had a friend. [[Light and Darkness ~Ending 25~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]

Firebird prys open the chest of Spruce and Brass to find that there is a small darkened ball within it. Firebird takes it within his talons and flies back to Cat. Firebird presents the ball to Cat to recognize that he got it wrong. Cat shuns him for betraying his trust in a matter that he deemed more important than anything else, and Cat disappeared into the night. [[Wrong Choice ~Ending 24~ |A Firebird's Inclusion]]