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The rain hammered against the mouth of the cave like a thousand tiny fists, each drop a sharp reminder of how thoroughly Parrot had messed everything up. He sat with his back pressed against the cool stone wall, knees drawn up to his chest, wings tucked tight against his sides. The feathers were still ruffled from the flight here.
Theo's voice echoed in his memory, sharp with frustration.
But Theo didn't understand. He needed to save all these players. Because who else would?
Parrot pressed his palms against his eyes, hard enough to see stars. His wings shifted involuntarily, a nervous flutter that sent a few loose feathers drifting to the cave floor. The constant rain was making them itch, the dampness seeping in despite his best efforts to stay dry.
He should've just agreed with Theo. Should've nodded and smiled and said sure, just brought back Boomie on that boat, back to Capital City. But he'd opened his big mouth instead, argued back, and now here he was. Alone in a cave. Waiting for rain that showed no signs of stopping.
The sound of footsteps—splashing through puddles—made Parrot's head snap up. His hand instinctively went to the sword at his hip, fingers wrapping around the hilt as he rose to his feet. Through the curtain of rain, he could make out a figure approaching the cave entrance.
Make that two figures.
The first was clearly visible—someone moving with careful, deliberate steps through the downpour, the crunch of heavy boots against stone audible. But beside them, there was... something else. A second presence, visible only by the gleaming trimmed diamond armor that seemed to float through the rain, empty and yet occupied, a veil accompanied by a diamond helmet covering the area where the head of the player should have been.
Parrot's entire body went rigid.
No.
Diamond armor with trimmed netherite. That specific set of enchanted diamond pieces with netherite, always paired with invisibility, always moving with that particular stride. The Invisible Knight, as Parrot had taken to calling him in his head—though there was nothing noble about the bastard.
Hours. It had been hours since Boomie died.
And now the killer was here. Walking toward his shelter like nothing had happened.
Parrot's grip tightened on his sword until his knuckles went white, wings flaring out despite the confines of the cave. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to attack, to draw his weapon, to make this monster pay for what he'd done.
But then the visible figure ducked into the cave, and Parrot's rage faltered for just a moment.
Jaden. He recognized him, though they'd never really talked. Just... seen each other around. The siren had an unusual silhouette even in the dim light—the shimmer of scales along their arms, the delicate fins that pressed flat against the sides of their head as water streamed from their hair and clothes.
The Invisible Knight—the murderer—followed Jaden inside, diamond boots clicking against wet stone. Water droplets appeared to hit something solid before sliding off into the air.
"Oh," Jaden said. His gills fluttered slightly along his neck. "Didn't realize anyone else was here."
The Invisible Knight snorted with a tinge of amusement, but stayed silent. Jaden ignored him.
Parrot didn't respond immediately. His eyes were locked on the diamond armor, watching every micro-movement, every shift of weight. His hand stayed on his sword hilt.
"Who's your friend?" Parrot asked, voice cold and hard in a way it rarely was. He already knew the answer—or at least, he knew who it wasn't. Wasn't anyone good. Wasn't anyone who deserved to breathe the same air as him.
The Invisible Knight shifted, and Parrot could've sworn he felt eyes on him even though he couldn't see them. There was a tension in the air now, sharp and dangerous.
Jaden's expression remained carefully neutral. "He's my teammate. His privacy is important." There was something firm in his tone despite the softness, but also... was that wariness? Like Jaden could sense the hostility radiating off Parrot in waves. "We're just waiting out the rain, same as you."
"Right," Parrot said flatly. "Your teammate." He finally released his sword hilt, but only because keeping his hand there was making his intentions too obvious. His wings remained spread slightly, feathers bristling. "The one in the invisible one."
"Yeah," Jaden said slowly, eyes narrowing slightly. "Is that a problem, dude?"
Is that a problem? Parrot wanted to laugh. Wanted to scream. Wanted to draw his sword and lunge at the armored figure standing too casually near the cave entrance.
But he didn't. Because Jaden was here, and Jaden didn't seem like a threat. Because starting a fight in a cave during a rainstorm was tactically stupid. Because Parrot was tired, so damn tired, and he'd already had one fight today that left him feeling hollow.
Because Boomie was dead and no amount of violence would bring him back.
"No," Parrot lied, settling back against the wall. His wings tucked in tight, protective. "No problem."
The silence that fell over the cave was nothing like comfortable. Parrot kept his eyes on the diamond armor, tracking every movement as the figure moved to stand in the corner.
Jaden wrung water from his braided hair, scales on his forearms catching what little light filtered in from outside. His fins kept twitching, head turning slightly between Parrot and his teammate, clearly sensing the tension even if he didn't understand its source.
Jaden's eyes studied him with an intensity that made Parrot want to look away. But he didn't, because looking away meant looking at the diamond armor, and he couldn't do that without his expression betraying everything he was feeling.
"Your wings," Jaden said quietly. "They're really ruffled. Must've been some flight to get here."
Parrot glanced down at his wings instinctively, though he couldn't see them properly from this angle. He could feel it though—the way his feathers were askew, some bent at odd angles, others matted down from the rain. It was uncomfortable, itchy, and honestly the least of his problems right now.
"Yeah, well." Parrot's hand came up to try and smooth down some of the more obviously displaced feathers on the wing closest to him. "Didn't exactly have time to worry about that."
Jaden’s fins pressing closer to his head. He seemed to be debating something internally, gaze flicking once to his teammate in the corner before returning to Parrot.
"I could help," Jaden offered, and there was something almost eager in his voice before he seemed to catch himself. "If you want. I mean, it's going to be a while before the rain lets up, and sitting there with wet, messy feathers can't be comfortable."
Parrot stared at him. "You want to preen my wings."
"Only if you're okay with it, dude."
"While your friend watches." Parrot's voice dripped with venom on that last word, eyes cutting to the diamond armor.
Jaden flinched slightly at his tone. "He won't do anything. I promise.”
Every instinct screamed at Parrot to refuse. To keep his wings to himself, to maintain distance, to not let his guard down for even a second while a murderer stood nearby. Wings were vulnerable. Private. You didn't expose them to threats.
But...
Parrot's wings shifted again, that uncomfortable itch intensifying. And there was something about Jaden's expression—genuinely concerned, almost pleading—that gave him pause. Jaden didn't seem like a bad person. Misguided, maybe. He didn’t want to think about that time with Wifies, where Jaden and Spongs left them for Clownpierce.
And if Parrot was honest with himself, the idea of sitting here in hostile silence for however long the rain lasted sounded exhausting. He'd already fought with Theo today. Already watched Boomie die. Already pushed himself to the breaking point and beyond.
Maybe he could have this one small thing. This bit of care, of comfort, even if it came with an audience he despised.
"Fine," Parrot said, surprising himself. "But he stays in that corner. And if he moves anywhere near me, we're going to have a problem. Understand?"
The diamond armor shifted slightly but didn't respond verbally. Jaden nodded quickly, something like relief crossing his face.
"He'll stay put. I promise. Thank you, dude."
Parrot lowered himself to the cave floor, every movement deliberate as he positioned himself cross-legged with his wings spread out behind him. He kept his body angled so he could see the armor in his peripheral vision, watch for any sudden movements.
Jaden settled behind him, and Parrot had to consciously force himself not to tense up, not to pull his wings back in.
The first touch was gentle, so gentle Parrot almost didn't feel it. Jaden's fingers were cool and slightly damp as they carefully lifted a section of feathers, smoothing them back into alignment with practiced ease.
"Your feathers are really vibrant, dude," Jaden murmured, working through a particularly tangled section near Parrot's shoulder blade. "The colors are incredible."
"Thanks, bro." Parrot's voice came out quieter than intended, some of the hostility draining away despite his best efforts to maintain it. He couldn't remember the last time someone had done this for him.
This was different. Careful. Tender in a way that made Parrot's chest feel tight for reasons that had nothing to do with the argument or Boomie's death or the murderer watching from the corner.
Jaden's touch was gentle, each movement deliberate as he worked through the mess of Parrot's wings. He found the bent feathers and carefully straightened them, smoothed down the ones matted by rain, gently worked out tangles where wind had twisted sections together.
"You've got some damage here," Jaden noted, fingers hovering over a spot on Parrot's left wing. "Nothing serious, but you should probably be careful with this wing for a few days."
"Got into a bit of a... situation," Parrot admitted, eyes still tracking the diamond armor. The figure hadn't moved, but Parrot couldn't shake the feeling that they were watching intently. "Before the rain started."
"Argument?"
"That obvious?"
Jaden's soft laugh ghosted across Parrot's wings. "Kind of."
Parrot didn't respond to that. Didn't want to explain about Theo, about the treasure, about how everything felt like it was falling apart. Instead, he focused on the sensation of Jaden's hands moving through his feathers, trying to ignore the diamond armor's presence.
t was hard though. Every few seconds, his eyes would drift back to that corner, checking, watching, waiting for... he didn't even know what. An attack? An explanation? An apology that would never come?
"You don't like him." It wasn't a question. Jaden's hands paused in their work, resting lightly against Parrot's wing.
"No." Parrot saw no point in lying. "I don't."
"Can I ask why?"
"You can ask."
Jaden waited, but Parrot didn't elaborate. After a moment, the siren's hands resumed their gentle work, though there was a new tension in his movements.
"He's not a bad person," Jaden said quietly. "I know he can seem... intense. The whole invisibility thing doesn't help. But he's my teammate, and he's kept me safe more times than I can count."
Parrot's jaw clenched. Kept Jaden safe. Sure. While murdering anyone who got too close to the truth about his identity. While cutting down people who were just trying to survive. While—
"I'm sure he has his reasons," Parrot said, voice flat. "Everyone always has their reasons."
They sat in tense silence after that. Jaden continued working through Parrot's wings, but the earlier ease was gone, replaced by an awkwardness that made every touch feel heavier. Parrot kept his eyes on the diamond armor, and the Invisible Knight stayed perfectly, unnervingly still.
There was something almost meditative about it despite the tension—the rhythm of Jaden's movements, the gentle tugs and smoothing motions. Parrot felt his shoulders slowly relaxing against his will, the exhaustion of the day catching up with him.
"You're really good at this," Parrot found himself saying, more to fill the silence than anything.
Jaden's hands paused for just a moment. "Had a lot of practice." There was that distant tone, that hint of loss buried beneath casual words.
More silence. The rain continued its assault on the cave entrance. The Invisible Knight shifted its weight slightly, and Parrot's hand immediately went to his sword hilt before he caught himself.
"Easy," Jaden murmured, though whether he was talking to Parrot or his teammate, it was impossible to tell.
Parrot forced his hand away from the weapon, wings twitching under Jaden's touch. This was stupid. He shouldn't be here, shouldn't be letting his guard down, shouldn't be allowing a murderer to stand in the same space as him without doing something about it.
But Boomie was already dead. And starting a fight wouldn't change that.
Jaden worked in silence for a while longer, his movements sure and practiced despite the tension. Occasionally, Parrot could hear the diamond armor shift—a quiet scrape of boots against stone, the faint clink of armor pieces settling. Each sound made his feathers bristle, made his muscles coil with barely suppressed aggression.
"Almost done," Jaden said softly, his fingers working through the last section of feathers near the base of Parrot's right wing. "You've got a few that might fall out naturally in the next day or two—they're pretty damaged. But overall, you're in better shape now."
"Thanks," Parrot said, and meant it despite everything. His wings felt lighter, more comfortable. "Seriously, bro. That was... really nice of you."
"It's nothing, dude." Jaden's hands withdrew, and Parrot immediately felt their absence—the loss of that gentle, grounding touch. "Just seemed like you could use some help."
Parrot started to turn, started to maybe say something else, when the diamond armor moved. Not much—just a step forward, boots clicking against stone—but it was enough to make Parrot's hand fly back to his sword hilt, wings flaring out defensively.
"Time's up Jaden," a voice said—distorted through a voice changer. The same voice that had said that Boomie knew his true identity as Boomie’s items lay there in the exploded earth.
Jaden's expression shifted, something complicated crossing his face. Disappointment? Resignation? He got to his feet with fluid grace, brushing off his pants.
"Right," Jaden said, and there was an edge to his voice now. "We should get going."
"The rain hasn't stopped," Parrot pointed out, staying seated but keeping his body angled toward the diamond armor. His wings remained spread, ready to launch him into action if needed.
"We've got places to be." Jaden offered Parrot a small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Take care of those wings, okay? And maybe... maybe patch things up with whoever you were arguing with. Life's too short to stay angry."
The irony of that statement wasn't lost on Parrot. Life's too short—yeah, Boomie could attest to that. If he were still alive to do so.
But he didn't say that. Didn't voice any of the bitter, angry thoughts swirling through his head. Instead, he watched as the Invisible Knight moved toward the entrance, Jaden following with one last glance back at Parrot.
"Hey," Parrot called out as they reached the cave mouth. Jaden paused, looking back over his shoulder. "You should be careful, bro. Who you travel with."
Jaden's fins pressed flat against his head, something hurt flashing across his face. "I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?" Parrot asked quietly. "Do you really know who he is? What he's done?"
The diamond armor went very, very still. Parrot could sense the sudden spike of tension, of danger. For a moment, he thought the figure might turn around, might do to him what he'd done to Boomie.
But Jaden spoke first, voice soft but firm. "He's my teammate. That's all that matters to me."
Then they were gone, stepping back out into the rain. Parrot watched them disappear into the downpour—Jaden's silhouette and the Invisible Knight beside him—until he couldn't make them out anymore.
He sat there for a long moment, wings still spread, hand still on his sword hilt. The rage that had temporarily subsided came flooding back, mixing with exhaustion and grief and a bone-deep weariness that had nothing to do with physical tiredness.
Boomie was dead. The Invisible Knight walked free. And Parrot had just let him leave without doing anything about it.
Some protector you are.
Parrot pressed his palms against his eyes again, trying to block out the thoughts, the guilt, the weight of it all. His newly preened wings shifted, settling against his back, and even that small comfort felt wrong somehow. Like he didn't deserve to feel better when Boomie never would.
But dwelling on it wouldn't change anything. Wouldn't bring Boomie back. Wouldn't make the Invisible Knight pay for his crimes.
Parrot shook himself, feathers ruffling and then settling back into their organized positions. The rain was finally starting to let up, the heavy downpour thinning to a lighter drizzle. Through the cave entrance, he could see breaks in the clouds, hints of lighter sky beyond.
Time to move. Time to find the treasure. Time to do something that mattered, because sitting here feeling sorry for himself wasn't helping anyone.
His elytra got taken out of his inventory, the mechanical wings looking almost fragile compared to his real ones. But they were what let him truly fly, what gave him the freedom his clipped wings had stolen.
Parrot lifted the elytra carefully, fingers running over the familiar straps and clasps. The routine of putting it on was grounding—something normal and predictable in a day that had been anything but.
The straps went over his shoulders, across his chest, buckled tight. His real wings folded and shifted, finding their place beneath the mechanical ones. The elytra's magic responded immediately, the device melding with his natural wings, becoming an extension rather than a separate thing.
Parrot rolled his shoulders, testing the fit. Perfect. He could feel the elytra's weight distributed evenly, could sense the way it would catch the air, how it would let him soar.
He moved to the cave entrance, looking out at the clearing sky. The rain had stopped entirely now, leaving everything glistening and fresh. In the distance, he could see the ocean—vast and blue and hiding secrets beneath its surface.
The treasure was out there somewhere. The sea's greatest treasure, the thing he'd argued with Theo about, the goal that had brought him to this cave in the first place.
And maybe, if he found it, it would be worth something. Worth the argument. Worth the pain. Worth everything he'd lost.
(It wouldn't bring Boomie back. Nothing would. But at least it would be something.)
Parrot took a deep breath, wings—both real and mechanical—spreading wide. He thought about Theo, about their disagreement. He thought about Jaden's gentle hands in his feathers. He thought about Boomie and the guilt that sat heavy in his chest like a stone.
But mostly, he thought about flying. About the wind and the sky and the freedom that came from leaving everything behind, even if just for a little while.
He stepped to the edge of the cave entrance, where the ground dropped away sharply.
Parrot jumped.
For a heart-stopping moment, he fell, gravity pulling him down. Then the elytra caught, wings snapping open, and suddenly he was flying—truly flying—soaring up and away from the cave. The wind rushed past his feathers, cool and clean after the rain, and Parrot felt something tight in his chest finally loosen.
He angled toward the ocean, toward adventure, toward whatever came next. His real wings shifted beneath the elytra, helping to steer, making minute adjustments that the fake wings translated into smooth, graceful movements.
Behind him, the cave grew smaller, just another shelter left behind in a life full of temporary stops. The encounter with Jaden and the Invisible Knight. The memory of Boomie's death. All of it fading into the distance, though never really gone.
The ocean glittered below, keeping its secrets. Maybe it held treasure. Maybe it held answers. Maybe it held nothing at all.
But Parrot would find out. Because that's what he did. He pushed forward, even when it hurt, even when it felt impossible, even when the weight of everything threatened to drag him down.
The sky opened up before him, vast and endless and full of possibility.
Parrot smiled—bitter and tired and determined—and flew faster, chasing the horizon where the sea met the sky, where treasure waited and the past couldn't follow.
At least, not for a little while.
The rain was relentless, cold droplets hammering down hard enough to sting exposed skin. Jaden stood just outside the cave entrance, water streaming down his face and plastering his hair to his head. His gills fluttered with agitation as he stared at the diamond-armored figure beside him.
"Come on," Jaden whined, fins drooping dramatically. "He's right there. His wings are a complete mess. I can see it from here, dude."
"No." The changed voice was firm but not unkind. "We're not doing this, Jaden."
"But why not?" Jaden's hands came up in an exasperated gesture, flinging water droplets everywhere. "We're already here! The cave is right there! It'll take twenty minutes, maybe thirty tops—"
"Because we have places to be." The diamond armor shifted, and even through the modulator, there was a hint of amusement. "Remember? The thing we were actually supposed to be doing today?"
"That can wait!" Jaden insisted, taking a step toward the cave before the armored figure's hand shot out to grab his arm. "His wings look painful. All bent and tangled. You don't understand how bad that feels for avians—"
"I understand that you're trying to adopt every sad bird you see."
Jaden gasped, clutching his chest in mock offense. "I am not!"
Jaden’s fins perking up as he switched tactics. "The point is that I can help him. Right now. It'll be so quick. Please? Pretty please?"
The armored figure was silent for a moment, clearly weighing options. "You don't even know this guy that well."
"I know him well enough." Jaden's voice softened, becoming more genuine. "And I know what it's like to feel alone and hurting. Come on, dude. It's just preening. What's the worst that could happen?"
"He could stab you."
"He's not going to stab me for offering to help with his wings," Jaden said, though he sounded slightly less certain now. "That would be... really weird. Right? That would be weird."
"You're asking to touch a stranger's wings. That's already weird."
"It's not weird, it's helpful, dude!" Jaden bounced slightly on his heels, animated despite being soaked through. "Look, I promise I'll be super quick. In and out. Just let me preen his wings and then we can go do whatever boring thing you had planned—"
"Boring thing?" The modulated voice took on an affronted tone.
”Okay, well, not boring, but still—“ Jaden was grinning now because he could tell he was wearing his friend down. "Let me have this. You won't even tell me your name, you paranoid weirdo."
"My privacy is important."
"I know, I know." Jaden had heard this speech a hundred times. "Very mysterious. Very secretive. Very 'the less you know, the safer you are.' I get it."
He clasped his hands together pleadingly, putting on his best pitiful expression. "But right now, the only thing I need to know is if you're going to let me be a good person and help that poor avian with his disaster wings, or if you're going to be a total spoilsport about it."
"A spoilsport."
"Yes. A spoilsport. A fun-ruiner. A—"
"I get it." The armored figure sighed—or at least made a sound like a sigh through the modulator. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"Nope!" Jaden's fins perked up fully, sensing victory. "Not even a little bit. I will stand out here in the rain and complain the entire time until you say yes, dude. You have no idea how annoying I can be when I really commit to it."
"I have several ideas, actually."
"Then you know I'm serious." Jaden bounced on his heels again, water splashing around his feet. "Come on. Please? For me? Your favorite pirate companion who never asks for anything?"
"You ask for things constantly."
"Okay, but this time it's different. This time it's important." Jaden's voice softened again, losing some of its playful edge. "I just... I want to help him, dude. His wings really do look bad. And when was the last time we did something nice? Just because?"
He was quiet for a long moment. Jaden waited, fins twitching hopefully, water dripping from every part of him. He was shivering now, cold seeping into his bones despite his aquatic nature.
"Thirty minutes," the modulated voice finally said, and Jaden could hear the resignation in it. "That's it. Not a second more. I'll time it."
"Yes!" Jaden pumped his fist in the air, his eyes signalling he was grinning wide under his mask. "Thank you! You're the best, dude. Seriously. The absolute best."
"I'm a pushover, is what I am."
"A pushover who cares about his friend's happiness," Jaden corrected, already starting toward the cave entrance. "Which makes you wonderful, actually."
"Thirty minutes, Jaden." There was a warning in that modulated voice now. "And if anything seems off, if he gets aggressive or suspicious—"
"He won't," Jaden said confidently, though he was mostly trying to convince himself. "It'll be fine. I'll be charming. He'll love having someone take care of his wings. It's going to be great."
"You're going to get attached," the armored figure said, following him toward the cave. "You know that, right? You're going to preen his wings and feel all maternal about it, and then we're going to have to leave, and you're going to mope for three days."
Jaden's step faltered slightly. His fins drooped just a bit. "Maybe. But at least his wings will feel better. That counts for something."
"You're too soft to birds.”
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Jaden glanced back at his invisible companion, offering a small smile. "Someone's got to balance out your whole... mysterious hardass thing you've got going on."
"Mysterious hardass," the voice repeated, flat.
"Did I stutter?" Jaden's grin returned. "Now come on.”
"This is a terrible idea."
"Probably!" Jaden agreed cheerfully. "But you're letting me do it anyway, which is why you're my favorite invisible armored person of mystery."
"I'm your only invisible armored person of mystery."
"Which makes it even more special." Jaden squared his shoulders, fins perking up with determination. "Okay. Here we go. Time to be helpful and charming and definitely not weird about the wing touching."
"You're already being weird about the wing touching."
"Shush. We're going in." Jaden took a breath, plastering on his friendliest expression. "And remember—thirty minutes. You promised."
"I didn't promise. I stated a time limit."
"Same thing!" Jaden called back, already stepping toward the cave entrance where Parrot was visible in the shadows, looking thoroughly miserable. "Hey, look at him. Poor guy. This is going to be great. He's going to be so grateful—"
"Thirty minutes," the armored figure repeated, following behind with obvious reluctance. "And I'm counting down to the second."
"Yeah, yeah, you're very punctual and serious. I'm aware." Jaden waved him off, but there was fondness in the gesture. "Now be quiet and lurk mysteriously in the corner like you do.”
"This is going to go badly."
"Have a little faith, dude," Jaden said, and stepped into the cave.
Behind him, the diamond armor followed, and somewhere beneath the invisibility and synthesized voice, Wemmbu started his timer.
Thirty minutes for Jaden to preen a stranger's wings.
What could possibly go wrong?