For the Good of the Village
A small pine marten kit crawled across the ground, babbling softly as his mother watched.
Another small one crawled toward the other infant, this one a small blue jay chick.
Maureen and Kali both sobbed happily, hands clasped together as they watched their children.
Caryn was there too, with little Ruby bouncing on her lap.
The wide-eyed cardinal chick nibbled on her mother's thumb while she watched the boys play.
Maureen smiled with some pride, her people used to walk on all fours, so her son was already at an advantage there.  She even joked about such things with her tribal sisters.
Kali was ready with her comebacks, "Yeah?  Well, wait until my Justin starts to get muscle in his little legs, he'll be running circles around your boy."
Maureen snickered, "I bet he'll do a lot of running when he's old enough to chase the girls."
Kali swelled her plumage, "Well, he'd take after his father then.  My Justin will be batting at all the pretty hens with a big stick!"
Maureen winked at her friend, "You really think he'll be that popular?"
Kali cocked her head at the pine marten jill, "Sometimes, a mother just knows... And I bet your Iomer's gonna be a hit with the girls too!  Not too many furry fellas living in this village after all, permanent ones at least." She hesitated at the last part.
Almost as if on cue, a horn sounded outside their hut.
Caryn shuddered, she'd grown to hate that sound over the weeks since it had become a staple of life around here.
...
Weeks ago, when Maureen had departed to the towns to advertise her village's open invitations, promising food, women and a place to sleep, she had at first met with aversion.
They did not find the forest rangers as Nestor had advised them, but then it wasn't necessary.
Maureen, being from the towns herself, she was able to lead her small trio.  She could recognize things she had seen when she'd first left almost a year ago now.
In due time, they were able to make it to the nearest town, her hometown, Wiesel Stadt.
To the two birds who had come with her, seeing all of this big sturdy buildings, these stalls lining the street, people buying and selling, hurrying to and from places; it was a mind-twist for them.
For Maureen, it was a rush of memories hitting her like a lightning bolt.  She looked up and down the cobblestone street as she walked and could see a younger version of herself skipping along, paw-in-paw with her father.  She hadn't seen him since running away from home; she hoped he was well.
She began to notice people around her, looking at her.
People found it strange that a grown female like her would walk so scantily dressed in public, most assumed she were a prostitute begging for coin.  Some were also distracted by the two avian fellows who had accompanied her, themselves only dressed in armbands and loincloths.
The old pigeon was equally aghast at how overdressed these mammals and reptiles were, especially under this bright, hot sun.  Didn't they get too hot?  He bumped into a fellow avian, a feisty young crow and couldn't believe how much clothing she wore.
"Oi!  Watch where you're steppin', granddad!" she spoke with a cockney accent.  She saw the minute clothing the pigeon wore, "Err, your trousers are in the wash, I see."
The pigeon stepped back, no hen had ever spoken to him like that before, "I'm sorry?  Don't you feel hot under all of that dried cow skin?"
The crow wore a brown leather vest with a blazer and a pair of pants.  She tugged on her coat, "Ya sure ya ain't just tryin' ta get me out of these skins, dirty birdy?"  She winked as she danced away from him then shifted her sights on the cute sparrow with them.
Tilo flinched when she practically pounced upon him, "Dog's bollocks, you're a cute one!"
"What?" The medicine bird chirped out before finding himself trapped in her arms.
Maureen intervened on his behalf, "Excuse me, miss..."
"Maven!"
"What?" the jill stopped.
The crow sized up the pretty brown weasel before her, "Name's Maven!  Ya three ain't locals are ya?"
The pine marten sighed, "No, no we're not.  We are looking for a place we could stay, we have business to attend to later."
The crow, having never taken her black arms away from Tilo, smiled when she released him to embrace Maureen, "I know just the place!  Best damn place in this shitty town!  Come on!"  She dragged the pine marten with her while the two birds followed, both confused by what had just occurred.
Maureen nearly cried once she saw where she was being taken.  She saw the great, old, two-story oak and stone building, the swinging doors that led in to the old place, the sign hanging over the door with one single name carved out, Iomer's.
Maven grinned like an insane beast, "Well, here we are, Io-"
Maureen finished, "Iomer's...  I know..." She could feel her heart racing.
Maven looked at her, "Oh, you know the place?"
The pine marten smiled sadly as she looked up at that old sign, "Know it?  I lived here."
...
Maureen went inside the home that she had fled from so many months ago.  She brushed her palm on the bar counter which she often sat at.  She looked around at the many different people enjoying fine meals and drink and remembered when she served these people as a helpful teenager, ever obedient to her hard-working father.
The crow took Maureen and her companions to meet the owner.  He wasn't who Maureen had expected.
He was a middle-aged billy goat wearing suspenders, sandals and spectacles.  He had his hooves propped up as he read a book and drank tea whilst patrons ate his food and drank his ale.  He looked up from his book when the four strangers approached, "Yes?"  He saw the crow, "Maven, what trouble have you gotten yourself into this time, you tawdry feather duster?"
The crow ruffled her feathers at his snide comment, "None so far, old goat!  These kind folk come here from the woods to speak with the good people of our town."
The goat sat up, "There are still good people here?"  He affixed his spectacles before he stood to extend a hand to the marten female, "Wilhelm Jarlsberg, darling.  What is it you come to speak of?"
Maureen had to know first, "Before that... Do you know what happened to the man who ran this tavern before you?"
The goat scratched his beard, "Our previous owner?  Mmm, yes... I bought this place from him, poor fellow was too sick to keep running it so he gave it to me for a fraction of what this old girl is really worth.  He's passed away, I'm afraid."
Tears filled Maureen's eyes, "He's dead?" And she never got to apologize for leaving him alone.  She broke down, slamming her fist on the bar before her, while the three birds who stood around her shuffled their feet uncomfortably.
Jarlsberg petted the distraught female, "I take it that man was your father.  I'm terrible sorry to have made you cry my dear."
Maureen sniffed, "No... You did nothing wrong.  I'm the one who ran away when he needed me."  She looked up at the building around her, "He opened this tavern so he could support me.  I was all he had after Mom died.  He raised me here, I slept here, worked here... I met my first love here."  She held herself, "This tavern was my life."
The old goat picked up an empty tankard, "Can't dwell on the past, dear."  He walked over to one of his great casks.  He poured ale as he spoke, "You're still here after all."  He placed the foaming tankard on the counter for her.  "Drink up..."
She sniffed it, "That smells... So different from what Dad made."  She drank some and right away was struck by the cinnamon and cardamom flavoring the drink.  "It's spiced.  I've never had it that way."
Jarlsberg smiled, "My own recipe, your father loved it too.  I feel its the real reason he let me have this place.  This ale has made this old girl the talk of the town now."
Maureen smiled sadly, "And he was alive to see that?"
The goat nodded, "He endorsed the ale himself.  But the only thing he would always say was how much greater it would be if his daughter could be here to share the new fame."
Maureen sobbed, "Thank you... But this was my past, and you're right, I shouldn't stay too long.  I have my own life and a new home with these fine birds here."  She gestured to the pigeon and sparrow.  Tilo right now was distracted by the pretty crow who threw many flirty winks his way.
Jarlsberg listened, "You live with these birds?"
She nodded, "In the village, deep within those woods."
He leaned forward, "You come from the bird village?"
The old pigeon stepped forth, "We come in peace, mammal.  We wish to make, how do you say, deals with your folk.  We feathered folk of the wood extend our blessings and our wings, welcoming all you kind outsiders.  We are opening up trade with your towns."
Jarlsberg listened, "I see... That does sound like a marvelous development, but I'm only a tavern keeper, kind sir.  You'll need an official."  He chuckled, "Lucky for you, my ale brings such peoples to my tavern."  He straightened up, "Oh, but where are my manners?  You three need a place to stay hmm?"  The goat clapped over the din of the crowd, "Nadine, darling!"
Maureen's fur stood up on her neck after hearing that name.
The ferret in question came up, "Yes, Willy, you asked for me?"
The goat gestured to the three travelers, "These three here need rooms."  He pulled out keys to two separate rooms, for Maureen and for the two birds.  He gave the keys to the ferret, "Kindly show them please?"
Nadine perked up in her frilly skirt and blouse, "Yes sir!"  She took the keys.  She gasped when she saw the number on one, "Willy, this one's to Maurie's old room."
