Harold set up on the rocky hill known as Blackenberg. It was a local landmark you could find just about a day and a half out from Salcret, visible from the small lake they had access to. It was the tallest point they could think of fit for setting up a camp. The [Quest] stated that he had to protect ‘his’ flock for a week, but he didn’t truly have one unless you wanted to count the wasps. Or the whole forest. So that’s what he decided to do. There must be a reason why he was given a whole week for the task after all.

Oscar and him both interpreted the wording to mean that he needed to look out for any native beast falling victim to crazed predators or even the environment. Ensuring that the forest’s flocks thrived and got the opportunity to breed another season. And using the Skill as much as possible probably would not hurt.

They had discussed ways to ensure success right up until Oscar had to turn back home, but even if he failed, Harold had a backup plan in mind. He would stay on the lookout for the slightest disturbance and rush to see if aid could be rendered at any given situation. But if he failed to cover a large enough area he was going to do something that would cost him. He was going to bribe quite the begrudging owl that he had spent weeks trying to befriend, to help him scout for situations that he could get to in time. Even if he refuses to admit it he is a part of my flock too.

He wasted another one and a half days. Leaving him with four remaining, before he gave up on clearing the objective one crazed boar, or badger hopped up on fly mushrooms, at a time.

It was time to get some help.

—

Algernon was huddled in the crook of a tree, not quite asleep, but preserving energy for the morrows battle. This winter had been far better than his first, there had been a lot of harsh lessons learned. It would have been perfect in fact, if not for the stupid Human who kept coming by to interrupt his sleep. How could a [Druid] not know owls were active during the night?

It had started months ago, and it was tough denying that the mice he brought were a good addition to his stores, but there was showing appreciation for the pinnacle of nature, and then there was acting presumptuous.

And as if his thoughts had summoned the devil, here he comes.

—

Talking to animals was a risky proposition at the best of times, Harold had known this since childhood. Even now that he was a [Druid] every encounter could turn out to be a swing and a miss. Even the same type of animal could vary vastly in intelligence, and matters were not helped by the fact that even the smart ones were inclined to act dumb at times if they felt like Roldy was bothering them. I’m just trying to make friends, what kind of animals don’t enjoy a prank?

Needless to say he had a lot to learn. But he was quite sure that he was at least starting to figure this owl out, although the little bugger was acting hard to get.

Because of the deadline he had no time for coaxing, but he had come prepared. It had cost him an unknown price in the future. Despite offering months of work or even silver Livia had only wanted one thing, a favour, to be determined later on.

The [Chaos Druid] brought forth the customary offering of mice, but these smelled different. They were slathered in the psychedelic honey from Nalai. The owl perked up and almost leapt down at the enticing scent, it was like nothing the little bird had ever felt.

Harold spoke then. “I have an important task to fulfil, and only four days to do it. But if you help me all three of these will be yours,” The bird stared intently.

Despite the lack of communication, his Skill [Bond of the Forest] and his own observations had convinced him that this owl was the smartest creature in the entire forest. What convinced him of this was hours of seeing the owl watching over a battlefield between two giant colonies of ants.

The damn thing had been strategizing, using its wings to create battlefield obstacles and even communicating, commanding units essentially, to give one side the advantage. When the day was won they paid him, in food, only to watch him fly right over to the other colony the next day and help them return to a stalemate. It was ingenious.

This owl was no hunter. It was a strategist.

“I’ll give you this one tonight if you agree to help, then you will know why you really, really want the other two. Do we have a deal?”

Algernon put up only a few minutes of token resistance before he flew down and accepted his fee.