Work Text:
FinFin rests on a twirling, blue-green branch. The branch twists upwards and downwards, never deciding what direction it should grow in. It was late dawn, the sun having risen and illuminating the skies in an orange-yellow tapestry, bathing the early clouds in a pale light. Sunlight casted down onto Amile Forest, stirring the forest to life as fauna and flora awoke. FinFin stretches his wings, staring down at the clearing below his perch.
The contactee stood underneath, holding a tablet-like device. FinFin does not recognize this friend, peering on in curiosity at the newcomer. The contactee is tapping away at the screen, and a few moments later a tune chimes out from the piece of machinery into the woods. FinFin calls out in a short high-pitched chirp, blue eyes viewing on. The contactee raises the tablet up in the air, focusing it on FinFin.
The contactee draws the tablet back down, seemingly satisfied at the bioscan results. FinFin glides down to a log resting on the forest ground, getting closer to the contactee. FinFin sings a few, short notes as beating wings of the pata pata birds make themself known. The pata patas soar overhead and disappear into the far horizon. Hoverflies and shell beetles fly around them.
The contactee unties a thick rope that was tied around their chest and shoulders, lowering the crate that was previously on their back onto the grass. On the box were painted lemo fruits, the paint missing in a few tiny spots. The contactee lifts the lid off the crate and guides a hand down inside to pick a red lemo fruit out of the hefty box. They step near FinFin and slowly offers the lemo to him, afraid of startling him badly that he’d run off.
FinFin tilts his head, eyes glued on the lemo being presented to him. He leans forward on the log, nearly tipping and tumbling off, and takes the fruit in his mouth. He moves back, the stem detaching from the fruit. FinFin plays with his food, tossing the red fruit up into the air and catching it. The contactee, intrigued by this grand show, jots down the behavior in a note.
FinFin swallows the lemo fruit and clicks in happiness. He flutters his wings in joy and flies back up to the tree, his tail rising and falling. The contactee attempts to scale the tree, hand and foot climbing up the warped and spiraling wood. They find a limb that wouldn’t break under their weight and shuffled onto it, being cautious to avoid plummeting down to the forest floor. Floating flora in varying shades of pink danced in the air, guiding themselves along the gusts of wind.
The contactee proceeds to write detailed scientific observations in various notes, typing away at several tabs pulled up on the screen. FinFin smiles and cheeps cheerfully, gazing on as his new best friend documents important information. After completing this task, they tilt back only a little and mockingly swipe their hand across their forehead in a comedic display of tiredness. They fidget with the loop of a TEO keychain that they had equipped to their tablet, patiently waiting for FinFin’s next move.
FinFin taps the turquoise wood with his talons, beginning to drum a rhythm and whistle. The contactee realizes this and flails for the recording option installed on the device. FinFin breaks out into a beautiful song, calling out sharp high-pitched noises and pausing to regain breath to keep singing. FinFin’s song dips up and down, drawing out notes and making tiny, short-lived whistles. His song ends two minutes later, and the contactee ends the recording after he concluded.
The contactee claps their hands together twice, overjoyed by FinFin’s musical performance. It was late afternoon now, the contactee checking the watch strapped onto their left wrist. Their expression droops gloomily, upset that they had to return back to the research station for lunchtime and to drop off their current discoveries there. They carefully clamber down the tree again, utilizing the vines to make it quicker.
They stare up at him and wave, FinFin flutters his wings again to signal a farewell. The contactee begins the trek back home to the station while FinFin turns around and flies off to his nest. Today is a good day on TEO.