bloodsong1 | *lays smackdown on plot bunny*

Toto was, in a word, freaked out of his birdy mind. First he lost sight of Chihiro by the ginko tree, then Haru shows up breathing fire and confronts the pervert, only to be yanked away by some unseen force and VANISH into the ginko. Fortunately, the pervert was still in range and in serious need of face rearrangement.

Cutting loose with an ancient battle cry, Toto launched himself on the human. Pecking and clawing madly, he was only deterred when the man threw up his arms and plunged into the trees, cursing birds and girls in truly foul language.

"May your nose fall off and your manhood shrivel to nothing and your eyes bleed!" Toto shrieked after him, landing on a ginko branch. He took some satisfaction in the profusely bleeding cuts and bruised pecked skin of the pervert, but his heart was still pounding. WHERE had the girls gone?

"Chihiro? Haru? It's safe now," He called gently. Beneath him, the tree bark shivered a little and the Myth Twins stepped forward. Toto shrieked with delight and threw himself towards Haru. She turned and raised her arm for him to land on, still looking bewildered. Toto walked up her arm to gently rub his beak against her hair.

"We're ok, Toto. Thank you," She said, ruffling his head feathers. Toto glanced at Chihiro, who was studying the ginko suspciously, her fingers tapping her bag, still clutched to her chest. Toto gave Haru a final soft peck and flew over to Chihiro to cuddle against her head. She froze, eyes growing wide.

"I'm very glad you're ok, Miss Ogino," Toto said. Chihiro turned to Haru, eyes almost bugging out.

"Haru, your bird talks," She said woodenly. Haru giggled.

"So does your tree," Toto blinked several times and cocked his head to look at the ginko. Something was different about the tree, a sense of...kinship? It felt similar to when the River God had visited the Burearu, only...older. Wiser. Chihiro blinked a few times.

"You're not freaking out. Why are you not freaking out?" Haru shook her head.

"Why are you? You knew Grandfather Ginko would protect you, right? Otherwise you wouldn't have run further into the forest, you would have gone to Security." Chihiro shivered and dropped to her knees, sending Toto flying towards Haru. Haru knelt beside her trembling friend and wrapped her arms around Chihiro's shoulders. Toto settled on the grass.

"You're safe now, Chihiro. He's gone," Haru whispered.

"I don't feel safe. I feel...awful. Unclean. All he did was touch me and..."Chihiro shook harder. Haru looked at Toto.

"Is there a faster way to get to the Refuge?"

"Not unless you two can shrink to Baron's size so I can carry you."

"Refuge? Baron?" Chihiro leaned back a little. "Isn't that the name of your dapper hero?" Haru blushed.

"If you can walk, then I promise I'll answer all your questions."

"Honestly this time?"

"Yes, honestly."