Daisy was carrying her few belongings to Pios cabin, but before she could reach it, Birdie was there in the passageway, dripping wet, arms stretched to block the hall.
"Now where are you off to, little field hand?" she asked mildly. But the look on her face was far from mild.
"I'm...I'm going to my new cabin." stammered Daisy.
"Oh, 'your new cabin', is it? Moving from the one you stole into uninvited, Stowaway?" Suddenly Bird reared up before the hobbit, pulling a little of her Ent persona into play so that she appeared even larger before the 3-foot tween. "Kali was invited on this voyage. In fact, Kali is the very REASON for this voyage. I don't recall that anyone invited you!"
Birdie suddenly clasped Daisy around her throat and pulled her close, lifting the terrified halfling almost off her feet. "And do I ever hear you speak to Kali again in such a manner, YOUR ticket on this voyage will be revoked - by me. You'll wish your swimming skills vastly improved if you find yourself swimming back to Minas Tirith."
Bird dropped Daisy back on deck as suddenly as she had picked her up. Daisy was left kneeling and gasping at her feet. The skin-changer bent low and hissed at the hobbit lass. "I know not what manners you learned in the sties and fields of the Took Estate, but here you will mind your tongue around your betters. And never forget that Kali IS your better, in every way. He is worth ten of you, stowaway."
Straightening and looking down on the now terrified halfing, Bird said. "Remember. I will be watching." Then she strode away and climbed the ladder to the deck.
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