Tumania stared up at Lila. Its feathers as smooth as melted butter trickling off a spoon. Its claws like sapphires smiling from the depths of the sea grasped onto a large mossy stick that Lila had found a few hours before. Its beak blossomed in a rainbow of magenta, crimson and emerald. It clamped shut, swallowing the tasty victuals that she had just been given.

To Lila’s utmost astonishment it hurried closer, seeming to like the comfort of human-beings. She ran a finger along the feathers. Lila was beaming with delight. 

Her mind was bursting with happiness. 

“She likes you a lot,” said Mrs Kendle as the bird flew away into the night sky. Lila grinned. This animal was her friend and she liked that. On their way back to the village, the stars twinkled with joy as if they knew what was happening. The sky was a paint palette of purples and blues, blacks and reds. She paused and looked to the sky and for a split second she thought she could spot the fluorescent beak of Tumania. 

“You know,” began Mrs Kendle, “She’ll be watching you. Looking after you. She is a loyal creature. I found her a few years ago when I was exploring the Amazon Rainforest. For some bizarre reason she followed me home and… well… I guess she has been here ever since. When we first got here she was very ill and wounded. So I nursed her back to full fitness and now she is as happy as she can be, I suppose. I kept her, like a secret,” she paused, “ She’s our secret Lila. If the others find out she will be sent back but she likes it here, with us.”

Each night she would go and meet Tumania and have a play and conversation. She would try and get any leftovers from supper and sneak them to her. However, there wasn’t much point hiding the food from Mrs Kendle as she knew all about it anyway. She was calm but at moments she would squawk and Lila had to try to keep her quiet so that attention wouldn’t be drawn to them. 

They were like best friends, not wanting to be parted. An invisible vine bound them together, if it was cut both would be sorrowful. Mrs Kendle noticed the bond and felt partly left out. But she knew that they both needed each other and needed comfort, so they were the perfect match. 

Each night, Tumania would flutter away and Lila was a bit disappointed to see her go. But they both knew that they would be together the next night.
Lila strolled home and a smile plastered her face…