She was disappointed that her daddy’s Akita had not allowed her to climb the palm trees on the beach. She forced Ode’s paw and she would just have to ask her Poppa to chaperone her. Surely he would let her climb them! "Poppaaaaaa!!” She called as she raced through the hallways towards their den. Surely he was home by now.

Leopard paws pitter pattered over the stone halls as she slid to halt outside her home den, again calling out for Mortis. "Poppa!” She said again, eager to ‘tell on’ the dog for not allowing her such a dangerous activity. "Daddy’s dog wouldn’t let me climb the palm trees!” She complained as she ducked into the den. "Will you take me, please?”

"Odette"

Mortis heard her calling long before she arrived. He got to his paws and started towards the den entrance, arriving as she slid to a halt. He felt an amused smile tug at the corner of his lips before he got it under control. “Akita has a good reason to, she can’t climb the tree and get you down if you get stuck.” he explained, wrapping a wing lightly around the tiny girl.

With the size of her tiny paws, he didn’t think she would become one of the giants of the Fatalis family. A part of him was grateful, his tiny little winged miracle. “But do you want to know a secret?” He asked in a stage whisper. “I can climb them and help you. Come on, let's have a look at these palm trees” He said, using his wing to scoop her up and deposit her lightly on his back.

"Speech"

Her Poppa was waiting for her at the entrance of the den when she made her appearance. Her wings flailing and her paws scrambling as she came to a stop. Her bright silver eyes looked up to find Mortis standing there waiting for her arrival. Ode was loud enough about it after all. Nothing like the animals for whom she shared attributes with. Not yet anyway, one day she would master silence.

Mort did tell her the dog was correct in keeping her from scaling the palms, she was not as agile as the pup and couldn’t easily rescue her. Ode’s features fell, but her Poppa went on. He had a secret for her. The little girl’s wings fluttered and her short little tail waggled in anticipation as he told her that he could in fact climb the trees, and he was eager to take her back.

"Ah! Really? Yes!” Before she could run off back towards the beaches her father had scooped her up and deposited her upon his back. "Let's go!”

"Odette"