REVISED Back to the Nest Gold Final

{(set: $speed to 0) (set: $fun to 0) (set: $crumbs to false) (set: $compass to false) (set: $hawk to false)} The wind brushes past your face and through your feathers as you fly above downtown. It’s a nice feeling on days like today, when the sun’s out and the temperature’s warm. You close your eyes for just a moment and savor the feeling before opening them again and looking down at the town below. The town of Pleasantville is one you’ve come to know and love. Since building your nest on its edge, you’ve made frequent trips here, and you’ve found that it lives up to its name. The people, the places, they’re all just… pleasant. Jay says that “pleasant” is just another word for boring. Still, he can’t deny that it has plenty of good spots to stop and rest your wings. You have a few favorites, one of which is below you now. [[Land on your perch beside the café.]]

You descend into the town. It’s funny how it always seems so small when you’re up above, but when you come down into it, everything seems so much bigger. From the sky, you can’t make out all of the people who walk around or hear their conversations. You can’t see the decorations they put around their buildings, the colorful poster on that wall, the flowerpot in front of that shop. All of the things that give the plain buildings you see from above color come into view as you land on the short stone wall that surrounds the little café. A woman and a little girl sit at a nearby table with a scone cut in two halves between them. The woman breaks large pieces off and eats them while the little girl picks absentmindedly at her half. One thing in particular draws your attention. [[It’s the scone. I wonder if I could somehow get a piece of it.->Scone]] [[I pay attention to the little girl. She seems sad, and I want to know what’s wrong.->Girl]] [[I’m looking back up to the sky. I already miss the feeling of flying.->Sky]]

You stare at the scone. You think that it has blueberries in it, and it’s got that crunchy sugar on top. You’ve eaten a few granules of that from the ground before. It’s absolutely delicious. You hop an inch closer to the table. Sometimes, people swat at you when you get too close, but these people look okay. Maybe they’ll let you have just one bite. Or you could just sneak it. You ready yourself to fly over, but before you can, a familiar voice calls out to you from above. <center><img src="Assets/bluejay.jpg"></center> “Hey!” Jay lands beside you on the wall. “You weren’t thinking of going for their food were you? I tried to get someone’s fries a few days ago, but they came at me with a newspaper! I almost lost a wing, I swear.” The woman and the little girl must have heard him, too, because now, they’re looking in your direction. [[“Well, there probably isn’t any chance of me getting that scone now that they’re looking over here. Thanks for that.”->No chance]] [[“Yeah, that probably would have been a bad idea. Maybe I should keep my distance."->Bad idea]] [[“I think I could have done it. They seem friendly.”->Friendly]]

You lean in a little closer toward the table, tilting your head to hear the woman and the girl’s mumbled conversation. “I know you’re disappointed, sweetie, but I’m sure the zoo will be open tomorrow,” the woman says. The little girl sniffles. “But I wanted to see the animals today.” You shuffle a bit closer. Maybe you can do something to help. [[I do a little dance to try and cheer her up.->Bird dance bird dance]] [[No, I don’t think I’m the type of animal she was hoping to see.->Can’t help]]

You look up. Gray clouds are beginning to dot the sky, which was clear just minutes before. From one of the large patches of blue, a smaller blue shape descends and lands beside you. <center><img src="Assets/bluejay.jpg"></center> “Taking a breather?” Jay asks. “Me too, but we shouldn’t stay here too long. Places to be. Besides, the people around here can be real protective of their food.” You look back over toward the woman and the little girl. The girl stares back at you, then looks over to the woman. “What kind of bird is that, Mommy?” she asks. People aren’t always right when they try to guess what you are, but it’s nice when they get it. You spread your wings just a bit so that they can get a good look at your feathers and see that you’re a… [[Sparrow]] [[Pigeon]] [[Raven]] [[Robin]] [[Titmouse]]

“Hey, I’m just looking out for you,” Jay says. “You’ll remember this when you get your beak broken over some muffin.” You look back over toward the table. The little girl is staring and pointing a finger at you. “Mommy, what kind of bird is that next to the blue jay?” she asks the woman. People aren’t always right when they try to guess what you are, but it’s nice when they get it. You spread your wings just a bit so that they can get a good look at your feathers and see that you’re a… [[Sparrow]] [[Pigeon]] [[Raven]] [[Robin]] [[Titmouse]]

“See? I’m always right about these things,” Jay says. “Just look at the way they’re staring at you.” You look back over toward the table. The little girl is pointing a finger at you. “Mommy, what kind of bird is that next to the blue jay?” she asks the woman. People aren’t always right when they try to guess what you are, but it’s nice when they get it. You spread your wings just a bit so that they can get a good look at your feathers and see that you’re a… [[Sparrow]] [[Pigeon]] [[Raven]] [[Robin]] [[Titmouse]]

“Sure, whatever you say,” Jay says. “Just don’t come crying to me when you meet some real unfriendly types.” You look back over toward the table. The little girl is staring and pointing a finger at you. “Mommy, what kind of bird is that next to the blue jay?” she asks the woman. People aren’t always right when they try to guess what you are, but it’s nice when they get it. You spread your wings just a bit so that they can get a good look at your feathers and see that you’re a… [[Sparrow]] [[Pigeon]] [[Raven]] [[Robin]] [[Titmouse]]

<center><img src="Assets/sparrow.jpg"></center> (set: $name to "Sparrow") “That’s a sparrow,” the woman says, looking at you. The little girl nods, and you flap your wings a bit, happy that the woman guessed correctly. “Hey, $name, stop showing off for a second and listen,” Jay says. You look over to him. His head is cocked to the side, looking between you and the sky. “I saw some more clouds coming in when I was flying a minute ago. Looks like a storm.” [[“A storm?”]] <audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/sparrow call edit.wav"></audio>

<center><img src="Assets/pigeon.jpg"></center> (set: $name to "Pigeon") “That’s a pigeon,” the woman says, looking at you. The little girl nods, and you flap your wings a bit, happy that the woman guessed correctly. “Hey, $name, stop showing off for a second and listen,” Jay says. You look over to him. His head is cocked to the side, looking between you and the sky. “I saw some more clouds coming in when I was flying a minute ago. Looks like a storm.” [[“A storm?”]] <audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/pigeon call edit.wav"></audio>

<center><img src="Assets/raven.jpg"></center> (set: $name to "Raven") “That’s a raven,” the woman says, looking at you. The little girl nods, and you flap your wings a bit, happy that the woman guessed correctly. “Hey, $name, stop showing off for a second and listen,” Jay says. You look over to him. His head is cocked to the side, looking between you and the sky. “I saw some more clouds coming in when I was flying a minute ago. Looks like a storm.” [[“A storm?”]] <audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/raven call edit new 2.wav"></audio>

<center><img src="Assets/robin.jpg"></center> (set: $name to "Robin") “That’s a robin,” the woman says, looking at you. The little girl nods, and you flap your wings a bit, happy that the woman guessed correctly. “Hey, $name, stop showing off for a second and listen,” Jay says. You look over to him. His head is cocked to the side, looking between you and the sky. “I saw some more clouds coming in when I was flying a minute ago. Looks like a storm.” [[“A storm?”]] <audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/robin call edit.wav"></audio>

<center><img src="Assets/titmouse.jpg"></center> (set: $name to "Titmouse") “That’s a titmouse,” the woman says, looking at you. The little girl nods, and you flap your wings a bit, happy that the woman guessed correctly. “Hey, $name, stop showing off for a second and listen,” Jay says. You look over to him. His head is cocked to the side, looking between you and the sky. “I saw some more clouds coming in when I was flying a minute ago. Looks like a storm.” [[“A storm?”]] <audio autoplay> <source src="Assets/titmouse call edit.wav"></audio>

You step back, and the girl continues to pick at her scone. As you watch, Jay swoops down and lands beside you. <center><img src="Assets/bluejay.jpg"></center> “What’s the little one’s deal?” he asks. “If I had a scone like that, no way I’d look that mopey.” The woman looks up from the table and points at Jay. “Do you see the pretty blue jay?” The girl looks at Jay and nods, then looks to you. “What’s the other one?” You give her a little turn so that she can clearly see that you’re a… [[Sparrow]] [[Pigeon]] [[Raven]] [[Robin]] [[Titmouse]]

You chirp a few times to grab her attention, and as soon as she looks over, you jump into action. You hop back and forth, bobbing your head and flapping your wings. Every time you glance back at the little girl, her smile has grown wider. “Mommy! Mommy, look at the dancing bird!” she says, reaching across the table and pulling on the woman’s arm. You pause as another bird swoops down and lands beside you with a laugh. <center><img src="Assets/bluejay.jpg"></center> “Well, that was quite a show,” Jay says. “You looking to join the circus?” “Look, a blue jay!” the girl says. “What kind is the dancing bird?” You pick your dance back up and spread your wings so that she can look at your feathers and see that you’re a… [[Sparrow]] [[Pigeon]] [[Raven]] [[Robin]] [[Titmouse]]

“Yeah, and I think it’s going to be an ugly one. I can feel it. Best if we get back home.” You look up to the sky. Dark clouds are approaching from the west, and quickly. The people around town continue to mill about, though. Either they haven’t noticed, or they don’t care. [[“I want to stay in town longer.”]] [[“Sounds like a good idea.”]]

“You’ll get drenched if you do. Trust me on this one.” You look around. There are still so many things to see around town, and everybody’s still outside. “I’ll tell you what,” Jay says, “why don’t I make this more interesting for you? You know how your nest got blown out of the tree a few days back? Well, I can be a pretty generous guy, and I know that you’re going to want somewhere comfortable to sleep once the rain hits. So, how about this? You and me race back to the tree. Whoever gets there first gets the nest for tonight.” [[“Fine. I guess I’ll go back.”->Fine]] [[“Can’t we just share the nest?”->Share?]] [[“Okay, now I’m interested. You’re on.”->You’re on]]

“Of course it does. All of my ideas are good.” You stretch your wings and get ready to take flight. “Wait, hold on,” Jay says. “Why don’t we make this a little more interesting? You know how your nest got blown out of the tree a few days back? Well, I can be a pretty generous guy, and I know that you’re going to want somewhere comfortable to sleep once the rain hits. So, how about this? You and me race back to the tree. Whoever gets there first gets the nest for tonight.” [[“Oh, you’re on.”->You’re on]] [[“Can’t we just share the nest?”->Share?]] [[I take off without saying anything and get a head start.->Head start]]

“Hey, that’s sort of the spirit,” Jay says. He flaps his wings. “Let’s go!” With a jump, he launches into the air and flies down the street. You spring from the wall and follow closely behind. [[Keep flying.->Start race]]

{(set: $speed to it -1)} “My generosity has its limits. It's all or nothing." He flaps his wings. "Come on, it’ll be fun!” With a jump, he launches into the air and flies down the street. A moment too late, you spring from the wall and follow behind him. [[Keep flying.->Start race]]

{(set: $speed to it +1)} “That’s what I like to hear!” Jay flaps his wings, and you get into position to leap off of the wall. “Let’s go!” Simultaneously, you and Jay launch into the air and fly down the street. [[Keep flying.->Start race]]

{(set: $speed to it +2)} You spring from the wall and launch into the air. From behind you, you hear the frantic flapping of wings. “Hey, come on!” Jay yells. “Where’s your sense of sportsmanship?” You fly down the street as fast as your wings can carry you with Jay close on your tail. [[Keep flying.->Start race]]

You and Jay fly side by side, one taking the lead just to be surpassed by the other a moment later. You flap your wings hard, willing them to push you forward and fighting against the wind that’s begun to blow. Trees line either side of the road, an open path between their canopies. It’s free of obstacles, but that also means that there’s nothing to block the wind. Down below, a few cars drive along the street, streetlights stand uniformly along the sidewalks, and people walk around. It’s busy, but there are plenty of things to keep the wind off of you. [[I take the higher path.->Fly high]] [[I take the lower path.->Fly low]]

{(set: $speed to it +1)} Seeing the clear path ahead, both you and Jay fly upwards and soar above the street. The wind pushes against you, but you’re able to push back without losing too much speed. As you fly, your attention is grabbed by a delicious scent. On the side of the street, the smell of freshly baked bread pours out of a bakery. You can’t help but to look in that direction, and when you do, you see someone looking back at you. A man sits on a bench outside of the bakery with a loaf of bread in a paper bag on his lap. He tears off part of the loaf, and steam rises from inside. He holds it out as he looks at you, and he smiles. [[I stop by the bench. That bread looks delicious, and I’d rather not race on an empty stomach, anyway.->Bakery]] [[I can’t afford to waste time, no matter how good that bread looks. I ignore the man and keep flying.->Conversation?]]

{(set: $speed to it -1)} Wanting to avoid the wind, you dive down. Jay flies upward, opting for the clearer path. Although the wind hardly pushes against you, you have to dart and swerve to avoid streetlights and the opening umbrellas of pedestrians. Your flight path is winding, and you have to take it with varying speeds. You feel that you’ve lost some ground to Jay. As you fly, your attention is grabbed by a delicious scent. On the side of the street, the smell of freshly baked bread pours out of a bakery. You can’t help but to look in that direction, and when you do, you see someone looking back at you. A man sits on a bench outside of the bakery with a loaf of bread in a paper bag on his lap. He tears off part of the loaf, and steam rises from inside. He holds it out as he looks at you, and he smiles. [[I stop by the bench. That bread looks delicious, and I’d rather not race on an empty stomach, anyway.->Bakery]] [[I can’t afford to waste time, no matter how good that bread looks. I ignore the man and keep flying.->Conversation?]]

{(set: $speed to it -1) (set: $fun to it +1)} You change your course and head for the bakery, losing sight of Jay as you do. The man’s eyes follow you as you land on the armrest of the bench, and his smile remains. {(if: $name is "Sparrow") [“Hello there, little sparrow,” the man says.] (if: $name is "Pigeon") [“I haven’t seen many pigeons around since I left the city,” the man says. “How nice.”] (if: $name is "Raven") [“What a beautiful raven,” the man says.] (if: $name is "Robin") [“Hello there, little robin,” the man says.] (if: $name is "Titmouse") [“Hello there, little titmouse,” the man says.]} He crumbles up the piece of bread, then holds his hand out toward you. “Here’s a little treat for you.” [[I hop a little closer and eat some crumbs from his hand.->Crumbs]] [[I don’t want to take any more time here. I leave the crumbs alone and get back into the race.->No crumbs]]

As you continue down the street, the sidewalk below you becomes crowded with open umbrellas. Jay was right; a storm is coming. Overhead, the sky is covered with a layer of gray clouds, and you feel the first few droplets of rain hit your back. Distant thunder signals that it won’t be long before the rain becomes more than a light drizzle. Jay swoops down beside you. “See, what’d I tell you? Better speed up if you don’t want to get caught in it!” Up ahead, a large building forces the street to bend around it. Jay darts forward, curves around the building, and disappears around its corner. As you prepare to follow him, you see somebody walk out of the building’s front door. They pause for a moment to open their umbrella. Through the door, you see that the door on the other side is propped open. You could fly straight through. Assuming you don’t run into any trouble inside, you’d probably save some time. [[I go for the door. I want to get past this building as quickly as possible.->Inside]] [[I go around the building. I don’t want to take any risks.->Outside]] { <script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; audio.loop = true; audio.play(); </script>}

{(set: $crumbs to true) (set: $speed to it +1) (set: $fun to it +1)} You peck at the breadcrumbs. They're still warm and taste better than any of the scraps you've scavenged from the ground in the past. “I’m glad you like them,” the man says with a laugh. “It’s been a long time since I got to share a meal with a nice bird like you.” He tears off another piece of bread and takes a bite. You eat your fill, then back away as the man lowers his hand. “Thank you,” he says. “This was very nice.” Feeling reenergized, you take off into the sky once again, rejoining the race. [[Keep flying.->Conversation?]]

Thinking better of it, you ignore the man’s outstretched hand and take back off, rejoining the race. [[Keep flying.->Conversation?]]

{(set: $speed to it +1)} Just as the person steps away, you shoot forward and fly through the closing door. As you hear it shut behind you, you quickly look around the room. There aren’t too many people in here, and none of them have taken notice of you yet. One person sits behind a desk on one side of the room, speaking to somebody who stands across the desk. On the other end of the room, a television plays in front of a couple of armchairs and a coffee table. Something catches your attention on that table. Sitting on top of a pile of books, something small and shiny reflects the light of the TV. (if: $hawk is true) [This must be what Hawk saw.] You know that it would make a great addition to your new nest, and Jay would definitely be jealous. [[I go take a closer look.->Shiny]] [[I tear my eyes away from it. This isn’t the time for treasure hunting.->Rain]]

{(set: $speed to it -1)} You curve around the building. It takes some time to get to the other side, and Jay still isn’t within view. You try to fly faster. [[Keep flying.->Rain]]

{(set: $speed to it -1)} You land on top of the books and investigate the shiny object. It’s circular with metal on the outside and glass in the middle. Behind the glass, there are little letters arranged in a diamond and a line that’s half red, half white in the center. On top, there’s a small metal ring. Movement catches your eye, and you glance up to see Jay dart by one of the windows. He'll be reaching the other side of the building soon. Turning your attention back to the object, you grab the ring with your foot and lift slightly. The object twinkles in the light, and the red end of the line spins around to face a new direction. The thing is beautiful, but it’s heavy. You know that you could carry it, but it might slow you down. [[I take the object with me. It’s too beautiful to resist.->Compass]] [[I let go of the object and leave. I can’t risk it weighing me down.->No compass]]

Now on the other side of the building, the rain has started to come down hard. It’s dark, even though it’s still early in the afternoon, and the streetlights have all flicked on. You push through the wind and rain, but after just a few minutes of flying, you can feel your wings beginning to tire. Every flap takes more effort than the last, and you don’t know if you’ll be able to make it back to the nest without resting. Beneath one of the streetlights, you spot a covered bus stop. No one’s there, and the bench is dry underneath its little roof. It’d be a nice spot to stop for a minute and dry off. [[I stop. I need to rest before continuing.->Bus stop]] [[I keep going. I can tough it out until I get back to the nest.->Don’t stop]]

{(set: $speed to it -1) (set: $fun to it +1) (set: $compass to true)} You lift up the object and fly away from the table. It’s a little heavier than you realized, but you’re happy with your prize. You make your way to the back door without trouble and fly back outside. [[Keep flying.->Rain]]

You manage to convince yourself to leave the shiny thing behind, and you fly away from the table. Without its weight dragging you down, you quickly make your way to the back door and fly back outside. [[Keep flying.->Rain]]

{(set: $speed to it +1)} You fly down and land on the bench. It’s a little warmer under here, and you’re shielded from the rain and wind. You take a moment to stretch your wings and let your feathers dry, and after a few minutes, you feel refreshed. As you sit, you begin to wonder whether it’s worth it to finish the race. This is a perfectly good spot to wait out the rain or even sleep for the night. Do you really need to make it back to the nest? [[Yes, I still want to make it home. Besides, Jay will wonder where I am. I leave the bus stop and keep flying.->Leave]] [[No, this bus stop is comfortable. Why would I want to fly through the storm any more? I stay here and abandon the race.->Stay]]

{(set: $speed to it -1)} You ignore the ache in your wings and push onward. After a minute, though, your exhaustion gets the better of you, and you feel yourself slowing down. You know that it’ll be a few minutes until you’re able to pick up speed again. (if: $compass is false) [[[Keep flying.->Lost]]] (if: $compass is true) [[[Keep flying.->Lost compass]]]

(align: "=><=") [###Back to the Nest] (align: "=><=") [Created by Casey Woods] (align: "=><=") [[[Take flight->Beginning]]] (align: "=><=") [#####[[References]]]

Willing yourself to go back into the storm, you fly off of the bench and into the darkness beyond. Immediately, you’re cold and soaked again, but you know that you have a home to get back to. (if: $compass is false) [[[Keep flying.->Lost]]] (if: $compass is true) [[[Keep flying.->Lost compass]]]

Knowing that the competition isn’t worth the discomfort and exhaustion it’ll cause, you curl up in the corner of the bench and rest. It’s comfortable here, warm and protected. It’s probably even more comfortable than Jay’s nest would have been. Even though you didn’t win, this race has been pretty good for you. After all, you have {(if: $crumbs is true and $compass is false) [a full belly and] (if: $compass is true and $crumbs is false) [a shiny treasure and] (if: $crumbs is true and $compass is true) [a full belly, a shiny treasure, and]} a nice bed. About an hour passes, and the rain continues to pour. Thunder and lightning started up soon after you found the bus stop, and it hasn’t stopped yet. Suddenly, among the booms and crashes, you hear a familiar voice call out from the darkness. “Hey! There you are!” Jay lands on the bench, shakes off some of the water that’s soaking his feathers, and looks at you. “I’ve been flying everywhere trying to find you. I got nervous when you didn’t show. Thought you got struck by lightning or something.” [[“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”->Worry]] [[“You didn’t need to look for me. I’m fine.”->No need]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit"; </script> <script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src="Assets/storm edit.wav"; audio.loop = true; audio.play(); </script>}

You press onward. The streetlights become fewer as you approach the edge of town, and you lose your waypoints in the darkness. The rain grows heavier and heavier until it’s all that you can see. You realize after another minute of flying that you no longer know what direction you’re flying in. You don’t know if you’re still going forward or if you’ve turned around completely. No familiar landmarks are within your sight. You’re lost in the storm. The sheets of water push down on you, trying to bring you to the ground, and you’re not sure how much longer you can stay up. You fly in circles, hoping to see something, anything, that will tell you where you are. Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminates your immediate area, and you can make out the silhouette of a tree. It’s not much to point you in the right direction, but you might be able to stop there and get your bearings before continuing on. [[I land in the tree and take a minute to regain my sense of direction.->Tree]] [[I fly past the tree and hope that the nest is in that direction. I don’t have time to stop.->More lost]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit"; </script> <script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src="Assets/storm edit.wav"; audio.loop = true; audio.play(); </script>}

“Don’t sweat it,” he says. “Now scooch. I’m freezing.” Jay pushes his way between you and the side of the bench, huddling next to you and pressing his cold, wet feathers into your side. [[I put my wing around him to warm him up.->Cuddle]] [[I move over and stay dry.->Rude]]

“Yeah, well, I didn’t know,” he says. “Now scooch. I’m freezing.” Jay pushes his way between you and the side of the bench, huddling next to you and pressing his cold, wet feathers into your side. [[I put my wing around him to warm him up.->Cuddle]] [[I move over and stay dry.->Rude]]

You pull Jay close to your side, and the two of you huddle together, keeping each other warm. After a while, the two of you drift off to sleep to the sound of the rain, warm and comfortable. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/storm edit.wav"; </script>}

You move away from Jay. He presses tighter into the side of the bench, shaking a bit, but he doesn’t say anything. After a while, the two of you drift off to sleep to the sound of the rain, warm and comfortable. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/storm edit.wav"; </script>}

You perch on the tree branch and look around. With the intermitted flashes of lightning, you’re able to spot a few familiar landmarks. You might be able to find your way to the nest with what you've seen. As you prepare to take off, you hear, just barely audible above the storm, Jay's voice calling out. "Hey! $name! You out there?" [[I follow Jay's voice. He might know where he's going, and it'd be better to stick together in this weather, anyway.->Follow]] [[I go the way I was planning to go. Jay can't know where he's going any more than I do, and it'd be best if we didn't both end up lost.->Ignore]]

{(set: $speed to it -1)} You fly onward in what you hope is the right direction, but after a while, it becomes clear that you’re not getting any closer to the nest. You go around and around, and eventually, your wings grow too tired to carry you any farther. As soon as another flash of lightning lights up the sky, you find another tree and land in it. It takes you some time, but you think you've figured out which direction you need to go. As you prepare to take off, you hear, just barely audible above the storm, Jay's voice calling out. "Hey! $name! You out there?" [[I follow Jay's voice. He might know where he's going, and it'd be better to stick together in this weather, anyway.->Follow]] [[I go the way I was planning to go. Jay can't know where he's going any more than I do, and it'd be best if we didn't both end up lost.->Ignore]]

{(set: $speed to it +1)} Following the line, you turn and fly in a new direction. Flashes of lightning give you glimpses of the area around you, and you begin to recognize familiar landmarks. You’re certain that you’re going in the right direction. As you continue forward, you hear, just barely audible above the storm, Jay's voice calling out somewhere in the distance. "Hey! $name! You out there?" [[I follow Jay's voice. I can make sure he doesn’t get too lost in this weather.->Follow]] [[I continue to the nest. Jay's a good flier; he'll be able to find his way back without me.->Ignore]]

You press onward. The streetlights become fewer as you approach the edge of town, and you lose your waypoints in the darkness. The rain grows heavier and heavier until it’s all that you can see. You realize after another minute of flying that you no longer know what direction you’re flying in. You don’t know if you’re still going forward or if you’ve turned around completely. No familiar landmarks are within your sight. You’re lost in the storm. The sheets of water push down on you, trying to bring you to the ground, and you’re not sure how much longer you can stay up. You fly in circles, hoping to see something, anything, that will tell you where you are. Suddenly, a flash of lightning streaks across the sky and reflects off of the shiny object hanging from your feet. As you glance down at it, you notice that the red and white line is pointing in a different direction than before. It’s not much, but it’s the only indication of direction you have. Maybe it points toward the nest. [[I go in the direction the line’s pointing.->North]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit"; </script> <script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src="Assets/storm edit.wav"; audio.loop = true; audio.play(); </script>}

You fly, and the wind pushes against you. You fly, and the rain threatens to knock you down. You fly until you’re freezing cold and your wings are so tired that you’re not sure you can flap them even one more time. Then, you see it. The tree where you know Jay’s nest sits is just up ahead. Just one more push to reach it. (if: $crumbs is false) [[[I put all of my energy into this last stretch and fly to the tree as fast as I can.->Push]]] (if: $crumbs is true) [[[I put all of my energy into this last stretch and fly to the tree as fast as I can.->Push crumbs]]] [[I continue at a steady pace. I don’t want to risk tiring myself out when the finish line is so close.->Steady]]

{(set: $speed to it -1)} Forcing your wings to move up and down despite their soreness, you cut through the wind and push forward. It’s not long, though, before you know that you can’t keep this up, and you drop your pace to a slower, more manageable one as you reach the tree. Finally, the race is over. (if: $speed >= 1 and $fun > 3) [[[Land in the tree.->Fun win]]] (if: $speed < 1 and $fun > 3) [[[Land in the tree.->Fun loss]]] (if: $speed >= 1 and $fun < 4) [[[Land in the tree.->Boring win]]] (if: $speed < 1 and $fun < 4) [[[Land in the tree.->Boring loss]]]

{(set: $speed to it +1)} Forcing your wings to move up and down despite their soreness, you cut through the wind and push forward. Just when you feel that you can’t keep this pace up, you get one final burst of energy, and you’re able to soar to the tree even more quickly than you thought you could manage. Finally, the race is over. (if: $speed >= 1 and $fun > 3) [[[Land in the tree.->Fun win]]] (if: $speed < 1 and $fun > 3) [[[Land in the tree.->Fun loss]]] (if: $speed >= 1 and $fun < 4) [[[Land in the tree.->Boring win]]] (if: $speed < 1 and $fun < 4) [[[Land in the tree.->Boring loss]]]

You force your wings to move up and down despite their soreness. It’s tough to maintain your speed, but you’re able to keep it just long enough to glide into the branches of the tree. Finally, the race is over. (if: $speed >= 1 and $fun > 3) [[[Land in the tree.->Fun win]]] (if: $speed < 1 and $fun > 3) [[[Land in the tree.->Fun loss]]] (if: $speed >= 1 and $fun < 4) [[[Land in the tree.->Boring win]]] (if: $speed < 1 and $fun < 4) [[[Land in the tree.->Boring loss]]]

You land on the branch where Jay’s nest sits and look around. Jay’s nowhere to be seen. You won the race. As you sit down in his nest, savoring its comfort, Jay flies through the leaves and lands beside you. “Whoa! You’re here! Man, I can’t believe you actually beat me.” He hops closer and looks at the shiny object, which lies beside you in the nest. “Hey, what’s that thing? It’s pretty.” [[“Isn’t it? I found it in that big building. It even helped guide me to the nest."->Pretty]] [[“It’s my trophy, and you can’t have it."->Trophy]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/storm edit"; </script> <script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; audio.loop = true; audio.play(); </script>}

You land on the branch where Jay’s nest sits, and when you look at the nest, you see that Jay’s already inside. You lost the race. “Hey, you finally made it,” Jay says, trying to hide how heavily he’s breathing. “It was way too easy to beat you. You’ve gotta get faster.” You shuffle toward the nest, dragging your shiny object behind you. “Hey, what’s that thing?” Jay asks, looking at it. “It’s pretty.” [[“Isn’t it? I found it in that big building. It even helped guide me to the nest.”->Pretty loss]] [[I toss the shiny thing to him. “It’s a trophy for you. Congratulations.”->Trophy loss]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/storm edit"; </script> <script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; audio.loop = true; audio.play(); </script>}

You land on the branch where Jay’s nest sits and look around. Jay’s nowhere to be seen. You won the race. As you sit down in his nest, savoring its comfort, Jay flies through the leaves and lands beside you. “Whoa! You’re here! Man, I can’t believe you actually beat me.” [[“I can. I always knew I was going to beat you.”->Gloat]] [[“Maybe you’ll get me next time.”->Gracious]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/storm edit"; </script> <script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; audio.loop = true; audio.play(); </script>}

You land on the branch where Jay’s nest sits, and when you look at the nest, you see that Jay’s already inside. You lost the race. “Hey, you finally made it,” Jay says, trying to hide how heavily he’s breathing. “It was way too easy to beat you. You’ve gotta get faster.” [[“Yeah, I know I lost. No need to rub it in my face.”->Unsportsmanlike]] [[“Maybe I’ll do some training before our next race.”->Train]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/storm edit"; </script> <script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; audio.loop = true; audio.play(); </script>}

“I didn’t even think to look for stuff while we were flying. Good find.” He adjusts his grip on the branch. “Well, enjoy that nest. You’ve earned it.” Jay curls into a tight ball, getting as small as he can on the branch. You can tell that he’s trying to hide his shivers. [[“Thanks. Maybe you’ll get it next time.”->Next time]] [[“Do you want to share the nest with me, Jay?"->Good sport]]

“Heh. That’s fair.” He adjusts his grip on the branch. “Well, enjoy that nest. You’ve earned it.” Jay curls into a tight ball, getting as small as he can on the branch. You can tell that he’s trying to hide his shivers. [[“Thanks. Maybe you’ll get it next time.”->Next time]] [[“Do you want to share the nest with me, Jay?"->Good sport]]

“Oh, I’ll definitely get it next time. Just you wait.” Jay closes his eyes and settles in for the night’s rest. Your eyelids grow heavy, too. Now, in your warm nest with a shiny treasure and a full belly, you can finally relax. You close your eyes, and the sound of the rain and gentle rolling of thunder lulls you into a restful sleep. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; </script>}

Jay looks up at you, then speaks slowly. “I mean, if you’re offering…” He climbs into the nest beside you(if: $name is "Raven") [, squeezing in with just enough room to fit. It's a little uncomfortable, but at least you both have a bed]. (if: $name is "Pigeon") [It's a tight fit, but you're still comfortable.] (if: $name is "Sparrow") [Both of you fit with plenty of room to be comfortable.] (if: $name is "Robin") [Both of you fit with plenty of room to be comfortable.] (if: $name is "Titmouse") [Both of you fit with plenty of room to be comfortable.] “You’re a good friend, you know that, $name?” The two of you lean into each other's sides, and your eyelids grow heavy. Now, in your warm nest with a shiny treasure, a full belly, and a friend by your side, you can finally relax. You close your eyes, and the sound of the rain and gentle rolling of thunder lulls you into a restful sleep. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; </script>}

“I didn’t even think to look for stuff while we were flying. Good find.” He adjusts his position in the nest. “Well, I’m turning in for the night. Enjoy that branch. Maybe you’ll get the nest next time.” You get a good grip on the branch and settle in. Although it’s cold and uncomfortable outside of the nest, you’re not that upset that you lost. After all, you have a shiny treasure and a full belly. The race really didn’t turn out that badly for you. You close your eyes, and the sound of the rain and gentle rolling of thunder lulls you to sleep. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; </script>}

The object lands in Jay’s nest, and he inspects it. “Not bad! I’ll happily take my well-earned reward. Then, if you ever manage to beat me, you can have it back.” He props the object up on the side of his nest and settles back in. “Well, I’m turning in for the night. Enjoy that branch.” You get a good grip on the branch and get into a fairly decent sleeping position. Although it’s cold and uncomfortable outside of the nest, you’re not that upset that you lost. After all, you have a shiny treasure to share and a full belly. The race really didn’t turn out that badly for you. You close your eyes, and the sound of the rain and gentle rolling of thunder lulls you to sleep. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; </script>}

“Okay, okay. I guess you’ve earned some bragging rights. But I’m going to get you next time.” Jay curls into a tight ball, getting as small as he can on the branch. You can tell that he’s trying to hide his shivers. [[“We’ll see about that.”->Brag]] [[“Do you want to share the nest with me, Jay?”->Good sport boring]]

“Oh, there’s no ‘maybe’ about it. No way I’m losing to you again.” Jay curls into a tight ball, getting as small as he can on the branch. You can tell that he’s trying to hide his shivers. [[“We’ll see about that.”->Brag]] [[“Do you want to share the nest with me, Jay?”->Good sport boring]]

“We sure will. Just you wait.” Jay closes his eyes and settles in for the night’s rest. Your eyelids grow heavy, too. Now, in your warm nest, you can finally relax. You close your eyes, and the sound of the rain and gentle rolling of thunder lulls you into a restful sleep. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; </script>}

Jay looks up at you, then speaks slowly. “I mean, if you’re offering…” He climbs into the nest beside you(if: $name is "Raven") [, squeezing in with just enough room to fit. It's a little uncomfortable, but at least you both have a bed]. (if: $name is "Pigeon") [It's a tight fit, but you're still comfortable.] (if: $name is "Sparrow") [Both of you fit with plenty of room to be comfortable.] (if: $name is "Robin") [Both of you fit with plenty of room to be comfortable.] (if: $name is "Titmouse") [Both of you fit with plenty of room to be comfortable.] “You’re a good friend, you know that, $name?” The two of you lean into each other's sides, and your eyelids grow heavy. Now, in your warm nest with a friend by your side, you can finally relax. You close your eyes, and the sound of the rain and gentle rolling of thunder lulls you into a restful sleep. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; </script>}

"All right, all right. I’m sorry. I’m sure you’ll do better next time. How about that?" He adjusts his position in the nest. "I’m turning in for the night. Enjoy that branch." You get a good grip on the branch and settle in. It’s cold and uncomfortable outside of the nest, and you know that if you really do race again, you’ll have to do something differently. You don’t want this to become a permanent arrangement. You close your eyes, and the sound of the rain and gentle rolling of thunder lulls you into an unsatisfying sleep. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; </script>}

“Yeah, you do that.” He laughs as he adjusts his position in the nest. “I’m turning in for the night. Enjoy that branch.” You get a good grip on the branch and settle in. It’s cold and uncomfortable outside of the nest, and you know that if you really do race again, you’ll have to do something differently. You don’t want this to become a permanent arrangement. You close your eyes, and the sound of the rain and gentle rolling of thunder lulls you into an unsatisfying sleep. Play again? [[Yes->Beginning]] [[No->Title]] { <script> audio.src="Assets/light rain edit.wav"; </script>}

Images: 1. File:Bluejay (Cyanocitta cristata) (1547) - Relic38.jpg. Darren Swim. Retrieved from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bluejay_(Cyanocitta_cristata)_(1547)_-_Relic38.jpg 2. Sparrow on a chair. ``Alexas_Fotos``. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/photos/sparrow-bird-plumage-nature-3360163/ 3. Pigeon on pavement. Bicanski. Retrieved from: https://pixnio.com/media/animals-birds-elegant-feather-feeding#img_info 4. Raven on pavement. Lars Schlageter. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/photos/raven-crow-bird-flying-creepy-dig-98244/ 5. File:American Robin 01.jpg. Joe Mabel. Retrieved from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Robin_01.jpg 6. Tufted titmouse. Retrieved from: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/686681 7. Flying hawk. Iulian Ursache. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/photos/northern-harrier-hawk-bird-of-prey-5515485/ Sounds: 1. House sparrow. BeeProductive. Retrieved from: https://freesound.org/people/BeeProductive/sounds/383160/ 2. Pigeon. JavierSerrat. Retrieved from: https://freesound.org/people/JavierSerrat/sounds/524345/ 3. Common Raven. National Park Service, NPS, David Restivo. Retrieved from: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/sounds-raven.htm 4. American Robin. National Park Service, NPS & MSU Acoustic Atlas, Jennifer Jerrett. Retrieved from: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/sounds-americanrobins.htm 5. titmouse call. seth-m. Retrieved from: https://freesound.org/people/seth-m/sounds/271150/ 6. Rain light 2 (rural). jmbphilmes. Retrieved from: https://freesound.org/people/jmbphilmes/sounds/200273/ 7. Rain heavy 2 (rural). jmbphilmes. Retrieved from: https://freesound.org/people/jmbphilmes/sounds/200272/ 8. rbh thunder storm. RHumphries. Retrieved from: https://freesound.org/people/RHumphries/sounds/2523/ [[Back->Title]]

You pass by a series of tall poles strung together by wires. They're normally crowded with other birds, but right now, they're empty. Maybe the others saw the storm coming, too. Near the end of the line, you spot a single bird sitting atop one of the poles, and you consider a new reason why there aren’t any other birds around. Smaller birds (if: $name is "Sparrow") [like yourself] (if: $name is "Robin") [like yourself] (if: $name is "Titmouse") [like yourself] tend to get nervous around Hawk. Her sharp talons and hooked beak scare away those who don’t have the same tools to defend themselves. Then, of course, there’s the rumor that Hawk’s diet includes more than just the small creatures that walk on the ground. You haven’t gotten to know Hawk well yourself, but in the few short conversations you’ve had with her, you’ve never gotten the impression that she was looking at you as a meal. If anything, she’s just seemed happy to have someone to talk to. Seeing you, she takes off from the pole and flies beside you, her long wings outstretched in a graceful glide. <center><img src="Assets/hawk.jpg"></center> "Hey!" she says. "$name, right? It’s good to see you again.” She flies at a leisurely pace, but for her, that's pretty quick. You'd still have to slow down a bit if you wanted to have a conversation, though. [["Hi, Hawk. How are you?"->Talk]] [["Sorry, Hawk, but I don't have time to talk."->Don't talk]]

{(set: $speed to it -1) (set: $fun to it +1)} "I'm good!" she says. "Thanks for asking." You match her pace and fly beside her. "I should really come to town more often. It's a nice place." She looks around. Her eyes seem to land on something in the distance before she looks back to you. "So much to see." [["I know. I especially like stopping by the restaurants and trying to get some scraps."->Scraps]] [["Seen anything interesting recently?"->Seen anything?]] [["You're right. You should probably get going, though. There's a storm coming."->Warning]]

"You don't?" Still flying beside you, now trailing a bit behind, she looks around. Above you and just a little ahead, Jay flies, pushing himself to move as quickly as he can. He stares forward, seemingly unaware of everything around him. Hawk's eyes land on him. She looks between him and you, then speeds up her pace to match yours. "Oh, I see, it's a race!" She leans to her right and drifts in that direction, away from you. "Well, I'll leave you to it! Have fun!" She drops back, and you continue forward, leaving her behind. [[Keep flying.->To the building]]

"Hm. Not really my diet," she says. "Speaking of, I think I just saw something yummy over there. I'm going to go get a snack." Despite yourself, your heart starts to beat a bit faster. [[“What is your diet, exactly?”->Mice]] [[“Okay. I’ll see you later, then.”->Later]]

{(set: $hawk to true)} "Hm... I saw something shiny in the building up there earlier." She nods toward a tall building ahead of you. "Couldn't tell you what it was, though." She looks back. "I also just saw a snack over there. I'm going to go get it." You continue forward as she drops a bit behind you. "Oh, one more thing," she says. "I saw a storm coming in earlier. Should get here soon. Be careful. I know that most birds don't see as well as I do in the rain." [["Thanks, Hawk."->Bye]]

"Yeah, I saw that. Don't worry about me. I can see pretty well in the rain. You be careful, though. I know most birds' eyesight isn't as good as mine." You continue forward as she drops a bit behind you. "Well, I think I saw something yummy over there a second ago. I'm going to go get it. Nice talking to you!" [["Thanks, Hawk. It was nice talking to you, too."->Bye]]

"Don't mention it!" She flies off in the opposite direction. You flap your wings and pick your speed back up. [[Keep flying.->To the building]]

{(set: $speed to it -1)} You fly in the direction you heard Jay's voice coming from. Still, all you can see is the rain coming down like a wall of water, and you can't hear Jay's voice anymore. The occasional lightning strikes don't bring any sight of him, either. You call out a few times, but you don't get a response. Knowing that he must have been close by if you were able to hear his voice, you're sure that you should have reached him by now. He must have moved on, and there's no telling which direction he went. [[I keep looking. I’m worried about him.->Keep looking]] [[I circle back to the tree and follow my original path. I can’t risk getting any more lost.->Circle back]]

{(set: $speed to it +1)} Leaving Jay to find his own way, you take off on the path you think is right. It isn't long before you start recognizing your surroundings. You were right; this is definitely the way back to the nest. [[Keep flying.->Final push]]

“Oh, you know, mice and things. I think that was a rat over there,” she says. Noticing your concern, her happy demeanor falters. “That rumor isn’t true, you know.” [[“Of course not. Enjoy your meal.”->Enjoy]] [[“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—"->It’s ok]]

“See ya!” You continue forward as she drops a bit behind you. "Oh, one more thing," she says. "I saw a storm coming in earlier. Should get here soon. Be careful. I know that most birds don't see as well as I do in the rain." [["Thanks, Hawk."->Bye]]

“Thanks!” You continue forward as she drops a bit behind you. "Oh, one more thing," she says. "I saw a storm coming in earlier. Should get here soon. Be careful. I know that most birds don't see as well as I do in the rain." [["Thanks, Hawk."->Bye]]

“It’s okay,” she interrupts. “A lot of people believe it. I just want to make sure you know that it’s not true.” You continue forward as she drops a bit behind you. "Oh, one more thing," she says. "I saw a storm coming in earlier. Should get here soon. Be careful. I know that most birds don't see as well as I do in the rain." [["Thanks, Hawk."->Bye]]

You brave the darkness further and continue flying. You jump from one direction to another, stopping and turning around when you feel you’ve gone too far. Your wings ache with fatigue, but you keep going. Just when you’re about to turn and find a new direction, you’re forced to stop and pull backward as Jay suddenly comes into view. He startles as you nearly collide with him. “Gah! $name! There you are.” His feathers are soaked, thin and pressed down against his skin, and it’s clear that he’s having to work just as hard to stay in the air as you are. “Rough storm, huh?” he says. “Glad I found you. I think I figured out the way to go.” He moves forward, then looks back at you. “Keep up if you can, but don’t get it confused, I’m still winning this race.” With that, he takes off, quickly disappearing behind the veil of rain. You follow in the same direction, hoping you can pass him before he reaches the nest. [[Keep flying.->Final push]]

You turn around and find your way back to the tree. After a moment's rest, you set off on the path you'd planned before. [[Keep flying.->Final push]]