Twig, the shaman‘s loyal feathered companion, can see through illusion, hear Shadows, and spot magical activities from a long distance. She’s typically spotted eating rodents or chasing them.
Twig is an Eurasian Eagle Owl
Twig may appear no larger than a puppy at first sight, but her huge wingspan matches the shaman’s towering height. Don’t be fooled by her cute ear tufts and her domesticated manners. Those orange eyes of hers will not miss a rodent in a mile radius.
Her diet tends to consist of small mammals. But she’s been known to be resourceful and show a diverse range of tastes. She’s an excellent fisher and enjoys fresh river fishes in mountainous regions. In the arid lands of Ares, she’s been forced to make do with reptiles and large insects.
She also has a sweet tooth, or beak, as she also enjoys cinnamon buns, a speciality she discovered when Pamphilos took her to Xenia.
How did she meet Pamphilos?
As soon as he quit his role as a novice with the Astronomers, Pamphilos left Agrinion. He made his first stop in Dynamis Lands, where he met with Alexis.
Pamphilos stayed for a while with Alexis, trying to figure out what to do now that his career as an Astronomer had been ruined. Alexis suggested he should travel to see the magical world he wanted to serve so dearly.
He left the Lands of Dynamis on a small boat that crossed the border into the Lands of Philos. There, exploring the woodlands by the river, he came across an abandoned nest. He adopted the single owlet he found inside.
Why is their bond so strong?
Twig grew up with Pamphilos. She has developed an immense affection for her human carer, even though she often forgets she is not the baby owl she once was. Her tendency to let herself fall on his shoulder for a rest, all talons out, is not always appreciated by the shaman.
She often acts as a guide for Pamphilos when they face magical illusions, as she can see through them perfectly. While independent by nature, she never stays away from Pamphilos for longer than a few hours because he’s all she knows.
How old is Twig?
Pamphilos has had Twig with him for over 20 years. As Twig has lived all of life following Pamphilos, she would not be able to survive a day in the wild. She has no experience of making a nest. She tends to sleep surrounded by pillows at the bottom of the bed. Even though she often hunts for food, she prefers easy preys in semi-urban environments. When hunting becomes too rough, Pamphilos also finds alternatives to feed her.
In other words, Twig has had a peaceful and comfortable existence, away from any of the difficulties of her natural environment. While she’s over 20, she’s still got many more comfortable and lazy decades in front of her.
*Image from Unsplash