> Hey, is there some reason your friend looks like some sorta demon?

> The sooner you do what she wants, the sooner she'll change you back. Be passive aggressive about it, though.

Whatever. The sooner you get this done, the sooner you'll get back to normal. Sure, you look normal to your own eyes, but knowing that other people are seeing you as some kind of big furry monster right now makes you very uncomfortable.

Looking at the picture you took makes you uncomfortable too, but it's a different kind of discomfort? You can't put a finger on it. Or maybe you can, and you just don't want to think about how you actually look pretty cool and strong and attractive. Especially the attractive bit.

But no - there's something else there too that you can't define, like that funny sensation you get when you feel like you're being watched, except it's all coming from yourself.

You hope Effy gets back soon.

OH GOD DO YOU EVEN HAVE NETS AT HOME AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

> You likely do. Or somehing net like, like those mesh bags that are used with mashing machine. Hell just big bags or sheet would do, ll that matter is that it stops them from flying way.



Yeah... yeah! How hard can it be to get something to hold a bird? Or a bunch of birds? A bunch of big birds who home in on you and take your stuff so fast you can hardly see them, and also made your new friend bleed just by scraping against her?

> Hopefully! Hopefully you will have nets available that you can use to help your new friend who definitely wasn't trying to summon a literal demon!



Your new friend, who is a kitsune. Who apparently summoned these strange birds while trying to revive her friend, who is a demon, and you guess maybe her aim was off because she got her friend's birds instead. A demon's birds. Birds owned and presumably tamed by a demon. Surely, there's something at home that's appropriate for this simple task.

> You do not.



Last week, some clothes tore right through one of your ratty old laundry bags.

Walmart it is, then.

> Oh No! Walmart is the busiest you've ever seen it! The lines go all the way into the parking lot and around the block.



What have you done to deserve this? And how many people are here just for the low-cost plastic fork packs??

> Maybe Wal-Mart is also selling birdseed and baked goods on discount this time of year. For the insubstantial plan B you have.



It's fine, though. It's going to be just fine. By coming here, you can kill two birds with one stone (not literally! You don't want to kill them!) and get some bait for the birds. Maybe they'll like cake. They're big enough for that, you think.

You just... have to hurry up, and wait for the line to move. Because there's nothing to do but wait, is there? Hurry up and wait and hope Clo can hold her own for a while. You can't just skip ahead. That would be rude.

Plus, the old ladies up ahead would kill you.

> Hold up... What if instead of you going to the birds, you make the birds come to you? Think about it, all the supplies you need (nets, bread, plastic forks) are in the walmart. The birds would scare everyone away so you don't have to wait in line and while they're eating horrible, cheap walmart bread, you can catch them at your leisure.



...

Somehow, you get the feeling Clo wouldn't like this idea you just had. Not that YOU think it's a great idea! Those birds are pretty big! Someone could get hurt!

It sure would be nice if you didn't have to wait in line, though. And if Max was here, maybe you could teach him a lesson!

... Alright, enough of those thoughts. You're not supposed to fight fire with fire.

> ...Well, Effy's not back yet. Time to, um... catch... the birds???

It's true. You've had worse experiences with non-demonic birds.

> Clo: Calm down. Don't shake. Be gentle. Put on a straight face. Act like they're not a big deal. You're supposed to act like their owner. They're not supposed to doubt that you're they're owner until the right time.



Look, you know this was the plan and all. You just didn't expect to fool these birds this damn good.

> Don't worry yourself sick. Just ask Selena how likely you are to be grievously injured by these things!

> In an attempt to disperse the crowd, loudly declare that there is an even BIGGER sale on plastic forks at the uncrowded Fred Meyer's across the street. As they all leave and head over that way, realize that you could have just gone there yourself to begin with.



Boy, you had a pretty silly idea for a second there, but then you remembered there were more stores within walking distance!

You think some of the people in line there were actually trying to get to Walmart. Maybe those plastic forks really are worth all the trouble, but you'll pass for now. You need to help Clover!

> Don't stop for anything, this is your greatest moment ever! Run, run like the wind!



Yeah... Yeah! Now that you think of it, this could be the greatest moment in your life so far!

Well, okay, the part where your ghost ancestor told you about your magical destiny was pretty cool, but you didn't do anything then? And you might be about to do a thing now! The first of many things on your path to... to...

Heroship?

Something like that. Anyway, the point is--





The first of many things! On your path to heroship! It doesn't matter if you have to take the long away around that path!

All heroes must overcome adversity!!

> Clover: So...............uh............nice weather we're having



Frankly, the last thing you want to do is talk to these things. The situation at hand is already creepy enough. On the other hand, you're also getting some scary vibes from the green-haired weirdo. Will she stop staring at you like that if you just talk? Hell, if you can figure out which is the lesser of the two evils, that's good enough for you.