That was the end of the weird happenings leading up to the live television show. Krim’s behaviour went back to normal, unfortunately for me, but life was also calmer and I didn’t have to worry about what had just happened. By the time I was expected to go be on the live show, Krim’s leg was superficially healed and his limp, while still somewhat present, seemed more habitual than actually from pain.

The actual day of the show, Krim showed up at my room with all of my normal gear and got me ready just like as if I was performing on stage. My designated outfit was simple today, however. Rather than a frilly feathery mockery like the normals costumes, Krim carefully helped me into an almost suit-like outfit. Krim made no comment on the change, but I figured it must’ve been the owner’s choice. After getting into the outfit, Krim quickly wrapped my feet in the special gloves, placed the gag in my mouth, and linked a leash to my collar. As he escorted me out of the building, leaving a different way than we normally went to the stage, the owner appeared out of nowhere.

“Krim? Why is Eclipse wearing the full gear? You can’t send him on TV like that!”

“Sir, handling poisonbirds without the gloves and gag isn’t safe. he could attack someone.”

“Hmm… I guess you’re right…”

“Would ya’ be okay with it if I just left ‘em on until the show itself, then take them off while he’s live? Then ya’ minimize the time he could hurt anything.”

“That sounds like a great plan. I’ll leave it up to you. Eclipse has been real good, though, lately, hasn’t he?”

Krim responded with a nod. The owner turned to face me.

“Go do a good job selling yourself and you might earn a reward. Be a good little bird, alright?”

Unable to answer in words with the gag in my mouth, I just nodded and looked down. Krim took that as a chance to leave, and pulled me forward again with a jerk. When he opened the door to the outside, it was dark and I halted in my tracks. Krim looked back at me, unsure why I had stopped and suspicious. I had never been outside when it was dark out, I had never seen the stars. I didn’t even recognise what the big round white orb in the night sky was, as it wasn’t painted on the ceiling of my room. Subconsciously, I made a small cooing noise in the back of my throat, amazed at what the real thing looked like, but hesitant to step into the dark. Even when lights were out in my room, the hallway lights never turned off, so I had never been in complete darkness either, at least not since I could remember, maybe when I was very very young.

“What’d ya’ stop for? Get moving. We’ll be driving for a while to get there, so we gotta move now,” Krim insisted, literally dragging me along behind him. After he had taken a few steps forward, I got my feet back under me and followed after him hurriedly. We were approaching a large truck, that I only recognised as the truck that the owner had used to bring in new poisonbirds a long time ago. Krim opened the back of it, and a wave of fear smell washed over me. I did my best to ignore it and stay calm, and so Krim lifted me into the cage-like truck. When I was secured inside, Krim entered the front of the truck, and started driving. I could no longer see the sky outside, but as time passed more light seemed to filter in through the windows in the front with Krim.