(cEmEnT cOlOrED)
“The kindness of my heart, of course!” Riski said, a charming smile curving across his beak.
“Mhm,” Russet said, eying Riski suspiciously. Smiling gallantly was his job. “More like trying to escape an assassination. What, you trying to get your claws into our gang business just like you did with the gulls? And I suppose having that limp french fry of a leader was your idea. See how that turned out. Well let me tell you!” Passion filled his crop, suffused over his features. “You might find that trait among the gulls, I can’t speak for them. But I think you’re going to find that pigeons aren’t so... impressionable.”
Riski’s smile gradually morphed into a frown throughout Russet’s monologue, his gape crawling down his face like a handlebar mustache. Because Russet had read him like a book. He hit a very tender wound. And he was none too gentle about it.
Russet became suddenly aware of his mortal danger. On one side, very large bird that he had upset. On the other, Cement who he had probably upset too. He wasn’t sure which was worse.
You stuck your foot in it this time, Russet, he thought.
Russet literally swallowed his pride. He became quite a bit smaller without his cocksure crop puffed up. “I mean... er... sorry. Thank you so much for saving my life.”
Riski definitely would have face palmed if not for his airborne state. He also sort of wanted to drown the impertinent orange pigeon. You guys aren’t worth the effort, he thought, not seeming to remember his help was entirely voluntary.