Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bazinga 
She watched hopefully as the girl looked pretty confident, but the bird didn't take the leaf and now Chloe was frowning. She didn't want to see someone upset so she moved to stand right next to her. Placing a hand on her shoulder for support.
"You aren't doing anything wrong. He probably just needs to digest the first one a little. Why don't you try it again? I just know you'll get it this time. Maybe talk to him as you are doing it, make sure he knows you are a friend."
She stepped back so Isla could have some room.
With her face still a little fallen, Isla looked up at the older girl. What she was saying
did make sense. Isla
had offered the leaf to the bird only a few seconds after it had eaten the one Claudine gave it.
"You're probably right," she said, looking back at the bird, who was now looking at the members of their group.
"I'll try again."
The golden leaf was still clamped tightly in the tweezers Isla had in her hand. Chloe had said to try talking to the bird, so even thought it made Isla feel a little silly, she took the girl up on her suggestion. She didn't even know what to say to a phoenix, though. She looked up at the members of her group for nothing other moral support, and then she turned back to the bird, ready to talk.
"Uhh, hello, pretty bird. I have you a golden leaf. I think you'll like it," she said. Should she tell it she was sorry about its upcoming Burning Day, and that she hoped it went out with a blast? Nah. That sounded too upfront. The bird wouldn't take her offering for sure then.
"Would you like to have another leaf?" With a very slightly shaky hand, she moved the golden leaf back up to the bird's beak. To her surprise, it began to nibble on it a bit, and then it ate the leaf.
"Yes!" she half-whispered, not wanting to startle the bird.
"Thank you, Chloe!"